Roots of medicinal plants for coughs

The cough itself is the result of the contraction of the respiratory tract muscles in order to rid them of foreign substances. This is a reflex that may be the cause of a dangerous disease. Its treatment consists not only of eliminating the symptoms and associated discomfort, but also of eliminating the cause. Only a doctor can identify it by conducting the necessary research. Along with measures that include drug therapy, herbal medicine is also prescribed. Special chest infusions, which combine unique herbs that have a complex effect on the upper respiratory tract, give a good effect. Studying their composition, it is striking that various parts of the plants are used: flowers, leaves, roots. Let's focus on the roots of medicinal plants used for coughs.

Indications of coughing plant roots

The roots of medicinal plants are selected taking into account the diagnosis and type of cough. Indications for use are both dry and wet. Some have a good expectorant effect, others relieve irritation and swelling, or block impulses of cough receptors transmitted to the back of the brain. They are prescribed as part of complex therapy for infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract: acute and chronic bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia.

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Release form

Phytopreparations for coughs are currently available in various forms. For those who do not want to bother and prepare decoctions from crushed roots themselves, they are presented in pharmacies in a wide range of mixtures, syrups, tablets. Their main components are the following plants: licorice, ginger, marshmallow, elecampane, raspberry.

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Pharmacodynamics

From the above-described effect of each medicinal plant on the respiratory organs, it can be concluded that their pharmacodynamics are aimed at suppressing bacterial flora, increasing the liquid component of bronchial secretions, which makes it possible to reduce its viscosity and facilitate the removal of sputum, softening and enveloping the mucous membrane, and regenerating damaged tissues.

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Dosing and administration

Each of the described remedies has its own method of application and dosage. Thus, a glass of decoction from elecampane root should be drunk during the day, dividing it into 4 portions. The infusion is taken in a tablespoon every hour, and the tincture three times a day, 30 drops. The remedy with marshmallow root is drunk in a tablespoon up to 6 times a day. Licorice syrup is recommended in a dose of 15 ml at a time with a frequency of 3-4 times. To be sure when using one or another healing root, it is necessary to first study the instructions for use.

Licorice root for cough

Licorice root is present in many diuretic and laxative medicines, but is more popular and known as an expectorant. Its pharmacological property of facilitating the removal of sputum is based on the quality of glycyrrhizin in the root to stimulate the activity of the epithelium of the bronchi and trachea, to increase the secretion of mucus in the upper respiratory tract. Spasms of the smooth muscles are eliminated by flavonoid compounds, among which the most active is liquiritoside. The anti-inflammatory effect is provided by glycyrrhizic acid, formed during the hydrolysis of glycyrrhizin. The medicine is produced in the form of syrup - a viscous liquid of brown color with a peculiar smell. It is prescribed to facilitate coughing and accelerate the removal of mucus from the respiratory tract.

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Marshmallow root for cough

More than a third of the chemical composition of marshmallow roots belongs to starch, a third to mucous substances, they also contain pectin, sugars, lecithin, carotene, fatty oils and amino acids essential for the human body: asparagine, betaine. Polysaccharides have an enveloping, anti-inflammatory and softening effect on the walls of the respiratory organs, liquefy viscous secretions, increase peristalsis of the bronchioles and bronchi. With the help of marshmallow root syrup, coughs caused by laryngitis, whooping cough, bronchial asthma and other diseases provoked by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract are treated. It is both commercially available and in the form of dragees. When preparing the potion yourself, a tablespoon of roots is placed in a glass container and poured with a glass of boiled cooled water, insisted for an hour.

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Ginger root for cough

Ginger root is more familiar to us as a spice, but it is also used to treat respiratory diseases and coughs. Its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, expectorant, and immune-boosting properties are due to the high content of essential oils. To treat coughs, you can use fresh or dry spice or its juice. With wet sputum, a glass of warm milk with a third of a teaspoon of ginger added will help to remove sputum; you need to drink 3-4 glasses during the day; with dry sputum, a mixture of a teaspoon of ginger juice, lemon juice, and honey, combined with half a liter of boiling water. After 20 minutes of infusion, drink a spoonful every half hour. You can make a useful potion that helps with a strong barking cough from dry root powder (on the tip of a knife) and onion juice (tablespoon). Drink half a teaspoon up to 4 times a day.

