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Colds and Flu < :Coughs Herbal Remedies :
Helpful Herbs |
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Bronchitis *Colds *Influenza *Sinusitis *Congestion/Chest & Sinus *Sore Throat/Laryngitis *Herbal Remedies for Cough
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Using Herbs for Cough
Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. However, excessive coughing may mean you have an underlying disease or disorder.
Some coughs are dry, while others are “productive.” A productive cough is one that brings up phlegm (also called sputum or mucus). Expectorant herbs loosen and thin the mucus that blocks the airways, facilitating a more productive cough.
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A cup of hot chocolate may be a more effective cough medicine for children than over-the counter cold and cough remedies.
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Herbal cough remedies
Expectorants :
Pleurisy root acts as an expectorant and relieves pain and congestion in the lungs. This plant has long been regarded as a valuable medicinal plant and one of the most important of the indigenous American remedies.1
Anise is an expectorant that is also antiseptic to the mucous membranes. Anise can be used as a herbal seed tea, or the essential oil can be used in chest massages and room diffusors.
Cayenne (capsicum) The antioxidants in peppers support the lungs, and the capsicum thins mucus, allowing you to expel it easier. Adding a dash of cayenne pepper to teas has been a long time favorite home cough and congestion remedy.
Colt's Foot is both emollient and expectorant. It will soothe the tissues of the throat as well as cause phlegm to be expelled.4
The medicinal chemicals responsible for horehound's expectorant action, marrubiin and marrubinic acid, also help stabilize heart rhythm. 2
Lobelia stimulates the nervous system and speeds respiration. It also helps break up mucus and facilitates coughing.2
Black mustard seeds make an excellent stimulating poultice (mixed with a soothing substance such as slippery elm powder) for stubborn coughs and arthritis joints. Mustard foot baths are good for poor circulation, chilblains, and upper respiratory mucus.3
Modern herbalists still consider that an infusion of dried speedwell is useful in coughs, catarrh, etc., and is a simple and effective remedy in skin diseases.1 Most homeowners consider this low growing, blue wildflower an invasive lawn weed ;)
Antitussives - cough suppressants :
Black Cohosh, though more famous for it's use today as a woman's botanical, also helps allay coughs according to older herbalists.1,2 According to M. Grieve, "In the paroxysm of consumption, it gives relief by allaying the cough, reducing the rapidity of the pulse and inducing perspiration. In whooping-cough, it proves very effective." Add the tincture to your cough remedy, or drink black cohosh tea to quiet a nighttime cough.
Comfrey root is more effectual than the leaves and is the part usually used in cases of coughs. It is highly esteemed for all pulmonary complaints, consumption and bleeding of the lungs.1
Research published in the FASEB Journal in February 2005 makes a strong case that dark chocolate (Cacao) can be a powerful cough suppressant. The theobromine content of dark chocolate may actually be a more effective cough medicine than traditional or over-the counter cold and cough remedies.
Fennel Syrup prepared from fennel juice was formerly given for chronic coughs. 1
Wild thyme tea is recommended for cough, hangover, flu, and sore throat. Thyme honey is ideal for sweetening expectorant herb teas. Thyme has primarily been used respiratory ailments for its infection-fighting and cough suppressive qualities.
Valerian calms spasmodic coughing and muscle tension - mixes well with licorice, coltsfoot, and mullein leaf in cough remedies.
Wild lettuce has a sedative effect on the respiratory system and is used for treating whooping cough and nervous and dry irritating coughs. Most often used as a tincture.3
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Using Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy and essential oils for coughs.
