I have a persistent, dry cough that comes and goes. What can I do?

I am sorry to hear of your problem. There are a number of common causes of a dry cough:

    1.  Viral infections such as those causing the cold or flu are perhaps the most common factor. These usually resolve quickly, but some coughs can be persistent. To help with the fundamental problem of the infection, we would recommend Echinacea

     2. Allergies to airborne particles and pollutants can also give rise to a tickly cough. In the spring, this can be manifested as hayfever, but during this time of year, it will be more likely that the allergy is to house dust or animal fur. Coughing more at night can be an indicator of an allergy. If this is the case, we would recommend the anti-allergy medicine Pollinosan

     3. Acid reflux can also  lead to tickly coughs. What seems to happen is that the acid contents of the stomach travel back upwards to the back of your throat, leading to irritation and hence the cough. For this, we would recommend the use of a mixture of herbs called herbal bitters.
 

To treat the cough itself, we would suggest the use of Mullein and Marshmallow, but of course, we would recommend targeting the root cause of the problem first.

If you find that you cough continues to persist despite your attempts at treating it, you should seek the advice of your doctor. In addition, see your doctor if you are coughing up blood, feel short of breath or experience chest pain.

I hope that this information is helpful to you.