Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin C
For the health condition: Congestion (lungs)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Vitamin C has been studied for its potential role in supporting respiratory health, particularly in the context of upper respiratory tract infections and, to a lesser degree, lung congestion. The scientific rationale is based on vitamin C's antioxidant properties and its role in immune function. Several studies have shown that vitamin C supplementation can slightly reduce the duration and severity of common cold symptoms, some of which involve nasal and chest congestion. However, the evidence specifically supporting vitamin C for the treatment of lung congestion (as opposed to general cold symptoms) is limited and not definitive.
A few clinical trials have investigated the use of vitamin C in respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, with mixed results. Some studies suggest a possible reduction in the risk or severity of pneumonia, particularly in individuals with low baseline vitamin C levels or increased physical stress. However, for otherwise healthy individuals with lung congestion due to non-severe infections or allergies, the benefit of vitamin C remains unproven. Major health organizations, such as the Cochrane Collaboration, conclude that while vitamin C may have a modest effect in reducing the duration and severity of cold symptoms, its effect on lung congestion is not well established.
In summary, vitamin C is sometimes used to support lung congestion due to its general immune-boosting reputation, but the scientific evidence supporting its efficacy for this specific condition is modest (rated 2/5). Most benefits, if any, are likely to be mild and more relevant to overall symptom relief rather than targeted decongestion of the lungs.
Other ingredients used for Congestion (lungs)
Abies spectabilisAconite
Adenophora
Agastache
Alantolactone
Allicin
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl isothiocyanate
Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
alpinia galangal
ambergris
Amor seco
andrographolide
Angelica
anise
Ardisia
Arisaema
asafoetida
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
aster root
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
Baikal Skullcap
balloon flower
balsam
Baphicacanthus cusia
Barleria
basil
bayleaf
bee hive
bee products
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
berry
beta-pinene
Bidens pilosa
bisabolene
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
black salt
black seed
blackboard tree
Blepharis
Bombax
boneset
borage
borneol
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
Buddha\'s hand
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
cajuput
calamus
Camellia sinensis
capsaicinoids
capsicum
cardamom
Carthamus
cayenne pepper
chamomile
chen pi
Chinese raisintree
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
Chondrus
chrysanthemum
cineole
cinnamaldehyde
Cistus
Citrus
Clerodendrum trichotomum
clove
coltsfoot
Coptis chinensis
cowherb
culvers Root
curcumen
curry leaf
diterpenes
dragonhead
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Eclipta
Elder
elderberry
elecampane
Ephedra
ephedrine
essential oil blend
eucalyptus
European Elder
European five-finger grass
Evodia
fang-feng
fat liver oil
ferula assafoetida
flavoglycosides
forsythia
frankincense
fritillaria
Galangal
Gallesia
gamma-terpinene
Gardenia jasminoides
garlic bulb
ginger
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Gnaphalium
grape
green tea
Guaco
Heartsease
Hedyotis
Helicteres isora
honey
horehound
Horsemint
horseradish
Houttuynia
hyssop
Indian frankincense
Indian tinospora
inula racemosa
Isatis
Ivy
jungli-bean
juniper berries
Khella
labrador tea
Laggera pterodonta
Ledebouriella
lemongrass
lichen
licorice root
Ligusticum
Ligustrazin
limonene
Litsea
Lomatium
long pepper
lovage
lungwort
malabar nut
mallow
Meadow sage
Menthol oil
Methylxanthine
Monoterpenes
Mountain Pepper
Mucolase
Mugwort
Mullein
Mustard
mustard seed
Neoandrographolides
Nutmeg
onion
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
oregano
oriental arborvitae
Oroxylum indicum
Orris
Osha
Paris polyphylla
Pepper
perilla
Peucedanum
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
Pinellia ternata
Piper nigrum
Piper retrofractum
Platycodon
platycodon root
Pluchea
Polygonum
pomegranate
prepared aconite tuber
Pyrrosia
quercetin
ravinsara
rosemary
Rubiaceae
Sagebrush
Sambucus nigra
Sandalwood
scrophularia root
Servicetree
Sesquiterpenes
shiitake mushroom
Sichuan Lovage
Sichuan pepper
siler root
Smartweed
Solanum indicum
Sophora
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
spruce
squawvine
Stereospermum
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sundew
sweet flag
Szechuan lovage
Tamaricaceae
Tayuya
Terpinolene
thyme
Thymus
Trichosanthes
turmeric
Vasicine
Vasicinone
Vervain
Viola
Violet
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
Vladimiria souliei
Winter Savory
Wulinshen
Yellow root
Yerba buena
