Evidence supporting the use of: Turmeric
For the health condition: Cough (general)

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Synopsis

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

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for treating respiratory ailments, including cough. The traditional rationale is based on turmeric’s reputed anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and soothing properties. In Ayurvedic practices, turmeric mixed with warm milk (often called "golden milk") is a common home remedy for coughs and sore throats. The key bioactive compound in turmeric, curcumin, is thought to help reduce irritation in the throat and may assist in managing symptoms associated with cough.

However, scientific evidence supporting turmeric’s efficacy specifically for treating cough is limited. While some in vitro and animal studies suggest that curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, direct clinical studies on turmeric or curcumin for cough in humans are lacking. A few small studies have explored turmeric’s benefits in respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis, but these are not directly focused on cough.

Overall, while tradition strongly supports the use of turmeric for cough, robust scientific validation is lacking. For general cough, turmeric remains a popular and generally safe home remedy, but its efficacy is primarily supported by longstanding traditional use rather than high-quality clinical evidence.

More about turmeric
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Other ingredients used for Cough (general)

Abies spectabilis
Abrus
Acacia
Aconite
Adenophora
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
Agastache
Agave
Ajuga
Alantolactone
Albizia
Alchornea
Alcohol
Allicin
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl sulfide
Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
Alstonia scholaris
amber
ambergris
Amor seco
Anamarrhena
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
anise
Aniseed myrtle
apple
apple cider vinegar
Aralia
Ardisia
arrowroot
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
aspen
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
balloon flower
bamboo
banana
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee products
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
Bergenia
bermuda grass
berry
beta-pinene
big quaking grass
bindweed
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
black salt
black seed
blackbrush
Blepharis
Boerhavia diffusa
boneset
borage
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
Bougainvillea
Bryonia
Buddha\'s hand
burning bush
butternut
cactus
calamus
capsaicin
capsicum
carrot
cassia bark
cat's claw
Celosia
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Chekiang Fritillary
chen pi
Chenopodium
Chinese salvia root
Chondrus
cineole
cinnamaldehyde
cinnamon
Cistus
citron
Citrus
Clerodendrum indicum
clove
coconut
Coin-leaf desmodium
cola nut
coltsfoot
common madia
costus
cowage seed
cowslip
cubeb
culvers Root
currant
Cyanthillium cinereum
Desmodium
Dichrostachys glomerata
diterpenes
dodder
dragonhead
Echinacea
Elder
elderberry
elecampane
Embelia
empresstree
English horsemint
ephedrine
eucalyptus
European field elm
fennel
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
fig
flavoglycosides
fritillaria
fritillary
fruit
Fumaria parviflora
Galangal
Gallesia
garden cress
garlic
garlic bulb
ginger
Glehnia littoralis
glehnia root
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Glycyrrhizin
grape
Greek mountain tea
green tea
Grindelia
Guaco
Guava
gum
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
Helicteres isora
Hemidesmus
Hempnettle
Himalayan salt
honey
honey loquat syrup
horehound
hyacinth bean
hyssop
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian frankincense
Indian tinospora
inula racemosa
Ivy
Japanese kadsura
Jatoba
Javanese Long Pepper
jujube
jungli-bean
juniper berries
Khella
Kokilaksha
Lactucarium
Large-leaved linden
Lebbek
lemon
lemongrass
Leptadenia
licorice root
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Lilium polyphyllum
lily
lime
linden
Lindera
lobelia
long pepper
longan
loquat
Loranthus
lovage
luffa
lungwort
mace
Maidenhair Fern
malabar nut
marigold
Marjoram
Marsh Tea
Marshmallow
Meadow sage
Meadowsweet
Melia
Mentha haplocalyx
Menthol oil
Mesua
Mucilage
Mucolase
Mullein
Neem tree
Nettle
Nigella seed
Night jessamine
Nutmeg
Nymphaea nouchali
Oldenlandia diffusa
onion
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
orange
oregano
Oroxylum indicum
Oryza sativa
Osha
Osmanthus
Paris polyphylla
parsley
peach
pear
Pelargonium
Pepper
perilla
Petiveria
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Pimpinella
Pinellia ternata
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
pistacia integerrima gall
Platycodon
platycodon root
Plectranthus amboinicus
plum fruit
Polygala
polygala root
Polygonatum
polymorpha
Polypodium
pomegranate
poppy
Premna
prickly ash
pumpkin
punarnava
Pyrrosia
radish
raspberry
ravinsara
Rhododendron
root tuber
rose
Sabadilla
Sargassum
sarsaparilla
Sedanenolide
Semecarpus anacardium
Sete sangrias
Shogaol
Sicklepod
silk tree
Sinigrin
Solanaceae
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
Spikenard
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stemona
Stephania root
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sumac
Sundew
sweet flag
Tamarind
Tea
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Theobromine
thyme
Thymol
Thymoquinone
Tragacanth
Traveler's Joy
turmeric
Ulmus
Vasicine
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
Vladimiria souliei
Waterhyssop
Wax Gourd
White Tea
Yerba buena
Yerba santa
Yuzu
Zedoary
zhejiang fritillary
Zinc
Zingerone
Zucchini

