Cough Suppressants

[Guadalupe]

We've been looking for a cough suppressant for awhile for dh. He has an upper respiratory virus that will just have to work it's way out. In the meantime he can't sleep because of the coughing we need something that will quiet the cough.

Problem: all otc suppressants have an alcohol base. Are there any home remedies that will quiet his cough? I remember granny's involved a little whisky and honey but we were hoping to avoid the alcohol.

[BillysWife]

Here are a couple recipes that I have. I haven't personally used them but have heard they work well. They are from the book Healthy Choices (a cookbook produced by Carlisle Press)

The first one is for Whooping Cough, but I would imagine it would work with any cough.
3/4 c. slipper elm, cut and dried
1/4 cup lobelia, cut and dried
1/2 cup peppermint tea leaves
1 cup glycerin
1/4 cup licorice root, cut and dried
1/8 cup flax seed
2 cups water
4 Tbsp. vinegar

Combine and simmer two hours on low then strain. Use every 2 hours or as needed. One or two teaspoons for children, one tablespoon for adults. Give after each coughing episode as well. This formula tastes pleasant and it works to eliminate phlegm, thus lessening the hardness of the coughing.

This one is more simple:
Slice 1 lemon in thin slices in small kettle. Add 3/4 cup of flax seed and 1 pint water. Simmer for 2 hours. Do not boil! Add 1/4 cup honey. If water evaporated, add enough to make a pint. This spoils easily. Keep refrigerated. Good for chest colds and whooping cough. 1 tablespoon 3 times a day and after each severe cough. Soothing and tastes good. Good for sore throats--add slippery elm.

I hope he is able to get better soon!

[Guadalupe]

Thank we will try the second one as many of the ingredients in the first aren't available to us.

[Renee (thesimplelife)]

Guadalupe did you ever try the second one out? Did it work?

[Guadalupe]

We found that hot tea with lemon and honey worked as well. We finally had to settle for Mucinex .

[Renee (thesimplelife)]

Ok, thanks :-)

[moseshelper]

Hi, I know this is an old topic, but in my search for something that I could give my toddlers for cough/ congestion, I have discovered English Ivy extract. It works great! You can also use bromelein. Hope this is helpful to someone.

Crystal