Yerba santa
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
Zingerone
Zingiberene
Other health conditions supported by vitamin C
Acquired Immune Deficiency SyndromeAddictions (general remedies for)
Addison's Disease
Age Spots
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Allergies (food)
Allergies (respiratory)
Anal Fistula or Fissure
Anemia
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Antibiotics (side effects of)
Arteriosclerosis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Bites and Stings
Bladder Infection
Bleeding (external)
Bleeding (internal)
Blood Poisoning
Boils
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Bruises (prevention)
Burns and Scalds
Capillary Weakness
Cartilage Damage
Cataracts
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemical Poisoning
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Chicken Pox
Cholesterol (high)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colon (atonic)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Conjunctivitis
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Copper Toxicity
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cuts
Cystic Breast Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Debility
Dementia
Denture Sores
Depression
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Environmental Pollution
Epstein Barr Virus
Eye Problems
Eyesight (poor)
Fatigue
Fatty Liver Disease
Free Radical Damage
Gall Stones
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Glaucoma
Gonorrhea
Gout
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Herpes
Hot Flashes
Hypertension
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Knees (weak)
Laryngitis
Lead Poisoning
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Leukemia
Ligaments (torn or injured)
Liver Detoxification
Lyme Disease
Macular Degeneration
Mastitis
Measles
Memory and Brain Function
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
Metabolic Syndrome
Mononucleosis
Mumps
Nose Bleeds
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
PMS (general)
PMS Type C
PMS Type H
Pneumonia
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Prolapsed Uterus
Prostatitis
Radiation Sickness
Rashes and Hives
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic
Rosacea
Scars / Scar Tissue
Schizophrenia
Scratches and Abrasions
Scurvy
Shingles
Shock
Sinus Infection
Skin (infections)
Skin Care (general)
Sore Throat
Spider Veins
Spinal Disks
Sprains
Strep Throat
Stretch Marks
Sunburn
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Teeth (loose)
Tendonitis
Thrush
Tickle in Throat
Tonsillitis
Tooth Extraction
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Ulcerations (external)
Ulcers
Uric Acid Retention
Urinary Tract Infections
Vaginitis
Varicose Veins
Warts
Wounds and Sores
Wrinkles
Adrenal Fatigue
Abrasions
Acne
Abscesses
Bell's Palsy
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Carbuncles
Alzheimer's Disease
Anxiety
Arthritis
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Canker Sores
Cardiovascular Disease
Products containing vitamin C
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free Original Formula)
Nature's Sunshine Adrenal Support
Nature's Sunshine Bowel Detox
Nature's Sunshine Children's Elderberry Immune
Nature's Sunshine Children's MultiVitamin & Mineral
Nature's Sunshine Cortisol Formula (Nature's Cortisol Formula)
Nature's Sunshine Defense Maintenance
Nature's Sunshine Detox Basics
Nature's Sunshine Dieter's Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Glandular System
Nature's Sunshine Grapine With Protectors (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine Hepatic System
Nature's Sunshine Iron (Chelated)
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free) NEW!
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas
Nature's Sunshine Marine Collagen
Nature's Sunshine Marine Glo Collagen
Nature's Sunshine Master Gland Formula®
Nature's Sunshine Mega-Chel
Nature's Sunshine Milk Thistle Combination
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Prenatal
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Harvest
Nature's Sunshine Nervous System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Nutri-Calm
Nature's Sunshine Nutri-Calm
Nature's Sunshine Perfect Eyes
Nature's Sunshine Power Beets Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Beets To-Go Packs
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens To-Go
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Immune
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Revive
Nature's Sunshine Structural System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental (Without Iron)
Nature's Sunshine Super Trio
Nature's Sunshine Vari-Gone
Nature's Sunshine Vitamin C (1000 mg, Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Vitamin C (1000 mg, Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Vitamin C Ascorbates
Nature's Sunshine Chewable Vitamin C
Nature's Sunshine Citrus Bioflavonoids (Vitamin C)
Nature's Sunshine Zinc Lozenge
