Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3

Rhizome—a general term often referring to plant parts such as Zingiber officinale (ginger rhizome), Pinellia ternata (Ban Xia), or Zingiberis Rhizoma (Gan Jiang)—is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat coughs, particularly those associated with "dampness." In TCM, a "damp cough" refers to symptoms like a productive cough with phlegm, chest congestion, and a feeling of heaviness, often attributed to internal dampness or phlegm accumulation. Herbs like Ban Xia (Pinellia Rhizome) and ginger rhizome are included in classic formulas such as Er Chen Tang and Ban Xia Hou Po Tang, both prescribed for coughs with a damp or phlegmy component. These uses are documented in centuries-old texts, including the Shennong Bencao Jing and Compendium of Materia Medica (Li Shizhen, 16th century).

Modern scientific evidence is limited but suggests some rhizomes (notably ginger) possess anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties in vitro and in animal models, which could contribute to their traditional use against cough. However, robust clinical trials validating rhizome efficacy in treating damp cough in humans are lacking. Thus, while there is some preliminary scientific rationale, the primary justification for using rhizomes in this context remains rooted in traditional practice, with moderate to strong historical evidence (rating: 3).

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