Medicinal Herbs for the Coughs

Winter and coughs are part of life, however, it is possible to not only treat coughs with herbs – you can also reduce the likelihood of getting another cough through using herbs. Herbal remedies for coughs treat the symptoms that you currently have, while aiming at increasing your resistance to this type of infection and keeping your airways soothed and free of inflammation.

Nutritionally, supplements play a role in keeping your immune system strong and it is important to recognise that we cannot always get what we need from fresh food. This is especially important over winter when our bodies are more likely to succumb to upper respiratory infections (URI).

Medicinal Herbs for the Coughs

Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus)
The leaf of this herb has calming and soothing properties. It helps dispel mucous in the airways and is used particularly for chest conditions where irritation and inflammation is present such as tracheitis, where there is a dry, hard cough. Mullein is great where there is sore throat with chest symptoms; and it is important to remember that sore throats will often be the precursor to bronchitis and chest infection.

Elecampane/Inula (Inula helenium)
This root of this herb is specific to the respiratory system and is used where there is a need for an expectorant. Elecampane is indicated where there is excessive mucous, as is found in chronic bronchitis with a wet cough, and sEmphysema. Inulin, the essential oil in this herb, has also shown to be effective against many bacteria including tubercle bacillus. Elecampane is contra indicated in pregnancy and in breast feeding mothers.

White Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
A commonly prescribed herb for coughs, horehound is an antispasmodic expectorant that is gentle in action. It is especially used in congestive catarrhal illnesses of the respiratory tract, for example acute bronchitis with non-productive cough and whooping cough. Traditionally horehound has been combined with Ginger in whooping cough. however, you should seek professional advice and diagnosis if you suspect you have Whooping Cough.

Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
A popular herb, liquorice has obvious expectorant, soothing, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic action. It has a long history of traditional use for the treatment of cough, chest complaints, in particular bronchitis, and as a soothing component in cough remedies. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Liquorice moistens the lungs and stops coughing. The glycosides in this herb serve to reduce surface tension in the lung and help to expel mucous and relieve irritation.

Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberose)
A very old remedy, Pleurisy root is used to treat irritable cough, and is known as an expectorant and diaphoretic, where there is a need to sweat in order to break a fever. It is used to treat infection and congestion in the respiratory system such as pleurisy, influenza and acute bronchitis. This herb has also been used to ease nervous tension and to stimulate digestion. Care should be taken in using this herb during pregnancy or while breast feeding.

Comfrey Root (Symphtum off.)
This herb is a favourite of every herbalist. It has also been unfairly treated in wider medical circles and has had been scheduled in some countries. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) in comfrey are the cause of this herb being withdrawn from use.* This herb is soothing and healing to the lungs, and can be drunk as a tea, or better still as a decoction or fluid extract. Like Mullein and Slippery Elm, Comfrey is called a mucilaginous herb, providing a soothing layer over inflamed and irritated areas of the respiratory tract. Comfrey also has an expectorant effect making it easier to move catarrh off the chest.

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Coltsfoot has an ancient reputation as a cough remedy. Chinese medicine has used Coltsfoot for thousands of years and as its botanical name indicates, Tussis is Latin for cough. Like comfrey, this herb contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), which are the cause of this herb being withdrawn from use in some countries.* This herb has a soothing action while working as an effective expectorant, it is used in the treatment of bronchitis, asthma and whooping cough. Remember to seek guidance from your health care practitioner when treating asthma and Whooping Cough.

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Boneset, like Pleurisy Root stimulates sweating and gentle antispasmodic action, making it a specific treatment for fever and influenza with deep muscle aches and upper respiratory catarrh. The polysaccharides in Bonset appear to also have an immune stimulating effect and these properties make Boneset an model treatment to ease the typical “hot and cold” sweats and flu-like symptoms. Boneset has also been used for “muscular rheumatism”, and as a gentle laxative and liver tonic, and may be of benefit in the presence of constipation due to poor liver function.

Wild Cherry (Prunus serotina)
American Indians used the bark of this tree to sooth irritable coughs for centuries. Wild Cherry will work to suppress an irritable cough however, it will work as an expectorant and will help move catarrh off a congested chest by making the cough more productive.

*A note on pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in comfrey and coltsfoot:
The pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) in comfrey (also found in coltsfoot) are not therapeutic, and are found in many foods and are toxic to the liver; however, humans would need to ingest 4.5kg of Comfrey leaves per day in order to experience liver toxicity assuming that each leaf contained 5mg of PAs.

Some other natural herbs that have traditionally been used for coughs.

• Butterbur
• Garlic

The Use of Herbal Remedies and Herbs for the Coughs

"Health is not simply the absence of sickness !"
Hannah Green

May You Grow and Prosper.

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