Evidence supporting the use of: Mucilage
For the health condition: Cough (spastic)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3

Mucilage, a viscous, gel-like substance derived from certain plants (such as Althaea officinalis, Plantago spp., and others), has a long history of traditional use in treating coughs, particularly spastic or dry coughs. Herbalists and traditional medicine systems have valued mucilaginous herbs for their demulcent properties—meaning they can soothe and protect irritated mucous membranes in the throat and upper respiratory tract. Historical texts from European, Middle Eastern, and Asian herbal traditions frequently cite the application of mucilage-rich plants for cough relief. The mechanism is understood to be primarily physical: mucilage coats inflamed tissues, reducing irritation and the cough reflex.

While some in vitro and animal studies indicate mucilage can form a protective layer and may modulate local inflammation, robust clinical trials in humans are limited. A few small studies, such as those involving marshmallow root syrup or plantain extracts, suggest a reduction in cough severity, but these are not large-scale or definitive. Therefore, the use of mucilage for spastic cough is primarily justified by tradition and limited clinical evidence, rather than strong scientific validation.

In summary, mucilage’s use for cough—especially dry, spasmodic cough—is well-established in traditional medicine, with some supporting mechanistic and preliminary clinical data, but lacks high-quality, large-scale scientific validation.

More about Mucilage
More about Cough (spastic)

Other ingredients used for Cough (spastic)

Abies spectabilis
Acacia
Aconite
Adenophora
Aerva lanata
Agastache
Alantolactone
Albizia
Alcohol
Allicin
Allium tuberosum
Allyl sulfide
Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
ambergris
Anamarrhena
Andrographis
andrographolide
anise
Aniseed myrtle
apple
Aralia
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
balloon flower
bayleaf
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
Bergenia
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
black salt
black seed
boneset
borage
Buddha\'s hand
cactus
calamus
capsaicin
capsicum
cat's claw
Chekiang Fritillary
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
Chondrus
cineole
cinnamaldehyde
cinnamon
Cistus
citron
Citrus
clove
Cnidium
coltsfoot
costus
cowage seed
cowslip
cubeb
Cyanthillium cinereum
Dichrostachys glomerata
diterpenes
dodder
dragonhead
Echinacea
elderberry
elecampane
ephedrine
eucalyptus
fernbush
flavoglycosides
fritillaria
fritillary
Galangal
Gallesia
garlic bulb
ginger
Glehnia littoralis
glehnia root
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Glycyrrhizin
grape
Greek mountain tea
green tea
Grindelia
Guaco
Guava
gum
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
honey
honey loquat syrup
horehound
hyssop
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian frankincense
Indian tinospora
inula racemosa
Ivy
Japanese kadsura
Jatoba
Javanese Long Pepper
jujube
juniper berries
Khella
Lactucarium
Large-leaved linden
lemon
licorice root
Ligusticum
linden
Lindera
lobelia
loquat
Loranthus
lovage
lungwort
mace
madder
Maidenhair Fern
malabar nut
Marsh Tea
Meadow sage
Melia
Mentha haplocalyx
Mucilage
Mullein
Nettle
Nigella seed
Nutmeg
Nymphaea nouchali
onion
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
orange
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Osmanthus
Paris polyphylla
pear
Pelargonium
Pimpinella
Pinellia ternata
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
pistacia integerrima gall
Platycodon
platycodon root
plum fruit
Polygala
Polypodium
pomegranate
poppy
prepared aconite tuber
prickly ash
punarnava
Pyrrosia
ravinsara
Rhododendron
Sabadilla
sarsaparilla
Sete sangrias
Shogaol
soursop
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
Stemona
sweet flag
Tea
Terpenoids
Theobromine
thyme
Thymoquinone
turmeric
Varuna
Vasicine
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Vladimiria souliei
Waterhyssop
Yerba buena
Yerba santa
Zedoary
zhejiang fritillary
Zinc
Zingerone

Products containing Mucilage

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