Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Pagoda Tree (Sophora japonica) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is known as "Huai Hua." It is primarily used for its purported anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, and vasoprotective properties, especially in conditions involving bleeding hemorrhoids and other vascular disorders. In the context of itching, its use is less direct but comes from traditional applications for skin disorders, such as eczema, urticaria, or pruritus, where inflammation and irritation are present. Extracts from the flower buds or fruits may be included in traditional formulas to "clear heat" and "cool the blood," concepts that, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are related to alleviating symptoms like itching.

Modern scientific studies validating the efficacy of Pagoda Tree specifically for itching are limited. Some laboratory research indicates that compounds within Sophora japonica, such as flavonoids (notably rutin and quercetin), possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which could theoretically help with pruritus stemming from inflammatory skin conditions. However, direct clinical evidence or large-scale trials confirming its effectiveness for itching in humans are lacking. Thus, while its use is justified by tradition and supported by some pharmacological rationale, the overall evidence base is modest.

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