We are of course talking coughs. A cough is the body’s protective reflex, an attempt to eliminate foreign objects from the respiratory tract. It is quite common for a cough to accompany or follow a cold or flu infection. A cold will often cause swelling and irritation in the throat and upper airways and the body perceives this swelling as an object, which it tries to expel by coughing. Mucus is produced by mucous membranes lining the respiratory tract in order to trap invading bugs, and this mucus can then be expelled via a cough.

Cough remedies are among some of our oldest medicines. Today, both conventional medicines and licensed herbal remedies are available to treat coughs, but first you need to identify what type of cough you have.

A cough can be productive or non-productive – a polite turn of phrase that describes how much or little mucus you bring up when you cough. A dry cough is a type of cough that produces little or no mucus or phlegm. It is very similar to a tickly cough and often, these terms are used interchangeably. Both dry coughs and tickly coughs are known as non-productive coughs.

Generally speaking, a cough suppressant will help to dampen down the irritation of a dry and tickly, non-productive cough. They work by soothing and reducing the urge to cough.

A favourite herb for dry coughs is spruce or pine. Try Bronchosan Pine Cough Syrup to help relieve dry, tickly and irritating coughs. For children over the age of four, A.Vogel’s Cough Spray for Kids is ideal. Both contain honey, which is naturally soothing.

A productive cough, on the other hand, produces plenty of runny stuff. Chesty coughs, also referred to as mucus coughs, are characterised by the amount of mucus they produce. Your natural reflex is to cough up or ‘expectorate’ this mucus to help clear your chest.

If your cough is productive, you will need an expectorant to help bring up the excess mucus in your airways. Expectorants thin and loosen mucus from the respiratory tract, encouraging its expulsion.

Ivy is an example of a herb that exerts an expectorant action, as well as being antispasmodic. Thyme, one of our oldest herbs, can also help to thin mucus and relax the bronchial tract, making it particularly helpful for hacking coughs and catarrh. Liquorice, another old favourite, is widely recognised for its expectorant properties. Bronchoforce Chesty Cough combines all three and is used to help relieve chesty coughs resulting from excess mucus or catarrh in the respiratory tract.

Hot water and honey can also help. Good quality honey, such as manuka honey, can be soothing on your throat, which may be sore from coughing; it also has anti-bacterial properties. Add a slice of lemon for some added vitamin C and extra immune support.

If your cough is worse at night use extra pillows to raise your head slightly. This will help to prevent any mucus from collecting at the back of your throat and triggering your cough reflex.

Whether your cough is productive or non-productive, staying properly hydrated will help to speed your recovery.

If symptoms persist or you cough up blood, you must consult your healthcare professional or GP. A persistent cough can also be symptomatic of a more serious illness.

For further information, visit Shamini and her team at Naturaal Health, 128 Field End Road, Eastcote, HA5 1RJ, or call 020 8 429 1700/ 07933809833.