Natural Health: What can I do about my stubborn, dry cough?

Plus: natural ways of dealing with vocal ageing

Fri, 18 Oct, 2024 - 02:00

Megan Sheppard

I’m finding it difficult to shake off a dry, tickly cough. It started with a mild dose of laryngitis about two weeks ago, which has since cleared up. Is there a herbal remedy I could take?

Liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is the ideal remedy for a dry cough following a bout of laryngitis, as it is a herbal remedy for both conditions. Easily brewed as a tea, liquorice root is a natural anti-inflammatory, making it ideal for soothing stressed vocal cords and relieving a cough.

Liquorice root is also a good source of nutrients, such as vitamin E, phosphorus, B vitamins, manganese, iodine, chromium, and zinc, so ideal for supporting the immune system and adrenal glands for your post-laryngitis recovery.

You shouldn’t need to sweeten liquorice tea since it is a naturally sweet brew and can be taken hot or cold. Use a teaspoon of dried root per cup of boiling water and steep for five to eight minutes. Liquorice can also be combined with other herbs, such as marshmallow root or leaf, rose petals, thyme, cinnamon, anise, and ginger.

If you were to choose one other herb from that list to combine with the liquorice root, I would suggest thyme. The same dried or fresh thyme you would use in cooking is perfect. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is strongly antiseptic due to the constituent thymol, making it the ideal choice for persistent coughs, respiratory infection, asthma, and hay fever.

If you prefer an over-the-counter product, I suggest Bronchostop Cough Syrup. This excellent herbal medicine contains thyme and marshmallow root, and is created for dry and chesty coughs.

Bronchostop Cough Syrup (€7 to €13) is available from pharmacies nationwide. Take 15ml every four hours, four times a day—or 90ml per day if needed. Not suitable for children under 12.

I’ve noticed a catch in my voice whenever I speak, and I need to cough to clear it. It could be age-related as I’m in my late 60s. My mother’s voice became almost a whisper in her later years, and I hope the same is not about to happen to me.

You may need to adopt the daily habit of taking a shot of soothing aloe juice — often recommended for people who are public speakers, singers, or work in a field where they spend a good deal of their day using their voice.

Pure aloe juice has a slightly sour taste, unlike sweetened and flavoured aloe drinks. You should take around 15-20ml daily to treat your vocal cords and soothe the delicate mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.

The liquorice root, mentioned in the previous reply, would also be an excellent choice for you — particularly when combined with gentle marshmallow root and rose petals.

Marshmallow root contains a mucilaginous fibre that soothes mucous membranes, reducing inflammation, and protecting against bacterial infection. Rose has long been used to calm irritation both internally and externally.

I suggest preparing the tea as a cold infusion rather than adding boiling water.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to set up a large jar of tea the night before. Add a rounded tablespoon of the herbal combination of dried liquorice, rose, and marshmallow to 750ml of cold water, steep overnight, and strain off in the morning. Drink the cold-infused water throughout the day.

A visit to an ENT specialist might also be helpful. They can check for any abnormalities or nodules contributing to your symptoms and recommend a course of action.