Other health conditions supported by turmeric

Abdominal Pain
Abrasions
Abscesses
Acid Indigestion
Acne
Adenitis
Afterbirth Pain
Age Spots
Aging (prevention)
Allergies (food)
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Anal Fistula or Fissure
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bites and Stings
Bladder Infection
Blood Clots (prevention of)
Blood in Stool
Body Odor
Boils
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Burns and Scalds
Bursitis
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Carbuncles
Cartilage Damage
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Chest Pain
Chicken Pox
Cholera
Cholesterol (high)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Circulation (poor)
Circulation (to the brain)
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colic (adults)
Colitis
Colon (atonic)
Colon (spastic)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (lymphatic)
Congestion (sinus)
Conjunctivitis
Constipation (adults)
Constipation (children)
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Convulsions
Corns
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cradle Cap
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Crohn's Disease
Cuts
Cystic Breast Disease
Cysts
Dandruff
Debility
Dementia
Denture Sores
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Diphtheria
Dislocation
Diverticulitis
Duodenal Ulcers
Dyspepsia
Edema
Endometriosis
Enteritis
Epstein Barr Virus
Eye Infections
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Eyesight (poor)
Fat Metabolism (poor)
Fatigue
Fatty Liver Disease
Fever
Fibroids (uterine)
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Fibrosis
Free Radical Damage
Fungal Infections
Gall Bladder (sluggish or removed)
Gall Stones
Gangrene
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Giardia
Gingivitis
Glands (swollen lymph)
Glaucoma
Goiter
Gonorrhea
Gout
Halitosis
Hangover
Hashimoto's Disease
Headache (general)
Headache (sinus)
Headache (tension)
Headache (tension)
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Hernias
Herpes
Impetigo
Indigestion
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Itching (rectal)
Jaundice (adults)
Jaundice (infants)
Jock Itch
Kidney Infection
Knees (weak)
Laryngitis
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Leukemia
Lice
Ligaments (torn or injured)
Liver Detoxification
Lupus
Lyme Disease
Lymph Nodes or Glands (swollen)
Lymphoma
Macular Degeneration
Malaria
Mastitis
Measles
Melanoma
Memory and Brain Function
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Mood Swings
Multiple Sclerosis
Mumps
Muscular Dystrophy
Nephritis
Nerve Damage
Neuralgia and Neuritis
Oral Surgery
Ovarian Pain
Overacidity
Pain (general remedies for)
Paralysis
Parasites (general)
Pets (supplements for)
Phlebitis
Pleurisy
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Polyps
Psoriasis
Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scabies
Scars / Scar Tissue
Sciatica
Scratches and Abrasions
Senility
Skin (infections)
Slivers
Snake Bite
Sprains
Staph Infections
Stiff Neck
Stye
Tendonitis