Evidence supporting the use of: Japanese Apricot
For the health condition: Cough (general)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

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

Japanese Apricot (Prunus mume), known as "ume" in Japan and "wu mei" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a long history of use in East Asian countries as a remedy for various ailments, including cough. Traditional herbal texts, such as the "Shennong Bencao Jing" and later materia medicas, mention the use of processed Japanese Apricot (often smoked or pickled) for its supposed ability to "calm cough and stop phlegm." In TCM, it is typically included in multi-herb formulas, like Wu Mei Wan, which are used for chronic coughs and other respiratory issues. The rationale within traditional frameworks is that it is sour and astringent, helping to "astringe the Lung" and "stop leakage," which metaphorically refers to halting cough or other fluid loss. However, scientific validation for these effects is limited. While there are some preliminary studies on Japanese Apricot's antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, direct high-quality clinical evidence for its efficacy in treating cough is lacking. Most modern research focuses on its potential benefits for digestive health or its role as a functional food. As such, the use of Japanese Apricot for cough is primarily justified by traditional use, with only low-level or indirect support from modern studies.

More about Japanese Apricot
More about Cough (general)

Other ingredients used for Cough (general)

allspice
aloe 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
Garlic
Galangal
Himalayan Salt
Ivy
Lily
Poppy
Rose
Spikenard
Sumac
Zucchini

Products containing Japanese Apricot

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.