Home Remedies: Home Remedies for a Cough

There are many home remedies for a cough and a lot of them will be in the average spice rack in American kitchens. I have asthma, so not only do I use these remedies for coughs due to colds, but for for a persistent cough, such as asthma, as well. If there is a difference between the two, I will note it below. For all of the tea recipes, I recommend using a strainer because the last thing you need when coughing is to have some piece of an herb stick in the back of your throat and trigger another coughing spell. I've been there, it's not fun, so use a tea strainer, some cheesecloth, or even a clean sock if you're desperate.

People with heart conditions should keep in mind that many herbs have the effect of dilating the bronchial tubes, which can cause jittery sensations and possibly speed up the heart. For that reason please be cautious when using dried plantain, thyme or coltsfoot.

Vick's VapoRub:

Vick's VapoRub

You've probably heard throughout your life that Vick's VapoRub (or a similar herbal concoction) stops coughs when applied to your chest, or used in the dispenser area of a humidifier, but did you know that applying it to the soles of your feet and wearing socks over it can help coughs too? I like this approach because sometimes I really don't want Vick's around my face or on my chest or back, and it's a nice alternative to that. Simply slather the Vick's on the soles of your feet and put on some socks (make sure you don't care if the socks get grease stains) right before going to bed. This treatment is best for a cough due to a cold, as asthma attacks can sometimes be triggered by the smell of Vick's.

Honey and Black Pepper:

You can make a cough syrup using honey and black pepper. Mix 1 tsp ground black pepper into 3 tsps of honey. You can take it like that (it's very hot and sweet) or add hot water and sip it. This is one of many cough remedies used by Native Americans. I would not recommend this treatment for asthma, as the pepper can get stuck in your throat and trigger an asthma attack.

Alternatively, Cayenne pepper can be used instead of black pepper, but I would recommend a smaller portion of it (perhaps ~1/4 to 1/2 tsp). Cayenne pepper is also one of many home remedies for high blood pressure, home remedies for arthritis, and home remedies for migraines.

Chestal Cough Syrup

Homeopathic Cough Syrup:

While not necessarily a "home remedy", there is a homeopathic cough syrup that I have used many times and highly recommend. It's made from honey and even tastes like honey but has a lower viscosity. The cough syrup is called Chestal, and is made by Boiron. It is one of my favorite homeopathic remedies and is also available in a children's formula.

Sage and Thyme:

Both Sage and Thyme are helpful herbs when it comes to breathing problems. Make a tea with 1 tsp of either ingredient (or mix them together). Pour boiling water over them and it steep for 5 minutes. Add honey to sweeten. Honey is one of many sore throat remedies, and is one of the home remedies for allergies as well so it's a good choice to add to an herbal tea. These are herbs that help dilate your bronchial tubes and can ease an asthma attack or coughing fit and help break up a chest cold.

Coltsfoot:

Dried Coltsfoot

I was excited to find coltsfoot available at Amazon.com as I haven't been able to find it locally for years, and it is highly effective in treating asthma. Coltsfoot even has a reputation for treating whooping cough. If you have whooping cough symptoms, go see a medical practitioner rather than trying to treat it at home. Whooping cough is highly contagious. For an asthma attack, or chest cold, I would usually make a tea of 1 tsp thyme and 1 tsp of coltsfoot and let it steep in boiling water for about 5 minutes. I usually added honey and drank it hot. It would loosen up my chest during an asthma attack pretty quickly.

Plantain Leaf:

I'm not talking about the little bananas, rather a green herb that I used to be able to find in health food stores. This is another herb that I would mix with either coltsfoot or thyme when having asthma trouble. The instructions are the same 1 tsp of each herb, steep in boiling water for 5 minutes, and add honey to taste.

Black Tea:

Hot black tea (sweetened or not) but without milk is a great emergency substitute for asthma medication. Tea contains Theophylin, which is actually a chemical that has been synthesized into a prescription asthma drug. It is wonderful because most restaurants carry it and it's an easy substitute for an inhaler if you're stuck without one. I don't recommend using it instead of Dr recommended medication, but if you're in a pinch, it can get you through a bad situation.

If tea is not available, then opt for hot black coffee. While coffee does not have as much Theophylin as black tea, it does have some and can still be beneficial.

Peppermint:

Peppermint tea can be beneficial for treating coughs related to colds or the flu, but I would not recommend it for asthma. If there are no other options and someone is having an asthma attack, I would recommend trying a smell test before giving it to the person. Have the patient smell the tea bag (or the brewed tea) before they drink it. Keep in mind that doing so may exacerbate symptoms depending on their sensitivities. Some asthmatics are triggered by things that have minty smells. If the smell doesn't make it worse, then the peppermint tea could be beneficial. Peppermint can be a good home remedy for heartburn, and also one of the home remedies for bloating so if the coughing is triggered by heartburn, it could help in that way as well.

Astragalus Root:

Astragalus Root Liquid Capsules

Another herb that's great for the lungs is astragalus root. Astragalus root not only helps heal the lungs from a number of conditions, but is also one of the home remedies for flu and is one of the great preventive home remedies for sinus infections. That makes it a great herb to have on hand for flu and cold season, and to fight any virus that moves into your chest. I take it in liquid capsule form, but there are a variety of ways to take it.

Thorn Apple (Also known as Jimsonweed):

I left Thorn Apple til last because it is a toxic herb used in Chinese medicine to treat asthma and coughs. While this herb is also a potential home remedy for hair loss, I'd recommend getting the help of a medical practitioner before using it.

If someone has ingested a plant that you are afraid is poisonous, please contact your local or national poison control center immediately. The website: http://indoorplanttips.com/poisonous-plants/ lists phone numbers for the United States national poison control center, as well as the ASPCA poison control center for animal poisonings.

How to Stop Coughing:

Whatever the reason for your cough, be sure to stay hydrated, because that will thin the mucus and help you clear your airways.

Asthmatic Cough:

Over the years as an asthmatic, I've run into many suggestions for how to stop coughing. One that actually helps a bit is to raise your arms over your head, as it expands your chest and opens up your airways a little. However, if you're in the midst of an asthma attack, it's just not practical to hold your arms in the air for long. I usually advise people to sit up straight with their feet on the floor, arch the back, and pull tight clothes away from the throat and chest. Breathe as slowly and as deeply as you can, in through your nose and out through your mouth; breathing into your stomach (called diaphragmatic breathing). Respiratory therapists usually describe this method of breathing as "smelling the roses and blowing out the candles". Just make sure the "blowing out the candles" part of the breath is slow.

I have seen a hot shower listed as a "no fail way to stop coughing"; however, be cautious if the cough is caused by asthma, as a hot shower can actually aggravate the symptoms. Even WebMD recommends a hot shower, but obviously the people who say that have never had an asthma attack because just the thought of a shower during an asthma attack is almost suffocating. An asthma cough is better relieved by a hot drink than by increasing humidity.

Dry cough Due to Illness:

If you have a dry cough due to an illness, then humidity will probably help. In that case, take a hot shower or use a humidifier. Hot drinks should also help loosen things up and stop a coughing fit.

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Saturday, November 30, 2013

Home Remedies for a Cough