Comprehensive ayurvedic review on the role of yaṣṭimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra linn.) In the management of kasa (cough)

Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), a widely used medicinal plant in Ayurveda, holds a prominent position in the treatment of Kasa Roga (cough). It is described in classical Ayurvedic texts as a potent Vata-Pittahara, Vranashodhana, Shothahara, and Vata-Kaphahara drug with demulcent, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and immune-modulatory actions. In the context of Kasa, Yashtimadhu pacifies aggravated Vata and Kapha, soothes the irritated mucosa, reduces inflammation, and facilitates the expulsion of obstructed Kapha from the respiratory passages. The plant’s main bioactive components, such as glycyrrhizin, flavonoids, and liquiritigenin, contribute to its antitussive, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant activities. This review aims to compile classical Ayurvedic references and modern pharmacological evidence on Yashtimadhu in Kasa, presenting its mode of action from both Ayurvedic and contemporary perspectives. The article includes an in-depth discussion of Ayurvedic classification of Kasa, pharmacognosy of Yashtimadhu, its role in various types of cough, and its integration in formulations for clinical application.