Expectorant cough herbs

Among all herbal medicines, herbs from cough are obvious leaders of symptomatic therapy.

Most of these herbs containing a complex of biological active substances belong to pharmacopeia plants, that is, they are used in the production of cough preparations as raw materials, and are also available as medicinal herbs from cough.

What herbs from cough are widely used in modern medicine, and which have no official status, but, nevertheless, are used in alternative medicine?

[1], [2]

Indications of the herbs from coughing

In any case, the indications for the use of herbs considered in this review are the treatment of dry and wet cough, which is a symptom of acute respiratory diseases (colds), upper airway catarrh, laryngitis, pertussis, tracheitis, tracheobronchitis and bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pleurisy, pneumonia , pulmonary tuberculosis. Also, herbal treatment can be used when a smoker coughs.

Effective herbs from coughing

Pharmacognosy is sufficiently studied and in therapeutic practice, such herbs from bronchitis and cough accompanied by increased formation of bronchial secretions are successfully used, such as:

• licorice root naked or licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra);
• root of the althaea medicinal (Althaeaffisinalis);
• leaves of mother-and-stepmother (Tussilago farfara);
• leaves or grass plantain large (Plantago major);
• thyme creeping (Thymus serpyllum), thyme or Bogorodskaya grass;
• oregano  or herb (Origanum vulgare);
• three-colored violet grass (Viola tricolor);
• Veronica officinalis herb (Veronica officinalis);
• grass blue cyanosis or St. John's wort (Polemonium coerulcum), etc.

The action of these medicinal plants is aimed at diluting the bronchial secretion and facilitating its excretion from the bronchi. And reduce the formation of sputum goatee goose or crow's feet (Potentilla anserina), salvia officinalis (Salvia officinalis) and root elecampane (Inula vulgaris).

Herbs from dry cough, including herbs from a strong cough (like pertussis):  mother-and-stepmother leaves, althea grass, thermopsis (Lanceum palance) (Hyssopus officinalis), plantain leaf, and also used in alternative medicine mallow forest and lungwort.

Herbs from pain in the throat and cough: hyssop, sage, oregano, plantain, three-color violet and - thanks to an astringent and anti-inflammatory effect - Goose's goatee. Of these herbs it is recommended to make a decoction for gargling with inflammation.

Herbs from the smoker's cough: licorice root and elecampane,  thyme grass, leaves of mother-and-stepmother and plantain.

Recommended herbs for inhalation from cough include chamomile flowers and marigold medicinal, sage herb, peppermint and thyme.

It should be noted that very often botanical names of herbs from cough are duplicated by folk. So, the same thyme, except for the names of thyme and Bogorodskaya grass, there are even more than a dozen synonyms. A lanceolate thermopsis in some areas is known as drunk grass or a mushroom.

Therefore, it is better to use common plant names - to avoid confusion. For example, not used in the treatment of cough yarrow and dried wheat in different regions called cut-grass or cut grass. Also, cut grass is often referred to as parmelia furrowed (Parmelia sulcata), which does not even apply to grasses: it is a leafy lichen-epiphyte. And according to the shape of the thallus thymus, the parmelia was called the paw. By the way, Icelandic moss or Icelandic cetrarium (Cetraria islandicae) from the same species as parmelia - is used to treat a cough (syrup is produced with extract of cetarius). Usninovoj acid, with antibacterial action known for a long time in herbal medicine, was first isolated from the lichen of the pulmonary lobaria (Lobaria pulmonaria), and then from its close relatives - cetraria and parmelia.

In the same way, not grass moss from cough kukushkin flax, belonging to polytrich mosses (Polytrichum commune). Although the composition of this green moss growing on moist forest soils is little known, but this plant also cures people.

[3]

Release form

First of all, a collection of herbs from cough, standardized in composition and proportions, is produced, which includes the already familiar names of herbs from cough: mother-and-stepmother, plantain, oregano, licorice root. From this herbal raw material at home, it is easy to prepare decoctions and infusions of herbs from cough, for more details see -  Chest Cough

Tablets from cough on grasses: Thermopsis (Thermopsol) - with a dry extract of a herb of thermopsis, Mukaltin - with an extract of a root of an altea. Thermopsis is also available in the form of a powder.

Among other forms of release of cough drugs based on medicinal plants, galenic preparations predominate, that is, obtained by liquid (most often alcohol) extraction of substances contained in plant raw materials. Herbs from coughing adults are included in the composition of drops, extracts and potions, and herbs from cough for children - in the composition of syrups and potions. To the child of the first year of life of pediatricians decoction of licorice root or herb of thyme is recommended.

