Cough: Causes, Medicinal Herbs and Herbal Preparations

A cough is a sudden, forceful expulsion of air from the lungs, often triggered by irritation or inflammation in the throat, bronchi, or trachea, serving as a protective mechanism to clear foreign particles or excess mucus.

Coughs can be caused by various factors such as infections, allergies, smoking, and environmental factors. Chronic coughing can lead to complications like fatigue, sleep disturbances, and respiratory problems. Herbal remedies like thyme, licorice root, and slippery elm can help soothe and calm the respiratory system, while teas, tinctures, and syrups prepared from these herbs can provide relief.

However, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional before using medicinal herbs, especially for children, pregnant women, or those with underlying medical conditions.

This article explains in detail what are the causes of cough, what medicinal herbs to use to relieve this problem and how to prepare these herbs to get the best results.

What are the main causes of cough?

The main causes of cough are diverse and can be broadly categorized into infectious, non-infectious, and other conditions.

Infectious causes include respiratory tract infections such as common cold, flu, pneumonia, and tuberculosis, which are often caused by viruses and bacteria. Non-infectious causes include allergies, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic bronchitis, which can be triggered by exposure to irritants like smoke, dust, and pollution. Other conditions such as chronic kidney disease, heart disease, and thyroid disorders can also lead to coughing.

Additionally, certain medications like ACE inhibitors and statins can cause cough as a side effect.

• Allergies: Allergies can cause a cough by triggering the release of histamine, a chemical that stimulates the nerves in the airways to produce mucus and lead to coughing.
• Cold: The common cold can cause a cough by inflaming the airways and producing excess mucus, which irritates the throat and triggers coughing.
• Acid reflux: Acid reflux can cause a cough by causing stomach acid to flow up into the throat and irritate the airways, triggering coughing.
• Asthma: Asthma can cause a cough by causing inflammation and constriction of the airways, which can lead to coughing and difficulty breathing.
• Pneumonia: Pneumonia can cause a cough by causing an infection in the lungs that can lead to inflammation and irritation of the airways, triggering coughing.
• Pertussis: Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, can cause a cough by causing an infection of the airways that can lead to severe coughing fits and difficulty breathing.
• Laryngitis: Laryngitis can cause a cough by causing inflammation of the vocal cords that can lead to irritation and discomfort in the throat, triggering coughing.
• Bronchitis: Bronchitis can cause a cough by causing an infection of the airways that can lead to inflammation and irritation of the airways, triggering coughing.
• Sinusitis: Sinusitis can cause a cough by causing an infection of the sinuses that can lead to inflammation and irritation of the airways, triggering coughing.
• Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis can cause a cough by causing an infection of the lungs that can lead to inflammation and irritation of the airways, triggering coughing.

What are the primary medicinal plants used for cough?

The main medicinal herbs used for cough are Echinacea purpurea, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Zingiber officinale, Thymus vulgaris, Mentha x piperita, Eucalyptus globulus, Verbascum thapsus, Lavandula angustifolia, Sambucus nigra, Piper nigrum.

Echinacea purpurea contains alkylamides which exhibit immunomodulatory effects, enhancing the body's immune response to fight off infections causing cough. Glycyrrhiza glabra's glycyrrhizin has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing inflammation in the respiratory tract and alleviating cough symptoms. Zingiber officinale's gingerols and shogaols have expectorant properties, loosening mucus and promoting its clearance from the airways, while Thymus vulgaris' thymol and Mentha x piperita's menthol exhibit antimicrobial properties, fighting off pathogens that cause cough.

Eucalyptus globulus' eucalyptol, Verbascum thapsus' verbascoside, Lavandula angustifolia's linalool, Sambucus nigra's sambunigrin, and Piper nigrum's piperine also contribute to their expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, making them valuable herbal remedies for cough.

