This article explores the rich history of how different cultures across the world have sought to treat cough, the ingredients and methods they used, and how scientific advances transformed cough management into the sophisticated practice it is today.
Early Understandings and Remedies in Ancient Civilizations
Ancient Egypt
The earliest recorded treatments for cough date back to ancient Egypt, where medical papyri detailed numerous remedies for respiratory ailments. The Ebers Papyrus (circa 1550 BCE), one of the oldest surviving medical documents, includes references to various herbal mixtures and inhalations aimed at relieving cough and chest congestion.
Egyptian healers combined honey, herbs such as thyme and fennel, and resins like frankincense, which were believed to soothe the throat and reduce inflammation. Honey, notably, was prized not only for its sweetness but also for its antimicrobial and wound-healing properties, making it a staple in cough remedies shutdown123