Synopsis

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

Chinese salvia root (Salvia miltiorrhiza, also known as Danshen) has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is most commonly employed to support cardiovascular health and improve blood circulation. Its use for respiratory conditions, including spastic cough (cough with bronchospasm), is less prominent but does appear in some traditional herbal combinations. Historical TCM texts sometimes include Danshen as part of multi-herb formulas for conditions involving heat and stagnation in the chest, which may correlate to coughs with chest discomfort and spasm. However, Danshen is not typically a primary herb for cough in classical TCM; herbs such as Platycodon (Jiegeng), Peucedanum (Qianhu), and licorice (Gancao) are more commonly used for that purpose.

In terms of scientific evidence, there is very limited research exploring the direct effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on cough, especially spastic or bronchospastic cough. Some pharmacological studies suggest Danshen has anti-inflammatory and smooth muscle relaxant properties, which could theoretically be beneficial for coughs involving airway spasm. However, such effects have been observed mainly in cardiovascular or general anti-inflammatory contexts, not specifically for cough treatment. To date, there are no high-quality clinical trials demonstrating efficacy for this indication.

In summary, while there is some traditional precedent for including Chinese salvia root in formulas addressing cough, it is not a mainstay herb for this condition, and the supporting evidence—both historical and scientific—is weak.

More about Chinese salvia root
More about Cough (spastic)

Other ingredients used for Cough (spastic)

Other health conditions supported by Chinese salvia root

Products containing Chinese salvia root

Nature's Sunshine Blood Stimulator TCM
Nature's Sunshine Chinese TCM Negative Pack