Evidence supporting the use of: Cassia bark
For the health condition: Urinary Tract Infections

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Synopsis

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

Cassia bark (Cinnamomum cassia), commonly known as Chinese cinnamon, has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other herbal traditions. In these systems, cassia bark is often included in formulas for its warming properties and believed ability to support the function of the kidneys and urinary tract. Historical texts and herbal compendia associate cassia with promoting the flow of urine and alleviating discomfort associated with urinary tract issues, but these uses are based on empirical tradition rather than modern scientific validation.

Scientific evidence supporting cassia bark for the treatment or prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is quite limited. While some in vitro studies have shown that cinnamon extracts have antimicrobial properties against certain bacteria, including Escherichia coli (a common UTI pathogen), these findings have not been translated into robust clinical evidence specific to UTI outcomes in humans. No high-quality, large-scale human trials using cassia bark specifically for UTI prevention or treatment have been published. Thus, while cassia continues to be used in traditional herbal formulas, its use for UTIs is justified primarily by historical and cultural practice rather than by strong modern scientific data.

Given the lack of rigorous clinical studies, the evidence rating for cassia bark’s effectiveness in UTIs is low (1 out of 5), indicating that its use should be considered adjunctive or traditional, rather than evidence-based medicine.

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