Elecampane root for cough

Elecampane root is rich in vitamins E and C, essential oils, resins, mucus, organic acids, polysaccharides, natural glycosides. It has a detrimental effect on pathogenic microorganisms in inflammation of the respiratory organs, facilitates coughing. Decoctions and infusions are prepared from it. For decoctions, you will need a spoon of crushed roots per glass of water. After boiling and infusion for at least half an hour, you need to add water to get 250 g of volume and drink. Infusions are prepared from raw materials (a teaspoon) and cooled boiled water (250 g), after half a day the medicine is ready. For adults, alcohol tinctures are suitable, for their preparation you will need 70% alcohol. Combine it with elecampane in a ratio of 10: 1, let it brew for 2 weeks.

Raspberry root for cough

It is a tradition of our people to stock up on raspberries for the winter against colds. After drinking tea with it and sweating well, the cold quickly goes away. But it turns out that the root of the plant is no less useful. It contains a lot of salicylic acid, folic acid, copper, iron, vitamins A, E, PP, B2. They are dug up in late autumn, when the leaves have fallen, cleaned of soil and dried in the sun. Prepared as follows: 50 g of rhizomes are enough for a liter of water. After boiling, the composition is left to simmer over low heat, and it is consumed after cooling and straining. In addition to diaphoretic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory action, it is also a real vitamin cocktail.

Application for children

To treat cough in children, various herbal preparations are used, including those based on plant roots, but not alcohol, and with a decrease in dose depending on the age of the child. It is better not to give them to children under one year old, for children 1-3 years old - a teaspoon, 3-7 years - a dessert spoon, older - a tablespoon. Syrups for this age category are recommended in doses of 2.5 ml, 5 ml, respectively, for older children 7-10 ml. Doctors recommend being careful with elecampane root and consulting a pediatrician before use, and excluding ginger altogether.

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Use of coughing plant roots during pregnancy

Not all plants are so harmless that they can be used for treatment without regard to the woman's special condition. If raspberry roots will only bring benefits due to the many useful components, especially folic acid, then the use of ginger, djacampane, licorice, and marshmallow during pregnancy can cause harm by changing the hormonal balance and causing a miscarriage.

Contraindications

An absolute contraindication to the use of mixtures based on plant roots is hypersensitivity to them. In addition, ginger is contraindicated in gastric and intestinal ulcers, fever, and a tendency to bleeding. Elecampane root should not be used for gastritis with low acidity, cardiovascular diseases, or atherosclerosis. Licorice is prohibited for liver disease, kidney disease, hypertension, and severe obesity. Diabetics should be careful when taking syrups because they contain sugar.

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Side effects of coughing plant roots

Any herbal preparations can cause side effects in the form of an allergic reaction. This will be indicated by itching, rashes, increased salivation. Ginger can increase blood pressure and lead to overexcitement.

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Overdose

Preparations based on plant roots can also cause a negative reaction in case of overdose. This can be nausea, vomiting, which is a signal to stop treatment and wash the stomach. Cardiac and respiratory activity can be suppressed from an overdose of elecampane. Exceeding the recommended daily dose of ginger (4 g) can cause heartburn, belching, diarrhea, provoke a disturbance in heart rhythm, and insomnia.

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Interactions with other drugs

Each plant has its own active substances, so the interaction with other drugs is different:

• marshmallow root - simultaneous use with anti-inflammatory drugs enhances their effect, increases the concentration of antibiotics in the respiratory tract, it is not recommended to take simultaneously with antitussive drugs;
• licorice root - together with drugs that affect heart rhythm, reduces the content of potassium ions in the blood, and together with diuretics, laxatives and adrenocorticosteroids can disrupt the electrolyte balance;
  • elecampane root - lowers blood pressure, which should be taken into account when taking medications to lower it;
  • Ginger root - enhances the effect of antidiabetic, cardiac, and anticoagulant drugs.

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Storage conditions

Plant raw materials, including roots, require storage in a dry, dark place at a temperature no higher than +25 ⁰ C, and it is best to keep them in paper or fabric bags, glass or enamel containers.

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Shelf life

The shelf life of rhizomes is 2-3 years if stored under proper conditions, and prepared decoctions and infusions are stored for no more than 2 days in the refrigerator.

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Analogues

The following drugs have similar effects to the roots of the plants described in case of cough: tonsilgon, mucaltin, lazolvan, ACC, libexin, sinekod.

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Reviews

Treatment of colds with folk remedies, various parts of plants has always enjoyed people's trust, so adults resort to them both for their own treatment and for their children. Reviews of the effectiveness and efficiency of the roots are also positive.