Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin C
For the health condition: Cough (general)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is commonly used to support immune function and is sometimes recommended for the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infections, including coughs related to the common cold. The scientific evidence supporting its use for cough specifically is modest. Several meta-analyses and systematic reviews have examined the effects of vitamin C on the duration and severity of common cold symptoms. The general consensus is that regular vitamin C supplementation (typically at doses of 200 mg/day or more) can slightly reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms, including cough, particularly in people under physical stress (e.g., athletes, soldiers). However, taking vitamin C after the onset of symptoms has not consistently shown benefit in reducing cough duration or intensity.
Historically, vitamin C has been valued for its role in immune health, and its popularity for treating colds and coughs can be traced back to the advocacy of Linus Pauling in the 1970s. Despite its widespread use, high-quality, large-scale clinical trials have not confirmed a strong effect on cough itself. The evidence is therefore rated as moderate to low (2/5) for cough relief, with the main benefits being minor reductions in symptom duration rather than targeted cough suppression. Current guidelines do not recommend vitamin C as a primary treatment for cough, but it may offer mild symptomatic support as part of general immune support.
Other ingredients used for Cough (general)
AllspiceAloe vera
alpha-pinene
apple
Waterhyssop
bamboo
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
radish
Indian frankincense
carrot
cassia bark
cat's claw
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
cinnamon
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
fennel
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
grape
Greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
heartwood
Indian tinospora
jujube
lemon
licorice root
lovage
Marshmallow
Nettle
ophiopogon root
orange
oregano
parsley
pear
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
plum fruit
polygala root
pomegranate
pumpkin
raspberry
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
vitamin C
zhejiang fritillary
Zinc
sarsaparilla
boneset
Mullein
hyssop
atractylodes
lobelia
capsicum
Indian bael
Neem tree
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
Hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
Fumaria parviflora
prickly ash
fritillaria
lemongrass
Yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
root tuber
silk tree
juniper berries
amber
dodder
sweet flag
hyacinth bean
eucalyptus
Menthol oil
peach
Abies spectabilis
horehound
soursop
Alcohol
Aralia
apple cider vinegar
Agastache
Anamarrhena
alpha-terpineol
ambergris
Ardisia
Angelica
Acacia
Agave
Allicin
anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
asafoetida
Ajuga
andrographolide
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
Asam gelugor
arrowroot
Andrographis
Alstonia scholaris
Allyl sulfide
aspen
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Aniseed myrtle
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
atractylone
black seed
bermuda grass
Bryonia
Blepharis
bayleaf
blackbrush
big quaking grass
Bougainvillea
bael
butternut
bindweed
berry
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
bee products
borassus palm
Buddha\'s hand
Borassus aethiopum
borage
banana
Bassia scoparia
burning bush
balloon flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Boerhavia diffusa
coconut
cactus
citron
Citrus
cineole
capsaicin
Chenopodium
Cistus
common madia
cubeb
cowslip
Chaenomeles lagenaria
calamus
Coin-leaf desmodium
Cyanthillium cinereum
cinnamaldehyde
costus
Chekiang Fritillary
cola nut
Celosia
Clerodendrum indicum
culvers Root
currant
Chondrus
dragonhead
diterpenes
Desmodium
Dichrostachys glomerata
empresstree
English horsemint
Echinacea
Elder
European field elm
ephedrine
Embelia
fig
fruit
fritillary
fernbush
flavoglycosides
Glehnia littoralis
Guava
Guaco
gum
garlic
Grindelia
Gallesia
garden cress
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Galangal
Glycyrrhizin
Himalayan salt
honey
Hemidesmus
honey loquat syrup
Helicteres isora
Hempnettle
Ilex
long pepper
Ivy
Japanese kadsura
Jatoba
jungli-bean
Javanese Long Pepper
Khella
Kokilaksha
loquat
lime
Lactucarium
Lebbek
Lilium polyphyllum
linden
ligustilides
longan
luffa
Lindera
Leptadenia
Large-leaved linden
lily
Loranthus
lungwort
Ligusticum
Mentha haplocalyx
Mesua
Marjoram
Marsh Tea
Mucilage
Melia
mace
Maidenhair Fern
Meadow sage
Meadowsweet
marigold
Mucolase
Nigella seed
Night jessamine
Nymphaea nouchali
Nutmeg
Ophiopogon
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Oldenlandia diffusa
Osmanthus
Oryza sativa
Phellodendron
Premna
Piper chaba
polymorpha
Pinellia ternata
Polypodium
Platycodon
Pepper
Paris polyphylla
Pelargonium
Pyrrosia
Piper retrofractum
Polygonatum
Pimpinella
poppy
Polygala
Petiveria
Plectranthus amboinicus
rose
ravinsara
Rhododendron
Sabadilla
Sicklepod
Stephania root
Sete sangrias
Solanaceae
Spikenard
Stemona
Southern Tsangshu
Sinigrin
Shogaol
Semecarpus anacardium
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Sumac
