Peucedanum species, particularly Peucedanum praeruptorum (commonly known as Qian Hu in traditional Chinese medicine), have a long history of use in East Asian herbal traditions to treat respiratory conditions such as colds accompanied by fever, cough, and phlegm. In classical Chinese medicine texts, Peucedanum is described as having properties that "dispel wind-heat" and "descend lung qi," making it a go-to remedy for early-stage febrile illnesses with symptoms of cough and sore throat. Its use is well-documented in historical materia medica such as the "Shennong Bencao Jing" and remains a common component of several traditional formulas for upper respiratory tract infections.

From a scientific perspective, there is limited clinical research directly validating Peucedanum’s effectiveness for treating colds with fever in humans. Laboratory studies have identified bioactive compounds, such as coumarins (e.g., praeruptorin A), with anti-inflammatory and mild immunomodulatory effects, and some in vitro evidence suggests potential antiviral activity. However, these findings are preliminary, and robust human trials are lacking. Thus, while the traditional use is well established and there is some pharmacological rationale, the overall evidence rating remains low due to insufficient clinical data.