Various Natural Cough Treatment

Coughs are necessary to expel foreign bodies and mucus from the trachea and airways of the lungs. Coughing is a symptom rather than an illness, and can indicate sinusitis, croup, bronchitis, pneumonia, flu, viruses, the early stages of measles, asthma, whooping cough, or an excess of catarrh from the nose or sinuses, due to irritation or infection.

A dry cough may be caused by mucus from infections or colds, chemicals in the atmosphere, a foreign object or nervousness which constricts the throat. A loose, wetter cough is caused by inflammation of the bronchial tubes produced by an infection or allergy. A constant nighttime cough, or one which recurs with each cold and is hard to get rid of, may indicate asthma.

Various terms describe the type of cough: An acute cough starts suddenly, and is usually resolved within a day or two. A chronic cough persists, sometimes for many weeks. A productive cough brings up lots of catarrh or mucus. A nonproductive cough brings up very little or no mucus, and usually sounds harsh and hard.

TREATMENT 

Ayurveda 
Brown 4 tablespoons of coriander seeds in a frying pan, then boil with 4 cups of water, with 4 slices of root ginger. Reduce to 2 cups of liquid, strain, and drink. Other herbs to consider are sunflower, henbane, and stramonium.

Traditional Home and Folk Remedies
A tincture of garlic (place several garlic cloves in brandy and leave for 2 or 3 weeks, then strain) or garlic syrup (tincture, or fresh garlic mixed with a little honey) will help the body to fight infection. It also works to cleanse the blood. Ginseng in hot herbal tea warms the body and eases symptoms. Honey and lemon will ease coughs and encourage healing. Mustard powder, mixed with a little water, can be made into a poultice and applied to the chest area. Apply a warm roasted onion poultice to the chest, or drink a warm onion broth to cleanse and reduce congestion.

Herbalism 
Peppermint tea can be drunk to soothe. Add lightly macerated licorice root sticks to your herbal drink to ease. Aniseed, marshmallow, and wild cherry bark are useful for unproductive, irritating coughs. Use golden seal, plantain, and thyme if infection is present.

Aromatherapy 
Inhale the steam from a few drops of eucalyptus oil in boiling water, as it is expectorant and decongestant. Pine oil, in a vaporizer, will ease coughing and act to restore the lungs. Massage frankincense or sandalwood into the chest and back. Essential oil of myrrh reduces mucus and phlegm.

Homeopathy
Pulsatilla, for a loose, wet, rattling cough, which is worse in the morning and when in bed at night. Ant. tart, is especially useful for elderly people who suffer from persistent rattling cough, and are full of loose mucus but cannot seem to bring it up.Rumex, for a very tickly cough, when cold air irritates the nose and throat. Bryonia, for a dry cough where the chest feels sore from coughing. Phosphorous, for a tickling cough in delicate people with weak chests. Drosera, for a violent tickly cough with retching and pain in the ribs. Chamomilla, for a dry, irritating cough with wheezing, and which is worse at night and makes you feel irritable.