Evidence supporting the use of: Japanese Kadsura
For the health condition: Cough (damp)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Japanese Kadsura (Kadsura japonica), known as "Heilaohu" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has a historical basis for use in treating respiratory issues such as cough, particularly those attributed to "dampness" (a pathological concept in TCM referring to excess moisture or phlegm in the body). Classical herbal texts and materia medica describe the use of Kadsura species to "dispel wind and damp," "invigorate blood," and "alleviate cough." It is sometimes included in polyherbal formulas aimed at resolving phlegm and relieving coughs associated with dampness, though it is not among the most common or primary herbs for this indication. The traditional rationale centers on Kadsura's purported ability to regulate qi, transform dampness, and resolve phlegm, which are considered essential in TCM for addressing coughs due to internal dampness. However, direct reference to its use specifically for cough (damp) is limited and less well-documented than for other herbs like Pinellia or Platycodon. Scientific research on Kadsura japonica focuses mainly on its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. There is scant direct modern clinical or pharmacological evidence supporting its efficacy for damp-related cough. Thus, its use for this condition remains primarily supported by traditional practice, with limited scientific validation.
Other ingredients used for Cough (damp)
aloe verablack currant
black pepper
radish
chen pi
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
green tea
licorice root
oregano
parsley
pear
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
pomegranate
quercetin
rhizome
thyme
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
hyssop
atractylodes
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
fritillaria
coltsfoot
eucalyptus
horehound
Anamarrhena
Asarum heterotropoides
Asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Asarum sieboldii
Atractylone
Bael
Butternut
Balloon Flower
Cineole
Common madia
Chekiang Fritillary
Chondrus
Dichrostachys glomerata
Galangal
Ivy