Coughing Remedies From 23 Best Herbs
Cough Herbs
Herbal Remedies for Cough
A cough is a natural reaction, designed to expel irritating, toxic material such as mucus, phlegm, dust, smoke or foreign bodies from the bronchial tubes or airways. However, even repeated coughing is sometimes ineffective at ridding the body of these irritants, and itself becomes fatiguing and debilitating. Continuous coughing for more than two weeks needs medical attention. Some herbs have a specific affinity to the chest and lung area. Some herbs are antitussives, cough suppressants or just effective antispasmodics. Many are demulcents, soothing irritated bronchial tubes while others are expectorants, helping expel tough, adherent mucus. The powerful anti bacterial and antiviral properties of many of these plants make them an excellent choice for treating cough. Some of the herbal remedies for cough are given below.
Herbal Remedies for Cough
Anise: It helps expel mucus, while being anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic. For colds, coughs, bronchitis; also reduces nausea, gas, bloating. Safe for infants and children; a popular colic and indigestion remedy. Often mixed with other herbs for better effect.
Coltsfoot: Expels mucus, soothes irritated membranes and suppresses coughs related to upper respiratory infections (colds), acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma, hoarseness, whooping cough and emphysema. Should not be used excessively or for prolonged periods.
Cowslip: Strong antispasmodic and expectorant for rattling coughs, chronic bronchitis with thick white mucus. Has warming and sedative effects.
Elecampane: For coughs and bronchitis, including chronic cough; gentle for children. Soothing expectorant; helps expel excess mucus, antibacterial effects. Relieves bronchial spasm in asthma, emphysema, bronchitis.
Eucalyptus: Expectorant, natural decongestant, often used in rubs and liniments. Opens bronchial passages, clears mucus during colds, flu, bronchitis. Natural antiseptic. Used as an inhalant or lotion.
Grindelia: For coughs of bronchitis and asthma, whooping cough or viral coughs. Clears tough mucus, improves breathing and smothering tendency on falling asleep. Slows rapid heartbeat and reduces high blood pressure.
Horehound: Loosens mucus, soothes coughs, aids stuffy nose, sore throat and colds. For bronchitis, wheezing, congested chest. Treats asthma or chronic lung conditions with poor expectoration.
Hyssop: Relieves coughs, bronchitis, loosens and expels mucus accumulations. Best in chronic coughs; a tonic, stimulating herb that speeds recovery in asthmatic coughs in adults, children. Promotes sweat in colds and flu.
Irish Moss: mucilaginous, jelly-like seaweed used in many respiratory conditions. A soothing demulcent used for irritating coughs, inflamed membranes. An expectorant for phlegm and mucus, encourages a productive cough.
Licorice: A powerful cough suppressant, soothing expectorant, demulcent and anti-inflammatory. Treats bronchitis, coughs, asthma, sore throats.
Lomatium: Powerful antiviral, antibacterial herb, kills several bacterial strains. Eliminates a range of acute and chronic viruses. For flu, cold, chronic bronchitis, viral pneumonia. Expels hard mucus.
Lungwort: For cough and bronchitis. For dry hacking night cough, preventing sleep. Treats lingering coughs after measles, flu, colds, whooping cough. Soothes tickling in throat, bronchi, where one cough incites another.
Maidenhair Fern: Used for coughs, bronchitis, asthma and general respiratory disorders. Soothes sore throats, expels mucus, and helps chronic sinus congestion.
Mullein: Traditional cough remedy that soothes dry and inflamed throat and bronchi, clears mucus, allays bronchial spasms, and shrinks swollen glands. Useful in colds, flu, bronchitis, asthma and even emphysema.
Osha: Antiviral, antibacterial herb, best taken at first sign of an infection. For sore throats and coughing, in colds, flu, or acute or chronic mucus conditions. Also useful when recuperating from digestive upsets. Dilates the bronchial passages and promotes expectoration.
Plantain: Stops coughing, clears wheezing and chest pain in bronchitis and flu. Promotes expectoration of mucus from the entire respiratory tract. Antibacterial, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, promotes tissue healing.
Poplar: A soothing, antiseptic demulcent for the linings of the respiratory tract. For dry and irritating coughs, bronchitis, colds, sore throats, laryngitis. Expectorant, antibacterial, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.
Slippery Elm: A mucilaginous demulcent for coughs and respiratory tract irritation. Moistens a dry spasmodic cough, relieves pain and inflammation. May be eaten as gruel in debilitated conditions and in the elderly.
Thyme: Powerfully antiseptic, useful for colds and flu, children’s respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis. Helps sore throat, headache, and giddiness. Antispasmodic, dilates bronchi and clears mucus in coughs, asthma.
Usnea: Inhibits strep, staph, pneumococcus, fungi and other organisms. Used in chronic coughs after colds or flu, and where fever accompanies the symptoms. Benefits chronic problems, pneumonia, pleurisy, TB.
Wild Cherry Bark: Astringent and antispasmodic, quiets coughs and dries up mucus. Relieves dry, irritating coughs in bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma. Eases indigestion and irritable bowel and other digestive complaints.
Yellow Dock: Soothes tickling in pit of throat and chest, not relieved by coughing. For long episodes of dry, teasing, hacking, fatiguing cough with little expectoration and tenacious mucus. For coughs that worsen outdoors.
Yerba Santa: Native American herb used for asthma, chronic bronchitis and colds. Benefits dry coughs, an expectorant for difficult to expel mucus. Useful in urinary infections and as a poultice for bruises, arthritis.
Category: HERBAL REMEDIES
