Best Chinese Medicines for Cough

From a nagging tickle in your throat to a painful hack, coughing can be an uncomfortable and annoying symptom. But before you reach for the drugstore cough medicine, Chinese herbs for cough may offer faster relief and longer-lasting benefits.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), coughing is often seen as a sign of an imbalance in the body’s energy, or Qi. Chinese herbal medicine has been used for centuries to treat coughs and other respiratory ailments by addressing the underlying cause of the cough, rather than just suppressing the symptom.

Let’s explore the different types of cough, the most commonly used Chinese herbs for cough, and how they can help alleviate coughing and support your overall respiratory health.

Different Coughs, Different Treatments

One of the main differences between TCM and Western medicine is that the same “disease” is treated in different ways depending on the type of symptoms and each person’s constitution.

At a Western pharmacy, there may be a range of cough medicines, but the variations are usually related to brand, strength, or dose. But in TCM, a person with a dry, hot-type cough will be recommended an entirely different formula than someone with a wet, phlegmy, cold-type cough.

So, how does TCM treat different types of coughs? First, we consider if there is an environmental factor present, such as pathogenic wind, cold, heat, dryness, or dampness. Then, we also consider the person’s constitution. Are they weak or strong? Is their cough mild or severe? How is their overall immune function? These observations can help us determine which types of formulas are best for them. By asking yourself the same questions when you have a cough, you can determine which Chinese remedy for cough will help you best.

Here are a few of the most common cough types treated with Chinese herbs:

Dry Cough

A dry cough is often related to a lack of moisture or fluids in the body – this is what TCM practitioners call “yin deficiency.” A dry cough may also show signs of heat (like a sore throat, fever, or redness in the throat or face). In these cases, we need to use Chinese herbs that moisten yin, cool heat, and nourish the Lung system to stop the cough.

Cough with Phlegm

A phlegmy cough signals that there is dampness, or fluid accumulation, in the Lung. If we treated this like a dry cough and added moistening and nourishing herbs, it would only make this type of cough worse. Instead, we choose a formula that helps dry out the dampness, transform the phlegm, and improve qi flow through the Lung system to alleviate a phlegm-based cough.

Beyond that, we need to take into account the other symptoms to find out if we need a warming or cooling approach. Coughs with phlegm can either be hot in nature (with thick, yellow phlegm that is hard to cough up), or cold in nature (with thin, copious white phlegm). We either cool or warm the body to balance the system and clear the phlegmy cough.

Cough with Sore Throat

Sore throats typically indicate that there is too much heat (or inflammation) in the body. The scratchier the throat and the more painful the cough, the more heat needs to be cleared to feel relief. Moistening and cooling formulas are best for this type of cough.

Qi Deficiency Cough

“Qi deficiency” coughs are usually weak, annoying, frustrating coughs that come along with asthma or chronic lung conditions. These coughs are usually accompanied by other symptoms of qi deficiency, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, and a weak voice. The cough is often triggered or worsened by exertion or stress.

The Best Chinese Herbs for Cough

Along with herbs that help balance a person’s constitution, there are also a few herbs that are particularly useful for treating coughs. These herbs directly impact the Lung system and support smooth-flowing qi, reduce phlegm, and promote immune health.

Loquat (Pi Pa Ye)

Loquat leaf is one of the most commonly used herbs for cough and is often included in Chinese cough syrups and herbal formulas. This herb is particularly helpful for coughs with phlegm. The loquat leaf contains healing compounds such as triterpenes, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, all of which have been shown to have antitussive (cough-suppressing) and expectorant (phlegm-loosening) effects.

Lily Bulb (Bai He)

The lily bulb is the edible bulb of the lily plant and has moistening, soothing effects on the respiratory system. Lily bulb is used in formulas that help treat cough when there is an underlying deficiency – especially yin or qi deficiency. These coughs can be weak, dry, or linger long after an illness has passed.

Fritillaria Bulb (Chuan Bei Mu)

Fritillaria is similar to lily bulb in that it cools and moistens the Lung and dissolves phlegm. But it is best used to address dry cough with scanty, difficult-to-expectorate, yellow phlegm in more robust individuals.

Cordyceps (Dong Chong Xia Cao)

Long before cordyceps was prized as a performance-enhancing medicinal mushroom, it was used to build qi, stop coughs, prevent asthma, and improve Lung function. Today, cordyceps are still used to help boost the Lung system and promote natural energy and stamina.

Chinese Cough Syrups & Chinese Cough Medicines

Because syrups easily coat the throat with healing medicinal compounds, Chinese cough medicine often comes in syrup form. The most popular Asian cough syrup is Loquat Cough Syrup. But, there are also herbal formulas that come in pill form to help suppress cough and restore the body to balance.

Chinese Cough Drops

Chinese herbal cough drops are a natural way to suppress a cough and improve your Lung health. Swap your traditional cough drops (which tend only to numb the throat) with these medicinal drops that also help resolve the cause of your cough.

Chinese Herbal Tea for Cough

When you’re battling a nagging cough, there’s nothing more soothing than a cup of tea. What’s even better is a cup of Chinese herbal tea that uses medicinal herbs to not just calm your cough, but stop it from the root.

Stop Coughs Naturally with Chinese Herbs for Cough

Whether you want to stop or prevent coughs and colds, ease a sore throat, or simply improve your breathing, Chinese herbs can be a valuable tool to help you support your respiratory system and boost your overall well-being. But, finding the right formula for your specific cough symptoms is the key to getting the best results possible! Shop our full collection of Chinese herbs for colds, coughs, and flu to find the best formula for your Lung health.