Botanicals & Herbs

Evidence: Limited

Gotu kola is a traditional Asian herb studied for memory and mood. One small trial in older adults was encouraging, but a 2017 meta-analysis found no ...

Evidence: Preliminary

Cat's claw is an Amazonian vine used in traditional medicine. NCCIH says there are very few high quality trials and no conclusive evidence for any hea...

Evidence: Preliminary

Soursop is a tropical tree whose leaves are sold as supplements. Evidence is mostly from lab studies, and its compound annonacin has been linked to ne...

Evidence: Strong

Senna is a stimulant laxative that reliably relieves short-term constipation. It does not cause fat loss, and long-term use is linked to cramping, ele...

Evidence: Moderate

Cascara sagrada is an anthraquinone stimulant laxative from buckthorn bark. It reliably produces bowel movements but is meant for short-term use; long...

Evidence: Moderate

Pygeum is an extract from the bark of the African cherry tree. A Cochrane review of 18 small, short trials found it modestly improved urinary symptoms...

Evidence: Preliminary

Dong quai is a Chinese herbal root traditionally used for women's health. It did not outperform placebo for menopausal symptoms in a controlled trial,...

Evidence: Preliminary

Eyebright is a small meadow herb used in folk medicine for irritated eyes. Research is limited to cell studies, often of eye drops, and there is no go...

Evidence: Moderate

Saffron is the dried stigma of the Crocus sativus flower. It has a moderate body of small trials for low mood, and a limited, mostly Iranian evidence ...

Evidence: Preliminary

Kudzu is a climbing vine whose root and flower contain isoflavones. Small human studies of kudzu root extract found people drank less alcohol, but kud...