[beccaboomom]

Now that I've got your attention :LOL , dh and I have both had summer colds with lots of coughing at night. We got some cough spray from our local "Blessed by Nature" store, but we haven't had much luck. I've tried a couple of otc medicines and they were worthless, so I'm thinking of trying what my childhood dr used to tell my mom. He said mix a little whiskey, lemon juice, and honey together and give it to us kids.

My dh said his folks used to give him a spoonful of blackberry brandy for coughing. I'm not sleeping and feeling desperate. What do you all think? Disclaimer*** I would never give this to my kids.

 

[mwherbs]

how about some real licorice -- not that wheat paste with anise flavoring but licorice root candy-- it tastes good and cuts the mucous
or slippery elm cough drops

or a remedy from a very famous osteopath-- 1-2 drops of glycerin in each ear will stop night coughing-- don't know why it works just does

 

[beccaboomom]

Licorice root candy

I think I'll try and find that. That sounds like a good alternative.

 

[stafl]

I always put some eucalyptus oil (and maybe menthol crystals too) in a pot of water simmering on the back of the stove. Turns the house into a giant cough drop, but works great without any side effects.

 

[guerrillamama]

i'm confused... why would you NOT want to drink a little brandy/whiskey?

 

[desertpenguin]

I agree with guerillamama :LOL
Whiskey, lemon juice, and honey is called a hot toddy I think. My dh's grandmother gave it to him and his sisters when they were sick. Dh says it works great, hehe.

 

[mwherbs]

Hot toddy won't really do anything for a cough-- and could bring your immunity down actually

in any case the brand of licorice I buy is Katjes I get it at the import store German made

 

[beccaboomom]

Have you ever tried a hot toddy (thanks desertpenguin)? It feels like it cleans all that gunk in your throat off. It is that gunk feel that gets me coughing.

 

[mwherbs]

A toddy works to cut the mucous but then it leaves my throat raw -- the whole thing with mucous is your body is producing it to protect the surface if you dry it up or clear it off without replacement you are leaving your body open for an infection to go deeper into the tissues. the use of something that has mucopolysaccarides- is that they cut the mucous but are mucous like and so shut your faucet off without compromising your tissues- because it takes over doing the work of the mucous and also brings down inflammation/swelling-- so other things besides licorice are slippery elm , marshmallow, common mallow, hybiscus, plantain seeds are slimmers and can work to cut and reduce snot. the thing with coughing at night is usually associated with post nasal drip.
an added remedy would be what stafl wrote " eucalyptus oil in a pot of water simmering on the back of the stove"
works with a lamp ring too and would work as a tea additive or the use of a little thyme, mint...

 

[desertpenguin]

I've never had a hot toddy myself.
mwherbs has given some good advice. I think sage tea might also be helpful at drying up the mucus, but don't take it if your are bfing. I drank some when ds had a cold cuz I thought it might help him, but didn't know that sage dries up your milk! Thank goodness I only drank one cup!

 

[dumpsterdivamama]

When I have a bad cold with night coughing, I keep a small glass of blackberry brandy by my bedside table, and when I wake up, I take just a sip. It does the trick, and the alcohol helps me sleep