Synopsis

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

Labrador Tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum and related species) has a longstanding history of use among Indigenous peoples in North America as a traditional remedy for various respiratory ailments, including lung congestion. The leaves were often brewed into a tea or used as an inhalant to help ease symptoms of colds, coughs, and chest congestion. Ethnobotanical records document these practices, highlighting the plant’s role in folk medicine for soothing the respiratory tract and facilitating the expectoration of mucus.

Despite this traditional use, scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of Labrador Tea for treating lung congestion is limited. Some laboratory studies have indicated that the plant contains volatile oils, such as ledol and other sesquiterpenes, which may possess mild anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial activity. However, these findings have not been robustly linked to clinical benefits in human respiratory conditions, and no controlled human trials have demonstrated its effectiveness for lung congestion. Furthermore, potential toxicity has been reported with excessive use due to certain compounds in the plant.
In summary, while Labrador Tea is traditionally used for lung congestion, current evidence supporting its effectiveness is primarily anecdotal and historical, rather than scientific.

More about Labrador Tea
More about Congestion (lungs)

Other ingredients used for Congestion (lungs)

Other health conditions supported by Labrador Tea

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