Tea
Thyme tea for coughs
Thyme sits in most kitchen herb pots and gets used on chicken. That is a shame, because it is one of the best-supported cough herbs we have. It loosens mucus, it eases the spasmodic cough, and it tastes amazing.
Drink it warm, and draw the steam up through your nose while you do. Half the effect is in the steam.
Ingredients
- 1-2 tsp dried thyme, or 3 fresh sprigs
- 250 ml boiling water
- Honey to taste, preferably raw
Equipment
- Cup
- Strainer
- Plate or lid to cover with
Method
- 1
Put the thyme in the cup and pour over boiling water.
- 2
Cover the cup with a plate. The volatile oils are the active part, and they leave with the steam if you let it stand open.
- 3
Steep for 10 minutes. Strain.
- 4
Stir in honey when the tea is drinkable, not scalding, so the honey's own enzymes survive.
- 5
Drink slowly, and draw the steam up through your nose as you go.
Dosage
2-3 cups daily while the cough lasts. No more than a week at a time.
Shelf life
Drink fresh. The tea loses its effect once the steam is gone.
Safety
Thyme as a tea is gentle and tolerated by most. Thyme essential oil is another matter entirely and must not be drunk.
If you are pregnant, stay with ordinary culinary and tea amounts, not concentrated extracts.
If you are allergic to mint-family plants such as oregano, mint or sage, try a small amount first.
Honey must not be given to children under 1 year.
A cough lasting more than three weeks, or one with fever, breathlessness or blood, belongs with a doctor, not in a teacup.
How the herbs work
Thyme contains thymol, which loosens stubborn mucus and eases the spasmodic cough. It also acts antibacterially in the throat.
Honey lays itself like a soft film over the irritated membrane. Several studies show honey eases a cough at least as well as over-the-counter syrup.
The content here is general knowledge and folk herbal lore, not medical treatment. In illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding or alongside medication: always talk to your doctor first.