Coughing It Up
Q: Why do I cough?
Because there is excess mucus or other irritant matter from external sources – dirt, smoke, household cleaners – lying on the surface of the respiratory tract, and your body is trying to expel them by propelling it violently upwards.
The body uses the mucous membranes as an exit route for toxins. When a bug infects you and your immune system attacks it, dead bacteria and dead immune cells can be pushed out via mucous secretions. Also, if other eliminatory organs such as the bowel aren’t working well, then some toxins may be diverted to the respiratory tract to be offloaded through these membranes.
Q: If I have lots of mucus, what does it mean?
Either your body is fighting off a bug or it is trying to shovel toxins out through the mucous membranes because they aren’t going out properly through other routes – or the systems are getting swamped by an excess of toxins! Mucus may increase when you eat or drink poor quality food, or if you eat a lot of dairy products.
Q: Can you give me more information on the herbs?
Ivy and Thyme taken together in a tincture help to reduce spasms in the bronchial tubes (so that you cough less, and less violently), and to thin mucus lying on the chest so that it is easier to expel. You will cough less but, when you do cough, mucus will be removed.
Galeopsis contains silica that helps to restore a weakened lung lining, and boosts immune function.
Q: OK, so what can I do to stop my cough?
Sometimes suppressing a cough is the worst thing you could do because the toxins that should have been removed stay in the system and bung you up. The best thing is to help the body remove the irritants as quickly and effectively as possible. Here are some sensible guidelines.
- Reduce your intake of dairy foods
- Drink plenty of still water (warm if you prefer) and ensure your bowel is working daily, to flush toxins out of the system
- Don’t stay in stuffy rooms or expose yourself to cigarette smoke
- Enjoy the fresh air but wrap up warmly and don’t expose your throat to cold winds
- Take herbal remedies such as a complex of Ivy and Thyme to improve the way the respiratory tract deals with mucus, making coughs less troublesome
- Use soothing herbal syrups to ease irritation in the throat
Those prone to coughs and other respiratory tract disorders should consider taking Galeopsis for six months, as it gently strengthens the respiratory tract lining. The mineral zinc and beta-carotene are also helpful for the lung lining.
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