Ask Dr Xiang Jun: What to Eat When You Have Cough

A cough is a reflex reaction designed to keep your airways clear. You may be coughing because of another condition, like asthma or a respiratory infection, or because you have swallowing difficulties.

There are many reasons for cough.

The most common cause of a short-term (acute) cough is a viral infection. The common cold and flu viruses cause infections in the upper respiratory tract. The infection causes inflammation or redness in your throat, windpipe (trachea) or lungs.

Coughs can also be long term and are caused by other internal health problems such as sinusitis, gastric reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, heart failure.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, coughs can be due to external pathogens or internal functional imbalances. In both cases, pathogens target the protective qi of the body – its immune system – which is governed by the lungs.

For relief of cough, the root cause of the cough needs to be diagnosed and addressed. However there are also simple food and diet therapies that can bring ease to cough symptoms first.

Here are some of the foods according to Science and Traditional Chinese Medicine that may be able to help:

Watch my video on What to Eat When You Have Cough on my Youtube or Instagram.

Pear

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pear is able to clear heat, resolve phlegm, relieve thirst and moisten Lungs.

We can steam the pear or make it into a soup. Pear soup strengthens and moistens the Lungs, hence this increases the immunity of the body and alleviates coughs.

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Read more about Pear here.


persimmon

Persimmon can moisten Lungs. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, persimmon has cold yin energy and are potent in expelling pathogenic heat, hence helping to alleviate cough especially due to viral infections.

According to Science, persimmon has a high vitamin C content, therefore it helps to strengthen the immune system and reduce the severity of symptoms such as cough.

chinese almond

Chinese almond is known for its ability to tonify Qi energy and life essence Jing. It helps to regulate qi circulation and resolve phlegm, hence ventilating the lungs which eases cough.


lotus root

Lotus root is considered a detoxifying agent, particularly for the lungs and stomach. This helps to dispel excessive heat and remove toxins from the body and is especially helpful to clear cough due to viral infections.


Lotus root has astringent properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine which is helpful to melt mucus accumulation in the body, especially in the respiratory system.


TCM(Traditional Chin Med), TCM Wellness, Basics of TCM, TCM and ScienceXiang Jun LimDr (TCM) Xiang Juntcm, acupuncture, herbs, traditional chinese medicine, papaya, banana, water, chia seed, constipation