Granny Cures or Cough Syrup? From Myths to Effective Treatment

Relentless cough in the winter can be a real nuisance. How can you deal with it? Are cough granny cures effective and what about cough syrup? Here are a few recommendations from our experts.

It seems that winter is here in full force, along with darker and shorter days, low temperatures and an annoying relentless cough.

This kind of cough can be a real pain and often start after getting a cold, but might last long after. So, how can you deal with it and what types of treatment should you try?

What is cough?

Cough is the body’s natural reaction for removing foreign objects and infections from the respiratory system, for instance allergens, dust or phlegm. Cough is a common symptom and there are many conditions that include it. There are also different types of coughs. There’s acute or chronic cough, “dry” cough and one that comes with phlegm and snot and can appear in both kids and adults.

It’s important to find out the cause of the cough, especially in kids, so you can match its treatment. For a proper diagnosis, please see a physician. There’s of course the option of treating ourselves without panicking. Symptoms of cough can mostly be treated naturally as well. There are some who claim that when a cough originates from a light viral disease, it’ll most likely go away on its own within a few days. But incase the cough persists, there are certain recommendations to relieve dry or wet cough.

Cough granny cures and common recommendations

“Granny cures” are recommendations that’s been given from one generation to another and are based on traditional uses of various herb or domestic components. You’ve surely heard about the properties of grandma’s chicken soup and “kogel mogel”. There’s no actual research proof to most granny cures though they might sometimes elevate cough. Here are some recommendations:

• Drinking lukewarm tea warm water (heating the area helps remove phlegm and secretions).
• Eating honey or sucking on honey hard candy. This granny cure was in fact tested and showed that honey does relieve cough. You should dilute the honey in some warm water, and notice: don’t give honey to kids under 12 months!
• Soaking onion overnight and drinking its liquids.
• Licorice plant tea
• Thyme tea, also called thymus vulgaris, with honey.
• Another important tip: when we cough, especially if it comes with phlegm and snot, it’s important to drink a lot of water, which contributes to removing the phlegm. You should make sure to drink water of tea throughout the day.

What about cough syrup that’s not naturally sourced?

There’s no doubt that when it comes to coughing, we still remember that taste of cough syrup we used to get as kids. Cough syrup is often the most common option for relieving persistent cough and there are different types of it.

Cough medications are divided into two main groups:

• Cough suppressants for dry and persistent cough. Within it you can find codeine and dextromethorphan. They’re sold mostly as syrups and with prescriptions only.
• Expectorants for wet cough or for reducing the viscosity of phlegm. Most of them can be purchased without a prescription and they come in syrup, capsules or water dissolvent tablets. Some are made for cough and others combine other materials such as anti-cold.

What about natural cough syrup?

There are several options in the market for formulas that come in syrup form and contain naturally sourced ingredients, both for kids and adults. These syrups often contain herbs such as thymus vulgaris, althaea, licorice, elderberry, coneflower and more.

Cough syrup for kids

When it comes to little kids, you should see a pediatrician for diagnosis and treatment.

When do you have to go to the doctor?

• When the cough lasts more than 3 weeks or when you suffer a prolonged and chronic cough that keeps getting worse.
• When taking cough medicine but it doesn’t stop, or even gets worse.
• When in kids under the age of 6.
• When there are other symptoms, such as fever, chest pain and shortness of breath.