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sundew
Sargassum
Sedanenolide
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Theobromine
Tea
Thymoquinone
Traveler's Joy
Thymol
Tragacanth
Tamarind
Ulmus
Visnea Mocanera
Vasicine
Vladimiria souliei
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
White Tea
Wax Gourd
Yuzu
Yerba buena
Zucchini
Zedoary
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by vitamin C
AbrasionsAbscesses
Acne
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Addictions (general remedies for)
Addison's Disease
Adrenal Fatigue
Age Spots
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Allergies (food)
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Anal Fistula or Fissure
Anemia
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Antibiotics (side effects of)
Anxiety
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Bell's Palsy
Bites and Stings
Bladder Infection
Bleeding (external)
Bleeding (internal)
Blood Poisoning
Boils
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Bruises (prevention)
Burns and Scalds
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Capillary Weakness
Carbuncles
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cataracts
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemical Poisoning
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Chicken Pox
Cholesterol (high)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colon (atonic)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Conjunctivitis
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Copper Toxicity
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cuts
Cystic Breast Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Debility
Dementia
Denture Sores
Depression
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Environmental Pollution
Epstein Barr Virus
Eye Problems
Eyesight (poor)
Fatigue
Fatty Liver Disease
Free Radical Damage
Gall Stones
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Glaucoma
Gonorrhea
Gout
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Herpes
Hot Flashes
Hypertension
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Knees (weak)
Laryngitis
Lead Poisoning
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Leukemia
Ligaments (torn or injured)
Liver Detoxification
Lyme Disease
Macular Degeneration
Mastitis
Measles
Memory and Brain Function
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
Metabolic Syndrome
Mononucleosis
Mumps
Nose Bleeds
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
PMS (general)
PMS Type C
PMS Type H
Pneumonia
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Prolapsed Uterus
Prostatitis
Radiation Sickness
Rashes and Hives
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic
Rosacea
Scars / Scar Tissue
Schizophrenia
Scratches and Abrasions
Scurvy
Shingles
Shock
Sinus Infection
Skin (infections)
Skin Care (general)
Sore Throat
Spider Veins
Spinal Disks
Sprains
Strep Throat
Stretch Marks
Sunburn
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Teeth (loose)
Tendonitis
Thrush
Tickle in Throat
Tonsillitis
Tooth Extraction
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Ulcerations (external)
Ulcers
Uric Acid Retention
Urinary Tract Infections
Vaginitis
Varicose Veins
Warts
Wounds and Sores
Wrinkles
Products containing vitamin C
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free Original Formula)
Nature's Sunshine Adrenal Support
Nature's Sunshine Bowel Detox
Nature's Sunshine Children's Elderberry Immune
Nature's Sunshine Children's MultiVitamin & Mineral
Nature's Sunshine Cortisol Formula (Nature's Cortisol Formula)
Nature's Sunshine Defense Maintenance
Nature's Sunshine Detox Basics
Nature's Sunshine Dieter's Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Glandular System
Nature's Sunshine Grapine With Protectors (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine Hepatic System
Nature's Sunshine Iron (Chelated)
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free) NEW!
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas
Nature's Sunshine Marine Collagen
Nature's Sunshine Marine Glo Collagen
Nature's Sunshine Master Gland Formula®
Nature's Sunshine Mega-Chel
Nature's Sunshine Milk Thistle Combination
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Prenatal
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Harvest
Nature's Sunshine Nervous System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Nutri-Calm
Nature's Sunshine Nutri-Calm
Nature's Sunshine Perfect Eyes
Nature's Sunshine Power Beets Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Beets To-Go Packs
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens To-Go
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Immune
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Revive
Nature's Sunshine Structural System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental (Without Iron)
Nature's Sunshine Super Trio
Nature's Sunshine Vari-Gone
Nature's Sunshine Vitamin C (1000 mg, Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Vitamin C (1000 mg, Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Vitamin C Ascorbates
Nature's Sunshine Chewable Vitamin C
Nature's Sunshine Citrus Bioflavonoids (Vitamin C)
Nature's Sunshine Zinc Lozenge
