Coughing - James A. Duke, Ph.D.

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Coughing

JoAnn Guest

Dec 29, 2006 15:14 PST

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The common cough is perhaps more common than the common cold.

Roughly half of the people seeking medical care in winter suffer

from inflammation of the respiratory tract, with cough and other

related symptoms. No matter what the cause, coughing is pretty much

the same--productive coughs bring up mucus, while nonproductive or

dry, hacking coughs do not.

 

Remember, if you have a cough that just won't go away, it means that

your body is sending you some kind of message. It could be something

as simple as " stop smoking " or " get that sinus infection cleared

up. " While you're treating your cough, you also need to pay

attention to what your body is trying to tell you. If home remedies

don't seem to help and your cough persists for several days, see

your doctor.

 

Green Pharmacy for Coughing

 

Regardless of the cause, however, herbs can provide some relief.

Herbal cough treatments have been recommended since ancient times.

Here are some that I'd recommend.

 

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra). Israeli scientists praise elderberry

for treating colds, cough and fever.

 

An Israeli study showed that a drug (Sambucol, which is now

available in the United States) made from elderberry is effective

against flu, including the cough that goes with it. You can also

purchase an elderberry tincture or use the dried herb

to make a tea. I would not hesitate to use American elderberry

instead.

 

Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Several chemicals in ginger (gingerols

and shogaols) have been shown in studies using laboratory animals to

have cough-suppressing, pain-relieving and fever-reducing action.

Similar effects in humans have not been demonstrated, but I believe

that ginger can help relieve a cough. You can try adding it to

whatever you take for coughs.

 

Lemon (Citrus limon). Here's another Chris Hobbs cough formula:

Steep 2 teaspoons of organic lemon rinds, 1 teaspoon of sage and 1Ž2

teaspoon of thyme in boiling water for 15 minutes. Then add the

juice of 1Ž2 lemon and 1 tablespoon of honey. I'm quite partial to

lemonade, and I think this remedy is definitely worth trying. In

fact, drink it two or three times a day. (Hobbs calls for organic

rinds because it is just about

impossible to wash away the pesticides that are commonly used on

citrus fruits.)

 

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Among its many beneficial properties,

licorice soothes mucous membranes and has a long history of use for

coughs and asthma. You might try licorice tea (made with one

teaspoon of

dried root per cup of boiling water) or add some licorice root to

other

herbal cough formulas.

 

Licorice and its extracts are safe for normal use in moderate

amounts--up to about three cups of tea a day. However, long-term use

or

ingestion of larger amounts can produce headache, lethargy, sodium

and

water retention, excessive loss of potassium and high blood

pressure.

 

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra). The Food and Drug Administration has

declared slippery elm a safe, effective cough soother. The bark

contains

large quantities of a mucilage that acts as an effective throat

soother

and cough suppressant. You can buy commercially prepared throat

lozenges

containing slippery elm, or you can use the dried herb to make a

tea.

 

Anise (Pimpinella anisum). Commission E endorses aniseed as an

expectorant for removing phlegm in the respiratory tract and as a

cough

suppressant.

 

You could try a tea made with one to two teaspoons of crushed

aniseed

per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain.

Suggested dose: one cup, morning and evening.

 

Burnet-saxifrage (Pimpinella major). Commission E approves

burnet-saxifrage root (three to six teaspoons) for ailments of the

upper

respiratory tract. Studies show that it has the properties of an

expectorant and cough suppressant. It is widely used to treat

bronchitis, hoarseness and sore throat.

 

Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis). I find marsh mallow's soothing

roots and extracts, which also contain mucilage, quite useful for

relieving cough and sore throat. Commission E recommends marsh

mallow

root for treating irritation of the mucous membranes of the throat

and

any associated dry cough. You can make a tea with two teaspoons of

dried

herb per cup of boiling water.

 

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus). Like marsh mallow, mullein contains

throat-soothing mucilage. It also has chemicals called saponins that

have an expectorant effect. Commission E approves mullein flowers

for

treating coughs.

 

Members of my family have used mullein leaves to treat cough, and I

think of it as safe and effective. I'd suggest straining the tea to

remove the hairs, which can be irritating, and adding lemon, honey

and

other herbs to mask the bitter taste.

 

Primrose (Primula veris). Commission E endorses using one to two

teaspoons of dried primrose flowers to make a cup of tea for

relieving

coughs. Note, however, that this particular recommendation is for

primrose, not evening primrose (Oenothera biennis).

 

stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Tea made from this herb is an old

standby for coughs. Nettle also has a long history of use as a

treatment

for colds, whooping cough (pertussis) and tuberculosis. It's

certainly

worth trying. I'd suggest a tea made from the leaves for coughs and

hay

fever.

 

Sundew (Drosera, various species). Here's another herb with the

Commission E seal of approval. You can try making a tea with one to

two

teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Drink once a day.

 

Sundew has been used for hundreds of years to treat bronchitis,

cough,

whooping cough and especially dry, irritating coughs in children.

Modern

research has validated these uses, showing that this herb has

expectorant, cough-suppressing and bronchial-soothing properties.

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/41/37.cfm

 

JoAnn Guest

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