Where There Is No Doctor 2011 169
2. For all kinds of cough, especially a dry cough, the following cough syrup can
be given:
Mix: 1 part
honey
1 part
lemon juice
+
Take a teaspoonful every 2 or 3 hours.
WARNING: Do not give honey to babies under 1 year. Make the syrup with sugar
instead of honey.
3. For a severe dry cough that does not let you sleep, you can take a syrup
with codeine (p. 383). Tablets of aspirin with codeine (or even aspirin alone) also
help. If there is a lot of phlegm or wheezing, do not use codeine.
4. For a cough with wheezing (difficult, noisy breathing), see Asthma (p. 167),
Chronic Bronchitis (p. 170), and Heart Trouble (p. 325).
5. Try to find out what sickness is causing the cough and treat that. If the
cough lasts a long time, if there is blood, pus, or smelly phlegm in it, or if the person
is losing weight or has continual difficulty breathing, see a health worker.
6. If you have any kind of a cough, do not smoke. Smoking damages the lungs.
To prevent a cough, do not smoke.
To cure a cough, treat the illness that causes it—and do not smoke.
To calm a cough, and loosen phlegm, drink lots of water—and do not smoke.
HOW TO DRAIN MUCUS FROM THE LUNGS (POSTURAL DRAINAGE)
When a person who has a bad cough is
very old or weak and cannot get rid of the
sticky mucus or phlegm in his chest, it will help
if he drinks a lot of water. Also do the following:
♦ First, have him breathe hot water vapors
to loosen the mucus.
♦ Then pound him lightly on the back with
a cupped hand. This will help to bring
out the mucus.