Patchouli
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Summary of Patchouli
Primary information, health benefits, side effects, usage, and other important details
Pogostemon cablin, also known as patchouli, is an herb used in aromatherapy, perfumes, and other fragrances.
Patchouli is often used to induce relaxation, but studies have found this effect to be unreliable. When it does work, patchouli supplementation reduces central nervous system activity.
Preliminary evidence suggests patchouli can alleviate influenza. It has a moderate effect on most strains of flu, and a powerful effect on the H1N1 strain. Animal evidence suggests patchouli supplementation may also have an anti-depressant effect.
The main bioactive of patchouli is called patchouli alcohol. It can be used to synthesize Taxol, an anti-cancer medicine.
Though patchouli may be an effective anti-flu herb that makes it easier to relax, much more research is needed to confirm these effects.
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The standard dose for patchouli supplementation is based off of animal doses.
Approximately 40mg/kg of bodyweight of patchouli, given to rats, is associated with anti-depressant effects. This translates to the following human dosages:
• 440mg for a 150lb person
• 580mg for a 200lb person
• 730mg for a 250lb person
A dose of 40-80mg/kg of bodyweight, given to mice, is associated with an anti-flu effect. The estimated human dose equivalent is 3.2-6.4mg/kg of bodyweight.
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Human Effect Matrix
The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (it excludes animal and in vitro studies) to tell you what effects patchouli has on your body, and how strong these effects are.
| Grade | Level of Evidence [show legend] |
|---|---|
|
Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials |
|
Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled |
|
Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies |
|
Uncontrolled or observational studies only |
|
Level of Evidence
?
The amount of high quality evidence. The more
evidence, the more we can trust the results.
|
Outcome |
Magnitude of effect
?
The direction and size of the supplement's impact on
each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
|
Consistency of research results
?
Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or
VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
|
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Minor
|
- See study |
The decrease in CNS activity was not overly remarkable with Patchouli aromatherapy
|
Studies Excluded from Consideration
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Things to Note
Is a Form Of
Primary Function:
Also Known As
Pogostemon cablin, Patchouly, Patchy
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