Cough without phlegm or with little phlegm is called dry cough, which is common in the early stage of acute pharyngitis and acute tracheitis. At present, the drugs for treating dry cough on the market include Kebiqing, Meike syrup, Kekuaihao, compound hay tablets and so on. Although they are both antitussive drugs, their pharmacological effects are not the same, so the selection of drugs for different diseases is also different.

The active ingredient of Kebiqing is pentoverine, which is mostly used for dry cough and whooping cough caused by upper respiratory tract infection. There are two dosage forms: tablet and syrup. Because of the taste and dosage, children had better choose syrup. Taking this medicine occasionally has mild dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, abdominal distension, constipation and other side effects. Patients with glaucoma and cardiac insufficiency mixed with pulmonary congestion should use this medicine with caution.

The active ingredient of Meike syrup is dextromethorphan, which is mainly used in allergic cough or bronchitis caused by cold. This product is valid for two years, and should be kept away from light and sealed. In addition, this product is a red transparent viscous liquid with an aromatic smell, so as to prevent children from taking it by mistake. Taking this medicine occasionally has side effects such as dizziness, mild drowsiness and dry mouth.

Kekuaihao's active ingredient is benproperine, which is suitable for acute bronchitis. Especially suitable for irritating dry cough, its antitussive effect is stronger than the first two antitussive drugs, and it is easy to be absorbed by oral administration and takes effect quickly, but it needs to be swallowed whole, so don't chew it up to avoid causing oral numbness. Taking this medicine occasionally leads to adverse reactions such as dry mouth, burning sensation in the stomach, loss of appetite, fatigue, dizziness and drug eruption.

May be caused by lung dryness, recommended folk prescription treatment:

(1) Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae 12g, 2 Sydney, 250g pig lung, a little crystal sugar. Wash Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae, peel Sydney, wash and cut into several pieces, wash pig lungs, squeeze out foam and cut into pieces. Put Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae, Sydney, and pig's lung together in a casserole, add a little rock sugar and appropriate amount of water, and cook on slow fire for 3 hours. When taking, eat pears, lungs and drink soup.

This prescription is suitable for dry cough, cough and hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as dry cough without phlegm in the elderly, dry cough in ordinary people, dry mouth with yellow phlegm, etc., and has the effects of removing phlegm, moistening lung and tonifying lung.

(2) Tremella fuciformis10 ~12g, and appropriate amount of rock sugar. Wash the tremella one by one, put it in a bowl and soak it in cold boiled water. The water should soak the tremella for 1 hour, and after it swells, pick out the sundries. Add cold boiled water and rock sugar to the soaked tremella and put it in a bowl. Put the bowl in a steamer and steam it for 2 ~ 3 hours. When taking, drink soup and eat tremella.

This prescription is suitable for dry cough in autumn and winter, dry cough without phlegm, dry throat and mouth, pulmonary tuberculosis with blood in cough phlegm, deficiency heat and thirst, etc. It has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening lung, promoting fluid production and relieving cough, and is also a tonic for the weak.

(3) Luffa flower 10g, honey 15g. Wash the flower of towel gourd, put it in a small tea pot, add boiling water for brewing, then cover it and soak it for 10 minute, then pour in honey and stir well. When taking, remove the flower of towel gourd, and drink it while it is hot, three times a day.

This prescription is suitable for lung-heat bronchitis, cough and expectoration of yellow phlegm, wheezing, chest pain, dry mouth and other symptoms, and has the effect of clearing away lung heat and relieving asthma.