Evidence supporting the use of: Essential oil (unspecified)
For the health condition: Cough (damp)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Essential oils have been traditionally used in various cultures to support respiratory health, including relieving coughs that are characterized as "damp" in traditional medicine systems (such as Traditional Chinese Medicine). The term "damp cough" generally refers to a cough with phlegm or mucus production. Essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, and tea tree have a long history of use via inhalation, steam, or topical application (diluted), primarily to ease breathing, reduce mucus, and provide a sensation of relief. However, while there are some preclinical studies and limited clinical evidence supporting the antimicrobial or expectorant properties of specific essential oil constituents (e.g., 1,8-cineole in eucalyptus oil), robust clinical data for essential oils as a general or unspecified category for treating "damp cough" are lacking. Most evidence is anecdotal or based on traditional usage rather than rigorous scientific trials. Safety concerns, especially regarding ingestion or use in children, are also noted in the literature. In summary, the use of essential oils for damp cough is primarily justified by traditional practice and limited scientific rationale for certain oils, but not supported by strong clinical trials.
More about Essential oil (unspecified)
More about Cough (damp)
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
Galangal
Ivy
Other health conditions supported by Essential oil (unspecified)
Abdominal PainAcne
Allergies (respiratory)
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Arthritis
Asthma
Athlete's Foot
Backache
Bites and Stings
Boils
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Burns and Scalds
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Chicken Pox
Circulation (poor)
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)