Cough drops on herbs: Eucabal (with extracts of thyme and leaves of plantain), Bronchipret (with essential oil of thyme and ivy extract). Also read -  Drops from a cough

Extracts of herbs from cough: a liquorice extract (thick and dry); Pectolvan phyto Icelandic moss (composed of alcohol extracts of the root of elecampane and Icelandic cetrarium, tincture of thyme, hyssop and root of the soap).

Mixture from cough on herbs: Pertussin (with thyme extract), Elixir of the chest (with a licorice root extract), Pectosol (with extracts of thyme, hyssop, Iceland moss, elecampane roots and soap), Bronchipret (thyme and ivy). More information in the materials -  Cough medicine, as well as -  Dry cough syrup

Cough syrup on herbs: Althea syrup, licorice syrup, cough syrup Dr Mom (with licorice), Cough syrup with plantain and coltsfoot, Herbion (with plantain), Linkas (with extracts of althea roots, licorice and herbs of violet tricolor), etc. In addition, read -  Dry cough syrups

[4], [5], [6], [7],

Pharmacodynamics

Given the complex biochemical composition of medicinal herbs, it is not always possible to single out the effect of certain substances of galenic preparations: the mechanism of their action is complex. Nevertheless, the pharmacodynamics of the main biologically active components of herbs from cough is known - in general terms. So, saponins - glycosides with high surface activity, contribute to expectoration of bronchial secretion, which is formed during coughing. Inflammation decreases due to the antimicrobial effect of phenol derivatives (phenolic carboxylic acids), tannins and terpenic compounds of essential oils.

Licorice root contains flavonoids (the main one is glabridin), coumarins, glycosides (in particular, glycyrrhizin). Due to their joint action, as well as a significant content of saponins, licorice increases the secretion of bronchi, but it makes it less dense, which contributes to easier coughing up of sputum. Saponins largely explain the mechanism of the expectorant effect of hyssop and the roots of elecampane.

The althea grass, mainly going to the preparation of extracts and decoctions of the root of the plant, contains a large percentage of polysaccharides in the form of pentosans and monocarboxylic acids, under the influence of hydrolysis of which the bronchi produce more surfactant, which entails reflex stimulation of the bronchial muscles and speeds up the excretion of sputum. And tannins (in the form of tannins) have an anti-inflammatory effect.

The expectorant effect of thyme and oregano is provided by the available in their composition thymol (phenol-containing terpene), stimulating the cilia of the ciliated epithelium of the bronchi. Sputum is liquefied by the action of essential oils rich in terpenic alcohols (borneol, cineol, thujol, terpineol, sabinol), which also contains sage. Read more -  Sage leaves

Mucous components of mother-and-stepmother, plantain and violet tri-color soften cough. In addition, these herbs contain glycosides (in the mother-and-stepmother - tussilagin, in the plantain - aucubin, in the violet - violacqueritrin), which provide spasmolytic action, relieve inflammation and inhibit the activity of bacteria.

Spasms of bronchial muscles when coughing Ledum extracts the ice pack (sesquiterpene alcohol) contained in its essential oil, which suppresses the cough reflex. And monoterpenes, phenolic compounds and flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, etc.) cope with inflammation.

In the herb of thermopsis there are a lot of saponins, alkaloids, among which the main role belongs to thermopsin and cytisine, which stimulate the respiratory center, and this, in turn, increases the secretion of sputum.

Among the active compounds, which contains the goose goatee, phytotherapeutists note phenolic carboxylic acids, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins.

[8], [9], [10]

Pharmacokinetics

In most cases, the pharmacokinetics of galenic preparations, that is, information about absorption and binding to blood plasma proteins, biological transformation and excretion of their substances from the body, is not given. And in this distinction of medicinal plants from synthesized chemicals.

In addition, the herbs from coughing all at once with the whole complex of their pharmacologically active components, and it is not always possible to separate each separately.

[11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16]

Dosing and administration

Pharmacy herbs from coughing are taken inside, preparing from them broths and infusions.

For the infusion of althea root, a tablespoon of dry raw material should be poured into 250 ml of boiled water at room temperature, bring to a boil, in a closed container, insist for two hours and strain. Take three times a day (before meals): a quarter cup (adults), two tablespoons children 6-12 years, a dessert spoon for children 3-5 years.

