Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lovage (Levisticum officinale) has a long history of use in European folk medicine, particularly for respiratory ailments such as cough, including spastic or spasmodic cough. Traditional herbal texts and pharmacopoeias, such as the German Commission E monographs, mention the use of lovage root primarily as a diuretic, but also note secondary uses including the treatment of coughs and bronchitis. The traditional rationale is based on the plant’s content of essential oils (notably phthalides and eugenol), which were believed to have mild expectorant and antispasmodic effects, thus easing cough symptoms.

However, direct scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of lovage for spastic cough is limited. There are few, if any, high-quality clinical trials specifically investigating lovage’s effect on cough. Some in vitro and animal studies suggest that the essential oil components may possess mild antispasmodic and antimicrobial properties, but these findings have not been robustly translated into clinical practice for respiratory indications. Most contemporary herbal references continue to list this use on the basis of tradition rather than strong scientific validation. As such, lovage’s use for spastic cough should be regarded as traditional, with a modest level of supporting evidence.

More about lovage
More about Cough (spastic)

Other ingredients used for Cough (spastic)

Other health conditions supported by lovage

Products containing lovage