Herbs for coughs

b) Research different types of cough – wet/cold, hot/dry, spasms, nervous, pharmaceutical side effect. Which herbs would you use for each type of cough and why?

In my life B.H. (before herbs!) a cough was simply a cough and was either to be tolerated or, very rarely, “treated” by sucking on cough sweets. I’ve never been able to take medicine well so those were the options for me, although I may have considered buying an over-the-counter cough remedy if it was my husband or daughter suffering.

When I first started considering plants as medicine, long before joining the apprentice list, I presumed they would be like conventional medicine and that if you had a cough, you’d take one herb to fix it. It’s only more recently that I’ve come to realise it doesn’t work like that at all. Instead of there just being one herb for all coughs it’s important to look at what type of cough it is and what type of person has it in order to decide which herbs to use.

Coughing is actually a very beneficial thing in most cases as it's your body's way of clearing ant irritants from the lungs or throat. Because of this it is generally advised to steer clear of herbs that will suppress the cough as this can lead to further complications. Having said this, some of the best remedies for colds and flu accompanied by coughs are sleep and rest so if the cough is keeping someone from sleeping then using a mildly suppressing herb can be beneficial for a short period.
On the same note, although taking the herbs mentioned in tea form can often be the best way (the hot tea will work in a similar way to a steam), it may be best to switch to tinctures before bes as they contain less liquid and are less likely to disturb sleep for that reason!

TYPES OF COUGHS

Hot, dry cough (unproductive)

Persistent, dry, tickly coughs are often experienced at the end of a cold when there is no longer any phlegm to be expelled and can also be caused by allergies and exposure to irritants like dust. 
These coughs need herbs that will sooth the mucous membranes and antispasmodic herbs to help calm the cough reflex.

Herbs that can help with hot/dry coughs are:

MULLEIN, Verbascum thapsus

Mullein is cooling and moisturising. The leaves, flowers and root can all be used for coughs although it's interesting to note that Paul Bergner points out most herbals quote mullein leaves as being demulcent (forms a soothing film over mucous membranes) they are actually an irritating expectorant while it's the flowers that are demulcent.

Kiva Rose recommends using the leaf for tight, wheezy coughs that come and go, indicating the constriction beginning to become chronic while Jim McDonald states "The leaves are the most commonly used part of the plant, and among the first remedies to be thought of in treating congestion & dry coughs, as they are an excellent expectorant. Mullein will stimulate coughing...assisting the body's natural response to congestion"

MARSHMALLOW, Althea officinalis

Marshmallow is another cooling, demulcent herb and is also very mucilaginous which makes is an excellent choice to sooth and protect irritated mucous membranes. Again flowers, leaves and root may be used and it makes a valuable addition to a cough syrup.

Marshmallow is also very soothing for an inflamed and sore throat that can accompany hot dry coughs.

COLTSFOOT, Tussilago farfara

A traditional herb given for coughs, especially those that are irritating and spasmodic. It has a soothing demulcent effect and helps to loosen mucus and reduce the spasms of a cough. The Latin name Tussilago literally means "cough dispeller".

It has a long history of being associated with coughing and the ancient Romans used it to ease symptoms of asthma and bronchial conditions.

Coltsfoot is a warming herb so it might be wise to combine it with a cooling herb like Marshmallow for coughs which are predominantly hot.

THYME, Thymus vulgaris

Debs Cook writes about the fact that Thyme "remains a popular remedy for sore throats, laryngitis and dry coughs. Herbalists also recommend it for other respiratory ailments such as whooping cough and bronchitis"

Thyme is very healing and an anti-spasmodic and it's volatile oil is  included in many over the counter cough drops and syrups. Used as a tea, tincture or steam it can be very effective in bringing relief.

Other herbs that may be useful for dry coughs are licorice, fennel, red clover and slippery elm.

Wet, cold productive cough

A productive cough is one where you are actually coughing up some kind of phlegm. It's normally felt as a chesty cough and you can normally feel the phlegm moving after a bout of coughing. Productive coughs arise when the body needs to get rid of an irritant in your throat or lungs and should not generally be treated with suppressant herbs as the phlegm will them remain in your lungs rather than being expelled. This can lead to conditions like pneumonia if the cough is completely suppressed. 
Instead, use expectorant herbs to help loosen up the phlegm, making it easier for you to cough up and easing your breathing.

Herbs that can help with wet, productive coughs are:

GINGER, Zingiber officinale

Ginger is a warming and dry stimulating expectorant that is also anti-spasmodic and antitussive (capable of relieving coughing)

Ginger is also used to heal sore throats that can accompany coughing. The University of Maryland Medical Centre recommends placing a few slices of fresh ginger to a bowl of hot water to use as a vapour steam.

When combined in a tea with honey and lemon juice it can give powerful relief from coughing as well as other cold symptoms.

ELECAMPANE, Inula helenium

Elecampane is another warming, stimulating expectorant that can help in virtually all chronic lung conditions including coughs. 

It's often mixed with other herbs that have an affinity with the lungs like white horehound and coltsfoot. Elecampame is also ideal for treating coughs in children, although care should always be taken with regards to dosage. 

HYSSOP, Hyssop officinalis

Hyssop is a drying and slightly warming expectorant which encourages the production of a more liquid mucous while stimulating expectoration. Hyssop can sometimes irritate mucous membranes so it's best given after an accompanying infection has peaked to allow it's tonic action to aid recovery.

Medieval herbalist Hildegard considered hyssop to be an excellent lung cleaner and wrote that chicken should be cooked in hyssop and wine to make a broth for lung complaints.

WHITE HOREHOUND, Marrubium vulgare

A bitter and slightly cooling expectorant that dilates the arteries and helps to ease lung congestion. It also causes the secretion of a more fluid phlegm.

It also helps to relax the muscles in the lungs. It is also mildly sedative and anti-spasmodic helping to calm and ease the coughing.

Other herbs that may be useful for wet, productive coughs are ground ivy, angelica and marjoram. 


WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

Some signs that a cough has gone beyond being a simple cough are:

• a persistent cough that doesn't respond to anything over the course of a week
• a cough that is very painful
• coughing up blood and/or yellow or green phlegm
• a cough that lasts for three months or more and even several doses of antibiotics won't clear. In this situation, make sure your doctor orders an urgent x-ray as it's one of the first signs of lung cancer. 

I read a post on HubPages and one of the statements on there really struck me as very simple yet sound advice: 

"The number one reason to see a doctor is when your gut feeling says to do so. You know your body better than anyone else and if you feel the need to see a doctor, odds are you truly do."