Parents love to use herbs for coughs for children more than chemical preparations. Natural plants harvested in ecologically clean regions can really have a positive effect. However, it should be borne in mind that for each specific patient and for each individual disease, the funds are selected individually. With their help, you can prepare medicinal decoctions and inhalations, some plants are used for compresses.
How do herbs help you heal?
Herbal infusions have various beneficial properties, each of which is rich in its own unique set of medicinal components. However, the most valuable constituent of plants is polysaccharides. These are amorphous substances that increase in size when in contact with water molecules. The swollen herb is brewed and forms a viscous solution. The product gently envelops the mucous pharynx and larynx, soothes irritation and serves as a kind of shield against damage.
Also, medicinal drinks have the following effect:
- thin out phlegm;
- relieve spasm;
- disinfect the respiratory tract;
- promote the removal of mucus from the bronchi;
- fight germs and viruses;
- strengthen the immune system;
- dilate the bronchi;
- increase the tone of the body.
Herbal medicine for different types of cough
| Type of cough | Plant name | Peculiarities |
| Dry hysterical | Flowers of clover, linden, mullein, marshmallow root, coltsfoot leaves. | Herbs envelop the mucous membranes, soften them, relieve pain, thin out phlegm and increase it in volume, gently remove it from the bronchi. |
| With whooping cough | Elecampane root, herb of thyme, oregano, wild rosemary, calamus, St. John's wort, caraway. | They have soothing properties, help to soften coughs, relieve pain in the chest. |
| With flu, inflammation of the bronchi and lungs | Pine buds, willow bark. | They cut phlegm, reduce spasm, and have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. |
| Paroxysmal nocturnal | Chamomile flowers, motherwort herb, valerian, dill, lemon balm, calamus root. | These plants help soothe a severe cough that torments a child at night, they should be drunk not only during attacks, but also before bedtime to prevent cramping. |
| When mucus is discharged with pus | Linden flowers, elderberry, lungwort, sage leaves, coltsfoot, mint, sage, dill and fennel seeds. | They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, disinfect mucous membranes and protect them from damage. |
| When coughing up a lot of phlegm | Elecampane root, St. John's wort herb, sage. | They reduce the production of sputum, have an antiseptic and antitussive effect. |
| With ARVI | The herb of wild rosemary, coltsfoot, plantain, elecampane root, marshmallow and licorice. | They give a good expectorant effect, thin out phlegm and promote its soft discharge due to the presence of saponins and alkaloids in the composition. |
Decoction recipes
Cough herb for children can be prepared in different ways: it is steamed, boiled, simmered in a water bath and insisted. It should also be borne in mind that the recipe may contain more than one type of plant, but several. In this case, the ingredients are selected according to the effect on the body. Combined agents should have anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating and anti-allergic properties.
The inflammation will relieve marshmallow, lemon balm, mint, chamomile and thyme; strengthens the body with calendula, rose hips, oregano and lime blossom; natural antihistamines will be St. John's wort and succession.
Cooking methods
Ledum. A decoction from this plant will help heal a severe dry cough. To prepare the product, take a tablespoon of dried raw materials and pour a glass of boiling water. Let it brew for half an hour, filter and use until the condition is relieved.- Viburnum broth. If the child cannot clear his throat on his own, viburnum will come to the rescue. You can use both flowers and fruits of the plant to prepare the medicine. Raw materials are poured with hot boiled water and insisted, then honey is added to the drink. For 1 liter of water, you need to take 1 glass of fruits, the beekeeping product is added to taste. The broth is given for coughs to children during the day and before bedtime.
- Collection against cough. For this remedy, we need oregano flowers, raspberry leaves and coltsfoot. We take all the components in a 1: 1: 1 ratio. A glass of boiling water should have 1 tablespoon of the mixture. Pour the herbal mixture with hot water and leave under a lid for 30 minutes. Before use, carefully filter through cheesecloth folded in 2 layers. It is better to drink the medicine in a warm form, as it will give the most tangible effect.
Marshmallow root. This plant is not fully used for the preparation of a decoction; its root has the most pronounced medicinal properties. It is desirable that it be fresh, because it is in the juice that the most useful substances are contained. We take the root and three of it on a fine grater, pour a tablespoon of raw materials with a glass of hot boiled water. It is worth insisting the broth in a thermos, but if this is not possible, just wrap the saucepan with a warm towel. After 2 hours, the product will be ready for use. It has a not very pleasant taste, you can beat it a little with natural honey.- Plantain. Plantain cough helps just fine. The leaves of the plant have not only an expectorant effect, but also fight inflammation, heal microdamages on the mucous membranes. You can make a mixture from the plant. To do this, they take fresh raw materials, grind it and pour it with honey, leave it in a warm place for several hours. Under the influence of heat, the mixture will release juice, it must be filtered and taken to alleviate the condition of the sick baby. You can also use dried plantain for a cough. Pour a tablespoon with boiling water and insist for half an hour, we take the finished strained broth during the day.
Ledum. A decoction from this plant will help heal a severe dry cough. To prepare the product, take a tablespoon of dried raw materials and pour a glass of boiling water. Let it brew for half an hour, filter and use until the condition is relieved.
Marshmallow root. This plant is not fully used for the preparation of a decoction; its root has the most pronounced medicinal properties. It is desirable that it be fresh, because it is in the juice that the most useful substances are contained. We take the root and three of it on a fine grater, pour a tablespoon of raw materials with a glass of hot boiled water. It is worth insisting the broth in a thermos, but if this is not possible, just wrap the saucepan with a warm towel. After 2 hours, the product will be ready for use. It has a not very pleasant taste, you can beat it a little with natural honey.Application features
All medicinal herbs for coughs are used in different ways. During therapy, it is worth considering the age of the babies, the dosage of the drugs depends on it. Infants under 1 year old should be given no more than 0.5 teaspoon of the drug per day for 3-4 doses, for crumbs from 1 to 3 years old, the daily rate is 1 teaspoon, from 3 to 6 years old we increase the amount of broth to a dessert spoon, and after 6 years - to the canteen.
You need to be especially careful with collecting herbs. It is not recommended to mix more than 3 plants in one medicine, since they will interrupt each other's action, and you will not get the effect of such therapy. Make sure that the raw materials are grown in ecologically clean places: almost all medicinal plants tend to absorb harmful substances from the soil and the environment.
Despite the fact that infusions and decoctions are prepared on the basis of natural ingredients, they can cause negative reactions, especially potent plants. For any chronic diseases in a child, it is necessary to carefully study the contraindications to the use of the components of the drug.
You also need to test for allergies in order to avoid the unpleasant consequences of treatment. Before using any product, you need to consult a doctor, herbal substances can react with pharmaceuticals and cause complications.
Let's summarize
Treatment of cough with medicinal herbs gives excellent results, it is especially useful for babies, since there are no chemicals in such remedies.However, before starting therapy, it is worth considering all the features of a particular small patient and the nature of his disease, so as not to harm the child's health. It is also unacceptable to ignore the medication prescribed by the doctor.
