Hacking coughs are miserable. Here is what I've used & recommended for years:

Eucalyptus oil (tinctures, you can buy them in a health food store) has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Plus, it clears your lungs, nasal passages and brings tears to your eyes. Bring a pot of water to boil and add a few drops (strength is determined by the brand you buy.) Drape a towel over your head and breathe. (Be sure to take it off of the stove first, hehehe ) Do this several times a day. If you have a humidifier, put the tincture in the water.

Garlic has the same anti-nasty properties. But, it must be raw. Chop up a clove (we all know the difference between a clove and a bulb, right? ) into small pieces and swallow with water. Also keeps vampires away.

A medicine called Wellness Formula by Source Naturals has good vitamins & herbs. I start taking it at the first sign of a cold, along with Zycam and extra vitamin C & zinc.

I have lupus, so I really need to fight off anything like this because it gets my immune system out of whack and puts me into a flare.

Wellness Formula is good if you're riding hard. You probably know that hard exercise can compromise your immune system. Wellness seems to help.