Coltsfoot historically has been used by herbalists to alleviate cough but little human research is available. At this time it is difficult to know which medical diseases would respond to coltsfoot extract.

The flower buds of Coltsfoot - Tussilago farfara L. (Compositae) -  have been traditionally used in Oriental medicine for the treatment of bronchitis and asthma. The extract of coltsfoot has antiinflammatory actions and antioxidant properties and has the ability to protect neuronal cells.