Cough (general)
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):
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Dry Cough: No mucus; often due to irritation or inflammation.
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Wet/Damp Cough: With phlegm; helps clear secretions or infection.
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Nocturnal Cough: Worsens at night; often from reflux or postnasal drip.
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Whooping Cough (Pertussis): Intense, gasping cough from bacterial infection.
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Barking Cough: Often seen in children with croup.
Common Causes:
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Viral upper respiratory infections (cold, flu)
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Allergies (dust, pollen, dander)
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Asthma or reactive airway disease
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Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
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Postnasal drip from sinus congestion
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Smoking or exposure to smoke
-
Environmental irritants (pollution, chemicals)
-
Pneumonia, bronchitis, or other lung infections
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ACE inhibitors (medication-related)
Severity Factors:
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Duration: Coughs lasting longer than 3–4 weeks require evaluation
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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:
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Cough lasts more than 3 weeks
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Coughing up blood or foul-smelling mucus
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Associated chest pain, shortness of breath, or wheezing
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High fever or signs of pneumonia
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Night sweats or unexplained weight loss
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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)
allspice
aloe vera
alpha-pinene
anthocyanins
apple
astaxanthin
waterhyssop
bamboo
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
berry flavor
beta-pinene
bilberry
bio ecolian (proprietary)
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
radish
blueberry
Indian frankincense
caffeine
carrot
cassia bark
cat's claw
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
cinnamon
clove
cowage seed
turmeric
d-sorbitol
elderberry
fennel
garlic bulb
ginger
glehnia root
grape
greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
heartwood
Indian tinospora
jujube
lemon
licorice root
lovage
marshmallow
natural flavor
nettle
ophiopogon root
orange
oregano
parsley
pear
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
plum fruit
polygala root
pomegranate
pumpkin
quercetin
raspberry
resveratrol
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
spirulina
strawberry
thyme
vitamin C
vitamin D
wasabia japonica
zhejiang fritillary
zinc
sarsaparilla
boneset
mullein
tangerine
gastrodia
hyssop
atractylodes
lobelia
capsicum
Indian bael
neem tree
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
fumaria parviflora
bee pollen
prickly ash
fritillaria
lemongrass
yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
root tuber
silk tree
juniper berries
amber
dodder
sweet flag
hyacinth bean
trace minerals
eucalyptus
menthol oil
peach
abies spectabilis
horehound
enzymes blend (proprietary)
soursop
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
Alcohol
Aster tataricus
Aralia
Angelica archanglica
Amber
Apple Cider Vinegar
Alkylamide (unspecified)
Abies alba
Acetic acid
Asafetida
Alpinia katsumadai
Aerva Lanta
Alpinia
African Ginger
Agastache
American Basil
Anamarrhena
Angel's Trumpet
Average Herb Strength
Aldimine
Alpha-terpineol
Ambergris
Ardisia
Angelica
Arsenic
acacia
Angelica gigas nakai
Agave
Allium tuberosum Rottl.
Allicin
Ajowan
Ammonium chloride
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
American Elder
Ammonium glycyrrhizinate
Allspice
Aconite
Asafoetida
Ajuga
Artemisia
Andrographis paniculata
Alkaloid (unspecified)
