
Answer:
Osha root extracts are commonly promoted for congestion, coughs, throat irritation, supporting the respiratory system, helping maintain the immune system, and other uses. Osha (Ligusticum porteri) is also called Porter's wild lovage, loveroot, bear root, Colorado cough root, chuchupate, hierba del cochino, and raíz del cochino. It is native to parts of the Rocky Mountains and Mexico (Rivero, J AOAC Int 2012).
But is there good clinical evidence showing that osha root extract helps with these conditions, and is it safe to use?
Sign in as a member to learn if osha root has proven health benefits, find out about possible safety concerns, and learn how products on the market compare.
Also see these ConsumerLab articles about supplements for respiratory infections: "Do any supplements help prevent or treat a cold?" and "Do any supplements help for flu?"
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Ruth22081
February 26, 2025Years ago while living in Albuquerque, I would visit with an elderly Hispanic/Native American man who sold herbs out of the back of his pickup at the huge flea market at the fairgrounds on weekends. He was retired Navy and after getting bored with fishing, he took up collecting herbs as he had learned from his curandera grandmother. I had been studying and using herbs for years and we traded information. He taught me about Osha root which he said would cure headache by inhaling the smoke. I bought some and found it worked for my occasional headaches.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Although burning osha root and inhaling the smoke has been used traditionally for headaches, we are not aware of clinical studies regarding its effectiveness.
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Donna20932
October 22, 2024I have used osha for my phlegmy cough for about 2 years now. It has been a life savior for me. If my cough starts to act up I take a dropper half full of this and my cough immediately goes away. I can actually go out into public again!
Thank you for sharing your experience. However, as mentioned in our article, there are a lack of clinical studies validating the efficacy and safety of osha root in people.
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