Herbal Remedy for Coughing

[RavenDarkWind]

I've been having trouble sleeping due to my coughing. I keep waking up around 3:00 AM. I try using my inhaler, but it's not working. Is there any herb that helps clear the throat and nasal passages?

[Ramscha]

What kind of coughing is this? Do you suffer from some kind of asthma? if yes, is it psychological based or not? Or do you suffer from some other kind of coughing? Do you have problems with slime in your throat?

Some mor information would be helpful, "coughing" alone could mean anything....

[RavenDarkWind]

I'm an asthmatic, but it's mostly aggravated by strenuous exercise, exposure to allergens, and on one occasion sunburn. I also have a chronically stuffy nose, had it for what feels like years, and now it's starting to run back in my throat again.

[Ušušur]

My grandma is making homemade mixture that really helped me clear sinuses and relieve throat/nose problems (keep in mind I don't have asthma, but I do have a lot of problems with allergies). This stuff worked great and even tho I don't get so often sick as before, I still keep some of it in fridge, just in case. It's also good against dry skin, pimples, pain relief, it helps coagulating the blood... there's really a lot of healing properties from comfrey root.

I'll share the recipe, you should be able to get your hands on most of this stuff (well, I guess you should, depends on where do you live... also, try to get fresh homemade ingredients if possible)

/

Recipe for homemade erm... ''Fat of comfrey root'' (not sure how to translate it)

Ingredients:
Comfrey root - 50 grams
Olive or sunflower oil - 100 grams
Salt-free pig fat (or if you're not comfortable using that you can use beeswax) - 25 grams
Handful of Marigold leaves (some people also add lavender/mint leaves)

(note: you can also use only fat without oil, but then you'll need more fat, ~ 200 grams)

How to make it:
Don't chop or peel the skin off - use the whole comfrey root.
Put the comfrey root inside cold water for 24 hours (water should cover the comfrey entirely). Sometimes even 12 hours is enough - but never less than 12 hours. Melt down your pig fat/beeswax and mix it with olive oil. After it's completely melted and hot, add comfrey, stir a bit until it's very hot and then turn off the heat. Leave to cool for 6 hours. After 6 hours, re-heat, add marigold. Strain out the oil and keep it in cold.

Using it:
Simply apply to painful area. In your case, put it all over your throat (from the outside!), area above eyes (sinuses), both side of the nose etc.
You can also mix some fat mixture with water, heat it to melt, soak the bandage in it and then use it like that. I prefer to add it directly on skin.
Put it on before you go to sleep. You can use it during the day as well, but I noticed it works the best when you're calm and lying down. The effect should be almost instant, I never needed to use it longer than three days in a row.

Good luck.

[RavenDarkWind]

Thanks for the remedy, but I'm worried about the possible side effects of comfrey root. Would horehound work as well? Sorry if I sound ungrateful.

[Ušušur]

I read it could be dangerous, but there are also people claiming they use it their entire life and have only positive outcome. My grandparents are also among those 'only positive outcome folks'. Me as well, I've been using it for more than 20 - not regularly, mind you.

It's best to avoid comfrey (or anything else) if you feel bad about it. I know I'll keep using it since it helped me a bunch of times.

Can't really tell how horehound works, never tried the thing.

Another suggestion I know it helps (and I'm drinking it regularly) for throat problems is nettle tea. You can combine it with some other herbs (mint, stevia) if you want stronger flavor. The only downside could be if you're already using other pharmaceutical medication. In that case, I'd advise you to avoid nettle. Also, it most likely wont work as fast as comfrey fat.

[Nahemah]

Thanks for the remedy, but I'm worried about the possible side effects of comfrey root. Would horehound work as well? Sorry if I sound ungrateful.

You should be fine with it as it's externally applied,RavenDarkWind. [thumbup]

You are correct though that Comfrey is one of those herbs where caution applies,particularly to internal ingestion,as it can be a liver toxin when taken to excess.
Do not substitute horehound into this recipe though,as it can cause adverse reactions when applied directly to the skin.It is considered safe to ingest in small doses and is often made into lozenges for sore throats/ productive [mucus laden ]coughing.

