We’ve all dealt with it — a nagging cough from allergies, a virus that caught up with you, or a chronic condition like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. But not all coughs are the same. A wet cough requires a different strategy than a dry one, and choosing the right herbal approach starts with understanding that difference.
Disclaimer: This post is not medical advice; it is based off my experiences and education working with medicinal herbs. I am an Herbalist, not a doctor.
First, let’s figure out exactly what kind of cough you’re dealing with. The act of coughing itself is called a spasm, so if you’ve got a dry cough, you can probably reach for an antispasmodic herb. But don’t just reach for your herbal dictionary and find the list of antispasmodic herbs.
Related: I can’t believe this TikTok video I made a few years ago of me coughing has over a million views now. Incidentally, I was coughing because of allergies.
Two basic types of coughing are Productive (where mucous is coming up and out, actually clearing out of your lungs) and Unproductive (where you just keep hacking away, causing irritation in your throat and the mucosal lining inside your lungs.) Different herbs address each type of cough. Pay close attention to the energetics of both the herb and the person who needs help before making your choice.
Up First: A Dry Cough
Is the cough deep in your lungs? Is it more like a tickle in the back of your throat? If the cough is deep in your lungs and the tissues are inflamed and dry (not the normal state for lungs to be in), then Wild Cherry bark is a very good choice.
If the cough is higher up in your lungs, like COPD, Mullein leaf can be very helpful at addressing the problem due to its moistening and lymphagogue capabilities. You can get Mullein tincture in my shop if you want something quick to keep on hand.
Another herb that has fallen out of favor somewhat due to its pyrrolizidine alkaloid content, but which is nonetheless well-suited at helping a dry, unproductive cough is Coltsfoot. I’ve only just begun working with this herb so I suggest you do more research on your own before trying it, but I found a big batch to forage last spring, so the next time I’m coughing I’ll test it out for you.
Another thing you want to ask the cougher (is that even a word?) is whether they have seasonal allergies. Allergies to dust, pollen, mold, or other things in the air can trigger sneezing and coughing. I know when I have an allergy attack, it always starts in the back of my throat like a tickle that won’t stop.
The best thing I’ve ever found to help with that allergic tickle cough is my Allergy Sinus Tincture. It’s made with stinging nettle, goldenrod, mullein leaf, ground ivy, and licorice root.
Other herbs you want to consider for soothing a dry cough are demulcent herbs such as licorice root (very sweet, only take small amounts at a time) and marshmallow (roots and leaves are both helpful as they create mucilage.)
Now what about a Wet Cough?
The best way to describe a wet cough is that feeling of gunk in your lungs. You cough, and it rattles or sounds as if there is mucous trying to come up and out. Sometimes phlegm comes out (globs of yellow gunk flying out of your mouth is gross, but is actually a good sign). Sometimes your chest feels heavy, as if a big stack of books is sitting upon it weighing it down.
My first choice for this sort of cough used to be to reach for a bottle of usnea tincture. Usnea (also called “Lungs of the Forest”) is fantastic at helping you get a nice deep breath, especially into your lower lungs. It also has some antitussive properties and can help with the coughing. This lichen is not meant to be taken daily long-term for chronic issues, but works phenomenally well for short-term sickness or the occasional time you’re hiking a steep trail and can’t get air in.
More often what I reach for now for a wet cough is Elacampane root. Elacampane (Inula helenium) is a stimulating expectorant, which means is stimulates the flow of fresh mucous from the lungs. It can help break up stuck mucous in an unproductive cough— the kind where you’re hacking and can feel gunk rattling around in your lungs but can’t seem to get it to actually come out.
This is often one of the herbs I will start with when making an herbal cough syrup (note that this is an older video and my formulas have evolved to be more specific since then.)
It’s not usually advised to mix elacampane with cherry bark because they’re treating two different types of cough. Elacampane can actually irritate the kind of irritable cough that happens with influenza or other infections as it irritates the membranes inside your lungs.
Other herbs that can be helpful for a wet cough are Thyme and Sage. Thyme is antiviral and drying to wet conditions and sage, while also drying, is especially helpful at soothing a sore throat.
A more recent version of my herbal cough syrup can be found HERE
Remember that an important part of fighting any kind of cough is to give your immune system the nutritional support it needs to fight off whatever is causing the cough.
It’s also important to know that everything I’ve talked about in this post relates to addressing acute symptoms. If you have a chronic cough that has been happening for months or even years, you have underlying conditions that need to be addressed.
You can learn more about supporting your body through all phases of health and healing inside my book Think Like an Herbalist. And if you’d like specialized help addressing your chronic health issues, consider setting up a one-on-one consultation with me today.