| Respiratory specialist | | | | three times per day. For an especially persistent |
| A cough usually occurs in response to viral damage | | | | cough, try wild cherry bark (Prunus serotina). For dry |
| to air passageways. Even after the infection is gone, | | | | coughs accompanied by thick mucus that won't clear |
| tissues may take a while to heal; the resulting cough | | | | out, take black horehound (Ballota nigra), which will |
| can linger for weeks or even months. In most cases, | | | | help bring up more phlegm. For a moist cough, add |
| medication won't make the airways heal quicker. To | | | | elecampane (Inula helenium), which will help dry up |
| speed healing, avoid exposure to a very dry | | | | the excess mucus. Finally, yerba santa (Eriodictyon |
| environment. In the winter, keep indoor air moist by | | | | californicum) is well known for helping sufferers get |
| running a humidifier. | | | | over chronic coughs after a bout of flu. |
| Also, try not to cough harshly. Calmer coughs allow | | | | —Chris Henderson, ND, Calistoga, California |
| for quicker healing. But avoid cough suppressants, | | | | Chinese herbalist |
| because they generally are not effective at this | | | | In the practice of Chinese medicine, several herbs |
| stage. Antihistamines can also dry out the airways. If | | | | promote healing by helping to thin mucus and calm |
| possible, stay inside during very cold | | | | the coughing reflex. Luo han guo (Momordica |
| weather—a strong trigger for | | | | grosvenori) is commonly available as a tea in natural |
| coughing—and minimize exposure to other | | | | product stores. Brew one tea bag, and drink three |
| infections, which could cause further damage. Most | | | | times daily. Bei mu (Fritillaria spp) contains alkaloids |
| important, be patient. The body has a natural healing | | | | that serve as reliable cough suppressants. Look for it |
| process—let it run its course. | | | | in syrup form and take according to directions on the |
| —Steven Boas, MD, founder of Children's | | | | bottle. Pi pa ye (Eriobotrya japonica), or loquat |
| Asthma, Respiratory, and Exercise Specialists in | | | | leaves, can help alleviate coughs. The combination of |
| Glenview, Illinois | | | | pi pa ye and bei mu is common in Chinese herbal |
| Naturopath | | | | cough syrups. |
| When you have a cough, a few things can inhibit | | | | Keep in mind that these herbs won't inhibit infections, |
| healing. Dairy and other mucus-producing foods can | | | | but they can help with symptoms. Given time, and |
| slow the healing process. And if you're prone to | | | | with relief from herbal cough remedies, the disorder |
| respiratory allergies, they can exacerbate a cough, | | | | should clear up. However, if the condition persists or |
| too. Herbs that help heal coughs caused by viruses | | | | worsens, a visit to your doctor is in order. |
| include lomatium (Lomatium dissectum), gumweed | | | | —Subhuti Dharmananda, PhD, director and |
| (Grindelia camporum), and licorice root (Glycyrrhiza | | | | founder of the Institute for Traditional Medicine, |
| glabra) extract. The dose in tincture form is 30 drops, | | | | Portland, Oregon |