Medicine from plants can’t replace pharmaceuticals, but botanical remedies can contribute to prevention and recovery from illness. In this episode, I explore building the kitchen herbal pantry to include cough remedies.
Categories and Examples of Herbs with therapeutic use for coughing
Demulcents are herbs that soothe and protect mucous membranes from irritation and inflammation and thin mucus
Examples are flax seed, chia seed, oats, okra, marshmallow, licorice, fenugreek, fennel, slippery elm, mullein, violet, butterfly weed
Expectorants are herbs that help move excessive mucus out of the respiratory system
Examples include wild cherry bark, plantain, hyssop, fenugreek, thyme, fennel, licorice, ginger, marshmallow, anise, onion, garlic, eucalyptus, pine, elecampane, lobelia, horehound
Decongestants reduce and/or eliminate the formation of mucus or phlegm
Examples are anise, black pepper, cayenne, ginger, fenugreek, mullein, marshmallow, licorice, horehound, sumac, wild cherry, elecampane, lobelia
Astringents dry up mucus, be careful with astringents, use only if copious mucus
Examples include peppermint, spearmint, bayberry, sumach, raspberry leaf, wild cherry, cleavers, lobelia
Antispasmodics relax muscles, decrease constriction and tightness, help coughing spasms
Examples are Fenugreek, fennel, lavender, peppermint, lemon balm, mullein, Angelica, bayberry, red clover, elecampane and lobelia
Mentions:
American Herbalist Guild COVID19 Resource page
Respiratory System and Respiratory Immunity: Course offered by the Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism