5 Fantastic Home Remedies For Coughing

An article from the Harvard archives says that coughing is ‘a vital player in the body’s defense mechanism.

It shields the lungs from foreign particles, mucus, and bacteria by expelling them out before they start accumulating.

Nevertheless, beneficial as it may be, constant coughing is a problem. It often adds excess pressure on your lungs and makes breathing uncomfortable.

Then there’s the fact that a nagging cough becomes an issue for those around you.

We suggest that you start self-medicating as soon as your cough persists for more than 24 hours.

However, instead of commercialized cough drops and syrups, you should give some of these home remedies for coughing a try!

Not only do they offer you some much-needed relief but they’re also less likely to make you drowsy.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? We’ve rounded up the most effective home remedies for coughing to help you out.

Let’s have a look.

 The Cure: Best Home Remedies for Coughing 

1. Honey

No remedy is sweeter than a few drops of honey down your dry and itchy throat.

Honey is a classic remedy to suppress coughs and soothe sore throats. Research reveals that oftentimes, the benefits of honey surpass those of common cough medicines like dextromethorphan.

One of the biggest reasons for this is its antimicrobial properties and high-antioxidant content.

These characteristics help it boost your immune system to help it fight against the cold and germs that you’ve contracted.

How to cure your cough using honey?

Usually, a few spoonfuls of warm honey in the morning and at night will do the trick.

However, to enhance its effects, you may mix 2 teaspoons of honey with an herbal tea and squeeze of lemon.

The honey and lemon combination helps soothe your throat and keep the congestion down.

2. Peppermint

Did you know? Peppermint is more than a remedy for bad breath.

A hot cup of peppermint tea is a reliable decongestant for coughs.

The main reason for this is its antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

The powerful substance helps breakdown the mucus that’s accumulated inside your throat.

It’s useful in clearing up clogged sinuses and airways when it’s inhaled or ingested.

What’s the best way to treat your cough with peppermint?

You can brew a cup of peppermint tea by adding 5-7 peppermint leaves in a cup of boiling water or buy peppermint tea at your local grocery store or pharmacy.

Add a few drops of honey and lemon to increase its effectiveness.

Other than that, creating a steam bath to cure your cough works too.

All you’ve got to do is:

1. Boil water.
2. Add a few drops of peppermint oil in warm water.
3. Drape a towel over your head and start inhaling the peppermint vapors.

 Soon enough, you’ll find that the cough is gone and the itchiness has subsided.

3. Thyme

Thyme is a popular herbal remedy for coughs and other respiratory conditions (e.g. bronchitis).

The herb contains beneficial compounds called flavonoids that offer relief to your throat muscles.

Additionally, they contain anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation.

All these things help eliminate the cough within a few days of use.

How can I make thyme tea?

1. Add 2-3 tsp of crushed thyme leaves in boiling water.
2. Cover the pot and let the mixture steep for 10 minutes.
3. Then strain the leaves and pour the tea into a cup.
4. You can add a few drops of honey to sweeten the mixture.

4. Ginger

Is your cough accompanied with nausea and dryness?

Then you should start sipping ginger tea in the morning and evenings.

Ginger is a potent remedy for various conditions like coughs, nausea, and poor feet circulation.

In this case, it works as a natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent that reduces the soreness and pain caused by coughing.

Plus, ginger is also an appetite stimulant. With its help, you won’t miss your meals due to a scratchy mucus-laden throat.

How to cure cough with ginger tea?

1. Boil 1 ½ cup of water.
2. Add freshly cut slices of ginger (20-30 g) in the water.
3. Let it steep for 5-10 minutes.
4. Drink it twice a day.

Pro tip: You can add a few drops of lemon juice to add a refreshing flavor to the tea.

5. Turmeric

The golden root of India aka turmeric powder is a great antidote for many coughs, flu, joint ache, and skin conditions like ringworm.  

The benefits of turmeric powder lay inside its active compound curcumin.

The compound contains antiviral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory characteristics that help eliminate cough.

Additionally, it works as an effective decongestant, by getting rid of the phlegm clinging to the walls of your throat.

What’s the best way to treat coughs using turmeric?

The warm present inside turmeric offers great relief to your sore throat, especially at night. You can treat nighttime coughing with a warm glass of turmeric milk.

If that is too much for you, then you can try taking a pinch of turmeric with a spoonful of warm honey and a pinch of salt.  

Tumeric is one of the simplest home remedies for coughing, and one of the most effective too!

What Else?

Here are some other things you can do to treat your cough:

• Use the age-old salt water gargles to clear your throat.
• Drink lots of citrus juices to improve your immune system.
• Hydrate and start eating probiotics (e.g. yogurt and kimchi).
• Take allergy pills to keep allergens at bay.

The Call: When Should You Visit the Doctor?

At times, basic at-home cures don’t work for coughs.

It might be because your condition has worsened with time or the coughing is a symptom for severe disease.

Therefore, it’s important to consult a doctor if using home remedies isn’t working.

You should also call a doctor when your cough is followed up with:

• High fever (102ºF or more than 3 days)
• Dehydration and exhaustion.
• Breathing difficulties.
• Blood in the phlegm.

Keep in mind, these home remedies are for mild coughs!

If you ever feel like anything is wrong, or that it is getting more serious, it is time to see the doctor!

Conclusion

In short, your kitchen cabinet is already filled with ingredients that double up as home remedies for coughing.

You simply have to follow our recipes and create your DIY botanical brews. Then select the one that works for you.

We can assure you that honey, thyme, ginger or peppermint will effectively combat your scratchy throat.

So what are you waiting for? If you’ve got an itchy throat and nasty cough, then give one of these home remedies a chance.

You’ll thank us later!

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References

1. Harvard’s Health Men’s Watch―article on coughing and its implications: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/that-nagging-cough
2. Comparative study on honey and the effects of commercially produced cough suppressants: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20618098
3. An overview of the medicinal benefits of ginger: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/ginger