Synopsis

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

Yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly among Native American populations and later by Western herbalists, as a remedy for respiratory ailments such as coughs, bronchitis, and asthma. Its leaves contain flavonoids and other compounds with mild expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help soothe irritated mucous membranes and promote the clearance of mucus. The plant was adopted into the U.S. Pharmacopeia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for use as an expectorant and for relief of coughs, particularly spastic or dry coughs.

Despite its traditional use and inclusion in historical pharmacopeias, contemporary scientific research on yerba santa is limited. Most evidence supporting its use for cough is anecdotal or derived from traditional herbal texts rather than controlled clinical trials. Some laboratory studies have identified anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in yerba santa extracts, but these findings have not been directly linked to efficacy in treating cough in humans. Overall, yerba santa’s reputation as a cough remedy primarily rests on traditional use and limited pharmacological rationale rather than robust clinical evidence. Thus, its use for spastic cough is rated as 2 out of 5, reflecting traditional support with limited scientific validation.

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