(see also Bronchitis)
A cough is a healthy reaction of the body to an irritation in the respiratory system, whether the problem lies in the throat, the bronchial tubes or the lungs. The characteristics of a cough are often good clues in helping diagnose the underlying illness. Whooping cough, for instance, is known for its long sequence of short, dry coughs, bronchitis for its phlegmy cough, and asthma for its wheezing, dry cough. A painful, shallow cough could suggest pneumonia. While the cough is a helpful reflex, over the long term a constant irritation in the respiratory system is detrimental, causing further respiratory problems, including emphysema.
Coughs are helpful because they expel mucus, bacteria and other irritating substances from the respiratory tract. A cough is a life-saving reflex when something gets stuck in the throat and blocks air passages. Many conditions and situations cause a cough. Usually, a cough signals an associated viral or bacterial infection, like
a cold. It can also be due to a respiratory
infection, such as whooping cough or pneumonia. In other cases, it stems from an irritation of the air passages from excessive dust, cigarette smoke or pollution. Excessively dry air, or a strong smell such as ammonia is irritating to the respiratory passages. Coughs that develop without reason and persist are usually caused by more serious illnesses, especially cancer and tuberculosis.
To ease a cough, drink plenty of fluids at room temperature or warmer, especially vegetable and diluted fruit juices, and take soups or broths to thin the mucus, making it easier to cough up. A chronic cough should be treated by stimulating the immune system. Emphasize raw fruits and vegetables, which are rich in enzymes, vitamin C and bioflavonoids.
Onion is a helpful remedy to reduce inflammation. To make an onion cough syrup, let onion slices and 3 tbsp. brown sugar stand for twelve hours. Take 1 tbsp. of the juice which has formed, twice daily. Fennel juice is often effective against coughs and hoarseness. A dry, stubborn cough can be relieved with black radish juice mixed with honey. Cayenne pepper and ginger help to clean out bronchial tubes.
Supplements offer the immune and respiratory systems support.
Vitamin A and its provitamin, beta-carotene, are important in both respects. These nutrients protect the mucous membranes from pollution, allergies, aging and respiratory infections.
Vitamin C should be a priority if any infection exists or if toxins are affecting the respiratory tract. Vitamin C is well-known to protect the body from toxic substances and improve its resistance against disease. Vitamin C should be taken with bioflavonoids for best effect.
Vitamin E improves the supply of oxygen to the cells.
Reduced L-glutathione and N-acetyl-cysteine are excellent for reducing mucus in the bronchial tubes. Reduced L-glutathione also has powerful detoxifying effects.
Garlic is also an excellent supplement to fight off infections. The capsule form is convenient and odorless. Green food supplements contain many nutrients to help rebuild cells, which is vital if the problem is chronic.
Daily dosages:
Most Important
Beta-carotene, 25,000 IU
Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids, 3,000 mg
Garlic, 3 capsules three times daily
Reduced L-glutathione, 100 mg twice daily
Helpful
Vitamin A, 25,000 IU (avoid during pregnancy)
Vitamin E, with mixed tocopherols, 400 IU
Green food supplements, 1 tbsp.
There is probably no other ailment where herbal remedies are more effective than coughs due to cold. The following most popular herbs and combinations are time-tested and scientifically approved. For herbal juices, take 1 tbsp. of juice three times daily. If juices are unavailable, make a herbal tea by pouring three cups of boiling water over 1 tsp. of herbs and steep for ten minutes.
At the first sign of a cough, take 10–20 drops of echinacea tincture three to five times daily.
Horsetail and plantain juice alleviate a cough; add coltsfoot juice to loosen phlegm.
Lobelia is advised for a dry, hacking cough.
Lungwort, borage, angelica, fir or pine shoots, oregano, hyssop, peppermint or onion teas loosen phlegm and relieve a cough.
Use anise, mint oil and thyme oil to stimulate air passages and lung circulation, and promote expelling of phlegm. Use 3–4 drops of essential oil in water or diffuser, or for inhalations, twice daily.
Drink 1 cup of lindenflower tea to quiet a cough and induce sleep.
Take mullein tea to control a hacking, spasmodic cough.
