Synopsis

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

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) has a long history of traditional use for respiratory ailments, including coughs. Pine needle preparations, essential oils, and extracts have been used in European folk medicine for centuries as expectorants and to relieve symptoms of bronchitis and mild respiratory tract infections. The essential oil is commonly inhaled (via steam) or used in balms to ease breathing and suppress cough reflexes.

The active constituents believed to be responsible include volatile oils, primarily alpha- and beta-pinene, which may have mild antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant properties. However, while these properties are supported by basic pharmacological studies (mainly in vitro or in animal models), there is a lack of robust clinical trials in humans that specifically confirm efficacy for cough.

Modern herbal references and pharmacopeias (such as the German Commission E) recognize pine needle preparations for use in respiratory tract conditions, but the recommendations are mainly based on traditional practice and limited scientific plausibility rather than strong clinical evidence. Therefore, while use for cough is well established in traditional medicine, scientific validation is limited, yielding a relatively low evidence rating.

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