If you're reluctant to seek solutions for that pesky cough at the drugstore, your instinct may be a good one. "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II" notes that over-the-counter cough formulas often create a boomerang effect by creating even more mucus buildup than existed before. Fortunately, the home remedy enthusiast will find plenty of options to treat a cough. See your health care practitioner if the cough persists more than a week.
Garlic and Honey Syrup
In "The Green Witch Herbal," author Barbara Griggs recounts the "Russian method" for treating a cough. Combine three cloves crushed, chopped garlic with 3 tbsp. of honey. Leave the mixture overnight. Take a tsp. of the garlic-honey syrup every few hours. If desired, consume the cloves as well.
Horseradish Infusion
If the garlic cure seems not for the faint of heart, the horseradish treatment could seem twice as intimidating. However, some people swear by the strong home remedy. Infuse 4 oz. grated horseradish root in 20 oz. hot water for two hours. Add honey, if you wish. Griggs suggest swallowing a tsp. of the pungent liquid every few hours. Not surprisingly, this home remedy works well for coughs accompanied by sinus problems.
Licorice Tea
Licorice root helps break up phlegm while at the same time coating and soothing the throat, according to Grannymed.com. Make a tea from your own dried root, or some you've purchased at the health food store. Alternatively, use powdered licorice root. Prepare a decoction by boiling the dried root for 20 minutes; use 1 cup water for every 4-inch section of root. For powdered licorice, stir ½ tsp. of the powder into a cup of hot water. If you dislike the taste, add honey.
Steam Inhalation
Add three drops of essential oil to a basin of steaming water to experience the healing fumes of cough-soothing botanicals. Good choices to treat a cough include eucalyptus, anise, peppermint and hyssop oils, notes herbalist Jeanne Rose. Drape a towel over your head and the basin and lean over, with your face no closer than 8 inches to the water. Stay under the towel for up to 10 minutes. The same number of drops can be added to a vaporizer or to a tub before a nighttime bath.
Coltsfoot Cough Drops
Coltsfoot represent one of the more ancient medicinal treatments for colds and coughs. Native Americans tribes once went to war with one another to protect land on which coltsfoot grew, according to naturalist Steve Brill. The mucilaginous substance on the back of the leaves sooths throats, while the plants themselves contain expectorant powers. Make cough drops by boiling 1 oz. fresh leaves in 1 quart water until the liquid reduces to 1 cup. Combine the strained liquid with 2 cups brown sugar or honey. Boil until the mixture reaches the "hard ball stage," about 250 degrees F. Pour the mixture into candy molds or onto a flat pan lined with wax paper. If using the latter method, use a knife of pizza cutter to score the mixture into diamonds or squares. Once the pieces harden, break them apart and store for use. If desired, roll in slippery elm bark powder.
References
- Mothernature.com: The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Coughing
- Grannymed.com: Home Remedies for Cough
- "The Green Witch Herbal;" Barbara Griggs, 1994
- "Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants;" Steve Brill; 1994
- Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences: Coltsfoot
