Evidence supporting the use of: Capsaicin
For the health condition: Cough (dry)

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Synopsis

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

Capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers, has been investigated for its effects on cough, particularly chronic refractory or idiopathic cough. Several clinical studies and reviews provide moderate scientific evidence supporting its use. Capsaicin acts as an agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor, which is involved in the cough reflex. In research settings, inhaled capsaicin is often used to provoke cough in order to assess cough reflex sensitivity. However, repeated exposure to capsaicin can lead to desensitization of TRPV1 receptors and a reduction in cough reflex sensitivity. This desensitization effect forms the scientific basis for the therapeutic use of capsaicin in treating chronic dry cough.

Topical capsaicin preparations (e.g., capsaicin nasal spray or oral lozenges) have been studied in small clinical trials and case series, showing a reduction in cough frequency and severity in some patients with chronic refractory cough. These studies suggest that capsaicin may be particularly helpful in patients whose cough is triggered by hypersensitivity of the cough reflex.

While there is moderate scientific evidence supporting its use, the overall quality of evidence is limited by small sample sizes and variability in formulations and dosing. Nevertheless, clinical guidelines sometimes mention capsaicin as a potential treatment for refractory or unexplained chronic cough when other options have failed. Overall, capsaicin’s use for dry cough is supported by scientific evidence at a moderate level (3/5), but more large-scale studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.

More about Capsaicin
More about Cough (dry)

Other ingredients used for Cough (dry)

Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
apple
waterhyssop
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black currant
black pepper
radish
Indian frankincense
cat's claw
Chinese salvia root
cinnamon
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
heartwood
Indian tinospora
jujube
lemon
licorice root
marshmallow
nettle
ophiopogon root
oregano
parsley
pear
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
plum fruit
polygala root
pomegranate
thyme
vitamin C
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
sarsaparilla
boneset
mullein
tangerine
hyssop
atractylodes
Indian bael
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
fumaria parviflora
fritillaria
yerba santa
elecampane
dodder
sweet flag
menthol oil
Alcohol
Agastache
Anamarrhena
Ambergris
Acacia
Asarum heterotropoides
Aconite
Asafoetida
Aerva lanata
Asam gelugor
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Asarum sieboldii
Atractylone
Black Seed
Bermuda Grass
Bryonia
Bayleaf
Bael
Butternut
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
Bee products
Buddha's Hand
banana
Bassia scoparia
Burning Bush
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Cactus
Citron
Citrus
Cineole
Capsaicin
Cistus
Cubeb
Cowslip
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Calamus
Cinnamaldehyde
Clerodendrum indicum
Dragonhead
Diterpenes
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
Elder
Ephedrine
Fruit
Fritillary
Fernbush
Flavoglycosides
Fringed Pink
Glehnia littoralis
Guava
gum
Gallesia
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Honey
Honey loquat syrup
Hempnettle
Ilex
Long Pepper
Japanese Kadsura
Javanese Long Pepper
Khella
Loquat
Lactucarium
Lilium polyphyllum
Linden
Luffa
Lindera
Large-Leaved Linden
Loranthus
Lungwort
Ligusticum
Mentha haplocalyx
Mucilage
Melia
Mace
Maidenhair Fern
Nigella Seed
Nutmeg
Ophiopogon
Osha
Osmanthus
Phellodendron
Palmyra
Piper chaba
Polymorpha
Prepared Aconite Tuber
Platycodon
Pepper
Paris polyphylla
Pelargonium
Pimpinella
Poppy
Polygala
Ravinsara
Reed Herb
Rhododendron
Sabadilla
Stephania root
Sete sangrias
Solanaceae
Stemona
Shogaol
Sundew
Sedanenolide
Terpenoids
Theobromine
Tea
Thymoquinone
Tonka Bean
Thymol
Tragacanth
Tamarind
Vasicine
Vladimiria souliei
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Wax Gourd
Zedoary
Zingerone

Products containing Capsaicin

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