| | | | Other Names | | | Cough, Coughs, Dry Cough, Cough and Cold, Common Cold.
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| | | A cough is a sudden indrawing of air with the glottis wide
open. This is followed by a blowing out of air against a closed glottis.
The glottis then suddenly opens and the air in the lungs is expelled under
high pressure - up to 300 millimetres of mercury and at a speed of 960
kilometres (600 miles) an hour. Its purpose is to rid the air passages and
windpipe of what are colloquially known as foreign bodies, including the
excessive mucus and other secretions produced in infections of the lungs
and upper air passages, such as bronchitis and sore throats. As such
secretions contain many micro-organisms, it is clear what an important
part coughing plays in spreading the common cold and other infections of
the nose, throat and lungs. It is a reflex action produced by
stimulation of nerve endings in the air passages and may therefore be
induced by irritation of these nerve endings by inflammation without any
secretion. This results in the dry irritable cough which can be such a
troublesome feature of the early and late stages of acute bronchitis,
tracheitis and laryngitis. Conversely the inability to cough
in inflammatory conditions of the lungs, such as bronchitis and
broncho-pneumonia, especially in old folk, is an ominous sign, and every
effort must be made to stimulate coughing so far as this is possible.
Cough is a symptom of many diseases. Most coughs come from simple
viral infections, such as the common cold. Sometimes, but not always,
mucus is produced with the cough. If the color is green or yellow, it may
be a hint of a bacterial infection, although this is not always a reliable
indicator. If the color is red, there may be bleeding in the lungs. Any
cough that produces blood or blood-stained mucus, as well as any cough
that lasts more than two weeks, requires a visit to a medical professional
for diagnosis.
Conventional treatment options: Conventional
treatment for cough is primarily directed at the underlying cause.
Symptoms may be treated with cough suppressants (e.g., codeine and
dextromethorphan), demulcent syrups or lozenges (e.g., acacia, licorice,
and glycerin) to soothe the throat and airway, expectorants (e.g., iodide
solutions and guaifenesin) to help expel mucus, and mucolytics (e.g.,
acetylcysteine) to help thin mucus secretions.
Herbs that may be
helpful: A number of herbs have a rich history of use for treating coughs
due to colds, bronchitis, or other mild conditions. Only a few studies
have examined the effectiveness of these herbs. However, their
effectiveness is well-known by practitioners of herbal medicine the world
over. Among those herbs that have been shown to have some degree of
cough-relieving activity are marshmallow,1 sundew,2 and coltsfoot.3 Use of
coltsfoot should be limited to preparations of the leaves and flowers
only, as the root is high in pyrrolizidine alkaloids, constituents that
may be toxic to the liver.
Thyme has a long history of use in
Europe for the treatment of dry, spasmodic coughs as well as for
bronchitis.4 Many constituents in thyme team up to provide its antitussive
(preventing and treating a cough), antispasmodic, and expectorant actions.
The primary constituents are the volatile oils, which include the phenols
thymol and carvacol.5 These are complemented by the actions of flavonoids
along with saponins. Thyme, either alone or in combination with herbs such
as sundew, continues to be one of the most commonly recommended herbs in
Europe for the treatment of dry, spasmodic coughs as well as for whooping
cough.6 Because of its apparent safety, it has become a favorite for
treating coughs in small children.
The active constituents in anise
(Pimpinella anisum), particularly the terpenoid anethole, give this plant
a delightful flavor. As an antispasmodic, it helps in gently relieving
spasmodic coughs.7
The mucilage of slippery elm gives it a soothing
effect for coughs. Usnea also contains mucilage, which may be helpful in
easing irritating coughs. There is a long tradition of using wild cherry
syrups to treat coughs. Other traditional remedies to relieve coughs
include bloodroot, catnip, comfrey (the above-ground parts, not the root),
horehound, elecampane, mullein, lobelia, ephedra, hyssop, licorice, mallow
(Malvia sylvestris),red clover, ivy leaf, pennyroyal (Hedeoma
pulegioides, Mentha pulegium), onion (Allium cepa), and plantain (Plantago
lanceolata, P. major). None of these has been investigated in human
trials, so their true efficacy for relieving coughs is unknown.
The
early 19th-century Eclectic physicians in the United States (who used
herbs as their main medicine) not only employed eucalyptus oil to
sterilize instruments and wounds but also recommended a steam inhalation
of the oil's vapor to help treat asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, and
emphysema.8
Are there any side effects or interactions? Refer to
the individual herb for information about any side effects or
interactions.
Other integrative approaches that may be helpful:
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may be helpful in the treatment of a
cough. Cupping (the use of a glass cup to create suction over a skin
surface) is a traditional Chinese therapy, often used for patients to help
relieve a cough. An uncontrolled study using cupping to relieve coughs
reported a curative response in 35 of 41 patients.9 Other TCM therapies,
including acupuncture and herbal medicine, may be helpful in
cough-producing ailments such as asthma and
bronchitis.
References:
1. Nosal'ova G, Strapkova A,
Kardosova A, et al. Antitussive action of extracts and polysaccharides of
marshmallow (Althea officinalis L, var robusta). Pharmazie 1992;47:224-6
[in German].
2. Schilcher H. Phytotherapy in Paediatrics.
Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers, 1997, 38.
3. Wichtl M,
Bisset N (eds). Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Stuttgart: Medpharm
Scientific Publishers and Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1994.
4. Leung
AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food,
Drugs, and Cosmetics. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1996,
492-5.
5. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal
Medicines. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics, 1998, 1184-5.
6. Weiss
RF. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum and Beaconsfield, UK:
Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd, 1988, 208-9.
7. Weiss RF. Herbal
Medicine. Gothenberg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum and Beaconsfield,UK: Beaconsfield
Publishers Ltd, 1985:203-4.
8. Castleman M. The Healing Herbs.
Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1991, 162-3.
9. Liu X. Treatment of cough
in children by cupping on back. J Tradit Chin Med
1996;16:125.
Source: NOW Foods
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Coughing - Health - Aconitum Napellus 30C
80 pellets
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Coughing - Health - Aconite - Aconitum Napellus - 30X
250 pellets
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Coughing - Health - Gripp-Heel
50 tablets
16.45 US
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