When you are suffering from a cold, bronchitis or an allergy, phlegm is released from the mucous membranes lining your respiratory tract in an attempt to remove the offending virus, bacteria or irritant. When phlegm, or mucus, occurs deep in your chest, it must be removed through expectoration, or coughing. Myrrh, a reddish-brown resin derived from the myrrh tree, is an herbal medicine that can be used to clear phlegm from respiratory passages. Before taking myrrh, or any herbal remedy, to alleviate phlegm, consult your health care provider for advice on its proper use.
Myrrh
Myrrh resin is collected from the stems of this shrubby bush, which is native to parts of Africa, the Middle East and India. Myrrh is most often used in a mouthwash to combat gingivitis, but taken internally, it can help relieve chest congestion and excess phlegm. The volatile oils contained in myrrh resin appear to increase circulation to the lungs, restoring normal production of phlegm and acting as an expectorant to help clear it. Large doses of myrrh have a laxative effect, and it can bring on heavy menstrual periods in women. Consult your doctor for the correct dosage and use of this herb.
Licorice
Licorice is a sweet-tasting flavoring for many foods, and it is also an herb that exhibits powerful expectorant properties. However, licorice contains glycyrrhiza, a compound that can cause serious side effects, including high blood pressure, headaches and heart attack. The University of Maryland Medical Center advises using extracts containing deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, because it is safer. Although scientific proof is lacking, licorice is used to loosen and thin out phlegm, making it easier to cough up. Only take licorice under the strict supervision of your physician and don't use it if you are pregnant or have heart disease, kidney disease or diabetes.
Cherry Bark
Cherry trees produce sweet or tart fruit that has been used as a food source and in cooking for centuries. The root bark of one variety of cherry tree, Prunus serotina, or wild cherry, is also used for medicinal purposes. Cherry bark is beneficial in two ways: It calms the urge to cough and acts to expel mucus from your respiratory tract. However, certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author and of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," says that you should use cherry bark for a short time and only as directed by your physician because it contains hydrocyanic acid, which can be toxic.
White Horehound
White horehound is a bushy herb whose above-ground parts, including its stems, leaves and flowers, are used in herbal remedies. A member of the mint family, horehound contains marrubin, a compound that promotes fluid secretion into the respiratory tract to soften phlegm, while relaxing the small bronchial muscles to make it easier to expel. Horehound is an ingredient found in many herbal cough syrups and lozenges, often in combination with licorice and elecampane. Horehound can affect the absorption of iron, so consult your doctor for dosing instructions. Don't take horehound if you are pregnant, nursing, have menstrual difficulties or over 65 years old.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Bronchitis
- "Prescription for Herbal Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2002
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2010
- Univesity of Maryland Medical Center
- AltMD: Cherry Bark
- AltMD: Horehound
