Give your child zinc-based lozenges to improve immune response and help reduce infection and inflammation. Choose sugar-free zinc-based lozenges. Give your child one lozenge, one to three times daily, as needed.

Note: Excessive amounts of zinc can result in nausea and vomiting. Be careful not to exceed the recommended dosage.

Herbal Treatment
The herb coltsfoot helps to clear congestion from the lungs. Make a tea and give your child one dose, three times a day, for two days.

Licorice tea or tincture has antibacterial properties, soothes the throat and respiratory tract, and tastes sweet. For a cough, licorice works best when taken warm. Give your child one dose, three times daily, for two to three days. A combination of coltsfoot and licorice can also be used.

Note: Licorice should not be given to a child with high blood pressure.

If your child has a cough with diarrhea, lungwort is the herbal medicine of choice. Lungwort is high in vitamin C, has astringent properties, and is known for its ability to help clear a cough. Give your child one dose, two to three times daily, for two to three days.

Marshmallow root is soothing to the throat and respiratory tract. Make a tea and give your child one dose, three times daily, for two days.

Menthol lozenges contain a purified and refined form of peppermint oil, which is recognized by the Food and Drug Administration as an effective cough suppressant. Menthol lozenges made without sugar are preferable. Give your child one lozenge each hour, as needed.

When your child first begins to cough, give her mullein tea. This is a very effective herb known to be highly beneficial to the throat and lungs. It is particularly good in the early stages of a cough, before an expectorant is needed. Give your child one dose, two to three times daily, for two to three days.

Osha root, in tea or tincture form, is highly aromatic and helps to clear the lungs. It is especially good for a dry cough. Give your child one dose, three times a day, for three to four days.

A tea made from sage and thyme helps to clear mucus out of the lungs. Give your child one dose, three times daily, for two days.

Slippery elm bark makes a soothing lozenge or tea. Give your child one dose, three times a day, for three to four days.

Many Native Americans used wild cherry bark, a flavorful and effective herb, in a tea or syrup for coughs, colds, and bronchitis. Give one dose, twice a day, for three days.

Caution: Wild cherry bark can be toxic in large amounts. It should not be taken by children under four, nor by pregnant women.

Try using an herbal rub. Take 4 tablespoons of olive oil and add 2 drops of one or all of the following: eucalyptus, sage, rosemary, and peppermint oil. To ease your child's coughing and soothe her respiratory tract, rub this mixture onto her chest.