Andrographolide
Asian Bayberry
Albizia (unspecified)
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
Agastache urticifolia
Allium (unspecified)
Alpinia (unspecified)
Asam gelugor
Apricot
Alkyl (unspecified)
Ammonium salt (unspecified)
Arrowroot
Andrographis
Alkaloids
Amomum (unspecified)
Alsonia scholaris
African Basil
Aresaema (unspecified)
Allyl Sulfide
Alpha-pinene
Arecoline Hydrobromide
Aromatic acid (unspecified)
Atractylodes
alkaloid
Aspen
Arabinogalactans
Adenophora
Alliin
Anise
Avian (unspecified)
Arabinogalactan
Ammonium carbonate
Allium tuberosum
Aloe macroclada
American Chestnut
Amomum subulatum
Amor seco
Aniseed myrtle
Asarum sieboldii
Asparagus adscendens
Australian Sandalwood
Alantolactone
Atractylone
Belladonna
Black Seed
Blend (Combination)
Bermuda Grass
Botanical Blend
Bengal Fig
Bryonia
benzenoid (unspecified)
Brandy
Bicarbonate
Blepharis
Batavia cinnamon
Bayleaf
Bioflavonoid
Bioflavonoids (mixed)
Blackbrush
Betel
Big Quaking Grass
Bougainvillea
Beta-pinene
Brine
Bael
Bioflavonoids (mixture)
Butternut
Bindweed
berry
Basil
Bacillus (mixed)
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Balloon-Flower
Bear Garlic
Black cardamom
Black willow
Bicarbonate (mixed)
Blend (Dietary substance used by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake)
Bioflavonoids
Beadlets
Bicarbonate (unspecified)
black salt
Buchu (unspecified)
Bee products
Berries (unspecified)
Borassus Palm
Brassica (unspecified)
British Elecampane
Buddha's Hand
Borassus aethiopum
Boneset
Borage
Bacteria Blend
Bamboo
banana
Black Currant
Bauhinia Variegata
Black Pepper and White Pepper
Balloon Pea
Black Pepper
Bupleurum (unspecified)
Black Mustard
Bassia scoparia
Burning Bush
Bacopasaponin (unspecified)
Balloon Flower
Balsam pear
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Boerhavia diffusa
bitartrate
Blend (combination)
Cubebs
Coconut
Centella triterpenes
Cyperus (unspecified)
Curcuma wenyujin
Coral
Cinnamomum loureirii
Cucurbita moschata
Cinnamic aldehyde
Cnidium
Cactus
Cynomorium
Citrus (unspecified)
Cream
Cayenne Pepper
Chinese mugwort
Citron
Coltsfoot
Cluster Fig
Citrus
Cineole
Capsaicin
Cardamom
Capsicum
Chinese Quince
Chinese Chive
Carrot fiber
Complex
Chordaria cladosiphon
Color (Natural & Artificial)
Cyperus rotundus
Clematis
Capsaicinoids
Curcuminoids
Cabbage palm (not specifed)
Calamus rhizome
Cinnamaldehydes
Cinidium
Centidepa (unspecified)
Chenopodium
Cassia (unspecified)
Cassia fistula
Chinese orchid
Chinese peony
Chrysanthemum (unspecified)
Cistus
Common madia
Cubeb
Capsaicinoid
Chinese Club Moss
Cowslip
Clove
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chrysanthemum
Calamus
Citrus nobilis
Coin-leaf desmodium
Citrus reticulata
Chinese Pine
Citrus (mixed)
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cinnamaldehyde
Ceylon Ginger
Citrus Unspecified
Costus
Cysteine
Chekiang Fritillary
Capsaisin
Canadian Goldenrod
Clam
citrus spp.
cola nut
Celosia
Clerodendrum indicum
Cambodium Cardamom
Chinese Cabbage
Color
Conehead Thyme
Culvers Root
Currant
Chondrus
Dihydrocapsaicin
Desmodium gangeticum
DL-Methionine
Dendrobium fimbriatum
Duodenal Substance
Dioscorea oppositifolia
Dragonhead
Dioscorea nipponica
Diterpenes
Desmodium
Deer
Dichrostachys glomerata
Empresstree
Exphedrine HCl
English Horsemint
Echinacea
English Ivy
Elder
European Field Elm
Elecampane
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European Ash
Ephedrine
Elcampane
Embelia
elderberry
esters (unspecified)
Fig
Fruit (unspecified)
Fenuside
Fritillaria (unspecified)
Fritillary
Flavonoid glycosides
Filler
Frog
Flowering quince
Fatty Acid (unspecified)
Fernbush
Finger Leaf Morning Glory
Flesh-Finger Citron
Fritillaria biflora
Flavoglycosides
Fruit (unspecified)
Flavor (Natural & Artificial)
Fruit Blend
Five-leaf akebia
Fritillary (unspecified)
Fennel
Goldenrod
Gallic Acid
Glehnia littoralis
Gelcap
Gastrodia
Ghee
Garlic pear
Guava
Gingerol
Glycoside
Guaco
gum (unspecified)
Garlic
Glycyrrhiza (unspecified)
Gotu Kola
glycyrrhizic acid
Grindelia
Greater galangal
Gallesia
Guaranine
GTCP
Garden Cress
Glehnia root
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Gecko
Ginger oleoresin
Glycyrrhizinic acid
Galangal
Glycyrrhizin
Galanga
Ginger
Ginger phenols (unspecified)
Ginkgolide C
Hedychium Spicatum
Halitum
Hyacinth (unspecified)
Himalayan Salt
