Coughs herbal medicine

It was recently observed that a iplant, Adhatoda vasica, long used in Indian herbal medicine (the source of many therapeutic leads) for the relief of cough and respiratory tract congestion, did appear to reduce the quantity and viscosity of sputum. The plant was studied and its active alkaloid named vasicine. The tricyclic quinazoline structure (XXVIII) was then reduced to fragments and a series of derivatives prepared [350]. From these bromhexine (XXIX, Na 274, Bisolvon)... 

Despite the lack of conclusive evidence on their effectiveness, herbal drugs are widely believed to be useful in treating a variety of conditions, both common and unusual, and mild and serious. Common conditions for which people take herbal drugs include colds and flu, muscular aches and pains, acne, indigestion, constipation, coughs, corns, menstmal cramps, dandruff, diarrhea, fatigue, flatulence, frostbite, warts, hair loss, headaches, heartburn, insect bites, lice, motion sickness, nausea, insomnia, dizziness, and warts. (The PDR-HM lists 25 herbal medicines used to relieve flatulence.)... 

H. styphelioides has been employed in traditional Cuban herbal medicine as a depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, and tonic against blennorrhea, cold, cough, and dysmenorrhea and for the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, hepatitis, herpes, and syphihs [124]. 

Analysis of a number of herbal extracts has identified chemicals later shown to have true antitussive actions in experimental animals and sometimes in humans. To conclude that the herb itself is a remedy for cough is clearly unjustifiable on fhis evidence, allhough if is a reasonable hypothesis that could be tested. To give an example, pure opioids such as morphine extracted from poppy (Papiver somniferum) are established antimssives in animals and humans, but there seems to be no evidence that nonpurified extracts of the plant, as would be used in herbal medicine, are also effective if they were, they could be working by a placebo effect. 

We will review several herbal medicines used throughout the world, but we will focus on two genii Senecio spp. and Callilepis laureola (Impila) used in South Africa. It is currently estimated that 80 % of the South Africa population consult with traditional healers and use some form of traditional herbal medicine, usually in combinations [1-4]. Reports indicate it is used to treat cough [5], stomach problems [6], impotence [7, 8], to induce fertility [9], to facihtate labor [1, 10], or against evil spirits [11]. 

There is an evolving variety of alternative healthcare practices and products to choose from. (See Terminology sidebar.) Adults and adolescents alike are asking themselves questions such as, Should I take a pill for my headache, or drink chamomile herbal tea There are several scientific counterparts to this seemingly simple question, for example Are these both remedies Are they equally effective Is one healthier or less toxic than the other Can they be used together At this time, there is no comparative information on codeine versus alternative medicine (e.g., acupuncture) as effective treatments for pain, cough, and diarrhea. 

It contains glycyrrhizic acid, is 50 times sweeter than sugar, and can accelerate the healing of gastric ulcers. Licorice treats such respiratory ailments as bronchitis and asthma and is an ingredient in herbal cough medicines. Glabridin inhibits inflammation of skin. 

Beechwood creosote has been used as a disinfectant, a laxative, and a cough treatment. In the past, treatments for leprosy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis also involved eating or drinking beechwood creosote. It is rarely used today in the United States by doctors since it has been replaced by better medicines, and it is no longer produced by businesses in the United States. It is still available as an herbal remedy, and is used as an expectorant and a laxative in Japan. The major chemicals in beechwood creosote are phenol, cresols, and guaiacol. 

Some herbal treatments for cough contain local anesthetics that might act on nervous sensors in the mucosa of the pharynx and larynx before the medicine reaches the stomach. These include Erythroxylum coca (cocaine). Cannabis sativa (marijuana), and possibly Syzygium aromaticum (clove oil). However, there seems to be no evidence that these herbs have antitussive actions by this mechanism. Most local anesthetics also taste bitter, which could also have an antitussive action (see later). 

Researchers in the field of conventional medicine are now searching intensively for antitussive agents that act on the membrane receptors for cough sensors in the airways (peripherally acting antitussives) (Chung 2006, 2007,2008 Barnes 2007), but similar studies do not seem to have been conducted for herbal CAM therapies. 

The Chinese herbal drug Mao (Japanese name Chinese name is Ma-huang) is prepared from the above-ground parts of Ephedra sp. plants, such as Ephedra equisetina. Ephedra distachya, and Ephedra sinica (Ephedraceae) which are native to China. Mao is used in Chinese traditional medicine prescriptions, and as a material for the preparation of ephedrine hydrochloride used for the treatment of cough. 

Iridoids have been isolated from several folk medicinal plants which are used as bitter tonics, sedatives, antipyretic, cough medicine, remedies for arthritis, lumbago and muscular pains, wounds and skin disorders, etc. A good number of research papers on the bioactive iridoids isolated from several folk medicinal plants have been published in the last few decades. We have summarized here only some of the fundamental pharmacological activities of iridoids to create an interest oti the importance of this class of natural products and for their wide applications in the formulations of several prospective herbal drugs. 

Traditional Medicine. Used for the relief of coughs, chronic bronchitis, and other pulmonary ailments a component in herbal vaginal douches. Also used to relieve itchy scalp or dandruff, skin sores, and athlete s foot. 

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