Rain, chill, going from hot to cold... and it's inflammation of the airway! Why not turn to traditional herbal remedies to soothe coughs, runny nose and other congestion? Find out in this article which herbs to have in your home to prevent ENT conditions and relieve coughing fits. To your mugs!

Warning:

The remedies presented are not intended to replace any medical treatment ordered by your doctor. They are not a substitute for a consultation with the doctor if your condition does not improve or gets worse. The advice and recommendations developed in the following lines are based on popular tradition and phytotherapeutic knowledge and are considered as natural solutions of first intention or as a complement to medication and/or as part of prevention. "Prevention is better than cure" as this famous adage emphasizes!

Plants of the upper respiratory tract: from nose to larynx

"The airway upper airways are extrathoracic and consist of the nose, nasal cavity, mouth, pharynx (aerodigestive crossroads), and larynx in the throat. " (source: wikipedia)

• Mallow soothes irritated and inflamed throats. It soothes coughing fits, laryngitis and pharyngitis. It is the plant that is suitable for everyone, including children and pregnant and nursing women. 
• The white broth soothes inflammations of laryngitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis, hoarseness and voice extinctions.
• Echinacea is known to stimulate the immune system. It is also very effective in curbing diseases of the upper respiratory tract such as: sinusitiscold, pharyngitis.
• Plantain leaves have anti-histamine properties. It relieves allergic rhinitis or any other allergic reaction. 

Plants of the lower respiratory tract: from the trachea to the alveoli

"The lower airways are intrathoracic and consist of a conduction zone (trachea, stem and lobar bronchi, bronchioles) and an exchange zone (alveolar ducts and sacs, pulmonary alveoli). " (source: wikipedia)

To relieve congested bronchial tubes prey to an overproduction of mucus, your choice will be towards the plants known as expectorants. The latter help to fluidify mucus (mucolytic) in order to expel it more easily. Here are some of the most common and easily found in gardens, organic stores and herbalist shops: 

• L’eucalyptus is a famous expectorant which, thanks to the presence of its essential oils and also an excellent anti-infectious of the pulmonary tract.
• Thyme has anti-infectious properties particularly targeted on the respiratory system
• Elderberry is mucolytic and therefore helps to thin the mucus. It is mainly effective on dry coughs. 
• Ground ivy is an expectorant that relieves oily coughs. 
• The plantain is an anti-histamine. It calms asthmatic bronchitis or any allergic reaction

Preparation tips

Take action at the first sign! Don't let "evil" take hold! The sooner you act, the sooner you'll get rid of your cold (or cough)...

Bring water to a simmer and then, once the heat is off, brew your herbs for a few minutes directly in the pot or in a teapot. For the remedy to be effective, you must drink at least 75cl per day. 

Ready-to-infuse blends are available on the market. Please choose one of excellent quality and from organic production. 

Radical recipe against coughing fits

Can't seem to calm a coughing fit? Is your throat irritated and itchy?

Here is a traditional African recipe to calm coughing fits:

Prepare an infusion and add a good quantity of ginger powder. It has to be spicy! Drink it while it's hot, it's almost instantaneous!

ENT diseases seen by Naturopathy

Blockages and the intensive production of mucus are not only the result of an inflammatory reaction and a desire to purify microbial or viral infections. Naturopaths consider discharges as symptoms that give an indication of your inner state. In short, just taking an infusion of elderberry will only temporarily relieve the problem. It may be necessary to "investigate" your lifestyle to detect any behavior that alters the proper functioning of your emunctories, which are nothing more than the purifying organs. 

To make a long story short: an engorged ENT sphere is generally a sign of an overloaded liver. This one can no longer filter the waste properly because it is too much in demand. An emunctory of the same nature will then take over: here it is the ENT system. 

If you suffer from sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis or recurring ear infections, it might be a good idea to consult a naturopath to work in depth.