Evidence supporting the use of: Chinese Chive
For the health condition: Cough (damp)

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Synopsis

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

Chinese Chive (Allium tuberosum), known as "Jiu Cai" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is primarily justified for use in treating cough, especially related to "damp" conditions, by traditional rather than scientific evidence. In TCM, Chinese Chive is believed to have warming properties and is used to move qi, dispel cold, and reduce dampness. It has been historically included in herbal formulas aimed at treating coughs associated with dampness, phlegm, or cold, rather than dry or heat-related coughs. Ancient texts and materia medica, such as the "Compendium of Materia Medica" (Bencao Gangmu), describe its use for chest congestion, cough, and asthma, particularly when these symptoms are attributed to internal damp or cold.

However, modern scientific research directly investigating Chinese Chive's effects on cough is limited. While Allium species in general have demonstrated antimicrobial and expectorant properties in laboratory studies, there is insufficient clinical evidence specifically validating the efficacy of Chinese Chive for cough in humans. The use in cough treatment, especially with a TCM "damp" diagnosis, remains largely rooted in traditional practice and anecdotes rather than high-quality scientific trials. Therefore, the evidence supporting its use for cough (damp) is rated as moderate from a traditional standpoint but very limited from a scientific perspective.

More about Chinese Chive
More about Cough (damp)

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