Cough Leaves: What Plants Can You Use?

Among the morphological parts of plants used for the treatment of cough by official and alternative medicine, a large proportion are cough leaves, which are used both in pharmacological preparations and in home preparations.

According to some reports, the predominant part of 36% of plants used for coughs are their leaves.

Indications Leaves for cough

The leaves of plants - primarily pharmacopoeial medicinal - are used both for unproductive or  dry cough , and for  wet cough  with the formation of pathological bronchial secretions (sputum), which occur as one of the main symptoms of colds, respiratory infections, diseases of the upper respiratory tract - laryngitis, tracheitis, as well as bronchopulmonary inflammation, including acute or chronic bronchitis.

It should be noted that only the leaves of those plants are suitable for the treatment of cough, in the chemical composition of which there are certain biologically active substances, in particular, saponins - a class of bioorganic surface-active compounds (with hydroxyl and other functional groups); mucous substances (complex polymeric carbohydrates of a branched molecular structure); polyphenolic compounds with anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties (terpenoids); derivatives of phenolcarboxylic acids, including glycosides and tannins (tannins).

Dosing and administration

The main method of application is the ingestion of a decoction, steam or infusion, which are prepared from dry plant materials at the rate of one tablespoon per 250 ml of water.

Doses depend on age: children under 5 years old are given 3-5 times a day for a teaspoon, children under 12 years old - for a dessert spoon, adolescents and adults - 1-2 tablespoons.

Leaves coltsfoot for cough

The leaves of the coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) contain mucus, tannins and bitter glycosides (tussilagin) which make them an effective cough emollient and expectorant. They are included in the mixture of herbs of the Breast collection No. 2, in the Bronchinol syrup, etc.

Read more:

• coltsfoot leaves
• Mother and stepmother for coughing for adults and children

Plantain leaves for cough

Due to the mucous substances and iridoid glycosides (aucubin and asperuloside), the leaves of the large plantain (Plantago major) and the lanceolate plantain (Plantago lanceolata), which are classified as secretomotor expectorants, are good for coughing.[1], [2], [3]

They can be used separately, but more often they are included in herbal mixtures - phyto-collections, for example, in  Chest cough collection  No. 1, in the composition of such a galenic preparation as Herbion syrup.

All the details in the publication -  Plantain cough

Cough Sage Leaves

Sage leaves  (Salvia officinalis) help to reduce the formation of bronchial secretions when coughing due to the complex action of cineole, borneol, thujone, pinene, tannins and other substances contained in them.[4], [5]

Together with plantain, sage leaves are part of Chest Cough Collection No. 1.

Ivy leaves for cough

Evergreen liana - common ivy (Hedera helix) - in the composition of its leaves has a number of biologically active substances, including the terpenoid hederagenin and the saponin alpha-hederin.[6], [7]

With a productive cough, the action of ivy preparations - mixtures and syrups  Gedelix , Gelisan, Prospan, Pectolvan ivy, Bronchipret - is to increase the production and thinning of bronchial secretions, as well as to expand the bronchi, which facilitates expectoration of sputum.

Eucalyptus leaves for cough

Eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus globulus) contain cineole, which prevents nasal congestion and irritation of the paranasal sinuses, as well as tannins, which - when gargling with a decoction of the leaves - relieve sore throats.[8] [9]

And the vapors of eucalyptus oil, when inhaled, thin the viscous sputum and relieve coughing. Read -  Inhalations with eucalyptus for coughs and bronchitis

Aloe leaf for cough

About what biologically active substances are contained in the leaves of this plant, their therapeutic effect, as well as what are the contraindications to their use and possible side effects when they are used in the treatment of respiratory inflammatory diseases, in detail in the publication -  Aloe for Cough [10], [11]

Bay leaf for cough

The essential oil of the leaves of noble laurel (Laurus nobilis) contains biologically active components in the form of terpenes and terpenoids, resinous, mucous and tannins. Bay leaf steam in alternative recipes is recommended to be taken in cases of colds with fever and cough.[12], [13]

Feijoa leaves for cough

Pineapple guava leaves (Acca sellowiana), that is, feijoa leaves for coughs, can be used due to their high content of tannins and terpene compounds. In alternative medicine, kidney decoction is used to treat diarrhea, and feijoa leaf infusions are used for urological diseases, for rinsing the mouth in cases of periodontal inflammation. But tea from the leaves of this subtropical plant can also soothe a cough.[14]

Cabbage leaf for cough

Cabbage leaf with cough honey is an old way, one might say, archaic. It is advised to use it in the form of a compress, which is made on the chest, additionally wrapping it to warm up and increase blood flow. A cabbage leaf can be slightly crushed, beaten off or doused with boiling water, it is also recommended to slightly warm the honey (which is used to lubricate the leaf). In addition, cabbage juice with honey was considered effective for coughing, although cabbage leaves do not contain substances that would thin sputum, making it easier to cough up. [15]Obviously, it's all about the honey.

More information in the material - Compress from dry and wet cough

Application for children

Cough leaves for children - coltsfoot, plantain, ivy (from two years). Pediatricians believe that it is safer to use cough mixtures containing extracts of medicinal plants  , Herbion syrup   with plantain or ivy, etc.

Useful information is also in the materials:

• Treatment of dry cough in a child
• Effective cough syrups for children
• Effective expectorants to remove phlegm

Use Leaves for cough during pregnancy

It is contraindicated to use the leaves of coltsfoot, sage, aloe, ivy, raspberry and viburnum during pregnancy.

Contraindications

It is contraindicated to use coltsfoot leaves for liver failure and allergies; plantain leaves - with increased acidity of the stomach and increased blood clotting; sage leaves - for acute inflammation of the kidneys and children under five years of age.

Aloe leaves are not used in the presence of disorders and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and / or cardiovascular system, with cholecystitis and high blood pressure.

And constipation is a contraindication to the use of bay leaf.

Side effects Leaves for cough

The use of plantain leaf infusion may be accompanied by heartburn, and preparations based on ivy leaf extract may cause nausea and vomiting.

Possible side effects of coltsfoot, in addition to an allergic reaction, are associated with the pyrrolizidine alkaloids contained in its leaves, which, when taken orally, cause liver damage.

Sage can cause allergies and general weakness, heartburn and vomiting, as well as convulsions and tachycardia.

What leaves are not used for coughing?

Currant leaves for coughs are unlikely to help: it is more expedient to use them for problems with the bladder and kidney stones - as a natural diuretic. Do not use a birch leaf for cough; birch leaves in the form of a decoction are used for urinary tract infections and, as a diuretic, are used to get rid of edema.

Viburnum leaves are not used for coughing, but the fruits - in any form - contribute to thinning thick sputum.

Also, raspberry leaves for coughing will not help, but with a fever, tea or an infusion with a raspberry leaf, which contains salicylic acid, work better than any pharmacy antipyretic.

Are apple leaves used for coughs? Apple tree leaves contain polyphenols with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. Boiled leaves make an infusion that helps not only with heartburn and acid reflux, but also with intestinal upset with diarrhea.

Horseradish leaves should not be used for coughs, but the beneficial properties of the allyl glucosinolate sinigrin present in their composition are being studied, for example, to prevent high blood cholesterol levels and the development of atherosclerosis.

Fresh lilac leaves are also not used for coughs, but, due to the presence of syringin glycoside in them, they are used as a diaphoretic, making an aqueous infusion or decoction with the addition of linden flowers. And the crushed leaves applied to the abscess accelerate the release of pus and healing.