Evidence-based review and clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and management of common oral mucosal lesions

Table 5 Supportive herbal and traditional remedies for common oral mucosal lesions: Scientific basis and use

Condition	Herbal remedy (scientific name)	Therapeutic action	Recommended use	Evidence/source	Ref.	Evidence level (GRADE)
Aphthous ulcers	Chamomile, honey, alum (shabbah is potassium aluminum sulfate), myrrh	Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, antiseptic	Topical application or rinse 3-4 ×/day for 7-10 days; reassess at day 10	Clinical and traditional studies	[31-35]	A
Oral lichen planus	Aloe vera, Nigella sativa (black seed oil)	Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, epithelial repair	Apply topically twice daily for 4 weeks; reassess at week 4	RCTs and in vitro studies	[31-35]	A
Burning mouth syndrome	Capsaicin	Neuropathic desensitization	Low-concentration rinse or gel BID for 2 weeks; Review response at 14 days; off-label; use only pharmacy-compounded 0.025%-0.075% formulations	Small-scale clinical trials	[36-40]	B
Oral candidiasis	Tea tree oil	Antifungal, antiseptic	Diluted rinse 2-3 ×/day for 14 days; do not swallow	In vitro and pilot trials	[38-41]	B
General oral health	Curcumin (turmeric)	Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant	Curcumin rinse BID or 500 mg capsules daily for 4-6 weeks	Systematic reviews	[35,37]	A

Evidence level (GRADE): A: High; B: Moderate; C: Low. RCT: Randomized controlled trial; BID: Twice a day.