Sandalwood oil's expectorant and antispasmodic properties make sandalwood effective in chronic bronchitis and dry cough. Other essential oils used to quiet coughs and improve breathing are eucalyptus, frankincense, thyme and ginger.3 |
Buy organic bulk herbs, spices, oils and teas at Mountain Rose Herbs
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Herbs for :Cough |
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Acacia *
Black Mustard *
Black Pepper *
Cacao *
Cayenne Pepper *
Colt's Foot *
Copaiba Balsam *
Echinacea *
Elder *
Elecampane *
Fennel *
Horehound *
Horseradish *
Hyssop *
Juniper *
Lobelia *
Myrrh *
Niaouli *
Peppermint *
Pleurisy Root *
Schisandra *
Speedwell *
Thuja *
Thyme *
Valerian *
Watercress *
White Peony *
Wild Cherry *
Wild lettuce *
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Anise For: Expectorant, coughs |
 Profile
| Carminative and pectoral. Anise enjoys considerable reputation as a medicine in coughs and pectoral affections. In hard, dry coughs where expectoration is difficult, it is of much value. It is greatly used in the form of lozenges and the seeds have also been used for smoking, to promote expectoration. The volatile oil, mixed with spirits of wine forms the liqueur Anisette, which has a beneficial action on the bronchial tubes. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vol 1 (1931) | |
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Black Cohosh For: Artritis pain, Antitussives - cough suppressants |
 Profile
| Black Cohosh , though more famous for it's use today as a woman's botanical, has some additional uses according to older herbalists. According to M. Grieve, "In the paroxysm of consumption, it gives relief by allaying the cough, reducing the rapidity of the pulse and inducing perspiration. In whooping-cough, it proves very effective." Add the tincture to your cough remedy, or drink black cohosh tea to quiet a nighttime cough. Black cohosh also has a pain relieving and anti-inflammatory action that makes it useful for arthritis. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Vol 1 (1931) | |
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Dark chocolate (Cacao) For: Cough suppressant |
 Profile
| Research published in the the FASEB Journal in February 2005 makes a strong case that dark chocolate can be a powerful cough suppressant. The theobromine content of dark chocolate may actually be a more effective cough medicine than traditional or over-the counter cold and cough remedies. | |
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Fennel For: Asthma, bronchitis, coughs |
 Profile
| Fennel also has a calming, antispasmodic effect on coughs and bronchitis. The Greeks use teas made from fennel and anise for asthma and other respiratory ailments. Both of these herbs contain creosol and alpha-pinene, which help to loosen bronchial secretions, although fennel seeds contain as much as 8,800 parts per million (ppm) of alpha-pinene, while anise contains only 360 ppm. Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Herbal Healing (2002) | |
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Horehound, White For: Cardio - Coughs and Colds |
 Profile
| The medicinal chemicals responsible for Horehounds expectorant action, marrubiin and marrubinic acid, also help stabilize heart rhythm. Until 1900, horehound was an accepted medicinal in the U.S. Pharmacopeia, and was found in various over-the-counter nostrums, including cough drops, until 1989, when the FDA challenged its use for a supposed lack of efficacy. A year later, Germany's commission E endorsed horehounds folk reputation as an effective treatment for coughing, colds and indigestion. Decide for yourself. James Duke, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook (2000) | |
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Schisandra For: Chronic Coughs and wheezing |
 Profile
| Medicinally TCM doctors use the tonic and astringent actions of Schisandra
berries to treat chronic cough and wheezing due to lung deficiency, Alan Keith Tillotson, Nai-Shing Hu Tillotson, Robert Abel. The one Earth herbal sourcebook: . (2001), | |
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Thuja For: Rheumatism, coughs |
 Profile
| Aromatic, astringent, diuretic.. The decoction has been used in intermittent fevers, rheumatism, dropsy, coughs, scurvy, and as an emmenagogue. The leaves, made into an ointment with fat, are a helpful local application in rheumatism.. Maud Grieve, Modern Herbal Volume 2 (1931) | |
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Watercress For: Digestive, Nutrition |
 Profile
| Hippocrates described watercress as a stimulant and expectorant, and herbalists still make use of these properties in the plant to treat coughs and bronchitis. Its stimulating qualities and the minerals it contains make watercress important nutritionally, useful in convalescence and general debility. It invigorates the digestion and is diuretic, and lowers blood sugar. Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist (1988) | |
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Cayenne
Horehound
Lemon
chest congestion
Angelica
Infections
Fennel seed Tea
Peppermint Tea
Aromatherapy
Sore Throat
Low Energy?
Colds
Echinacea
Juniper Berry
Echinacea
Natural Aspirin
Fo-ti root
Ginseng
Cinnamon
Lemon Remedy
Echinacea Immune Booster
Diarrhea
Laryngitis
Anise
Goldenseal
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- Grieve, Maude A Modern Herbal Vol 1 (1931)
- Duke, James The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook .(December 15, 2000)
- Richard Mabey. The New Age Herbalist (1988)
- Adele Dawson. Herbs: Partners in Life (2000)
Common Misspellings:Remedys, treaments, releivers
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