Synopsis

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

Uncaria, particularly species such as Uncaria rhynchophylla and Uncaria tomentosa, has traditionally been used in various herbal medicine systems, most notably in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to address neurological conditions, including headaches and migraines. In TCM, Uncaria (known as Gou Teng) is often included in formulas aimed at "calming the liver" and alleviating symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and spasms, which can overlap with migraine symptoms. However, while these historical uses are well-documented in herbal pharmacopeias and traditional literature, there is a lack of robust scientific evidence directly supporting Uncaria’s efficacy in treating or preventing migraines specifically. Modern clinical trials focusing on migraines are absent, and mechanistic studies are limited to animal models or in vitro work showing potential neuroprotective or vasodilatory effects. Thus, the justification for using Uncaria for migraines is rooted mainly in traditional practice rather than validated by high-quality scientific research. The evidence rating remains low (1/5) due to the absence of well-designed clinical studies and direct evidence for this specific indication.

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