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

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Central and South America, India, and China. While it is most commonly associated with uses such as supporting skin health, detoxification, and rheumatic conditions, there is some traditional evidence for its use in respiratory ailments, including coughs. In traditional herbal practice, sarsaparilla is sometimes included in multi-herb formulations for soothing dry coughs, owing to its perceived demulcent and anti-inflammatory properties. However, this use is not among its most prominent traditional indications and is not widely documented in major traditional medicine texts specifically for dry cough.

Scientific studies evaluating the effect of sarsaparilla on cough (dry or otherwise) are lacking. There are no randomized controlled trials or pharmacological studies directly demonstrating antitussive (cough-suppressing) effects. Most modern herbal references do not list sarsaparilla as a primary or even secondary herb for cough relief. Thus, while there is minor traditional precedent for its use in this context, the evidence is weak, and there is no scientific validation. Its inclusion in cough remedies is more likely due to its general anti-inflammatory properties or its role as a supportive herb rather than any direct effect on cough itself.

More about sarsaparilla
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
tangerine
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
reed herb
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