Herbal medicinal products in the treatment of cough associated with colds

Abstract

Herbal medicinal products are very important for cough therapy and commonly used in both self-medication and doctor's recommendation. Herbal drugs used in cough therapy can be divided into expectorant and demulcent herbal drugs (drugs containing heteropolysaccharides, most commonly mucilages). Clinical studies have confirmed the efficacy of ivy leaf extracts and fixed combinations of thyme herb and primrose roots extracts as expectorants in productive cough, while for the most other herbal drugs and their preparations used in cough therapy only traditional use is documented. Each herbal drug used in cough therapy has its specific application restrictions (contraindications, special warnings, precautions, interactions, and adverse effects).

Keywords

• expectorant
• demulcent
• cough remedies
• ema/hmpc