Horseradish
Hyssop
Honey
hydrogen sulfate
Hemidesmus
Hoenelen
Honey loquat syrup
Horehound
Honeydew
Holy Basil
Helicteres isora
Hyacinth bean
Hempnettle
Irish Moss
Indian catnip
Inula
Isothiocyanate
Indian Cassia
Indigo pulchra
Ilex (unspecified)
Indian Elecampane
Indian Long Pepper
Iceland Moss
Ignatius Bean
Iceland Moss
Indian Chrysanthemum
Ivy (unspecified)
Japanese Apricot
Juice (unspecified)
Japanese Kadsura
Japanese Elder
Japanese Mint
Japanese Pine
Jatoba
Jungli-bean
Javanese Long Pepper
Jujube
Khella
Korean Angelica
Kokilaksha
Korean Pine
lemongrass
Loquat
Lime
Lindera aggregata
Leek
Lactucarium
Lebbek
Licorice (unspecified)
Lilium polyphyllum
Linden
lettuce
Ligustilide
Licorice
Lemon mint (unspecified)
Licorice (various)
Lilyturf
Ligustilides
Longan
Lung
Luffa
Lesser Galangal
Lindera (unspecified)
Lingustilides
Lemon
Lobelia
Leptadenia
Large-Leaved Linden
Lily
Loblolly pine
Lomatium dissectum
Loranthus
Lungwort
Ligusticum
Lung
Malabar Nut
Mentha haplocalyx
Mugo Pine
Mesua
Myristicin
Marjoram
Mustard (unspecified)
Moringa
Marsh Tea
Menthol
Malt (Barley)
Mucilage
Mandarin
Mexican Sarsaparilla
Melia (unspecified)
Moroccan oregano
Mace
Morinda (unspecified)
Magnolia biondii
Molluscs
Marshmallow
Mexican oregano
Marshmallow
Madder
Mint (unspecified)
Maidenhair Fern
Malabar Nut Tree Leaf Extract
Meadow sage
Marine colloids
Mastic
Meadowsweet
Mountain Ash
Marigold (unspecified)
Ma Huang
milk
Mullein
Maple (unspecified)
Mucolase
Notopterygium
Nigella Seed
Night jessamine
Neral
Nymphaea nouchali
Natural flavor(s)
Nutmeg & Mace
Nettle (unspecified)
Nutmeg
Ophiopogon
onion
Oroxylum indicum
Oxyephedrine
Osha
Olive Oil
organic acid (unspecified)
Opium Antidote
Oriental Bush Cherry
Oldenlandia diffusa
Osmanthus
Organic Greens
Oryza Sativa
Orchid tree (unspecified)
Pear
Peppermint leaf
phenyl alkyl ketones
Pleurisy
Phellodendron
Poria Mushrooms
Premna
P. nigraclens (unspecified)
Peach
Palmyra
Piper chaba
Polymorpha (unspecified)
Piperoylpiperidine
perilla
Pumpkin
Pinellia Ternata
Pimpinella (unspecified)
Polygonatum (unspecified)
Proanthocyanidins (unspecified)
Polypodium
Platycodon
Pepper (unspecified)
Paris polyphylla
Pansit-pansitan
Phthalide
Pelargonium (unspecified)
Pyrrosia
Piper retrofractum
Pig
Pareira
Pointed gourd
Polygonatum
Pimpinella
Phellodendron Bark
Pinellia
Pubescent Angelica
Poppy
Parsley
Polygonatum cirrhifolium
Perperine
Phleum Pratense
Pungent compounds (unspecified)
Polygala
Peony (unspecified)
Petiveria
Plectranthus amboinicus
phenolics (various)
Red Spruce
Rice
Rosemary antioxidant S-32
Raspberry
Red Raspberry
Rose Hip
Rose
Ravinsara
Reed Herb
Red Sage
Rhododendron (unspecified)
Ricinoleic acid
Sabadilla
Sicklepod
Sichuan Pagoda Tree
Stephania root
Spiked Ginger Lily
Sichuan Pepper
Sharp-leaf galangal
Stinging Nettle
Savory (unspecified)
Sete sangrias
Solanaceae (unspecified)
Salicylate (unspecified)
Sodium metabisulfite
Sarsaparilla
Sweet Orange
Spikenard
Stemona
Skunk Cabbage
Sodium Bicarbonate
Silver Fir
Stabilizers
Southern Tsangshu
Safflower
Spanish Oregano
Syrup
Syrup (unspecified)
Sweet Almond
scallion
Sesbania (unspecified)
Sage-leaf alangium
Sciadopitysn
Sinigrin
Sweet Violet
Shogaol
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Squash (unspecified)
Semecarpus anacardium
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Sugarcane
Sumac
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sodium Bicarbonate
Star Anise
Sundew
Sargassum
Scots Pine
Small Cranberry
Southern Elder
Squill
Sedanenolide
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Theobromine
Tea (unspecified)
Terpene
Tea (mixed)
Turnip
Thymoquinone
Trachea
Turtle
Trichosanthis
Taraxacin
Tonka Bean
Traveler's Joy
Tea (not specified)
Thymol
Tree Peony
Turtle
Terminalia (unspecified)
Thatch screw-pine
Tragacanth
Tamarind
Trachea
Terpinolene
Tree (unspecified)
Ulmus (unspecified)
Undeca-2E, 7Z, 9E-Trienoic Acid Isobutylamide
Visnea Mocanera
Varuna
Vasicine
Vladimiria souliei
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Water Lily (unspecified)
White Pepper
White Tea
Wax Gourd
Wild Hyacinth
White Rice
White Lily
White Pine
White Pear
Wasabia japonica
White Sorghum syrup
Wild Thyme
Wild Cherry
Wild Mint
William's Elder
White Globe-Lily
Wine (unspecified)
Yuzu
Yerba buena
Yerba Santa
Yellow Ginger
Zucchini
Zedoary
Zingerone
