Limited evidenceWomen's health

Lodhra

An Ayurvedic bark used for menstrual complaints and PCOS. Evidence is confined to reviews of traditional use and animal work; no human trial supports either indication.

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What the science says

Menstrual and uterine complaints Limited evidence
A comprehensive review of Symplocos racemosa covering its botany, phytochemistry and pharmacology describes extensive traditional gynecological use but identifies no controlled clinical trials for menstrual disorders.
Estrogen-related activity Limited evidence
A screening study in immature rats found estrogenic activity for Symplocos racemosa among several Indian medicinal plants. Whether this translates to any hormonal effect in women is untested.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo studied dose. Traditional use is 1-3 g of bark powder daily; commercial capsules typically supply 400-500 mg as a label dose.

SafetyHuman safety data are essentially absent. Its apparent estrogenic activity in animals is a reason for caution in hormone-sensitive conditions. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter.

With food?With food to reduce stomach upset.

Worth knowingThere is essentially no human safety data here, so treat any commercial dose as an assumption rather than a tested amount.

Frequently asked questions

Does lodhra help PCOS?

No human trial supports lodhra (Symplocos racemosa) for PCOS or menstrual complaints; the evidence is limited to reviews of traditional use and animal work.

Does lodhra affect hormones?

A screening study in immature rats found estrogenic activity for lodhra, but whether it has any hormonal effect in women is untested. That animal finding is a reason for caution in hormone-sensitive conditions.

How much lodhra should I take?

Lodhra has no studied dose; traditional use is 1-3 g of bark powder daily, and capsules typically supply 400-500 mg as a label dose. Human safety data are essentially absent, so treat any dose as an assumption and avoid lodhra in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Scientific references

A comprehensive analysis on Symplocos racemosa Roxb.: Traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities
Acharya N, Acharya S, Shah U, Shah R, Hingorani L — J Ethnopharmacol, 2016
Evaluation of the estrogenic activity of Indian medicinal plants in immature rats
Kamat SK, Barde PJ, Raut SB — Anc Sci Life, 2015

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