Post Viral Cough - Any advice to knock it on the head?

[WheezyPeeze]

I've had a rotten cough and associated back pain since early September. It's all been checked out and nothing sinister. But it's really getting me down, especially heading into winter. I think I eat well. Any exercise makes everything much worse. And I can't sit around wrapped in a blanket (which is the only thing that eases things off). Even if I wanted to.

Does anyone have any home remedies or tips which might aid a quicker recovery?

I get this after a virus too. The best thing for me is a daily steam inhalation, pref with one drop of tea tree oil (no more or your eyes will sting!) and a branch of fresh thyme in the boiling water, then a towel over my head while I breathe in the steam until the water cools. More than once daily if it's bad, then ease off to once a day until the cough has cleared. I also take a homeopathic remedy (Bryonia) but recommending that will get me flamed on MN, so I'll leave that to your own judgement!

Thank you becstarsky. Steam has helped in the past but I will get hold of some tea tree oil and thyme. Sounds good. I will check out Bryonia. I haven't heard of it before.
Don't want you to get flamed so rest assured I'm a big girl and can draw my own conclusions, whatever it says. I will now go and find out what it says!

Yup. Looks like I need the homeopathic remedy and not simply pick it and eat it. Do you think Boots would do it?

Boots only have a few homeopathic remedies, but Holland and Barrett do Bryonia here I take 30c once a day when I have a post-viral cough.

Okay. Will give it a go. Have to say. I suffer from terrible hayfever. And take symptom blocking medicine which kind of works, not really. As a student I was given a homeopathic remedy in France and was tearfully sceptical when they wouldn't give me "serious drugs". It's the only thing that has worked and I wish I'd kept the bottles. I assumed I'd be able to pick it up at home no bother.

Thank you

No worries. For the hay fever remedy do you remember what it said on the bottles, even the brand name? If so, it might be worth e-mailing helios to see if they can source it for you.

try an anti-histamine. You're in a vicious circle of coughing which irritates your throat and makes you cough more ad infinitum.

Antihistamine will help stop the irritation - and if you get a drowsy one to help you sleep at night, so much the better

If it's a non-productive cough (no phlegm or mucas) or a dry cough you can try Phlocodeine syrup. Works a treat and very cheap.

You cant use it if your bringing up plegm or mucas as it will all settle in your lungs and you'll get a chest infection and a telling off from the gp!.

bectarsky - nope. Can't remember anything about it. Just that it was a double remedy. I had to take two tablets together. I asked about it back here but the homeopath just smiled and shook her head.

hopenglory - tried piriton for about a month. Drowsiness was good. Didn't help the cough. Might give it another go though now it's settled into a bit of a pattern.

Fluffycloudland77 - sometimes it is productive and sometimes it isn't. I hadn't heard of phlocodeine before. I do think that if my lungs could just get a rest from the coughing then they would get a chance to heal.

Well. I've got a few things to go and try now. Many thanks.

Friars Balsam tincture is good in a steam bath, but what ever you put it into will get horribly stained. You can get it out with boiling water and washing up liquid.

Try to inhale it 10 minutes every night and you soon notice your bringing more crap up when you cough.

You can buy it at most pharmacies.

Fluffycloudland77- I have not heard of this before. I'm really glad I asked. I have lots of things to try now. Hopefully something will work. And thanks for the warning about staining!

Brilliant advice here - I too am left with an annoying cough after a sore throat virus!