Infusion of leaves of mother-and-stepmother is prepared by pouring a dry chopped leaf (two tablespoons) with a glass of boiling water and infusion on a water bath (about a quarter of an hour). It is accepted the same way as the infusion of althea.

Decoctions of sage and gooseberry goose prepared at the rate of a tablespoon of herbs for 200-250 ml of boiling water, cook slowly for a minimum of 10 minutes and for an hour insist under the lid. Three times a day, take a tablespoon.

Infusion from the leaves of plantain and herb oregano can be prepared in a thermos, filling a tablespoon of dry raw glass of steep boiling water. In half an hour the cough remedy will be ready, and it is taken on a tablespoon up to four times during the day (half an hour before meals).

Similarly, the preparation and dosage of infusions of thermopsis and ledum for adults. But for children the dose of thermopsis - for the preparation of infusion - is one teaspoon per 200 ml of water. Take infusion of half a teaspoon three times a day (preschoolers) or a whole teaspoon (children over seven years old). After 12 years, you can give an adult dose of infusion of thermopsis - on a tablespoon three to four during the day.

[21], [22], [23], [24]

Use of the herbs from coughing during pregnancy

Since licorice contains activating receptors of estrogen sitosterol, this herb from cough - separately and as part of multicomponent drugs - is strictly forbidden to pregnant women. Under the same strict prohibition and thermopsis, since its alkaloid pachycarpin increases the tone of the myometrium.

Also contraindicated is the use during pregnancy and lactation of the Ledum, thyme, coltsfoot, sage herb. Oregano pregnant women also can not be used, but after giving birth, this plant enhances lactation.

In the first trimester of pregnancy, it is contraindicated to treat cough with drugs containing an extract of the althaea root.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of these herbs from cough include:

• for marshmallow and thirst - gastritis, gastric ulcer, COPD, propensity to constipation, children under three years of age;
• for mother-and-stepmother - individual hypersensitivity, children under 12 years of age;
• for sage - acute inflammation of the kidneys, epilepsy, very strong cough;
• for thyme - gastric ulcer, cardiac ischemia, gallbladder, liver and kidney diseases, hypothyroidism;
• for plantain - an allergy, a hyperacid gastritis, a stomach ulcer, the raised level of thrombocytes in a blood;
• for goose eye patch - increased hemoglobin level in the blood, nephrolithiasis;
• for oregano - a chronic gastritis with high acidity, a stomach ulcer, severe hypertension;
• for thermopsis - peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer, adrenal diseases (tumors, Addison's disease), kidney problems and high heart failure, and children under six.

People with severe arterial hypotension, as well as inflammation of the stomach or intestines should not be treated by coughing with infusion of wild rosemary. It is contraindicated to apply up to the execution of 18 years.

[17], [18]

Side effects of the herbs from coughing

When using any herb from a cough, side effects are possible. For example, the root of the althea can cause an allergic reaction. Plantain and ledum stimulate diuresis, in addition, the use of Ledum improves sleepiness.

Some alkaloids of mother-and-stepmother leaves are toxic to the liver. Oregano increases the secretion of sweat and intestinal motility, and also increases appetite.

Thermopsis causes the expansion of arterioles, venules and capillaries, reduces blood pressure and heart rate, inhibits the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract.

[19], [20]

Overdose

Exceeding the recommended dose of infusion of thermopsis leads to vomiting, decoction of the root of the althaea or grass of the wasteland - to nausea with vomiting. It is usual to wash the stomach.

Overdosing with thermopsis is manifested by weakness and dizziness; nausea, vomiting and bowel disorder. In more serious cases, convulsions and CNS disorders occur.

Failure to comply with the dosage regimen of this ledum can lead to dizziness, excitation, and then depression of the central nervous system; there is no risk of paralysis.

[25], [26], [27], [28], [29]

Interactions with other drugs

Ledum can not be taken with other cough remedies. Medicinal interactions of other herbs are not indicated.

[30], [31], [32], [33], [34]

Storage conditions

Herbs from cough should be stored in a dry place, in tightly closed containers. Ready to keep the infusion in the refrigerator for 2 days.

[35],

Shelf life

Shelf life is indicated on the package, usually it is two years.

[36], [37]

Reviews

Most often, reviews about the use of herbs and galenic preparations are positive, although recently many people prefer cough preparations of synthetic origin, believing that they are more effective and reliable.