Evidence supporting the use of: Honey loquat syrup
For the health condition: Cough (general)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Honey loquat syrup, often marketed as "Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa" and similar formulas, is primarily justified by traditional use for treating coughs and soothing sore throats. Originating in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this syrup combines extracts from loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) leaves with honey and various herbs. In TCM, loquat leaves are believed to moisten the lungs, stop cough, and clear phlegm, while honey is widely recognized for its demulcent and soothing properties.
There is limited scientific research specifically evaluating honey loquat syrup as a formulated product for cough, although some individual components have shown potential benefits. Honey itself has moderate evidence (rated 2-3) for soothing cough and throat irritation, particularly in children, as recognized by some clinical guidelines. Loquat leaves contain compounds (such as triterpenes and flavonoids) that have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in laboratory studies, but robust human clinical data are lacking.
Overall, while honey loquat syrup’s use is deeply rooted in traditional practice and there is some mechanistic plausibility, especially for honey, the direct scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of the combined syrup for cough relief is limited to low-quality studies and anecdotal reports. Therefore, its use is best characterized as traditional, with a moderate (2/5) evidence rating.
Other ingredients used for Cough (general)
AllspiceAloe vera
alpha-pinene
apple
waterhyssop
bamboo
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
radish
Indian frankincense
carrot
cassia bark
cat's claw
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
cinnamon
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
fennel
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
grape
greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
heartwood
Indian tinospora
jujube
lemon
licorice root
lovage
marshmallow
nettle
ophiopogon root
orange
oregano
parsley
pear
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
plum fruit
polygala root
pomegranate
pumpkin
raspberry
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
vitamin C
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
sarsaparilla
boneset
mullein
tangerine
hyssop
atractylodes
lobelia
capsicum
Indian bael
neem tree
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
fumaria parviflora
prickly ash
fritillaria
lemongrass
yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
root tuber
silk tree
juniper berries
amber
dodder
sweet flag
hyacinth bean
eucalyptus
menthol oil
peach
Abies spectabilis
horehound
soursop
Alcohol
Aralia
Apple Cider Vinegar
Agastache
Anamarrhena
Alpha-terpineol
Ambergris
Ardisia
Angelica
Acacia
Agave
Allicin
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Asafoetida
Ajuga
Andrographolide
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
Asam gelugor
Arrowroot
Andrographis
Alsonia scholaris
Allyl Sulfide
Aspen
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Aniseed myrtle
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
Atractylone
Black Seed
Bermuda Grass
Bryonia
Blepharis
Bayleaf
Blackbrush
Big Quaking Grass
Bougainvillea
Bael
Butternut
Bindweed
berry
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
Bee products
Borassus Palm
Buddha's Hand
Borassus aethiopum
Borage
banana
Bassia scoparia
Burning Bush
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Boerhavia diffusa
Coconut
Cactus
Citron
Citrus
Cineole
Capsaicin
Chenopodium
Cistus
Common madia
Cubeb
Cowslip
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Calamus
Coin-leaf desmodium
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cinnamaldehyde
Costus
Chekiang Fritillary
cola nut
Celosia
Clerodendrum indicum
Culvers Root
Currant
Chondrus
Dragonhead
Diterpenes
Desmodium
Dichrostachys glomerata
Empresstree
English Horsemint
Echinacea
Elder
European Field Elm
Ephedrine
Embelia
Fig
Fruit
Fritillary
Fernbush
Flavoglycosides
Glehnia littoralis
Guava
Guaco
gum
Garlic
Grindelia
Gallesia
Garden Cress
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Galangal
Glycyrrhizin
Himalayan Salt
Honey
Hemidesmus
Honey loquat syrup
Helicteres isora
Hempnettle
Ilex
Long Pepper
Ivy
Japanese Kadsura
Jatoba
Jungli-bean
Javanese Long Pepper
Khella
Kokilaksha
Loquat
Lime
Lactucarium
Lebbek
Lilium polyphyllum
Linden
Ligustilides
Longan
Luffa
Lindera
Leptadenia
Large-Leaved Linden
Lily
Loranthus
Lungwort
Ligusticum
Mentha haplocalyx
Mesua
Marjoram
Marsh Tea
Mucilage
Melia
Mace
Maidenhair Fern
Meadow sage
Meadowsweet
Marigold
Mucolase
Nigella Seed
Night jessamine
Nymphaea nouchali
Nutmeg
Ophiopogon
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Oldenlandia diffusa
Osmanthus
Oryza Sativa
Phellodendron
Premna
Piper chaba
Polymorpha
Pinellia Ternata
Polypodium
Platycodon
Pepper
Paris polyphylla
Pelargonium
Pyrrosia
Piper retrofractum
Pointed gourd
Polygonatum
Pimpinella
Poppy
Polygala
Petiveria
Plectranthus amboinicus
Rose
Ravinsara
Reed Herb
Rhododendron
Sabadilla
Sicklepod
Stephania root
Sete sangrias
Solanaceae
Spikenard
Stemona
Southern Tsangshu
Sinigrin
Shogaol
Semecarpus anacardium
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Sumac
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sundew
Sargassum
Sedanenolide
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Theobromine
Tea
Thymoquinone
Traveler's Joy
Thymol
Tragacanth
Tamarind
Ulmus
Visnea Mocanera
Vasicine
Vladimiria souliei
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
White Tea
Wax Gourd
Yuzu
Yerba buena
Zucchini
Zedoary
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by Honey loquat syrup
Acid IndigestionAllergies (respiratory)
Asthma
Bronchitis
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Fever
Gastritis
Inflammation
Influenza
Itching
Laryngitis
Pain (general remedies for)
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic
Sinus Infection
Sore Throat
Ulcers