Synopsis

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

Tea, particularly herbal or mixed teas, has a long history of traditional use in the management of coughs, including spastic (or spasmodic) coughs. Across various cultures, combinations of herbs brewed as tea—such as thyme, licorice root, ginger, and peppermint—have been consumed for their soothing effects on the throat and purported antitussive (cough-suppressing) properties. Traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Western herbalism frequently recommend such teas, often citing their ability to reduce throat irritation, relax bronchial muscles, or thin mucus. However, the evidence supporting the efficacy of these mixed herbal teas is largely anecdotal or based on centuries of empirical use rather than rigorous scientific studies. While individual herbs found in these teas have some laboratory or clinical evidence suggesting mild benefit for cough, the efficacy of mixed tea preparations for specifically spastic cough lacks high-quality, controlled clinical trials. Most recommendations for their use are thus rooted in tradition rather than strong scientific validation, and their effectiveness likely varies depending on the ingredients and the cause of the cough. Overall, while mixed teas are widely used and generally considered safe, their use for spastic cough is best characterized as traditional, with moderate but not robust supporting evidence.

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