Evidence supporting the use of: Osha
For the health condition: Cough (dry)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Osha (Ligusticum porteri) has a long history of traditional use among Native American and Hispanic communities in North America for respiratory ailments, including dry coughs. The root is often prepared as a tea, tincture, or chewed directly to soothe throat irritation and coughs. Its use is based largely on ethnobotanical reports and traditional herbal medicinal practices rather than modern clinical studies. The traditional use is supported by anecdotal evidence and historical records, with some herbalists suggesting that Osha acts as an expectorant and soothes mucous membranes, which could help with dry cough. However, scientific validation for these claims remains limited. There are few, if any, rigorous clinical trials assessing Osha's efficacy for cough, and pharmacological studies are largely preliminary, identifying some compounds (such as ligustilide and other phthalides) with possible anti-inflammatory effects. Overall, while Osha is widely used in traditional medicine for dry cough, the current scientific evidence remains insufficient, and its effectiveness is primarily justified by tradition rather than modern research.
Other ingredients used for Cough (dry)
aloe veraalpha-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
Poppy
Other health conditions supported by Osha
Abdominal PainAngina
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Appetite (deficient)
Asthma
Bites and Stings
Bleeding (external)
Bronchitis
Bruises (healing)
Burns and Scalds
Canker Sores
Chest Pain
Chills
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cuts
Digestion (poor)
Edema
Energy (lack of)
Fever
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Headache (sinus)
Headache (tension)
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Insect Repellant