Evidence supporting the use of: Zinc
For the health condition: Cough (general)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Zinc has been studied for its role in supporting the immune system and potentially reducing the duration and severity of certain respiratory tract infections, including coughs associated with the common cold. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses suggest that zinc, particularly in the form of lozenges, may reduce the duration of cough and other symptoms when taken within 24 hours of onset of a cold. The proposed mechanism is that zinc ions may inhibit the replication of rhinoviruses (the most common viral cause of colds) and stabilize cell membranes, thereby reducing inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.
However, the evidence is mixed. Some studies show modest benefits, while others fail to find significant effects. A 2020 Cochrane review concluded that zinc may reduce the duration of cold symptoms in healthy adults, but results were inconsistent across studies, and there was insufficient evidence to recommend its routine use for cough alone. There is little evidence to support the use of zinc for coughs unrelated to viral respiratory infections.
Overall, while zinc has some scientific backing for reducing cough associated with the common cold, the effect is generally modest, and routine use is not universally endorsed by health authorities. High doses can cause side effects, so zinc supplementation should be used cautiously. The evidence rating reflects that while there is some scientific support, it is not strong or unequivocal.
Other ingredients used for Cough (general)
Abies spectabilisAbrus
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 Zinc
AbrasionsAcne
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Anemia
Anorexia
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Athlete's Foot
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Birth Defects (prevention)
Bites and Stings
Blisters
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bruises (healing)
Bulimia
Burns and Scalds
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cataracts
Celiac Disease
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Cholera
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colitis
Concentration (poor)
Congestion
Congestive Heart Failure
Conjunctivitis
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Copper Toxicity
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cradle Cap
Cramps (menstrual)
Crohn's Disease
Cuts
Cystic Fibrosis
Dandruff
Debility
Dehydration
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Duodenal Ulcers
Dysentery
Eczema
Endometriosis
Energy (lack of)
Enteritis
Epstein Barr Virus
Erectile Dysfunction
Exercise
Eye Infections
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Eyes (spots before)
Eyesight (poor)
Failure to Thrive
Fat Metabolism (poor)
Fatty Liver Disease
Fibrosis
Fingernails (weak or brittle)
Foot Odor
Free Radical Damage
Gastritis
Giardia
Gingivitis
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Halitosis
Hashimoto's Disease
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Herpes
Hypothyroid
Impetigo
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Insomnia
Irritability
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Itching (rectal)
Jock Itch
Labor and Delivery
Lead Poisoning
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Liver Detoxification
Lupus
Macular Degeneration
Mastitis
Measles
Memory and Brain Function
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mononucleosis
Mood Swings
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Night Blindness
Nursing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Poison Ivy or Oak
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Premature Ejaculation
Progesterone (low)
Prostatitis
Protein Digestion (poor)
Psoriasis
Puberty (hormone balancer)
Rashes and Hives
Rhinitis
Rosacea
Scars / Scar Tissue
Schizophrenia
Scratches and Abrasions
Seborrhea
Sex Drive (low)
Shingles
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sinus Infection
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin (infections)
Skin (oily)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Smell (loss of)
Sore or Geographic Tongue
Sore Throat
Stress
Stye
Sugar Cravings
Sunburn
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Syphilis
Teeth (loose)
Testosterone (low)
Thinking (cloudy)
Tickle in Throat
Tonsillitis
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Ulcerations (external)
Ulcers
Vitiligo
Warts
Wasting
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Products containing Zinc
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free Original Formula)
Nature's Sunshine 5-HTP Power
Nature's Sunshine Adrenal Support
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine Bowel Detox
Nature's Sunshine Calcium-Magnesium (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine Candida Clear
Nature's Sunshine Cellular Energy
Nature's Sunshine Children's Elderberry Immune
Nature's Sunshine Children's MultiVitamin & Mineral
Nature's Sunshine Defense Maintenance
Nature's Sunshine Dieter's Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Glandular System
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas (Sugar Free) NEW!
Nature's Sunshine Love and Peas
Nature's Sunshine Master Gland Formula®
Nature's Sunshine Mega-Chel
Nature's Sunshine Men's Formula (With Lycopene)
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 Perfect Eyes
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Greens To-Go
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal Chocolate
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal Vanilla
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Immune
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 Target TS-II Formula
Nature's Sunshine Thyroid Support
Nature's Sunshine Ultrabiome DTX
Nature's Sunshine VitaWave
Nature's Sunshine Yeast/Fungal Detox
Nature's Sunshine Zinc
Nature's Sunshine Zinc Lozenge
