Evidence supporting the use of: Fritillaria (unspecified)
For the health condition: Pneumonia
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Fritillaria, particularly species such as Fritillaria cirrhosa and Fritillaria thunbergii, has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for respiratory conditions, including pneumonia. In TCM, Fritillaria bulbs (known as "Chuan Bei Mu" or "Zhe Bei Mu") are traditionally prescribed to "clear heat," "transform phlegm," and "relieve cough," which aligns with symptoms commonly seen in pneumonia such as cough and sputum production. These uses are documented in classical Chinese medical texts and remain part of contemporary herbal practice in China and other East Asian countries.
Modern pharmacological studies have identified that Fritillaria species contain alkaloids (e.g., peimine, peiminine) that may exert antitussive (cough-suppressing), expectorant, and mild anti-inflammatory effects in animal models and cell cultures. However, evidence specifically supporting their efficacy in treating pneumonia in humans is limited. Most scientific studies focus on their general effects on cough and phlegm rather than on pneumonia as a distinct infectious disease. Clinical trials directly investigating Fritillaria's effect on pneumonia in humans are lacking or of low methodological quality. Therefore, while there is some scientific rationale for its symptomatic use, robust clinical validation for pneumonia treatment is insufficient, and its use is mainly grounded in tradition.
Other ingredients used for Pneumonia
myrobalanturmeric
elderberry
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
immunoglobin G
honeysuckle
licorice root
marshmallow
platycodon root
slippery elm bark
vitamin A
vitamin C
vitamin D
zinc
boneset
mullein
tangerine
swertia
lingusticum wallichii
eucalyptus
Aralia
Agarikon Mushroom
Anamarrhena
Ambergris
Aconite
Andrographolide
Andrographis
Alsonia scholaris
Agrimonia pilosa
Blepharis
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Borassus aethiopum
Coriolus mushroom
Chirata
Chekiang Fritillary
Theophylline
Other health conditions supported by Fritillaria (unspecified)
AbscessesAcid Indigestion
Asthma
Bronchitis
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Cough (damp)
Cough (dry)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Fever
Gastritis
Inflammation
Influenza
Laryngitis
Pneumonia
Sore Throat
Tuberculosis
Wheezing
Wounds and Sores