There are a number of contra indications for horehound,most notedly: avoid in pregnancy.This bears mentioning,for general readers and the standard warning,which is especially important if you have allergies or an underlying health issue that is long term/ongoing:read and check extensively before using any herbal remedies,so you make an informed choice.

Hope this is helpful.

I have to be careful too,in which herbs I use myself as I also suffer from allergies. [grin]

Oops crossposting with Ususur there,sorry:Nettle tea and nettles themselves are an ecxellent medicine,I do agree. [thumbup]

[RavenDarkWind]

Noted: I'll probably get some horehound lozenges in that case. Just wondering, would liquorice root work as a substitute?

[RoseRed]

Not if you have a problem with high blood pressure. Liquorish is known for raising it even higher.

The people that do ingest comfrey use the leaf. The root is for external use unless you're much braver than I am. Even then, I still wouldn't suggest it. Since this is an external use ointment - I would try it. (If you'd like to learn more about comfrey leaf - Susun Weed has a lot of info on her website.

It appears to be an old recipe. Not many people are using lard or other animal fats these days even though that's what's been used for centuries, if not longer.

The best thing that I've found for wind born allergies is raw local honey. A teaspoon a day for a couple months before allergy season starts really does help to lessen the severity.

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I don't know where everybody is located but I got very sick with 'allergies' this year. At least that's what everyone who did see a doctor was told. It was the worst post nasal drip I've ever had and the docs said that the PND is what caused the 'razorblades' in your throat sensation. It royally sucked. I was in bed for 3 straight days and sick as a dog for almost 3 weeks. And it was contagious. Since when are allergies contagious? My daughter called me last week. She's 1,000 miles away and she has it now.

The 'relief' for that was sudafed around the clock to stop the post nasal drip and numbing drops or spray for the throat.

I don't know if the above is what you're talking about. I didn't care much for the round the clock sudafed for 2 weeks. I much prefer to use herbal remedies when I can but nothing else helped with this. The raw honey helped with the sore throat as well.
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[Nahemah]

I don't know where everybody is located but I got very sick with 'allergies' this year. At least that's what everyone who did see a doctor was told. It was the worst post nasal drip I've ever had and the docs said that the PND is what caused the 'razorblades' in your throat sensation. It royally sucked. I was in bed for 3 straight days and sick as a dog for almost 3 weeks. And it was contagious. Since when are allergies contagious? My daughter called me last week. She's 1,000 miles away and she has it now.

The 'relief' for that was sudafed around the clock to stop the post nasal drip and numbing drops or spray for the throat.

I don't know if the above is what you're talking about. I didn't care much for the round the clock sudafed for 2 weeks. I much prefer to use herbal remedies when I can but nothing else helped with this. The raw honey helped with the sore throat as well.

I really hear you on this,RoseRed. [thumbup] Yep.

I have just been given a steroid nasal spray which I'm loathe to use,as I've had problems with it before and I am recovering from a bout of contact dermatitis that is allergy based too,so my poor immune system is crying out to me for help,lol.

The sudafed just isn't doing it for me this time,though it's usually useful.[I use the 'blue' pack as I can't have the ones with paracetamol in them.]

The contagion thing is a worry isn't it?
I've heard of others being told that too.But,there is a viral infection that has very similar symptoms doing the rounds hereabouts and I believe [as does my GP] I caught that and it's been excacerbated by my sinuses being weak and my allergies are adding to the problem also.

[I must say,I'm also quite suspicious as to the allergens associated with rapeseed pollens and how they may be affecting folk with already compromised immunities,but that,for the moment is a bit of a detraction from the topic at hand,so just noting a concern that may be relevant to my locality,but that might not be to yours.]

I'm chucking down the nettle tea with honey from today onwards[ I have a supply of these items, at all times in the kitchen cupboard] and I will try to hold off on the spray for a bit,as it tastes and smells gawdawful as well as sometimes; instead of helping it seems to increase the headaches that go with the sinus thing.Meh,feeling a bit yuck today all round,lol.

I'll also be using the 'sting' treatment that works for my hands as well,plunging my hands into live nettles gives me a lot of comfort and it helps clear the rash too.

[RoseRed]

If I can ever find my herbs somewhere in my pile of moving boxes I'll be starting my nettle infusions again. I have a gallon of dried nettle somewhere [bored]