I know that many times people deal with a nasty cough that can quickly turn south if not watched and cared for properly. As things in our lungs become stagnant it is a ground for the cough to potentially get worse and this is where having herbs on had and knowing which herbs to have for your own case of cough comes in handy.
There are three main types of coughs: wet cough, dry cough and spasmodic cough.
In this article I would like to address a wet cough and include a homemade cough syrup recipe for you to try so you would have it on hand when the cold and flu season strikes or if you are just prone to having coughs that tend to be wet coughs.
I will address a dry cough later on in another blog post as the type of herbs that you would want to look for are different depending on the type of cough you are dealing with.
Before looking into incorporating these herbs into your life or your families health it is important to thoroughly look into an herbs and its precautions if you have any health conditions which have you taking medications or any health diagnosis since some herbs can have a negative effect if you use them.
I have tried to list the precautions here in this article for simplicity sake, but really want to emphasize that herbs to interact with certain health conditions and certain medications. If you need any assistance, do not hesitate to reach out so you can get your own consultation from me.
Some herbs have specific antitussive or cough suppressing properties that suppress the cough such as:
- Coltsfoot
- Horesehound
- Wild Cherry Bark
- Licorice
Many other herbs to look at are demulcents that soothe the irritated bronchial tubes that are especially good for dry coughs are:
- Licorice
- Slippery Elm
- Mullein
- Marshmallow root
Many herbal formulas are formulated with a combination of the herbs that have all the properties, but when looking to get a good nights sleep, it can be frustrating try to find a formula that works. So when you look for a formula that is already prepared at your local health foods store, familiarize yourself with the herbs that you might need to help deal with a different type of cough that you or your family members are dealing with.
Formula for your own DIY
I’ve chosen these herbs as specific herbs because they are pretty easy to find and pretty safe with older kids as well. At the bottom of the article you will see more suggestions for herbs if you need some direction and variation.
Elecampane Root (inula helenium)
This herb has expectorant properties that thin and move mucus out of the lungs. It makes the cough more productive and causes less congestion in the lungs because of it. It also reduced inflammation and has antibacterial effects. It is gentle enough to use for children and relives bronchial spasms.
Safety: It is contraindicated for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Thyme (thymus vulgaris)
Thyme is a powerful antiseptic that is very useful for colds and flu and children respiratory issues. I usually use thyme lanilol essential oil on kids as a chest rub if there is mucus that needs to get out. It is useful in dilating the bronchi and is an antispasmodic. Since thyme is a warming spice, it is used in dishes during the winter season to warm up the body. Many times thyme can be found in your local grocery store that can be bought organic, fresh and local, which is a plus when you are looking for something to make right away for your cough. Sometimes, using just thyme would work wonders with a wet cough.
Horehound leaf (Marrubium vulgare)
Unlike the many fragrant plants in the mint family, horehound has a bitter taste and not any special aroma. The leaves, flowers and stems are harvested and used for their medicinal value. It is known to loosen mucus and soothe coughs. Because it has a diaphoretic (increases sweating) nature, horehound is useful in any infections that include pain or fevers or sore throats. When mucus has a hard time getting out, horehound helps bring it up while soothing spasms.
Safety: It is best to avoid this herb while you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Other Herbs
There are hundreds of herbs to consider when it comes to dealing with a cough. The above herbs were my own selection because they are fairly easy to get in health food stores or affordable with reputable herbal sellers and are fairly safe. Other herbs to look into for your family might be:
- Anise (pimpinella anisum)
- Cowslip (tussilago farfara)
- Mullein (verbascum thapsus)
- Garlic rhizome (zingiber officinale)
Recipe and Uses
I really like to use decoctions when it comes to making a really solid potent formula. Tea is weaker than a decoction and for coughs I really want to get the medicine as strong as I can and can always dilute it if I need to for my kids. If you get fresh Elecampane root, then prepare that as a decoction and the rest fresh leaves and stems from thyme for example as a tea. I like to steep it overnight, that way it is nice and strong.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons elecampane root, dried or fresh
2 tablespoons horehound leaf, dried or fresh
2 tablespoons thyme leaf, dried or fresh (when fresh from my garden I like to use the leaf and stem if I haven’t dried it yet)
Water
Raw honey
Directions:
- Prepare the decoction of the Elecampane root by grinding the herb or cutting it into small pieces and putting it into saucepan with about a quart of water, bringing it to boil and letting it simmer on low to low medium heat for at least 20 min or when the water is reduced by half.
- Using the finished decoction with the Elecampane root, prepare the infusion with the other herbs that you will be using.
- Pour the hot decoction over the other herbs and let steep for at least an hour or leave it overnight for 8 hrs if you can.
- Strain the liquid using a cheesecloth or a tea strainer
- Add around 1 cup of honey to the mixture and warm the mixture slightly to allow the honey to mix
- Transfer to a mason jar or a glass bottle
- Label and date and keep in refrigerator
Uses:
For adults take take 1 tablespoon every 4 hours.
For older children 8yrs and up take 1 teaspoon every 4 hours.
This mixture will last for 1-2 months in the fridge.
Final thoughts
I always think that it is helpful to prepare things ahead of time or have the herb on hand ahead of time. So when there is an illness going around or the season is about to change then I buy the herbs in bulk and make my syrups so I can have them ready for our community of people if they need it and my family.
I think the key is to know which herbs work for you.
These herbs are some of many that are used for wet coughs but the main idea is that you want to keep the mucus moving up and out and support your immune system with liquids like bone broth, vegetable broth, good soups, and whole foods that support your immune system.
For my own kids and coughs, I like to use a little bit of this mix if they can take it which means that mainly the older kids use it.
For my younger kids, I mainly use oils as chest rubs to get the mucus moving.
Which oils are good for different coughs, check out this post here.
Other things to consider is a cold mist humidifier to prevent stagnation in the chest that settles in and has the potential to become worse and sleeping with your head propped up.
I hope this helps you on your journey, if you ever need help creating your own blend of would like a consultation based on different family needs, reach out for a consultation here.
God bless you and protect you.
Krystina