• Echinacea purpurea: Echinacea purpurea helps with cough due to its immunomodulatory properties, which enhance the body's natural defense against infections and inflammation, thereby reducing the severity and duration of coughing.
• Glycyrrhiza glabra: Glycyrrhiza glabra helps with cough by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators and reducing airway inflammation, making it an effective demulcent in soothing irritated mucous membranes and relieving cough symptoms.
• Zingiber officinale: Zingiber officinale helps with cough due to its expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to thin mucus and reduce inflammation in the airways, making it easier to cough up mucus and alleviate coughing.
• Thymus vulgaris: Thymus vulgaris helps with cough by releasing thymol, a compound that has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce the severity of coughing and alleviate respiratory tract infections.
• Mentha x piperita: Mentha x piperita helps with cough due to its expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to thin mucus and reduce inflammation in the airways, making it easier to cough up mucus and alleviate coughing.
• Eucalyptus globulus: Eucalyptus globulus helps with cough by releasing eucalyptol, a compound that has decongestant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to thin mucus, reduce inflammation in the airways, and alleviate coughing.
• Verbascum thapsus: Verbascum thapsus helps with cough due to its demulcent properties, which soothe and protect irritated mucous membranes, reducing inflammation and discomfort in the respiratory tract and alleviating coughing.
• Lavandula angustifolia: Lavandula angustifolia helps with cough by reducing stress and anxiety, which can exacerbate coughing, and promoting relaxation and improved sleep quality, thereby alleviating the underlying causes of coughing.
• Sambucus nigra: Sambucus nigra helps with cough due to its antiviral and immunomodulatory properties, which enhance the body's natural defense against infections and reduce the severity and duration of coughing.
• Piper nigrum: Piper nigrum helps with cough by releasing piperine, a compound that has anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties, which help to reduce inflammation in the airways, thin mucus, and alleviate coughing.

What are the main herbal preparations used for cough?

The main herbal preparations used for cough are Decoction, Tincture, Lozenge, Capsule, Elixir, Salve, Syrup, Gargle, Ointment, Suppository.

Decoction involves boiling herbs in water to release active compounds, often used for respiratory issues like bronchitis and pneumonia due to its ability to release antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Tincture is a concentrated liquid extract of herbs used orally or topically for cough relief, typically made with glycerin or ethanol to enhance bioavailability. Lozenges, Capsules, Elixir, and Syrup are administered orally to provide sustained release of bioactive compounds, targeting the cough receptors in the throat and respiratory tract, while Salve, Gargle, Ointment, and Suppository are topical preparations often used for soothing and protecting the affected areas.

These various preparations are chosen based on the specific herbal properties and the route of administration that best targets the cough symptoms.

• Decoction: A decoction of Echinacea purpurea helps with cough by stimulating the immune system and increasing the production of white blood cells to fight off infections and inflammation.
• Tincture: A tincture of Glycyrrhiza glabra helps with cough by acting as an expectorant to loosen and clear mucus from the lungs and airways, and by reducing inflammation in the throat and chest.
• Lozenge: A lozenge of Thymus serpyllum helps with cough by providing quick relief from coughing through the direct application of the herb's expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties to the throat.
• Capsule: A capsule containing the powdered root of Asclepias tuberosa helps with cough by releasing its expectorant and anti-inflammatory compounds into the body, which aid in loosening and clearing mucus from the lungs and airways.
• Elixir: An elixir of Viola tricolor helps with cough by dissolving the herb's expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties into a liquid solution, making it easier to administer and absorb, which aids in loosening and clearing mucus from the lungs and airways.
• Salve: A salve of Plantago lanceolata helps with cough by applying its expectorant and anti-inflammatory compounds directly to the chest and throat, providing quick relief from coughing and congestion.
• Syrup: A syrup of Sambucus nigra helps with cough by dissolving the herb's expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties into a sweet liquid solution, making it easier to administer and absorb, which aids in loosening and clearing mucus from the lungs and airways.
• Gargle: A gargle of Eucalyptus globulus helps with cough by applying its expectorant and anti-inflammatory compounds directly to the throat, which aids in loosening and clearing mucus from the throat and airways.
• Ointment: An ointment of Aloe barbadensis helps with cough by applying its anti-inflammatory and soothing compounds directly to the chest and throat, providing quick relief from coughing and congestion.
• Suppository: A suppository of Commiphora molmol helps with cough by releasing its expectorant and anti-inflammatory compounds directly into the body, which aids in loosening and clearing mucus from the lungs and airways.