Expectorant: causes expulsion of secretion from the bronchopulmonary mucosa
Fresh mucous excreted from the respiratory tract is usually thin, free-flowing, and easy to expectorate. Thick mucous builds up when the secretions are scanty due to dehydration or when there is cellular exudate. Expectorants help expel bronchial secretions from the respiratory tract by decreasing the viscosity of the respiratory tract fluid.
Soothing Expectorants:
Soothing, relaxing expectorants decrease bronchial smooth muscle spasms. They are mucilaginous and help mucous become easier to expel by loosening mucous and decreasing the viscosity of mucous.
Examples:
Althaea officinalis (marshmallow)
Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice)
Lobelia inflata (lobelia)
Plantago spp. (plantain)
Prunus serotina (wild cherry bark)
Symphytum officinale (comfrey)
Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot)
Ulmus spp. (slippery elm)
Verbascum thapsus (mullein ethanol extracts)
Stimulating Expectorants:
Stimulating, irritating expectorants initiate a neurological reflex, increasing activity in the bronchiolar tree and stimulating secretions. They induce coughing while moving stuck and sticky mucous out of the respiratory tract.
Examples:
Aspidosperma quebracho (quebracho)
Baptisia tinctoria (wild indigo)
Cephaelis ipecacuanha (ipecac)
Eriodictyon californicum (yerba santa)
Grindelia spp. (gumweed)
Inula helenium (elecampane)
Iris versicolor (blue flag)
Lobelia inflata (lobelia)
Marrubium vulgare (horehound)
Populus spp. (poplar buds)
Propolis
Sanguinary canadensis (bloodroot)
Sticta pulmonaria (lungwort)
Mixed Expectorants:
Mixed expectorants have both properties of soothing and stimulating expectorants.
