Abstract
The course of upper respiratory tract infections (common colds) in patients prescribed linden, elderberry, willow, and mullein syrup
Department of Pharmacovigilance, Europharma Research & Science Centre Sp. z o.o., Katowice, Poland
Department of Internal Diseases and Oncological Chemotherapy, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice,
Katowice, PolandClinical Trials and Scientific Studies Department, PPF HASCO-LEK S.A., Wroclaw, Poland
Ultra-Med-Strefa, Tychy, Poland
Family Physician’s Medical Practice, Tarnowskie Góry, Poland
Public Health Department, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
Department of Respiratory System Pathophysiology, Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases – Rabka-Zdroj Branch, Rabka-Zdroj, Poland
Medical Institute, Academy of Applied Sciences in Nowy Targ, Nowy Targ , Poland
Family Medicine & Primary Care Review 2026; 28(3): 243–249
Background
The efficacy of traditionally used linden, elderberry, willow, and mullein extracts in treating upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) – common cold – has not been confirmed in clinical trials.
Objectives
The study was conducted to observe the clinical course of the common cold in patients using a syrup containing these extracts.
Material and methods
A group of 130 adults with a common cold, within 72 hours of symptoms onset, was prospectively observed after receiving a prescription for linden, elderberry, willow, and mullein syrup (Ziołowa Tradycja®; eng. Herbal Tradition®) for 7 days. In 27.0% of patients, the syrup was used as the only treatment. In addition to monitoring body temperature and cough, the severity of infection was assessed using the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21 (WURSS-21).
Results
The initial severity of infection according to WURSS-21 was 33.1 ± 14.6, and 83 patients (67 initially) reported cough. Reduction in the WURSS-21 global score was observed in 97.6% of patients with baseline scores greater than 11, in 96.7% using the syrup as supportive therapy, and in all 33 patients using only the syrup (not significant). A reduction in cough severity occurred in 69.9% of patients, 71.7% with wet cough and 65.2% with dry cough. This reduction was observed in 64.5% of patients using syrup as supportive medication and in 85.7% of those using syrup alone (p = 0.07).
Conclusions
In patients using the studied syrup for 7 days, primarily as supportive therapy, a clinically significant improvement was observed in 97.9% patients, as well as improvement in cough severity in 69.9% of those reporting it.
Keywords
respiratory tract infections, common cold, cough, observational study
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