Evidence supporting the use of: Iridoids
For the health condition: Congestion (bronchial)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Iridoids are a class of secondary metabolites found in a variety of medicinal plants, such as Plantago spp., Gentiana spp., and Harpagophytum procumbens (devil’s claw). Their use for bronchial congestion is primarily grounded in traditional medicine rather than robust scientific evidence. Historically, plants containing iridoids have been employed in traditional herbal remedies for respiratory complaints, including coughs, colds, and bronchial congestion. For example, Plantago lanceolata (plantain), rich in iridoids like aucubin, has been used in European folk medicine as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory to soothe bronchial irritation and facilitate mucus clearance. Similarly, certain Chinese and Ayurvedic herbal medicines containing iridoid-rich plants are traditionally used to support lung health and relieve congestion.
However, while some laboratory studies have indicated that iridoids may possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, direct clinical evidence supporting their efficacy in treating bronchial congestion is limited. Most of the available data are derived from in vitro or animal studies, and few controlled human trials have been conducted. Therefore, the use of iridoids for bronchial congestion is justified mainly by traditional use, with a moderate level of anecdotal support and a plausible biological rationale, but lacking strong scientific validation.
Other ingredients used for Congestion (bronchial)
Abies spectabilisAconite
Adenophora
Adrenergic amines
Agastache
Alantolactone
Alcohol
Allicin
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl sulfide
Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
Amor seco
Anamarrhena
andrographolide
Angelica
anise
Ardisia
Arisaema
asafoetida
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
aster root
Asteraceae
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
Baikal Skullcap
balloon flower
balsam
Baphicacanthus cusia
Barleria
basil
bayleaf
bee products
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
berry
beta-pinene
bicarbonate
Bidens pilosa
bisabolene
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
black cumin
black currant
black galingale
black pepper
black salt
black seed
Black spruce
blackboard tree
Blepharis
Bombax
boneset
borage
borneol
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
buckthorn
Buddha\'s hand
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
caffeine
cajuput
calamus
Camellia sinensis
capsaicinoids
capsicum
cardamom
Carthamus
cayenne pepper
chamomile
chen pi
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese raisintree
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
Chondrus
chrysanthemum
cineole
cinnamaldehyde
Cistus
Citrus
Clerodendrum trichotomum
clove
coltsfoot
Coptis chinensis
cowage seed
cowherb
culvers Root
Curcuma
curcumen
curry leaf
diterpenes
dragonhead
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Eclipta
Elder
elderberry
elecampane
Ephedra
ephedrine
essential oil blend
eucalyptus
European Elder
fang-feng
fat liver oil
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
forsythia
frankincense
fritillaria
Galangal
Gallesia
gamma-terpinene
Gardenia jasminoides
garlic bulb
giant blazingstar
ginger
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Gnaphalium
grape
green tea
Guaco
heal-all
Heartsease
Hedyotis
Helicteres isora
honey
horehound
Horsemint
horseradish
Houttuynia
hyssop
Indian frankincense
Indian tinospora
inula racemosa
iridoids
Isatis
Ivy
jungli-bean
juniper berries
Khella
labrador tea
Laggera pterodonta
Ledebouriella
lemongrass
Lewis's monkey flower
lichen
licorice root
Ligusticum
limonene
linalool
Litsea
Lomatium
long pepper
lovage
malabar nut
mallow
Marsh Tea
Meadow sage
Menthol oil
Methylxanthine
Monoterpenes
Mountain Pepper
Mucolase
Mugwort
Mullein
Mustard
mustard seed
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Neoandrographolides
Nigella seed
Nutmeg
onion
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
oregano
oriental arborvitae
Oroxylum indicum
Orris
Osha
Paris polyphylla
Pepper
perilla
Peucedanum
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Pinellia ternata
Piper nigrum
Piper retrofractum
Platycodon
platycodon root
Pluchea
Polygonum
pomegranate
prepared aconite tuber
Pyrrosia
quercetin
ravinsara
rosemary
Rubiaceae
Sagebrush
Sambucus nigra
Sandalwood
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
Servicetree
Sesquiterpenes
shiitake mushroom
Sichuan Lovage
Sichuan pepper
siler root
Sinigrin
Smartweed
Solanum indicum
Sophora
soursop
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
spruce
squawvine
Stereospermum
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sundew
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweet flag
Szechuan lovage
Tamaricaceae
Terpinolene
thyme
Thymus
Trichosanthes
turmeric
Vasicine
Vasicinone
Vervain
Viola
Violet
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
Vladimiria souliei
Waterhyssop
Winter Savory
Wulinshen
Yellow root
Yerba buena
Yerba santa
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
Zingerone
Zingiberene
Other health conditions supported by iridoids
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Anxiety
Arthritis
Asthma
Backache
Bronchitis
Burns and Scalds
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Congestion (bronchial)
Cuts
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Eczema
Fatigue
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Headache (general)
Hypertension
Inflammation
Influenza
Liver Detoxification
Migraine
