Many people, when faced with a cough, head to the local drug store for a “cough” medicine. Unfortunately, too few people understand the benefits of having a cough as well as the different types of coughs. 

Coughs are the body’s mechanism for clearing the lungs of pathogens and excessive phlegm. Most of the time we do not want to suppress the action of coughing. Although we commonly refer to coughs as simply coughs, in actuality there are a variety of different coughs and a variety of ways to support the body when exhibiting a cough. Coughs can be acute (as in the case of the flu) or chronic (as in the case of a long-term smoker). This section will focus primarily on acute coughs. 

Productive coughs are characterized by coughing accompanied by phlegm. In this type of cough our body is attempting to expel mucous from the lungs. It is potentially very harmful to suppress this type of cough with medication or herbs. This could result in prolonging an illness or even causing pneumonia from trapping mucous inside the lungs. Instead, when we have a wet, productive cough we can use expectorant herbs to help promote the flow of mucous, thus getting the gunk out of our bodies. 

In the case of a productive cough with excessive phlegm we may want to use stimulating expectorants. If there is a cough with some phlegm, but mostly it feels like the phlegm is stuck in the lungs, soothing expectorants or demulcent herbs can be used to help thin the mucous. In both cases it is important to stay well hydrated. 

Soothing expectorants include plantain, marshmallow, and slippery elm. Stimulating expectorants include elecampane, poplar buds, and horehound. 

Generally, stimulating expectorants are taken when there is a large amount of mucous present. However, if mucous membranes are dry, stimulating expectorants can exacerbate the problems and soothing expectorants should be used instead. 

There are two types of unproductive coughs. In one type, there is mucous in the lungs but it is thick and, although the body is trying hard to expel it from the body, it is not working. This type of cough is best approached with demulcent herbs that seem to have a reflexive action to thin mucous and help it be dispelled from the body. Staying hydrated is also important. 

Another type of unproductive coughs is the insistent dry hacking that keeps someone from sleeping and burns the already inflamed throat. A couple of approaches may be helpful for this situation. Soothing expectorant herbs can be used to soothe the throat and bring relief. Antitussive or relaxant herbs can be utilized to suppress the cough if the patient is unable to sleep or is excessively worn out from coughing.  

Demulcent herbs include marshmallow, slippery elm, and plantain leaves. 

Antitussive herbs include mullein, thyme, and red clover. 

Although I have done my best to organize the following herbs into well-defined categories, in reality plants don’t really behave in this manner. They often have several actions and a myriad of ways of working within the body. Also, remedies for coughs are often formulated to include herbs with different herbal properties. So although these herbs are introduced singly, as your herbal knowledge grows you may find yourself combining herbs to get more broad-spectrum results. Formulating herbs is an art and a science that takes time and dedication to learn. One of my favorite resources for this is Paul Bergner’s CD set of Formulations that can be purchased at www.naimh.com. 

Honey

Often times herbal remedies for coughs are delivered in a honey or sugar base. I personally prefer honey as it offers a wide range of beneficial properties and I can also get it locally. Honey and sugar are both expectorants in themselves and they also have the ability to soothe the respiratory tract. Honey is antimicrobial, making it even more beneficial during times of illness. Let’s not forget that it’s also delicious. 

Earlier in this ebook we discussed the immune suppressive activities of sugar in large quantities. Typically the dose of herbal syrups is one teaspoon to one tablespoon every ½ hour to one hour. This is nowhere near an immune suppressive quantity. 

Vinegar

Vinegar has a long history of being used for sore throats, coughs, and other lung issues. William Cook, a physiomedicalist, writes that vinegar by itself has a concentrated effect on the respiratory passages. He suggests that herbal preparations with a vinegar base focus their actions to the respiratory tract. 

Oxymels

Oxymels are preparations using both vinegar and honey. These mixtures have a long history of use in western herbalism, dating as far back as the ancient Greeks. Hippocrates was an advocate of oxymels for coughs but cautions against its use for people with a cold and dry constitution (these people are commonly always the coldest in the room, wearing sweaters when others have on t-shirts, and may have dry skin, dry eyes, etc.). He also suggested heating these mixtures gently when they are being consumed during cold weather. 

There are a variety of ways to make oxymels: 

To add herbs to the oxymel preparation: 

Decoct one ounce of herb in one quart of water, simmer until ¼ of the liquid remains. Strain and add four ounces of vinegar and four ounces of honey. Mix until it forms a syrupy consistency. This preparation works best with roots or leaves. Because of the long decoction it is not well suited for aromatic herbs because the simmering will boil away the aromatic properties. 

If wanting to use aromatic herbs you can simply combine an herb-infused vinegar with an herb-infused honey. I would suggest the commonly given ratio of one part of vinegar to five parts of honey. Lastly, another variation of oxymels is to simply decoct the herb of choice with vinegar and then add 5 parts of honey to each part of vinegar. 

