Evidence supporting the use of: White Pepper
For the health condition: Cough (dry)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
White pepper (Piper nigrum) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and some folk remedies, for treating respiratory ailments including dry cough. In these systems, white pepper is often combined with honey or other ingredients and used as a home remedy believed to stimulate mucus production, ease throat irritation, and provide warmth to the respiratory tract. The rationale is based on its pungent, warming properties, which are thought to help "disperse cold" and "open the airways," according to TCM theory.
However, scientific validation for these traditional uses is limited. While black and white pepper both contain piperine, which has demonstrated some anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities in laboratory studies, there is a lack of rigorous clinical trials specifically evaluating white pepper's effectiveness for cough, especially dry cough. Most evidence remains anecdotal or rooted in traditional practice, rather than supported by modern pharmacological data.
In summary, white pepper’s use for dry cough is justified by traditional practices, but current scientific evidence supporting this application is weak. Further research would be needed to substantiate its efficacy and safety for this purpose.
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 White Pepper
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Appetite (deficient)
Belching
Circulation (poor)
Colds (general)
Constipation (adults)
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Digestion (poor)
Gas and Bloating
Indigestion
Inflammation
Pain (general remedies for)
Sinus Infection
Sore Throat