Omnia SanaHerbal Remedies by Symptom
Cough - Medicinal Plants & Herbal Remedies
The Omnia Sana plant database documents 27 medicinal plants traditionally used for cough. Each is rated by strength of evidence and linked to its full monograph and cited scientific sources.
Also known as: dry cough, productive cough, chesty cough, catarrh, whooping cough.
Expectorant / secretolytic for productive cough and acute bronchitis (loosens and helps clear mucus)
Antitussive (calms dry, irritating cough) - in animal studies the root rhamnogalacturonan suppresses the cough reflex dose-dependently, comparably to codeine, via 5-HT2 receptors rather than bronchodilation; Demulcent for irritation of the mouth or throat and associated dry cough (mucilage coats and soothes)
Demulcent / expectorant for cough, bronchitis and catarrh (mucilage soothes; saponins loosen mucus) - a double-blind RCT found violet-flower syrup, added to standard treatment, sped cough suppression in children with asthma
Expectorant for productive (chesty) cough associated with cold and bronchitis - a fixed thyme-ivy extract combination outperformed placebo in acute bronchitis (faster, greater reduction in coughing fits)
Traditional expectorant for cough and respiratory complaints (iridoid glycosides inhibit lung inflammation) - a standardised extract suppressed COX-2 and eotaxin via the NF-kB pathway in human lung epithelial cells
Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough; Soothes catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis (mucilage coats irritated mucosa; saponins loosen mucus)
Expectorant for productive cough and bronchitis (long-standing respiratory remedy); Soothes irritated airways / chronic catarrh (traditional)
Soothes upper-respiratory catarrh and mild infection (traditional)
Demulcent / expectorant (coughs, catarrh, irritated airways)
Antispasmodic (traditional use in whooping cough); Expectorant for productive cough and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis
Demulcent for irritation of the mouth or throat and associated dry cough (soothing mucilage)
Demulcent for catarrh of the respiratory tract and dry, irritating cough / bronchitis (mucilage soothes and protects irritated airways)
Expectorant for cough, bronchitis and upper-respiratory catarrh (saponins stimulate the cough reflex and loosen mucus) - largely an outdated use
Astringent (catarrh, excessive menstrual or vaginal discharge)
Antispasmodic for bronchial cough and bronchitis (eases spasm of the airways); Antitussive - calms a persistent dry, irritating cough (prunasin quietens the cough reflex)
Educational information compiled from the Omnia Sana plant database. Not medical advice - always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.