Understand Herbs That Treat Cough
By admin • Aug 27th, 2007 • Category: Cough, UncategorizedHow many ways can we deal with a cough using Chinese Medicine? Most herbs do more than just one thing, so what I outline below are just isolated mechanisms based on my own readings:
1. Anti-tussive action (止咳)
Either by suppressing the cough center (e.g. codeine) or by inhibiting the cough reflex arc (e.g. benzonatate). Bitter Almond Seed (苦杏仁) works by suppressing the cough center. How it works: one of its byproducts of digestion is HCN, which inhibits the cough center and is poisonous - adults not more than 50 at one go. 百部 does so by numbing the respiratory center (降低呼吸中枢兴奋性), hence suppressing the cough reflex 咳嗽反射.
2. Expectorant (祛痰)
Some herbs are known to contain saponins. Saponins can dilute mucus by stimulating the gastric mucus membrane which stimulates bronchial membranes which then cause secretions respiratory tract that dilute phlegm. Examples include 皂荚 and 桔梗.
3. Anti-bacterial Action
Other herbs may include an anti-bacterial function, for examples our well-known Loquat Leaf (琵琶叶). Another one with such a function is 竹茹. Of course, the list goes on, and includes 百部 and 紫菀. Let’s not forget the very powerful 葶苈子, which somehow seems to me more like a cardiovascular herb despite its association with the lungs.
4. Anti-inflammatory Action
When you have a cough, especially over a long period of time, your mucus membranes may be inflammed. A herb like 胖大海 may contribute by contracting blood vessel, hence reducing the pain symptoms associated with inflammation.
5. Increase Immunity
One such herb will be 罗汉果. In addition to effective anti-tussive and expectorant action, it is said to increase cellular immunity.