Relationship: Cough (general) and zinc

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

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Synopsis
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Synopsis

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

Zinc has been studied for its role in supporting the immune system and potentially reducing the duration and severity of certain respiratory tract infections, including coughs associated with the common cold. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses suggest that zinc, particularly in the form of lozenges, may reduce the duration of cough and other symptoms when taken within 24 hours of onset of a cold. The proposed mechanism is that zinc ions may inhibit the replication of rhinoviruses (the most common viral cause of colds) and stabilize cell membranes, thereby reducing inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.

However, the evidence is mixed. Some studies show modest benefits, while others fail to find significant effects. A 2020 Cochrane review concluded that zinc may reduce the duration of cold symptoms in healthy adults, but results were inconsistent across studies, and there was insufficient evidence to recommend its routine use for cough alone. There is little evidence to support the use of zinc for coughs unrelated to viral respiratory infections.

Overall, while zinc has some scientific backing for reducing cough associated with the common cold, the effect is generally modest, and routine use is not universally endorsed by health authorities. High doses can cause side effects, so zinc supplementation should be used cautiously. The evidence rating reflects that while there is some scientific support, it is not strong or unequivocal.

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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
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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
Alstonia scholaris
Allyl sulfide
aspen
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
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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
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balloon flower
Belamcanda
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Boerhavia diffusa
coconut
cactus
citron
Citrus
cineole
capsaicin
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common madia
cubeb
cowslip
Chaenomeles lagenaria
calamus
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costus
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cola nut
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culvers Root
currant
Chondrus
dragonhead
diterpenes
Desmodium
Dichrostachys glomerata
empresstree
English horsemint
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ephedrine
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fig
fruit
fritillary
fernbush
flavoglycosides
Glehnia littoralis
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gum
garlic
Grindelia
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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
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polymorpha
Pinellia ternata
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Paris polyphylla
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pointed gourd
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poppy
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rose
ravinsara
reed herb
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Ulmus
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Vladimiria souliei
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
White Tea
Wax Gourd
Yuzu
Yerba buena
Zucchini
Zedoary
Zingerone

Other health conditions supported by Zinc

Abrasions
Acne
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Anemia
Anorexia
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Athlete's Foot
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Birth Defects (prevention)
Bites and Stings
Blisters
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bruises (healing)
Bulimia
Burns and Scalds
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cataracts
Celiac Disease
Cervical Dysplasia
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Cholera
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cold Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colitis
Concentration (poor)
Congestion
Congestive Heart Failure
Conjunctivitis
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Copper Toxicity
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Cradle Cap
Cramps (menstrual)
Crohn's Disease
Cuts
Cystic Fibrosis
Dandruff
Debility
Dehydration
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Duodenal Ulcers
Dysentery
Eczema
Endometriosis
Energy (lack of)
Enteritis
Epstein Barr Virus
Erectile Dysfunction
Exercise
Eye Infections
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Eyes (spots before)
Eyesight (poor)
Failure to Thrive
Fat Metabolism (poor)
Fatty Liver Disease
Fibrosis
Fingernails (weak or brittle)
Foot Odor
Free Radical Damage
Gastritis
Giardia
Gingivitis
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Halitosis
Hashimoto's Disease
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis
Herpes
Hypothyroid
Impetigo
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Insomnia
Irritability
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Itching (rectal)
Jock Itch
Labor and Delivery
Lead Poisoning
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leucorrhea
Liver Detoxification
Lupus
Macular Degeneration
Mastitis
Measles
Memory and Brain Function
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mononucleosis
Mood Swings
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Night Blindness
Nursing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Poison Ivy or Oak
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Premature Ejaculation
Progesterone (low)
Prostatitis
Protein Digestion (poor)
Psoriasis
Puberty (hormone balancer)
Rashes and Hives
Rhinitis
Rosacea
Scars / Scar Tissue
Schizophrenia
Scratches and Abrasions
Seborrhea
Sex Drive (low)
Shingles
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sinus Infection
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin (infections)
Skin (oily)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Smell (loss of)
Sore or Geographic Tongue
Sore Throat
Stress
Stye
Sugar Cravings
Sunburn
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Syphilis
Teeth (loose)
Testosterone (low)
Thinking (cloudy)
Tickle in Throat
Tonsillitis
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Tuberculosis
Ulcerations (external)
Ulcers
Vitiligo
Warts
Wasting
Worry
Wounds and Sores

Products containing Zinc

Health Concerns

Brands

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

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Other ingredients used for Cough (general)

Other health conditions supported by Zinc

Products containing Zinc

Health Concerns

Brands

Evidence supporting the use of: ZincFor the health condition: Cough (general)

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Other ingredients used for Cough (general)

Other health conditions supported by Zinc

Products containing Zinc

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