Synopsis

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

Corydalis (Corydalis yanhusuo) has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for managing pain-related conditions, including headaches and migraines. Its traditional application is often as part of herbal formulas designed to "invigorate the blood" and "move qi," which, according to TCM principles, can help alleviate various types of pain. Corydalis is thought to exert analgesic effects, and its primary active constituent, tetrahydropalmatine (THP), is known to interact with dopaminergic and other neurotransmitter systems, which could theoretically impact pain perception.

However, while preclinical studies and some small clinical studies suggest Corydalis and THP have analgesic properties, there is a lack of robust clinical evidence specifically supporting its efficacy in treating or preventing migraines. Most available studies are either animal-based or focus on general pain relief rather than migraine-specific outcomes. No large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) currently validate its use specifically for migraine.

In summary, while Corydalis is traditionally used for headache and pain in TCM, and there is some pharmacological rationale and preclinical evidence for its analgesic activity, direct scientific validation for its use in migraine is limited. Thus, its use for migraine is primarily justified by tradition, with modest supporting evidence.

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