Coughs
*See also COLDS/FLU

Foods to Eat More Of: 
  • Fruits: Figs, pineapple
  • Vegetables: Leeks, onions
  • Garlic, ginger, cilantro, thyme, honey, red seaweed/algae (laver and carrageen), maitake mushrooms
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Foods to Avoid or Minimize:
  • Dairy Products

Essential Oils:
*If additional information or precautions are available, the links below will direct you that information.  If not, you will be directed to Amazon for purchasing options.
  • Chest rub: 5 drop fennel, 5 drops hyssop, 10 drops each of eucalyptus and thyme - dilute in 2 oz of carrier oil (sunflower or almond) and massage into chest 2-3 times daily. Can also use this solution as steam inhalant (Boil a full pot of water, remove from heat until no longer boiling.  Add the oils. Hold your face about a foot away and put a towel over your head & shoulders.  Inhale for up to 30 minutes, 2-4 times daily). 
  • Rosalina (2-3 drops under tongue, hold 15-20 seconds then swallow).
  • ​A drop of peppermint oil placed on back of tongue.
  • A eucalyptus oil steam inhalation: Boil a full pot of water, remove from heat until no longer boiling.  Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Hold your face about a foot away and put a towel over your head & shoulders.  Inhale for up to 30 minutes, 2-4 times daily. 

​Natural/Herbal:  
*If additional information or precautions are available, the links below will direct you that information.  If not, you will be directed to Amazon for purchasing options.
  • Anise, basil, bergamot, black cohosh, cilantro/coriander, clove, eucalyptus, fennel, ginger (fresh has shown to be more effective in some cases), horehound, hyssop, lemon balm, licorice, marjoram, marshmallow root, peppermint, plantain, slippery elm, ​St. John's Wort, thyme, valerian (try any of the above in tea or lozenge form).
  • Cough Types: 
    • ​For cough with a hoarse voice, mix 1/4 teaspoon black pepper into 1 teaspoon of ghee/clarified butter and take on a full stomach (3 times daily).
    • For a cough without a hoarse voice, mix 1/4 teaspoon black pepper into 1 teaspoon of honey and take on a full stomach (3 times daily).
    • For a lung infection: thyme
    • Dry, tickling coughs: wild lettuce, licorice, marshmallow, hyssop
    • Productive coughs: elecampane, Raspberry vinegar (add crushed raspberries to improve flavor)
  • Acupressure on the chest can help.  Take your middle fingers and hold them in front of your eyes (both right and left) - this is just for spacing reasons.  Then lower them to the depressions right below your collarbone. Press this area firmly for a few minutes and the cough may subside (can also try circular rubbing motions). 
  • Mix 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon cloves, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard and enough lard to make a paste.  Make a poultice and apply to to chest or throat.  Leave on overnight. 
  • Add several teaspoons ground ginger into bath water. 
  • Syrup/Tea/Remedy Recipes:
    • Hot lemon tea: Juice of 1/2 a lemon, 1 cup hot water, sweeten with honey. 
    • Add 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar to 1 cup hot water and drink often (can sweeten with honey to improve taste). 
    • Thinly slice 1 lemon, add 1 cup flax seeds and 1 quart water.  Simmer slowly for 4 hours but don't boil.  Strain while it's hot and add 2 oz honey.  Add water to make a pint (if necessary).  Give 1 Tablespoon of this syrup 4 times daily. 
    • Herbal Cough Remedy: 1 teaspoon slippery elm, 2 teaspoon  marshmallow, 1 teaspoon  hyssop, 45 drops echinacea tincture, 45 drops licorice tincture. Mix all and steep in hot water for 20 minutes; add honey to taste. 
    • Layer slices of onion, turnip or leek with honey or sugar and leave overnight (covered). Suggested doses range from 1/2 teaspoon every 30 minutes to 1 teaspoon every 3-4 hours. 
    • Mix 2 Tablespoons honey, 2 Tablespoons vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon ginger and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper.  Add 4 Tablespoons hot water.  Sip often.
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Yoga Therapy:
Supplements & Homeopathic:
  • Vitamin A: 50,000 IU twice daily until symptoms improve; if needed beyond 7 days, reduce dose to 25,000 IU daily (pregnant women should not exceed 5,000 IU daily). 
  • Vitamin C: 2,000 mg 3 times daily until symptoms improve; if needed beyond 5 days, reduce dose to 1,000 mg 3 times daily (reduce if it causes diarrhea). A different source says up to 500 mg daily but combine with a zinc supplement.
  •  Echinacea: 200 mg 3-5 times daily.
  • Garlic: 400-600 mg 4 times daily with food (should provide 4,000 mcg allicin potential).
  • Goldenseal: 125 mg extract 5 times daily for 5 days (don't use if pregnant or with high blood pressure).​
  • Homeopathic Chestal
  • Dry raspy cough that is made worse by talking or drinking: Spongia tosta 30C (1-2 times daily)
  • Gagging spasmodic cough that is made worse by eating or drinking: Drosera 30C (1-2 times daily)
  • Coughs due to a tickle in the throat that is made worse when lying down: Rumex 30C (1-2 times daily)

Recipes - Food Medicine:

*Note: Not all recipes are nutritionally perfect, but the options below are a great way to start incorporating beneficial foods into your diet in delicious ways.  Always try to buy organic, and feel free to make substitutions to accommodate gluten-free, vegan, etc diets.  Recipes naturally Vegan and Gluten-Free are marked as such (V=Vegan; GF=Gluten-Free).

Smoothies/Beverages:Meals:
Sides:
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