Evidence supporting the use of: Flesh-Finger Citron
For the health condition: Cough (damp)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Flesh-Finger Citron (also known as Buddha’s Hand, Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) is a traditional ingredient in Chinese medicine. Its use for supporting or treating cough, particularly those associated with "dampness" (a concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM involving excess moisture and phlegm), is documented in classical Chinese herbal texts. The fruit is considered to regulate Qi, harmonize the stomach, and transform phlegm, which aligns with treating coughs of a damp nature. While there are some phytochemical studies on Citrus species indicating the presence of flavonoids and volatile oils that may have mild expectorant or anti-inflammatory effects, there is little direct modern clinical evidence specifically validating Flesh-Finger Citron’s efficacy for cough (damp). Most support for its use comes from centuries-old TCM practice and compendia such as the Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica). Therefore, its use for cough (damp) is justified primarily by tradition, with limited scientific corroboration to date.
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
Other health conditions supported by Flesh-Finger Citron
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Anxiety
Appetite (deficient)
Asthma
Belching
Bronchitis
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cramps and Spasms
Digestion (poor)
Edema
Fever
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Indigestion
Infection
Inflammation
Insomnia
Nausea and Vomiting
Pain (general remedies for)
Sore Throat
Stress
Ulcers
Worry
Wounds and Sores