Soothing a cough with herbal teas: plants, blends and how to brew them

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A cough is the chest clearing itself: a fast, forceful breath out that pushes dust, crumbs or mucus off the airway. It is a reflex, not an illness. This page looks at the plants that country herbalism has long turned to for a scratchy throat or a rattling chest, how to build a simple tea blend, and when to put the teapot down and call a doctor.

What a cough actually is

• It is a powerful exhalation that frees the airway and makes breathing easier.
• It can fire off simply because a crumb went down the wrong way, or because you spoke and swallowed at once.
• It is a symptom. Something causes it, and that something is what matters.

Where a cough can come from

• Cold weather, allergies, asthma, common colds.
• Sinusitis.
• Smoke.
• Infectious diseases such as pneumonia or tuberculosis.
• Bronchitis.
• Lung or larynx cancer.
• Pulmonary embolism, and others besides.

The four kinds people describe

• Dry (irritation) cough: short-lived, brings up nothing, and thoroughly exhausting. Common after a chill or during a cold.
• Productive (wet) cough: brings up mucus and clears the airway by expectoration.
• Chronic cough: lasts a long time, sometimes over two months. Typical of smokers, with bouts on waking, wheezing, breathlessness on exertion and regular expectoration.
• Medicinal cough, which is a side effect of certain medicines, and is often dry.

What it is credited with

• Marshmallow root, fir buds and lungwort are traditionally drunk as a herbal tea for their reputation as expectorants.
• Great mullein, eucalyptus, fennel, mallow and common ivy are the classic herbalist’s choice for a chesty, rattling cough; the tea is said to loosen secretions and make them easier to bring up.
• Green anise (aniseed), crushed into the tea, is credited in herbal tradition with the same softening, mucilaginous quality.
• Thyme and Iceland moss have a long-standing reputation as cleansing, antiseptic plants, and are the ones naturopathy turns to for a dry, tickly cough.
• Licorice root is valued in traditional herbalism for the sweet, coating feel it leaves on an irritated throat.
• Honey, stirred into the strained cup, has been used for centuries to take the edge off a raw throat.

How to use it

The classic six-plant blend

Measure by parts, in a bowl, then store the mix dry.

• 2 parts great mullein (flowers and leaves).
• 2 parts mallow leaves.
• 1 part common ivy leaves — common ivy only, never poison ivy.
• 1 part licorice root, chopped small.
• 1 part thyme.
• 1 part marshmallow root, chopped small.

Brewing a cup

• Mix all the plants together thoroughly.
• Bring a cup of water to the boil and pour it over 1 teaspoon of the blend.
• Cover and let it steep 10 minutes — covering keeps the aromatics in the cup.
• Strain well, through a fine sieve or a square of muslin.
• Stir in honey while it is still warm.
• Sip warm, several times through the day, one cup at a time.

Other everyday forms

• Root decoction: marshmallow and licorice roots are hard; simmer them gently for 10 minutes rather than just steeping, then add the leaves off the heat.
• Cold macerate: marshmallow root left in cold water for several hours gives the softest, most mucilaginous drink, with none of the bitterness heat draws out.
• Steam inhalation: a handful of thyme or a few eucalyptus leaves in a bowl of hot water, a towel over the head, eyes closed, a few minutes.
• Seeds: crush green anise or fennel seeds just before brewing — whole, they give up almost nothing.
• Evening cup: many people keep the last cup for bedtime, honeyed and warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

The one thing to remember: a covered 10-minute infusion of the six-plant blend, strained well and sweetened with honey, sipped warm through the day — and a doctor’s opinion if it drags on.

Which plants are used for a dry cough rather than a chesty one?

Herbal tradition separates the two. Thyme and Iceland moss are the ones reached for when the cough is dry and tickly, while great mullein, mallow, common ivy, fennel and eucalyptus are the classic choice for a rattling, productive cough. Marshmallow root and mallow suit both, because their mucilage simply coats a sore throat.

How long should I steep the tea?

Ten minutes, covered, for the leaves and flowers. Roots such as marshmallow and licorice are harder, so simmer them gently for ten minutes first and add the leafy parts off the heat. Strain thoroughly in both cases.

Do I really need to strain mullein through cloth?

Yes. Mullein leaves and flowers carry fine hairs that slip through an ordinary tea strainer and scratch the throat — exactly what you were trying to avoid. A square of muslin or a coffee filter does the job.

When should I stop drinking tea and see a doctor?

If the cough persists, or if weight loss, fever, painful headaches, asthma or traces of blood in the mucus appear, see your doctor immediately. The same goes for a cough that started after a new medication, since some medicines cause a dry cough as a side effect.

Read also:

• Natural remedies against winter sniffles
• Avoid falling sick in winter naturally

This information is provided for general interest and reflects the traditional use of plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are on medication, pregnant, or in any doubt, ask a healthcare professional.