Home Remedies for Cough
Herbs for Coughing and Other Surprising Remedies
These simple home remedies for cough have been used for centuries. In fact, you probably have a few of these home remedies for coughing in your kitchen cupboard.
There are two types of cough. One is a dry hacking cough with little phlegm and one is a productive cough which brings up large amounts of phlegm. Both of these coughs can have a tickley stage that can drive you mad. On one hand a cough is good in that it brings up congestion from the bronchial tubes -it is necessary. But if you are coughing so much that you can't rest or sleep, you need relief.
These cough home remedies are easy to make. The ingredients are available at health food stores and you possibly may already have some of them.
| It needs to be said here that if you have a lingering cough that has lasted more than a couple of weeks, you need to consider seeing a doctor. While most coughs are caused by the common cold or flu, there can be other more serious causes including some types of medication that you are taking.
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Slippery Elm Bark is an old native American remedy that can soothe a cough and break up mucous in the throat and bronchial tubes so it can be coughed up. It is available in both tincture and powder. Make a tea and sip three or four times a day. Do not take other medication at the same time as you are drinking the tea because Slippery Elm can interfere with absorption of that medication.
Mullein is also a native American remedy which relieves congestion in the chest. It is available as a tincture and can be used to make a tea to sip three or four times a day. Do not confuse with Mullein Oil.
Peppermint tea is my favorite home remedy for cough. It is a decongestant and is soothing to the throat. It is easy to grow pepperment even in a pot on a balcony. Cut the stems and tie them together at the ends. Hang them upside down to dry. Keep the leaves in a lidded jar or plastic container when dry. Just throw a few leaves into some very hot water and let steep for a few minutes. Add a little honey. Honey coats the throat and also helps give cough relief. Do not give honey to a child under the age of two.
Marshmallow Root (Althaea) provides relief from coughing. Just make a tea with the liquid extract, tincture, or powder and drink a small amount through the day. It can interfere with the absorption of other medicines so do not drink it at the same time you take your medication. People who are diabetic or have low blood sugar should not use it.
Make a cough syrup with 1 ounce of Red Clover blossoms, one cup of honey, and one cup of water. Simmer the mixture for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. When cool strain it through several layers of cheese cloth. Keep in the refrigerator.
Apple cider vinegar mixed with honey will relieve a tickly cough. Read about the
health benefits of apple cider vinegar.
Another way to relieve congestion is with
Mucus-Clear made by Native Remedies. It is a homeopathic remedy that is safe for all ages and pregnant and nursing mothers.
One of the best herbs for coughing is Thyme. It is an expectorant and is used in many commercial cough syrups. If you have Thyme in your herb garden, simply make a tea by steeping a few sprigs in a cup of hot water for ten minutes. Or use the dried crushed Thyme leaves in your spice cabinet.
Dark Chocolate. I saved the best for last. Studies have shown that a compound found in cocoa, theobromine, is effective as a cough suppressant - even better than codeine. Be sure to use a high quality dark chocolate with at least 70% chocolate. An effective dose is considered to be 50 grams. This is especially effective for those tickly coughs because it suppresses that little itch that makes you cough even though you are determined not to.
These home remedies for cough make life a little easier when you have a cold or the flu. If you think your cough is due to bronchitis, visit Home Remedies for Bronchitis.
