We have all had a cold or flu that has lingered with that dry hacking cough that never seems to go away. It is painful and makes laying down to sleep miserable and impossible. The dry, unproductive cough can cause muscle spasms, pain in the ribcage and inflamed mucus membranes, leaving your throat feeling red, raw and sore. Three herbs, inula, tussilago and lobaria, can soothe these symptoms and provide immune support along the way to kick the cough.
Inula
Inula helenium (elecampane) is used as a lung tonic for acute and chronic conditions. It is a gentle herb that can safely be used for long periods of time if needed. Inula is specific for irritating bronchial coughs, especially in children, and chronic coughs in the elderly. The dried root of the plant is used to act as a relaxing demulcent to decrease bronchial muscle spasm in coughing and soothe the mucus membranes. The action of the polysaccharides in the plant stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which signals your body to make more mucus. Sesquiterpene lactone, a chemical compound found in elecampane, has been demonstrated to have antimicrobial activity against many common bacteria and yeast.
Tussilago
Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) is a soothing herb primarily used to relieve dry, spasmodic coughs and inflammation. According to Hoffman in "Medical Herbalism," the leaves of tussilago have useful levels of zinc, which has anit-inflammatory properties. It is gentle and most effective when used short term in large doses. It is best to use the fresh leaf because the root contains more unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids (UPAs). UPAs have the potential to cause damage to the liver if used long term. If you have existing or past liver disease, you should not use tussilago. Tussilago is also contraindicated in pregnancy and when breast-feeding.
Lobaria
Lobaria pulmonaria (lungwort) is an herb derived from lichen. Its name comes from the fact that in nature it resembles the lungs and has been used to primarily affect the respiratory system. Lobaria is used in dry, hacking, croupy coughs that are persistent and exhausting. This herb also helps to relax your inspiratory muscles and decrease the associated pain with chronic coughing. It acts to soothe your mucus membranes and decrease inflammation. Its actions can increase mucus in your throat to decrease dryness and irritation, so it should not be used in wet, productive coughs, but if is otherwise safe, without adverse effects.
References
- "Medical Herbalism"; David Hoffman; 2003
- "Fitoterapia"; Antimicrobial Activity of 10-Isobutyryloxy-8, 9-Epoxythymol Isobutyrate; A. Stojakowska, B. Kedzia and W. Kisiel; December 2005
- HenriettasHerbal: Sticta
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