Evidence supporting the use of: Green tea
For the health condition: Cough (dry)

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Synopsis

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

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in East Asian cultures, for alleviating symptoms of respiratory discomfort, including dry coughs. In traditional Chinese medicine, green tea is sometimes recommended for its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and mildly expectorant qualities. The warm liquid can help moisten the throat, potentially providing relief from irritation associated with a dry cough. Green tea also contains polyphenols and catechins, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which have demonstrated some antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities in laboratory studies.

However, direct scientific evidence supporting green tea as an effective treatment for dry cough is limited. Most of the support comes from cultural practices and anecdotal reports rather than rigorous clinical trials. The soothing effect likely comes from drinking a warm, non-irritating liquid rather than any specific pharmacological action of green tea itself. Some laboratory studies suggest that green tea catechins can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and viruses, potentially reducing the severity or duration of some respiratory tract infections, but these effects have not been specifically studied in the context of dry cough.

In summary, while green tea is traditionally used to soothe dry cough symptoms, scientific validation for its effectiveness in this context is lacking. The evidence base is primarily traditional, and the rating reflects the limited but persistent historical use.

More about green tea
More about Cough (dry)

Other ingredients used for Cough (dry)

Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
apple
Waterhyssop
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black currant
black pepper
radish
Indian frankincense
cat's claw
Chinese salvia root
cinnamon
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
Greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
heartwood
Indian tinospora
jujube
lemon
licorice root
Marshmallow
Nettle
ophiopogon root
oregano
parsley
pear
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
plum fruit
polygala root
pomegranate
thyme
vitamin C
zhejiang fritillary
Zinc
sarsaparilla
boneset
Mullein
hyssop
atractylodes
Indian bael
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
Hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
Fumaria parviflora
fritillaria
Yerba santa
elecampane
dodder
sweet flag
Menthol oil
Alcohol
Agastache
Anamarrhena
ambergris
Acacia
Asarum heterotropoides
Aconite
asafoetida
Aerva lanata
Asam gelugor
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Asarum sieboldii
atractylone
black seed
bermuda grass
Bryonia
bayleaf
bael
butternut
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
bee products
Buddha\'s hand
banana
Bassia scoparia
burning bush
balloon flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
cactus
citron
Citrus
cineole
capsaicin
Cistus
cubeb
cowslip
Chaenomeles lagenaria
calamus
cinnamaldehyde
Clerodendrum indicum
dragonhead
diterpenes
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
Elder
ephedrine
fruit
fritillary
fernbush
flavoglycosides
fringed pink
Glehnia littoralis
Guava
gum
Gallesia
Glycyrrhetinic acid
honey
honey loquat syrup
Hempnettle
Ilex
long pepper
Japanese kadsura
Javanese Long Pepper
Khella
loquat
Lactucarium
Lilium polyphyllum
linden
luffa
Lindera
Large-leaved linden
Loranthus
lungwort
Ligusticum
Mentha haplocalyx
Mucilage
Melia
mace
Maidenhair Fern
Nigella seed
Nutmeg
Ophiopogon
Osha
Osmanthus
Phellodendron
Palmyra
Piper chaba
polymorpha
prepared aconite tuber
Platycodon
Pepper
Paris polyphylla
Pelargonium
Pimpinella
poppy
Polygala
ravinsara
Rhododendron
Sabadilla
Stephania root
Sete sangrias
Solanaceae
Stemona
Shogaol
Sundew
Sedanenolide
Terpenoids
Theobromine
Tea
Thymoquinone
Tonka Bean
Thymol
Tragacanth
Tamarind
Vasicine
Vladimiria souliei
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Wax Gourd
Zedoary
Zingerone

Other health conditions supported by green tea

Abdominal Pain
Abscesses
Acne
Addictions (coffee, caffeine)
Age Spots
Aging (prevention)
Allergies (food)
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (excessive)
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Autoimmune Disorders
Belching
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Bites and Stings
Bleeding (internal)
Blood in Urine
Bloodshot Eyes
Body Odor
Breast Lumps
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cellulite
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Chicken Pox
Cholesterol (high)
Cholesterol (low)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Circulation (poor)
Circulation (to the brain)
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colic (children)
Colitis
Colon (atonic)
Colon (spastic)
Concentration (poor)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (lymphatic)
Congestion (sinus)
Conjunctivitis
Constipation (adults)
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cramps (menstrual)
Crohn's Disease
Cuts
Cystic Breast Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Cytomealovirus
Dandruff
Debility
Dementia
Denture Sores
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Down Syndrome
Endometriosis
Epstein Barr Virus
Eye Infections
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Fatigue
Fibroids (uterine)
Free Radical Damage
Fungal Infections
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Glaucoma
Hair (loss or thinning)
Headache (general)
Hemochromatosis
Hypertension
Inflammation
Influenza
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Liver Detoxification
Memory and Brain Function
Oral Surgery
Parkinson's Disease
Perspiration (excessive)
PMS (general)
Polyps
Psoriasis
Rosacea
Skin (oily)
Stress
Triglycerides (high)
Ulcers
Urinary Tract Infections
Wrinkles