Ayurvedic Cough Remedies

Coughs are one of the many natural protective mechanisms of the body. Coughing helps in expelling irritants and excess phlegm from the throat and lungs. In this article, we will discuss some simple Ayurvedic cough remedies and herbs that help in relieving cough.

Repetitive or chronic cough not only interferes with one’s daily routine but can also disrupt one’s sleep. Coughs can be caused due to a wide variety of reasons including but not limited to allergies, respiratory tract infections, smoking, and other underlying health conditions.

Exposure to cold weather and irritants like dust and smoke can also aggravate coughs.

Daily Measures To Prevent Coughs

• Wear fully covered clothes and avoid prolonged exposure to cold winds, rain, and snow during winter.  
• Wear a face mask to avoid inhaling irritants like dust and smoke.
• Drink lukewarm water to keep hydrated and relieve cough temporarily. During summer, drink water at room temperature.
• Saline gargles can also be done twice or thrice a day to help in removing excessive mucus that forms with coughs.
• Steam inhalation can also be useful as it helps in loosening the excess mucus and makes it easy to expel.
• For easy, at-home Ayurvedic cough remedies, drink herbal teas made from common kitchen spices like ginger, holy basil (tulsi), black pepper, cloves, cardamom, fennel seeds, and other Ayurvedic herbs.

Homemade Ayurvedic Tea Cough Remedy Recipe

• Take one cup of water.
• Add eight to ten leaves of Holy Basil¹, a half-inch long crushed ginger piece², four to six pieces of whole black pepper³ (or one-fourth teaspoon of black pepper powder), one to two pieces of cloves⁴, one crushed green cardamom⁵, one crushed black cardamom⁶, and one-fourth teaspoon of fennel seeds⁷.
• Boil all the ingredients on a low flame for five to ten minutes.
• Add sugar or honey to taste. Diabetics should avoid adding sugar or honey.

Read More: What Ginger Tea Can Do For You

Ayurvedic Cough Remedies

Ayurvedic medical texts mention many Ayurvedic cough remedies for relieving chronic and bothersome coughs. These remedies usually involve the consumption of certain Ayurvedic concoctions and Ayurvedic cough syrups. There are many herbs that relieve cough. 

Here are some of the most common herbs and spices used in Ayurvedic cough remedies.

• Turmeric is useful for relieving coughs.⁸ The Ayurvedic recipe, Golden Milk, primarily contains turmeric and can be easily made at home. Turmeric can also be added to various food items.
• Ginger is very useful in relieving cough. Ayurvedic texts mention ginger being useful for Kasa. Kasa means cough and cold.² One can consume ginger juice with honey or make ginger water. The recipe is available on our website. This herb is great for coughs.
• Cinnamon is also useful for relieving cough. One can take one-fourth teaspoon of cinnamon powder with one teaspoon of honey once or twice a day.⁹
• Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) also reduces the frequency of coughs. Licorice sticks can be chewed on to relieve coughing. Licorice powder can also be used.¹⁰
• Ayurvedic herbal formulations like sitopaladi churna (powder) and talisadi churna (powder) can also be used.^11,12

Read More: 10 Ayurvedic Ways To Get Rid of Runny Nose or Sniffles Fast

References

1. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no. 514, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
2. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no. 334, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
3. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no. 364, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
4. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no. 248, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
5. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no. 721, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
6. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no. 730, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
7. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no.402, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
8. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no.164, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
9. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no. 252, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
10. Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2, page no. 255, Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017.
11. Sharangdhar Samhita with Hindi commentary, madhyam khanda 6/136-139, page no.-190, by Dr. Brahmanand Tripathi, 2010.
12. Bhaishjya Kalpana Vigyan with hindi commentary, page no. 123-124, by Aacharya Sidhinandan Mishra, Chaukhamba Surbharti Prakashan, Varanasi,1988.