Other names for Cough (general)

Chronic or Acute Cough
Irritative or Productive Cough
Persistent Cough
Reflex Cough

Synopsis of Cough (general)

A cough is a protective reflex of the respiratory system that helps clear the throat, trachea, and lungs of irritants, pathogens, mucus, or foreign particles. It may be acute (lasting less than 3 weeks), subacute (3–8 weeks), or chronic (over 8 weeks). Coughs can be dry (nonproductive) or wet (productive) and may result from respiratory infections, allergies, asthma, reflux, postnasal drip, smoking, or even heart issues.

Coughing can also be triggered by environmental irritants like pollution, cold air, or strong odors. While usually harmless, chronic or severe coughing may signal a more serious condition such as bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, COPD, tuberculosis, or even heart failure.

Types of Cough (by Character):

• Dry Cough: No mucus; often due to irritation or inflammation.

• Wet/Damp Cough: With phlegm; helps clear secretions or infection.

• Nocturnal Cough: Worsens at night; often from reflux or postnasal drip.

• Whooping Cough (Pertussis): Intense, gasping cough from bacterial infection.

• Barking Cough: Often seen in children with croup.

Common Causes:

• Viral upper respiratory infections (cold, flu)

• Allergies (dust, pollen, dander)

• Asthma or reactive airway disease

• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

• Postnasal drip from sinus congestion

• Smoking or exposure to smoke

• Environmental irritants (pollution, chemicals)

• Pneumonia, bronchitis, or other lung infections

• ACE inhibitors (medication-related)

Severity Factors:

• Duration: Coughs lasting longer than 3–4 weeks require evaluation

• Symptoms such as fever, weight loss, or bloody sputum raise concern

• Chronic cough may cause fatigue, headache, chest pain, or rib strain

When to See a Doctor:

• Cough lasts more than 3 weeks

• Coughing up blood or foul-smelling mucus

• Associated chest pain, shortness of breath, or wheezing

• High fever or signs of pneumonia

• Night sweats or unexplained weight loss

• In infants, elderly, or immunocompromised individuals

Natural remedies for Cough (general)

Warm teas with honey and lemon: Soothes throat and calms the cough reflex

Steam inhalation or humidifiers: Moisturizes airways and loosens mucus

Hydration: Keeps mucus thin and reduces irritation

Avoid smoke and strong odors: Common environmental triggers

Use throat lozenges: Help reduce the cough reflex by numbing the throat

Rest and recovery: Supports immune system and reduces coughing frequency

Elevate the head during sleep: Helps postnasal drip and reflux-related coughs

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Cough (general)

Abies spectabilis
Abrus
Acacia
Aconite
Adenophora
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
Agastache
Agave
Ajuga
Alantolactone
Albizia
Alchornea
Alcohol
Allicin
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl sulfide
Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
Alstonia scholaris
amber
ambergris
Amor seco
Anamarrhena
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
anise
Aniseed myrtle
apple
apple cider vinegar
Aralia
Ardisia
arrowroot
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
aspen
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
balloon flower
bamboo
banana
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee products
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
Bergenia
bermuda grass
berry
beta-pinene
big quaking grass
bindweed
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
black salt
black seed
blackbrush
Blepharis
Boerhavia diffusa
boneset
borage
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
Bougainvillea
Bryonia
Buddha\'s hand
burning bush
butternut
cactus
calamus
capsaicin
capsicum
carrot
cassia bark
cat's claw
Celosia
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Chekiang Fritillary
chen pi
Chenopodium
Chinese salvia root
Chondrus
cineole
cinnamaldehyde
cinnamon
Cistus
citron
Citrus
Clerodendrum indicum
clove
coconut
Coin-leaf desmodium
cola nut
coltsfoot
common madia
costus
cowage seed
cowslip
cubeb
culvers Root
currant
Cyanthillium cinereum
Desmodium
Dichrostachys glomerata
diterpenes
dodder
dragonhead
Echinacea
Elder
elderberry
elecampane
Embelia
empresstree
English horsemint
ephedrine
eucalyptus
European field elm
fennel
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
fig
flavoglycosides
fritillaria
fritillary
fruit
Fumaria parviflora
Galangal
Gallesia
garden cress
garlic
garlic bulb
ginger
Glehnia littoralis
glehnia root
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Glycyrrhizin
grape
Greek mountain tea
green tea
Grindelia
Guaco
Guava
gum
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
Helicteres isora
Hemidesmus
Hempnettle
Himalayan salt
honey
honey loquat syrup
horehound
hyacinth bean
hyssop
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian frankincense
Indian tinospora
inula racemosa
Ivy
Japanese kadsura
Jatoba
Javanese Long Pepper
jujube
jungli-bean
juniper berries
Khella
Kokilaksha
Lactucarium
Large-leaved linden
Lebbek
lemon
lemongrass
Leptadenia
licorice root
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Lilium polyphyllum
lily
lime
linden
Lindera
lobelia
long pepper
longan
loquat
Loranthus
lovage
luffa
lungwort
mace
Maidenhair Fern
malabar nut
marigold
Marjoram
Marsh Tea
Marshmallow
Meadow sage
Meadowsweet
Melia
Mentha haplocalyx
Menthol oil
Mesua
Mucilage
Mucolase
Mullein
Neem tree
Nettle
Nigella seed
Night jessamine
Nutmeg
Nymphaea nouchali
Oldenlandia diffusa
onion
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
orange
oregano
Oroxylum indicum
Oryza sativa
Osha
Osmanthus
Paris polyphylla
parsley
peach
pear
Pelargonium
Pepper
perilla
Petiveria
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Pimpinella
Pinellia ternata
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
pistacia integerrima gall
Platycodon
platycodon root
Plectranthus amboinicus
plum fruit
Polygala
polygala root
Polygonatum
polymorpha
Polypodium
pomegranate
poppy
Premna
prickly ash
pumpkin
punarnava
Pyrrosia
radish
raspberry
ravinsara
Rhododendron
root tuber
rose
Sabadilla
Sargassum
sarsaparilla
Sedanenolide
Semecarpus anacardium
Sete sangrias
Shogaol
Sicklepod
silk tree
Sinigrin
Solanaceae
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
Spikenard
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stemona
Stephania root
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sumac
Sundew
sweet flag
Tamarind
Tea
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Theobromine
thyme
Thymol
Thymoquinone
Tragacanth
Traveler's Joy
turmeric
Ulmus
Vasicine
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
Vladimiria souliei
Waterhyssop
Wax Gourd
White Tea
Yerba buena
Yerba santa
Yuzu
Zedoary
zhejiang fritillary
Zinc
Zingerone
Zucchini