Evidence supporting the use of: Butternut
For the health condition: Cough (damp)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Butternut (Juglans cinerea), also known as white walnut, has a history of traditional use by Native American and early American herbalists, primarily as a laxative, but it was also employed for respiratory conditions such as coughs associated with excess phlegm or "dampness." The bark and inner bark were most commonly used parts. The rationale in traditional herbal medicine was that Butternut’s purgative and mildly stimulating properties could help clear "dampness" and congestion from the body, including from the lungs. However, there is a lack of controlled scientific studies validating these effects for cough or respiratory conditions. Some herbal texts from the 19th and early 20th centuries reference its use for chronic bronchitis or productive coughs, but these are based on empirical observation rather than rigorous research. Modern phytochemical analysis shows Butternut contains naphthoquinones and juglone, but there is no direct evidence these compounds relieve cough. In summary, Butternut’s use for cough (damp) is supported by traditional use, especially in North American herbalism, but scientific validation for this specific indication is minimal or absent.
Other ingredients used for Cough (damp)
aloe verablack currant
black pepper
radish
chen pi
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
green tea
licorice root
oregano
parsley
pear
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
pomegranate
quercetin
rhizome
thyme
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
hyssop
atractylodes
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
fritillaria
coltsfoot
eucalyptus
horehound
Anamarrhena
Asarum heterotropoides
Asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Asarum sieboldii
Atractylone
Bael
Butternut
Balloon Flower
Cineole
Common madia
Chekiang Fritillary
Chondrus
Dichrostachys glomerata
Grindelia
Gallesia
Galangal
Ivy
Other health conditions supported by Butternut
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Anemia
Appetite (deficient)
Backache
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Constipation (adults)
Constipation (children)
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Gastritis
Indigestion
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Jaundice (adults)
Liver Detoxification
Nausea and Vomiting
Pain (general remedies for)
Skin Care (general)
Ulcers
Wounds and Sores