Synopsis

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

Quassia (Quassia amara) has a long history of traditional use as a bitter tonic to support digestive health, particularly for promoting appetite and aiding digestion. In traditional herbal medicine, especially in South America and Europe, quassia wood extract has been used to stimulate the production of gastric juices, which is believed to help with dyspepsia (indigestion), loss of appetite, and general digestive sluggishness. The bitter compounds in quassia, primarily quassinoids, are thought to exert their effects by stimulating taste receptors in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, thereby promoting secretion of saliva and gastric fluids.

Despite its traditional use, scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of quassia for stomach or digestive support is limited. Some pharmacological studies have confirmed that quassia has strong bitter properties and may increase the secretion of digestive enzymes in animal models, but robust human clinical trials are lacking. There is not enough high-quality research to conclusively substantiate its effectiveness for these indications. Therefore, the primary justification for its use remains traditional rather than evidence-based. Safety data are also limited, and its use should be approached with caution, especially in high doses or for prolonged periods.

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