This study examines traditional remedies for chronic cough preserved in three ancient Gəʽəz medicinal manuscripts: ʾƎšädäbdäbbe (IES 713), Mäṣḥafä Mädḥanit (IES 2444), and Mäṣḥafä Fäws (ETHIOPIEN 402 GURIAULE 98), to document, analyze, and interpreting indigenous therapeutic knowledge to contribute to the preservation and scholarly understanding of Ethiopian traditional medicine. A qualitative research approach was employed, using a descriptive and analytical design to systematically document remedies and interpret their cultural significance. Purposive sampling was applied to deliberately select key informants, including traditional healers, scholars, modern physicians, and patients, who provided in-depth perspectives. The primary data were obtained from detailed analyses of the three medicinal manuscripts and from semi-structured interviews with selected informants, whereas the secondary data were drawn from books, journal articles, and related literature that offered historical and cultural perspectives. Data were analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s framework. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis is a qualitative approach that involves identifying implicit or explicit ideas within the data. The findings revealed over twenty medicinal herbs, nine medicinal foods, five functional foods, as well as minerals and animal-derived substances such as bile and urine employed in treatment protocols, with dosage, frequency, and modes of administration guided by prescriptive rules (Gäbir). Significant regional variations in plant nomenclature, remedy preparation, and ceremonial practices were observed, reflecting both cultural richness and the lack of standardization, while diagnostic techniques, therapeutic procedures, and indigenous naming systems further illuminated the depth of Ethiopian traditional medical knowledge. The study concludes that these manuscripts and practices embody not only therapeutic knowledge but also cultural values and worldviews, and by preserving this heritage, it provides a solid foundation for future ethnobotanical and pharmacological research while contributing to the safeguarding of Ethiopia’s intangible cultural heritage.