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

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Synopsis

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

Elder flower (Sambucus nigra) has a longstanding history of use in traditional European herbal medicine for the relief of respiratory ailments, including dry cough. Its use can be traced to various folk remedies, where elder flower infusions and syrups were commonly administered to ease symptoms of colds, coughs, and other upper respiratory tract infections. The rationale in traditional practice is based on the herb's reported diaphoretic (promoting sweating), anti-inflammatory, and expectorant properties, which are believed to help soothe irritated mucous membranes and promote the clearance of mucus, even in the context of a dry cough.

However, scientific validation for elder flower's efficacy specifically in treating dry cough is limited. While in vitro studies have demonstrated some anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of elder flower constituents (such as flavonoids and phenolic acids), there is a lack of robust clinical trials directly evaluating its impact on cough, especially dry cough. Most available research focuses on elderberry (the fruit) rather than the flower, and often targets influenza or general upper respiratory symptoms rather than cough per se. As such, the evidence supporting its use for dry cough rests primarily on traditional use and anecdotal reports rather than high-quality clinical data.

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