Coughing

Coughing

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.

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara). Christopher Hobbs, a fourth-generation California herbalist and author of several fine books on herbal medicines, suggests a tea made with four parts coltsfoot, four parts plantain, one part licorice, one part marsh mallow and two parts thyme, plus a little of the immune-boosting herb echinacea. Sounds like a winner to me.

Coltsfoot has been used as a cough remedy since ancient times. In fact, its generic name, Tussilago, comes from the Latin for "cough." But coltsfoot, like several other herbs, contains chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). At high doses, these chemicals can damage the liver, and long-term use can conceivably lead to liver cancer. As a result, some herbalists have gone on record as saying that herbs like coltsfoot that contain PAs should never be ingested.

But Commission E, the body of experts that advises the German government about herb safety and effectiveness, endorses using up to three teaspoons of coltsfoot a day to make a tea to treat a cough. At that dose, you won't consume more than ten milligrams of PAs, a level that the group sees as safe for occasional use as a cough treatment.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with a little coltsfoot now and then. I use it myself from time to time. It soothes the throat, reducing the urge to cough. But don't use this herb if you take a lot of medications, because you'll stress your liver as you're clearing medications from the body. And don't use it if you have a history of liver disease or alcohol abuse.

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.