Add a pinch of slippery elm bark powder to a herbal tea to relieve tightness in the chest.
Rub wintergreen salve on the chest to relieve chest tightness and bring the blood to the surface of the congested area. Keep warm in bed.
If a child has diarrhea with the cough, give lungwort tea.
Children will love 1 tsp. of thyme cough syrup mixed with 1 tsp. of honey.
For coughing and wheezing, use horehound leaves to make tea, or use 2 tsp. fresh juice of the leaves.
Add 5 drops of sage, thyme or eucalyptus oil to a warm bath. The herbal vapors will soothe an irritated throat.
Use 5 drops of thyme or tea tree oil mixed with lindenflowers, elderflowers, camomile and eucalyptus for inhalations, baths and compresses to reduce the inflammation of the bronchial tubes and speed healing. The inhalations should be taken twice daily, in severe cases every two hours.
Many homeopathic remedies are available for coughs. The specific symptoms should be carefully studied. Coughs may be dry, spasmodic, loose, or have mucus discharge in a variety of colors. Refer first to the appropriate sections for coughs associated with colds and flu and other conditions. Recurrent coughs require the advice of an experienced homeopathic practictioner.
Take 4 tablets up to four times daily under the tongue for one or two weeks as necessary.
Kali mur is useful for persistent tickling coughs that are loud, hard and hoarse. Spasmodic, croupy coughs associated with a white covering on the tongue, thick, white phlegm and soreness in the chest are helped with Kali mur.
Nat mur is for chronic coughs with watery phlegm, a salty taste or teary eyes. Rattling in the chest from too much watery phlegm or alternatively, dry, hacking coughs can also be helped with Nat mur.
Silicea is a tissue salt for coughs that linger on and on, worse waking, lying and from cold drinks, often associated with bringing up much thick, yellow or green phlegm. Fatigue and weakness are common.
Kali sulph is recommended for croupy coughs that bring up yellow phlegm, worse in the warmth and in the evening. Cool open air is relieving.
Use Nat sulph for loose coughs worse in wet weather, with pain in the chest and thick, green phlegm, often associated with suffocative feeling in the chest.
Steam inhalations alleviate the cough, eliminate toxins and speed healing.
Apply hot compresses on the chest to induce sweating for faster elimination of toxins.
Use a humidifier in the bedroom to moisten the respiratory tract. A thick, wet towel placed near the heating unit is also helpful.
For coughs and colds with fever, keep warm and rest in bed.
Fresh air helps relieve the coughing and speeds healing. Beware of getting cold, and avoid drafts.
Lemon is an antiseptic and controls mucus. Add lemon juice to teas.
Acupressure
To relieve coughing, apply pressure to the point between the shoulder blade and the spine at the level of the heart and other points, as illustrated.
With a congested chest, press two finger-widths below the inner wrist. Press towards ball of the thumb.
For a dry cough, press the two points just below the nostrils with the tips of middle and index finger.
Herbal Remedies
Horsetail Leaves (Flora)
Salus Alpenkraft Herbal Cough Candies (Flora)
Salus Alpenkraft Herbal Cough Syrup (Flora)
Salus Echinacea Tincture (Flora)
Schoenenberger Black Radish Cellular Plant Juice (Flora)
Schoenenberger Coltsfoot Cellular Plant Juice (Flora)
Herbal Cough and Throat Drops (Herbon Naturals)
Herbal Decongestant - Expectorant (HSC)
Micel Vitamin A (Klaire Laboratories)
Cold & Cough (Natural Factors)
Echinacea Fresh Juice Extract (Natural Factors)
Echinacea Tincture (Natural Factors)
Echinamide Cough Syrup (Natural Factors)
Alfalfa Leaves (Nature's Herbs)
CL-7 Formula (Nature's Herbs)
Cold Control (Nature's Herbs)
Echinacea Angustifolia Extract (Nature's Herbs)
Garlic, Odorless (Nature's Herbs)
Slippery Elm Bark (Nature's Herbs)
Homeopathy
Hepar Sulph (Nelsons Homeopathy)
Nu-Medicine Cough Syrup (Nu-Life)
External Therapies
Eucalyptus Oil (Karooch Essential Oil)
Frankincense Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)
Sandalwood Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)