Even after all of the other symptoms have gone, you can still have that lingering cough that doesn’t seem to go away. Whether that is the case or maybe you are still experiencing other symptoms, here is a list of incredibly effective herbal remedies for a cough that you need to have on-hand!
Coughing is our body’s way of getting rid of something in our bodies when we are sick. It is not recommended to take cough syrup. While cough syrup brings relief, it is not a healthy way to deal with this symptom. Instead, look to holistic options that don’t just mask the symptoms, but bring healing as well as relief to your body. If you are anything like me, you will search and search trying to find a healthier alternative to cough medicine (or any type of over-the-counter medicine) to use before turning to other options. In this post, you will find 9 herbal remedies for a cough that are extremely effective!
This post is all about herbal remedies for a cough.
Covering the Basics
Before we look at any of the herbal remedies for a cough, I wanted to just cover a few helpful tips to help relieve your coughing.
Get Rest
-When you are sick, you feel more tired and it’s for a reason. In order for your body to get better, it needs to rest and not exert extra energy. Sleep = healing,
-Make sure you are washing your hands often, especially when out in public,
-A humidifier is extremely helpful with both a cough and congestion. It puts moisture back into the air which helps to free-up your airways.
-Sleep with your head elevated about 15 degrees. For babies, you can put a small folded sheet or blanket (not too folded, you don’t want too much bulk) and place under his/her mattress where his/her head goes.
-Sucking on a hard candy (I like to use peppermints) also helps to relieve coughing.
Now, onto the herbal remedies for a cough that you have been searching for!
1. Honey
Honey is my family’s first go-to when dealing with a sore throat or cough. It provides instant relief because it coats the throat…it’s also very simple. Mix the honey with some cinnamon and get a double-punch of healthy goodness! Take a spoonful as needed.
2. Saltwater Gargle
Mix 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of a healthy salt with 1 cup warm water. It is important to use warm water because it will help the salt to dissolve.
Gargle in the back of your throat for a few seconds, then spit it out. Repeat until the cup is empty. Repeat as needed throughout the day.
The salt eliminates mucus in the back of the throat which will help with coughing.
3. Warm Liquids
Nothing feels better on a sore throat than a warm drink or broth to sip on. Thankfully, warm fluids are great to relieve coughs too! A nice vegetable or chicken broth is a good choice.
If you prefer a tea, you can make a cup using some beneficial herbs for a cough as discussed below. Some of those herbs would be peppermint, mullein, slippery elm bark, or marshmallow root.
4. Steam Bowl with EO
Similar to humidifiers, a steam bowl will put some moisture back into the air so you can breathe better and your airways will be open. You can place a bowl filled with steaming water on a table. Cover your head and the bowl with a small towel and inhale the steam rising.
Be very careful if doing this with children as the water can burn them if the bowl spills.
To add some extra help for your cough, you could add in some peppermint or eucalyptus essential oils to the water. This is not necessary for the steam bowls to work but it is an added healing element for you.
5. Mullein (especially beneficial to ease asthmatic coughs)
Native Americans have used mullein for medicinal purposes for a long time for coughs, teething, cuts, and pain. You can either take mullein in capsule form or you can create a tea out of it which is the most common way to consume. To make the tea, steep 1-2 teaspoons dried leaves or flowers in 1 cup warm water for 10-15 minutes. Drink as needed throughout the day.
**Pregnant and nursing women should not take mullein.
Side Note: It can also be used in extract form to help heal an ear infection.
6. Cough Tincture
There are many recipes for making cough tinctures on the internet. You can definitely make them at home; it doesn’t require much…just some herbs, glycerin or vodka, a jar, and some time.
It is definitely worth the effort to research how to make these tinctures at home so you can be prepared with what your family needs.
There are, of course, other alternatives to you creating your own tincture at home. There are a lot of different stores online that sell tinctures as well as local health food stores.
I like to use an online store called Earthley as well as a local health food store by me. Earthley’s products are organic. They provide some great information on their website as well as in their packages when they ship their products to you.
The link below takes you to their “Cough B Gone” tincture, since this post is all about herbal remedies for a cough. There are three main ingredients in this particular tincture: mullein, fenugreek seed, and dandelion root.
As stated above, mullein is a great herb to help with coughs associated with asthma; therefore, this tincture would be a great choice if you are having a cough associated with either a cold or asthma.
7. Slippery Elm Bark or Marshmallow Root
Slippery Elm Bark is known to help relieve coughs as well as aide in digestive issues. Marshmallow Root is an herb that does SO much (helps in digestion, supports skin and hair, increases metabolism, helps cough and sore throat just to name a few).
To make a tea out of either one of these amazing herbs, steep 1 teaspoon of the dried herb to 1 cup of water for 10 minutes.
Remember that warm liquids help to ease your cough. This would be a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
However, if you don’t want to make the tea version, these herbs also come in supplement form.
8. Peppermint
Peppermint is a great choice because you can consume it in so many different ways!
It comes in an essential oil form which you can add to a humidifier or steam bowl.
You can also create a peppermint tea by steeping 1-2 teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves in 1 cup of warm water. Drinking this tea right before bed will help to fight off the nighttime coughs that creep up when you’re trying to sleep.
There are also peppermint lozenges that you can suck on. Sucking on a hard candy helps to relieve coughs; using a peppermint lozenges makes it even better!
Here is a link to a pack of peppermint lozenges that I recommend. They are organic and from a trusted source that I have ordered from many times. If you haven’t heard of Azure Standard, let me tell you…you are missing out on potential greatness! They sell USA made/grown products, often in bulk, often organic, and they are just a really great company. Check out their website for more information and products. You won’t be sorry.
9. Masala Chai Tea
Chai originated in India to bring healing, specifically for sore throats and dry coughs. Chai teas have become popular in the US over the past few decades. And rightfully so! Have you ever tried one?? They are OH SO DELICIOUS!!
On top of their deliciousness, they contain healing properties! WIN-WIN! You can drink chai as a tea or latte. The latte version steams milk while the tea version steams water. Either one is effective-it’s more a matter of taste. If making the latte form, I like to add in some extra cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, as well as a bit of vanila extract to enhance the taste.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no need to consume the unhealthy cough syrup found in stores! There are so many other healthy (and delicious) options to try! You don’t want to consume something (like cough syrup) to mask symptoms and potentially getting other, worse symptoms.
Instead, use holistic herbal remedies for a cough that will actually bring healing to your body, rather than just masking symptoms. Make a good choice for your body and your loved ones bodies to bring ultimate healing. You have 9 of these herbal remedies listed in this article that will help you. Combine as many as you can into your day and you will feel relief soon!
Another article that should interest you is The Best Herbal Remedies for a Sinus Infection Eveneryone Needs to Know. Learn all about how to heal your body suffering from a sinus infection!
This post is all about herbal remedies for a cough.
