COPD

Why it works: Expectorant / mucolytic + ciliary support. In airway cells from people with COPD, a thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract increased mucociliary beating frequency—important because impair...

Instructions: Regulators give dosing for thyme herb preparations used for cough. There is no COPD-specific dose; the following are the EMA monograph adult doses for cough. Stop and seek medical...

Warnings: Not a COPD treatment substitute. Do not delay or replace prescribed inhalers, rehab, or vaccinations...

Studies: COPD-specific clinical trials: As of now, there are no robus...

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory & pro-resolving biology. EPA/DHA compete with arachidonic acid and generate specialized pro-resolving mediators; this can dampen cytokines (e.g., IL-6) and help “...

Instructions: Doses used in RCTs (examples):. • 3 g/day EPA+DHA via fish-oil capsules for 6 months (with a 1-capsule-per-week titration to minimize GI side-effects). journal.copdfoundation.org....

Warnings: Not a substitute for proven COPD therapies. Omega-3s are adjunctive at best; they do not replace inh...

Studies: Systematic review & meta-analysis (RCTs): Omega-3 supple...

Why it works: Mucolytic action: NAC breaks disulfide bonds in mucus glycoproteins, thinning sputum so it’s easier to clear—useful in chronic bronchitis–predominant COPD with productive cough. NT...

Instructions: Who to consider:. • Stable COPD with chronic productive cough and/or frequent exacerbations, particularly if not on ICS or if exacerbation-prone despite inhaled therapy. GOLD. Oral...

Warnings: Common side effects (oral): GI upset (nausea, diarrhea), headache, unpleasant taste/odor. Drugs.com....

Studies: Positive or mixed trials/meta-analysesPANTHEON RCT (n≈1000):...

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory & antioxidant actions. Ginsenosides (e.g., Rg1, Rg3, Rb1, compound K) suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), iNOS and COX-2, and show antioxida...

Instructions: Standardized extract: Trials used a standardized Panax ginseng extract (G115®) containing ~4% total ginsenosides. Using a standardized product matters because ginseng products vary...

Warnings: Even though ginseng was generally well tolerated in the COPD RCTs, there are important real-world ca...

Studies: Two modern, well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs...

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory & NF-κB inhibition: Extracts of Cordyceps sinensis suppress airway inflammation in animal models by blocking NF-κB signaling—one of the central inflammatory pathw...

Instructions: There isn’t a single global standard. Most clinical data in COPD come from China using Bailing (百令) capsules—a pharmaceutical Hirsutella sinensis (C. sinensis) mycelium product—o...

Warnings: Not guideline-recommended: GOLD 2025 does not include Cordyceps in COPD treatment algorithms; discus...

Studies: Systematic reviews / meta-analyses2019 systematic review &am...

Why it works: Traditional (TCM) rationale.. Bu Fei Tang is a classic 6-herb formula for Lung Qi deficiency—shortness of breath, chronic cough, low voice, spontaneous sweating—by augmenting Lung/...

Instructions: Classical composition (raw-herb decoction, typical adult daily dose):. Ren Shen 9 g; Huang Qi 24 g; Shu Di Huang 24 g; Wu Wei Zi 6 g; Zi Wan 9 g; Sang Bai Pi 12 g. Boil as a decoct...

Warnings: General. • Use under professional supervision if you have multiple comorbidities, take narrow-therap...

Studies: Direct, high-quality trials of classical Bu Fei Tang in COPD...

Why it works: What it is (briefly). A classical TCM formula (“Perilla Seed Decoction for Directing Qi Downward”) used for cough/wheeze with copious white sputum where phlegm-cold obstructs the L...

Instructions: Classical preparation & dosing (decoction). The historical instructions are to decoct the herbs in water with fresh ginger and jujube and take warm. Traditional guidance gives roug...

Warnings: Pattern mismatch = don’t use. Classical cautions: not for “phlegm-heat” wheeze (yellow, sticky sputu...

Studies: There is some—but limited and mixed—clinical evidence, mostl...

Why it works: Mucus-clearance support: In lab models using human airway cells, thyme extract increased ciliary beat frequency—the tiny hairlike motion that helps move mucus out of the airways. M...

Instructions: There are no COPD-specific, evidence-based dosing protocols for thyme. If someone chooses to use thyme adjunctively for cough/mucus, regulators provide dosing ranges for cough that...

Warnings: Do not replace prescribed COPD therapy. Inadequate bronchodilation can worsen air-trapping; any supp...

Studies: COPD-specific trials: As of today, no completed, peer-review...

Why it works: Reduces airway epithelial damage & inflammation (preclinical): BYF protected the airway epithelial barrier and improved lung function in COPD rat and cell models, linked to up-regu...

Instructions: Severe/very severe COPD (GOLD 3–4), 52-week RCT protocol: BYG orally twice daily, 5 days on / 2 days off each week, for 52 weeks (1 year). This is the dosing schedule used in a mul...

Warnings: Overall in trials: The 52-week RCT performed routine monitoring (vitals, CBC, CMP/liver/renal tests,...

Studies: 2023 multicenter RCT (n=348 randomized; 280 analyzed; GOLD 3...