The cough, whether dry or oily, is a defense reflex of the body. Fortunately, there are natural remedies to calm it down. Discover four solutions not to be neglected.
Let's use natural cough products more often instead of over-the-counter medications. The latter are regularly criticized: teenagers divert them from their use for their euphoric effect, or they are accused of being ineffective and of presenting more risks than benefits.
In principle, coughs do not last more than eight days. A consultation is preferable when it is accompanied by fever, as it may be a superinfection of the bronchi. And, in a child who has breathing difficulties, beware of bronchiolitis!
Honey, thyme, propolis, fennel, climbing ivy... calm and cure all types of cough. How to use them, and for which type of irritation?
Honey against night coughs
In which case ? In case of cough of irritation, which intensifies the night and disturbs the sleep.
Why does it relieve ? Honey has first of all a mechanical effect: it coats the mucous membranes of the throat and calms the irritation, with a demonstrated healing effect. Its antiseptic properties help fight the virus that causes colds and promote healing.
It is necessary to privilege the honeys of thyme, eucalyptus, lavender or fir, rich in antiseptic assets, specifies Fabienne Millet. You don't have any in your cupboard? We still take advantage of the soothing effect of another honey.
How to use it? Take 1 to 2 teaspoons before going to bed. Be careful, it should not be given to children under one year old because of the possible presence of a bacterium against which they are not immune! "As honey is very cariogenic and causes erosion of the enamel, it is important to wash your teeth 30 minutes afterwards", reminds the pharmacist Fabienne Millet.
Which plants against dry coughing fits ?
Certain plants can provide relief when coughing fits become too painful.
Use thyme against dry coughs
In which case ? When the cough occurs in fits, for example when one tries to speak, and that it is painful because the throat is irritated.
Why does it relieve ? "Thyme has both analgesic virtues to soothe the inflammation in the throat, and spasmolytic virtues, which reduce coughing fits," explains Fabienne Millet. But it also has antiseptic properties, which can give a boost to fight against the virus or ENT infection causing the cough.
How to use it ? In the form of tea, by infusing half a teaspoon of thyme in a large cup for 10 to 15 minutes. One drinks 4 to 5 cups in the day and one sugars with a teaspoon of honey. If you do not like its taste, you can also find it in the form of dry extract capsules, for example Elusanes Thyme (Naturactive Pierre Fabre): 3 to 6 capsules per day.
Other herbal remedies
- In adults: to calm a spasmodic cough, cypress essential oil is effective: one drop three to four times a day in a spoonful of honey.
- In children: we will rather use the herbal tea of wild thyme, in equal parts with the mallow flower: a pinch in a cup, three to four times a day.
Which plants to relieve a wet cough ?
A wet cough indicates a bronchial infection. It allows to evacuate embarrassing secretions, the mucus, while supporting the elimination of the bacteria fixed in the mucus, which contributes to the cure. It is thus a "useful" cough. Certain plants help to evacuate secretions.
Which plants to use? When the bronchial tubes are congested, it is necessary to support the evacuation of secretions to release the respiratory tracts. One thus bets on plants with expectorant virtues, like:
- the white broth,
- the fennel,
- mallow,
- white marrube
- or climbing ivy.
Why does it relieve? "These plants fluidify secretions, they help their evacuation and limit the congestion", specifies Fabienne Millet. They can replace special cough syrups.
How to use it? "In herbal tea, based on these plants alone or associated with other soothing plants," advises the pharmacist. Mix 10 g of ivy leaves, 15 g of white broth, 10 g of thyme, 15 g of mallow leaves, 10 g of marshmallow root, 10 g of licorice root. Pour a teaspoon of this mixture into a cup of boiling water and let it infuse for 10 minutes, several times a day. There are also syrups and lozenges based on climbing ivy: Prospan (Médiflor).
Another possibility: two drops of eucalyptus globulus essential oil diluted in a homeopathic syrup, three times a day.
Propolis against sore throat
In which case ? When the throat is irritated by coughing, whether the cough is dry or oily.
Why does it relieve ? The virtues of propolis are due to its richness in antioxidant flavonoids: its healing, antiviral, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties have been demonstrated by in vitro tests and on animals.
It is mainly used as a calming and soothing agent for sore throat, but can also have an antitussive action if the cough is due to inflammation, says Fabienne Millet. Antiseptic, it helps to avoid superinfection and acts on the cold in its entirety.
How to use it? It is often associated with other active ingredients (honey, thyme, essential oils ...) in sprays for the throat (Propolis Spray Gorge, Les 3 Chenes). "I advise rather to privilege the collutory sprays, which have a more important local action", explains the pharmacist.
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