Evidence supporting the use of: Pleurisy
For the health condition: Cough (spastic)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberosa) and its Use for Spastic Cough
Pleurisy root, also known as Asclepias tuberosa, has a longstanding history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly among Native American tribes and early American herbalists. It was commonly used to treat respiratory ailments, including coughs, bronchitis, and pleurisy (inflammation of the tissues lining the lungs and chest cavity). The root was believed to possess expectorant and antispasmodic properties, which may help soothe coughs, especially those that are dry or spasmodic in nature.
Despite its traditional use, there is limited scientific research to substantiate these effects. Most of the available evidence comes from ethnobotanical records, historical texts, and anecdotal reports rather than clinical trials or pharmacological studies. Some phytochemical analyses indicate that pleurisy root contains compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and mild expectorant actions, but these findings have not been thoroughly investigated in human studies.
In summary, pleurisy root’s use for spastic cough is primarily rooted in traditional herbal practice, with very limited modern scientific validation. As such, it may be considered by practitioners of traditional herbal medicine, but it should be used with caution and not as a substitute for evidence-based medical treatments.
Other ingredients used for Cough (spastic)
aloe veraalpha-pinene
apple
waterhyssop
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
Indian frankincense
cat's claw
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
cinnamon
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
grape
greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
heartwood
Indian tinospora
jujube
lemon
licorice root
lovage
nettle
ophiopogon root
orange
pear
platycodon root
plum fruit
pomegranate
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
sarsaparilla
boneset
mullein
tangerine
hyssop
atractylodes
lobelia
capsicum
Indian bael
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
prickly ash
fritillaria
yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
juniper berries
dodder
sweet flag
eucalyptus
abies spectabilis
horehound
soursop
Alcohol
Aralia
Agastache
Anamarrhena
Alpha-terpineol
Ambergris
acacia
Allicin
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Asafoetida
Andrographolide
Aerva lanata
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Allyl Sulfide
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Aniseed myrtle
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
Atractylone
Black Seed
Bayleaf
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
Buddha's Hand
Borage
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Cnidium
Cactus
Citron
Citrus
Cineole
Capsaicin
Cistus
Cubeb
Cowslip
Calamus
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cinnamaldehyde
Costus
Chekiang Fritillary
Chondrus
Dragonhead
Diterpenes
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
Ephedrine
Fernbush
Galangal
Ivy
Poppy
Other health conditions supported by Pleurisy
Chest PainCongestion (lungs)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Pleurisy
Pneumonia
Tuberculosis