Evidence supporting the use of: Smartweed
For the health condition: Congestion (bronchial)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum and related species) has been used in various traditional herbal medicine systems, particularly in North America, for a range of ailments including congestion and respiratory complaints. Historical records and ethnobotanical surveys note that Native American groups and early herbalists sometimes prepared infusions or decoctions of smartweed to address symptoms of bronchial congestion, cough, or related respiratory issues. The rationale for its use appears to have been based on anecdotal experience rather than systematic observation, with the plant’s purported expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties cited as beneficial for clearing airways.
However, there is minimal to no robust scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of smartweed for bronchial congestion. Modern phytochemical analyses have identified compounds with potential anti-inflammatory activity in smartweed, but no clinical trials or well-designed studies have validated its effectiveness for respiratory conditions. Most references to its use are found in traditional herbal texts or ethnobotanical reports, not peer-reviewed scientific literature. As such, while the practice has traditional precedent, the quality and strength of evidence supporting smartweed’s use for bronchial congestion is very limited.
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 Smartweed
Abdominal PainAbscesses
Acid Indigestion
Arthritis
Asthma
Backache
Bites and Stings
Bleeding (external)
Blood Poisoning
Boils
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Burns and Scalds
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Chest Pain
Chills
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Convalescence
Cuts
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Diphtheria
Eczema
Edema
