Sumac

Rhus coriaria

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Lipid profile^{1, 2} Insulin resistance^{3, 4} Diastolic blood pressure^{2, 5} Appetite regulation^{6, 7} Polycystic ovary syndrome markers⁸ Radiation-induced oral mucositis⁹ Recurrent aphthous ulcers^10–12 Postpartum bleeding¹³	Known allergies¹⁴

Sumac (Rhus coriaria) is the dried, ground fruit of a Middle Eastern culinary spice, rich in tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids that act largely through antioxidant activity¹⁵. It is taken for cardiometabolic support: lipid profile, glycemic control, and blood pressure, with appetite and weight as related targets. Rinses and gels are used for oral mucositis and recurrent aphthous ulcers, and capsules have been studied for postpartum bleeding. Trials have mostly enrolled adults with metabolic syndrome, obesity, or depression with overweight^{6, 16}.

Pooled randomized trials report lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides^{2, 5} and lower diastolic blood pressure^{2, 4, 5}. A meta-analysis of 15 trials found sumac lowered fasting glucose, fasting insulin, hemoglobin A1c and insulin resistance in adults⁴. In vitro, a 2025 study of plant extracts found Rhus coriaria extract inhibited pancreatic lipase, alpha-amylase, and alpha-glucosidase, with no human data¹⁷. There are 14 products listing sumac, sold as capsules, liquid extracts, powders, and tea bags; see Form comparison.

Product labels in the United States carry the only anticoagulant caution: two of 16 labels ask consumers taking blood thinners to consult a doctor first¹⁴.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

46 sources, 38 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
InteractionsThe medicines and supplements it interacts with, the effect of each, and what labeling says to watch.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Word of mouthWhat patients and practitioners report online, kept separate from the clinical evidence.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources