The Benefits of Galphimia Glauca as an Herbal Remedy

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Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on August 05, 2016
Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor.
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Richard N. Fogoros, MD
Written by
Written by Cathy Wong
Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health.
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Cathy Wong
Updated on November 28, 2019
Yellow flowers of Thryallis shrub
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Galphimia glauca, sometimes referred to as simply "galphimia" or "thryallis," is an herb said to offer a number of health benefits. Extracted from a small evergreen shrub found in Mexico and Central America, galphimia is sometimes prepared as a homeopathic remedy.

In traditional Latin American medicine, galphimia has long been used to treat asthma and allergies. Galphimia is also generally used as a homeopathic treatment for asthma and allergies.

In traditional Mexican medicine, meanwhile, galphimia has long been used to treat mental disorders. In particular, galphimia is thought to alleviate anxiety.

Benefits of Galphimia Extract

To date, research on the health effects of galphimia extract is very limited. Still, there's some evidence that galphimia extract may be of some use in the treatment of anxiety.

For instance, several animal-based studies have shown that galphimia extract may offer anti-anxiety benefits. In addition, a 2007 study published in Planta Medica indicates that galphimia extract may be useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders. For the study, 152 people with generalized anxiety disorder took either galphimia extract or the commonly-prescribed anti-anxiety drug lorazepam (brand name Ativan) every day for four weeks. The study results revealed that the anxiety-reducing effect of galphimia extract was similar to that of lorazepam.

Benefits of Homeopathic Galphimia

Scientific support for the health effects of homeopathic preparations of galphimia is also fairly limited. The available research includes an older meta-analysis published in the Austrian journal Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift in 1997. For the meta-analysis, investigators reviewed 11 clinical trials (with a total of 1,038 patients) on the use of homeopathic preparations of galphimia in treatment of hay fever. Overall, homeopathic preparations of galphimia were found to be superior to placebo in relief of eye-related symptoms, such as itching and watering of the eyes.

There is a lack of more recent data on the potential health benefits of homeopathic galphimia.

Caveats

Little is known about the safety of using galphimia in the long term. However, there's some concern that taking galphimia in combination with certain medications (such as central nervous system depressants and blood-thinning drugs) may produce harmful effects.

In addition, homeopathic preparations of galphimia may trigger a number of mild side effects, including fatigue and dry mouth.

The safety of galphimia supplements has not been established in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications. Always talk with your doctor before taking any kind of supplement.

Where to Find Galphimia

Available for purchase online, galphimia supplements and homeopathic preparations of galphimia are sold in many natural-food stores and in stores specializing in dietary supplements.

Using Galphimia for Health

Due to a lack of scientific support, it's too soon to recommend galphimia for the treatment of any health condition. If you're considering the use of galphimia supplements or homeopathic preparations of galphimia, make sure to consult your physician. It's important to note that self-treating a chronic condition with galphimia and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences.

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Article Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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