Medications like Vicks Vapo-Rub or topical menthol ointment may also provide symptomatic relief, says Dr. Adalja. In adults ...

The best medicine for a cough depends on your symptoms ... During the day, you cough to clear mucus from your throat and ...

They can, for example, act as an expectorant, helping to get rid of phlegm when you have a cold or a cough. This is why liquorice extract is often found in herbal teas and cough syrups.