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Cat's whiskers

Cat's whiskers is a Southeast Asian herb, also called Orthosiphon stamineus, whose leaves are traditionally brewed as a tea and used for urinary health. People mostly look at it for increased urine flow, but the evidence is very limited: one study of 80 people found no clear difference in diuresis. That study tested it within a mix of four herbal remedies, so it says little about cat's whiskers on its own.

Sources: PMID 1434681

Best evidence
Grade D
Conditions studied
5
Outcomes
5
Graded outcomes
0001

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

5 conditions

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: outcomes studied for Cat's whiskers
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Diuresis

No effect

NoneNo effect1 study80 people

Studies that measured diuresis

High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure: outcomes studied for Cat's whiskers
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
DiuresisImproves (the measure goes up)1 study80 people

Studies that measured diuresis

Kidney Health

  • Diuresis: improves
Kidney Health: outcomes studied for Cat's whiskers
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
DiuresisImproves (the measure goes up)1 study80 people

Studies that measured diuresis

Pitting Edema

  • Diuresis: improves
Pitting Edema: outcomes studied for Cat's whiskers
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
DiuresisImproves (the measure goes up)1 study80 people

Studies that measured diuresis

Skin Health

  • Skin Quality: improves
Skin Health: outcomes studied for Cat's whiskers
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Skin QualityImproves (the measure goes up)1 study50 people

Studies that measured skin quality

Key findings

  • Diuresis

Shop Cat's whiskers

Third-party tested Cat's whiskers products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade D

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Studies cited

2 studies from PubMed

  1. On the effects of a plant extract of Orthosiphon stamineus on sebum-related skin imperfectionsInt J Cosmet Sci · PMID 20807263
  2. Studies on the individual and combined diuretic effects of four Vietnamese traditional herbal remedies (Zea mays, Imperata cylindrica, Plantago major and Orthosiphon stamineus)J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 1434681