Does osha root have health benefits and is it safe?

Written by Meredith Worthington, Ph.D. — Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Updated October 13, 2023 ⓘ

Dried osha root and vial containing osha root extract

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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