STIMULATING EXPECTORANT HERBS

Elecampane: (Inula helenium)

Elecampane root has been appreciated and used for centuries. It was a favorite of the ancient Greeks who used it extensively. Elecampane has a myriad of uses, including a digestive bitter and de-wormer. Elecampane also has powerful stimulating expectorant qualities that can loosen stuck phlegm or help to dry out copious amounts of phlegm. 

Elecampane root is especially bitter, so making an infused honey really helps the medicine go down. To make the honey, fill a jar with sliced fresh root, cover in honey, stir to get the air bubbles out, and let sit for at least three days for best results. I like to turn my jar over a couple times a day to help with mixing. This will keep in the fridge indefinitely and is a good thing to have on hand. I use elecampane honey for sore throats and coughs - a teaspoonful as needed. 

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) 

This Mediterranean herb is an important friend during the cold and flu season. Its antiviral properties are welcomed during a viral infection, and its ability to relieve coughs, sore throats, and congestion makes it an all-around herb to never be without. I keep dried hyssop for teas and extract fresh hyssop leaves in alcohol and vinegar. Hyssop also makes a flavorful and effective syrup to further help with sore throats. 

Garlic and Onion Honey

These culinary herbs are warming, antimicrobial, and stimulating expectorants. You can make syrup or honey out of one or both of these spicy herbs for coughs and sore throats. 

Horehound

Horehound is astringent, antimicrobial, and a stimulating expectorant. 

SOOTHING EXPECTORANT HERBS

Slippery Elm Gruel (Ulmus fulva)

To make gruel, place a tablespoon of powdered slippery elm into a pint of water and stir well. Occasionally stir this mixture until it has reached a thick slippery consistency. This nutritive gruel is an easily digestible food for those too weak to eat normal foods. Slippery elm can also be added to cooked oatmeal. 

Marshmallow tea (Althea officinalis)

To make marshmallow tea simply put ¼ cup of marshmallow root in a pint size jar. Fill this jar with cold to lukewarm water and let sit for a minimum of four hours. You will notice that this brew will get more mucilaginous and slippery with time. Strain when ready and drink as desired. 

Linden Flower (Tilia spp.)

A popular remedy in Europe, especially in France where my mother in law drinks this daily, Linden flower tea is delicious and cooling to an inflamed throat and sore cough. Its antispasmodic qualities quell relentless coughs and Linden’s gentle nervine qualities can soothe the mind as well. Besides drinking linden flowers when sick, I love this sweet drink iced on hot dusty days. To make it I put one ounce of linden in a mason jar. Fill with freshly boiled water and let sit for two hours before straining. If using for a cough, I warm it before drinking. 

Plantain (Plantago major, P. lanceolata)

In the herbal world plantain is most well known for its ability to draw poisons from the skin, as well as to heal rashes, eczema, and psoriasis. Besides being a magical healer externally, plantain tea internally can sooth a cough and help to bring up phlegm. It is also a demulcent herb that soothes inflamed mucous membranes – helpful when you’ve spent the last hour coughing so much your insides hurt. 

ANTITUSSIVE HERBS

Valerian (Valierana officinalis) 

A tincture of valerian can stop a persistant hacking cough that is trying to keep you up all night. This seems to work well for people who have signs of deficiency such as coldness, paleness, white tongue. 

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) 

Clover is used by over 33 cultures worldwide as an anticancer remedy. It also has been used extensively for whooping cough, tuberculosis, and other dry irritating coughs. To prepare this as an infusion I make it as described above for Linden. 

Thyme (Thymus officinalis) or Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)

Often thought of as only a culinary herb, thyme has a strong affinity for the lungs and is stellar at quelling a relentless cough. I take my thyme tea after it has infused for a minimum of twenty minutes. 

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Although mullein has a long list of varied uses, I primarily think of its leaves as heaven sent to those with chronic or acute respiratory problems. It’s been used for bronchitis, asthma, coughs, lung congestion, and throat inflammation for thousands of years. One of the best attributes of mullein is that it probably grows close to your front door. I gather the first year leaves of mullein (before a flower stalk springs from the center of the leaves) in the spring and summer while they are looking vibrant. Its thick woolly leaves can be hard to fully dry in a humid environment and they may need to be placed in a dehydrator. 

I use the dried leaves for infusions – filling a mason jar a quarter of the way and then filling with freshly boiled water. To strain off the leaves I pour the mix through a finely woven stainless steel strainer additionally lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter. The abundant hairs on mullein leaves can actually irritate the throat and lungs if not properly filtered out. 

Mullein leaves were traditionally smoked for lung issues. Although this may seem counterintuitive to the health of your lungs, this has been shown to be very effective, especially for deep spasming coughs. One way to do this is to burn mullein balls as incense and inhale the smoke.