Evidence supporting the use of: Solanaceae
For the health condition: Cough (damp)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
The use of Solanaceae plants to treat cough, particularly "damp" cough (a concept rooted in traditional medicine systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine), is primarily justified by traditional rather than scientific evidence. Several genera and species within the Solanaceae family—such as Solanum (e.g., Solanum nigrum), Capsicum (e.g., chili peppers), and Withania (e.g., ashwagandha)—have historical use in various traditional medicine systems for respiratory ailments, including cough. In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, some Solanaceae plants are classified as expectorants or remedies to clear "dampness" and phlegm from the lungs. For example, Solanum nigrum is referenced in Chinese herbal texts for its purported effects on respiratory conditions, though specifics for "damp cough" are not always clearly delineated. However, the overall scientific evidence supporting the use of unspecified Solanaceae for cough, particularly damp cough, is weak. Most modern pharmacological studies focus on other aspects of these plants, such as their alkaloid content and toxicity, rather than their efficacy in treating cough. Therefore, while there is a clear tradition of use, robust clinical or pharmacological validation is lacking, and the evidence can be rated as modest (2/5).
Other ingredients used for Cough (damp)
AdenophoraAllium tuberosum
Aloe vera
alpinia galangal
Anamarrhena
anise
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
atractylodes
atractylone
bael
balloon flower
black currant
black pepper
butternut
Chekiang Fritillary
chen pi
Chondrus
cineole
clove
coltsfoot
common madia
cowage seed
Dichrostachys glomerata
elderberry
eucalyptus
ferula assafoetida
fritillaria
Galangal
Gallesia
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
green tea
Grindelia
honey
horehound
hyssop
inula racemosa
Ivy
Japanese kadsura
Javanese Long Pepper
licorice root
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Lilium polyphyllum
long pepper
loquat
Loranthus
Mentha haplocalyx
Monoterpenes
Mucolase
oregano
Osha
parsley
pear
perilla
phellodendron amurense
Pinellia ternata
pistacia integerrima gall
Platycodon
platycodon root
pomegranate
quercetin
radish
ravinsara
rhizome
Shogaol
Solanaceae
Sundew
Tamarind
thyme
turmeric
Vasicine
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Visnea Mocanera
Wax Gourd
Zedoary
zhejiang fritillary
Zinc
Other health conditions supported by Solanaceae
Abdominal PainAlzheimer's Disease
Arthritis
Asthma
Backache
Bites and Stings
Bleeding (external)
Boils
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Burns and Scalds
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Chest Pain
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cuts
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diarrhea
