Background: Acute bronchitis, frequently emerging with the common cold is one of the most frequent causes of primary care consultations. It is a self-limiting disease which poses both high symptom burden to individuals and high financial burden to society. It is largely a viral disease (~50 % rhinovirus infection), but no causal (antiviral) treatment exists. Antibiotics, mucoactive agents, antihistamines, antitussives, decongestants are most often used but without evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) for relieving symptoms or fostering recovery. Many in vitro and ex vivo studies with standardized herbal extracts did show important effects on inflammatory mediators, mucus hypersecretion, cough and bronchospasm. Moreover, several successful clinical RCT's with unique herbal compounds were published, many other are ongoing. Methods: Preliminary medline search for randomized controlled studies with herbal medicine for bronchitis. Results: Eighteen studies were found fulfilling search criteria; six were excluded due to duplicate publication, active comparator control or open design. In 2015 German cough guidelines (in preparation) at least 12 studies will provide evidence for developing recommendations for treatment of acute bronchitis. Conclusions: In conclusion, several herbal compounds achieved as first pharmaco-therapeutic remedies at all evidence for treatment of acute bronchitis/common cold. Evidence based guidelines are starting to include recommendations for treatment of acute bronchitis/common cold with dedicated phytomedicine.