Limited evidenceJoints & skin

Solomon's Seal

A traditional East Asian and North American rhizome used for tendons and joints. Research is limited to laboratory and animal work on its polysaccharides; no human trials support the joint claims.

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What the science says

Joint and cartilage protection Limited evidence
Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides reduced cartilage inflammation in cell and rodent models of osteoarthritis, acting on autophagy and TLR2/NF-κB signalling. No randomized trial has tested Solomon's seal in people with joint or tendon problems.
General tonic and antioxidant effects Limited evidence
A comprehensive review of Polygonatum odoratum polysaccharides catalogues antioxidant, immunomodulatory and glucose-lowering activity, but the underlying studies are almost entirely in vitro or in animals.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo studied human dose. Traditional preparations use roughly 9–15 g of dried rhizome as a decoction; capsule products typically supply 400–1,000 mg of powder or extract per day as a label dose only.

SafetyLittle formal safety data. Raw rhizome and the berries of related species can cause gastrointestinal upset. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and be cautious if taking glucose-lowering drugs given the reported hypoglycaemic activity in animals.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter.

With food?Take it with food, since raw rhizome preparations upset the stomach.

Worth knowingDo not eat the berries of Polygonatum species or its lookalikes — they cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

Interactions

With medications

diabetes medication
Animal studies report glucose-lowering activity, which could in principle add to insulin or oral hypoglycaemics. monitor blood glucose if you take it alongside diabetes treatment

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does Solomon's seal help tendons and joints?

No randomized trial has tested Solomon's seal in people with joint or tendon problems, so the evidence is limited. Its polysaccharides reduced cartilage inflammation only in cell and rodent models.

How much Solomon's seal should I take?

Solomon's seal has no studied human dose. Traditional decoctions use roughly 9–15 g of dried rhizome, and capsules typically supply 400–1,000 mg per day as a label dose only.

Is Solomon's seal safe with diabetes medication?

Animal studies report glucose-lowering activity for Solomon's seal, which could in principle add to insulin or oral diabetes drugs. Monitor your blood glucose if you combine them.

Are Solomon's seal berries poisonous?

Do not eat the berries of Solomon's seal or its lookalikes; they cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Raw rhizome can also upset the stomach, so take Solomon's seal preparations with food, and avoid them in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Scientific references

Polygonatum odoratum polysaccharides: A comprehensive review of bioaccumulation, extraction, structure characteristics, bioactivities and application
Guo L, Zhang W, Yu C — Int J Biol Macromol, 2025
Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides regulate chondrocyte inflammation and metabolism via S100A9 inhibition-mediated autophagy promotion to ameliorate osteoarthritis
Kuang S, Ding Q, Lin L — BMC Complement Med Ther, 2026

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