Seek urgent medical help for a rapidly worsening or very severe cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, painful neck swelling, or if you feel very unwell.
Self-care guide
Acute cough
A new or short-lived cough, commonly occurring with a cold or other upper-respiratory infection.
Step 1 · First-line care
What to do first
Self-care is appropriate only for a mild, uncomplicated short-term cough. Productive/chesty cough, dry/irritative cough, and cough associated with a common cold are presented separately because ingredient evidence is not interchangeable.
Step 2 · Safety
When to get medical help
Get medical help if arrange medical assessment if your cough lasts more than 3 weeks, you are losing weight without trying, or you have a weakened immune system.
Step 3 · Optional ingredient support
For relief now
These options have been reviewed for evidence and key safety concerns.
Honey
Short-term symptom relief for an uncomplicated acute cough associated with an upper-respiratory infection.
How it is used: Use a small amount on its own or in a warm drink. Honey-containing recipes are practical self-care preparations, not a substitute for evaluation when a cough is severe, persistent, or accompanied by breathing difficulty.
What does this evidence mean?
Honey may modestly reduce cough symptoms in the short term. The evidence is limited, but major self-care guidance recognizes it as a reasonable option for people over 1 year old.
Evidence may apply to one specific form of an ingredient — a capsule, extract, cream, or tea — and to a particular amount. Recipes and everyday foods may not match the form or amount that was studied.
Thyme
Traditional-use option for productive or chesty cough associated with a cold.
How it is used: A simple thyme infusion is the closest household preparation. Everyday thyme recipes can also appear in the ingredient catalog, but they do not inherit the cough claim.
What does this evidence mean?
Thyme has a long history of use for productive, chesty coughs associated with colds. Modern clinical evidence is not strong enough to call it a proven treatment, so this is best described as a traditional-use option.
Evidence may apply to one specific form of an ingredient — a capsule, extract, cream, or tea — and to a particular amount. Recipes and everyday foods may not match the form or amount that was studied.
Licorice Root
Traditional expectorant use for cough associated with a cold.
How it is used: Because preparation and dose matter, prefer clearly labeled medicinal products or conservative short-term preparations rather than frequent or prolonged casual use.
What does this evidence mean?
Licorice root has traditional use as an expectorant for cough associated with a cold. This is a traditional-use claim rather than strong modern clinical evidence.
Evidence may apply to one specific form of an ingredient — a capsule, extract, cream, or tea — and to a particular amount. Recipes and everyday foods may not match the form or amount that was studied.
Marshmallow Root
Traditional-use option for dry, irritating cough accompanied by throat irritation.
How it is used: Use only a preparation that matches established marshmallow-root directions; do not infer a medicinal dose from ordinary food or tea recipes.
What does this evidence mean?
Marshmallow root has traditional use for dry cough and throat irritation. The evidence reviewed by regulators is based mainly on long-standing use rather than strong clinical trials.
Evidence may apply to one specific form of an ingredient — a capsule, extract, cream, or tea — and to a particular amount. Recipes and everyday foods may not match the form or amount that was studied.
Ivy Leaf
Preparation-specific expectorant use for productive or chesty cough.
How it is used: Use only appropriately labeled standardized medicinal ivy-leaf products. HerbalWebApp does not recommend homemade ivy tea or other DIY ingestion.
What does this evidence mean?
Certain standardized ivy-leaf medicinal preparations are used as expectorants for productive cough. The evidence applies to specific preparations and should not be generalized to homemade ivy products.
Evidence may apply to one specific form of an ingredient — a capsule, extract, cream, or tea — and to a particular amount. Recipes and everyday foods may not match the form or amount that was studied.
Pelargonium
Short-term symptomatic use for cough in the context of a common cold or acute respiratory infection, using standardized preparations.
How it is used: Use only a standardized product that matches the preparation and age range described in the product information.
What does this evidence mean?
Pelargonium may help some cough and common-cold symptoms, but the evidence is limited and applies to specific medicinal preparations rather than homemade products.
Evidence may apply to one specific form of an ingredient — a capsule, extract, cream, or tea — and to a particular amount. Recipes and everyday foods may not match the form or amount that was studied.
For ongoing support
These options are better suited to regular or longer-term use than to quick symptom relief.
No reviewed options in this category yet.