Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Atractylone is a natural compound found in Atractylodes species, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Its use for headache, specifically tension-type headaches, is primarily rooted in traditional practices rather than rigorous scientific validation. In TCM, Atractylodes rhizome (Bai Zhu) is frequently included in herbal formulas to "strengthen the spleen" and "dispel dampness," and these formulas are sometimes prescribed for symptoms like headache, which are believed to arise from imbalances in the body's qi and dampness or phlegm accumulation. However, these concepts do not directly map onto modern biomedical understandings of headache causes, and the specific use of atractylone or Atractylodes for tension headaches lacks targeted clinical trials or robust mechanistic studies. Only limited preclinical research suggests atractylone possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, but these have not been conclusively linked to headache relief in humans. Therefore, while its application for headache is supported by tradition, scientific evidence for its efficacy in treating tension-type headaches is minimal or indirect at best.

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