Evidence supporting the use of: Khella
For the health condition: Wheezing
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Khella (Ammi visnaga) has been traditionally used, particularly in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean herbal medicine, to support respiratory conditions such as wheezing and asthma. Its use dates back centuries, where extracts of the plant were employed as a bronchodilator and antispasmodic agent. The active constituents, notably khellin and visnagin, are believed to help relax the smooth muscles of the bronchi, potentially easing breathing difficulties associated with wheezing and mild asthma. However, despite its longstanding traditional use, robust clinical evidence is lacking. Most supporting data comes from animal studies and small, older clinical trials, many of which do not meet current standards of scientific rigor. While some pharmacological studies suggest that khellin has bronchodilatory effects, these findings have not been widely validated in large, well-designed human trials. Modern medicine does not routinely recommend khella for asthma or wheezing due to concerns over efficacy and safety. In summary, while khella's use for wheezing is primarily justified by tradition with some preliminary pharmacological rationale, the scientific evidence remains limited and weak (rated 2/5).
