Chronic coughs can be accompanied by many symptoms including hoarseness, night sweats, runny nose, heartburn, shortness of breath, wheezing, vomiting, post-nasal drip and frequent needs to clear the throat. In general, they are caused by colds, the flu, infections, bronchitis, asthma, GERD, infections, bronchitis and emphysema. Most people try to subdue coughs with syrups and lozenges prescribed by a doctor, but they have a variety of side-effects which means they’re not exactly ideal against coughs.
According to recent studies, the main substances of cough syrup, dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine have little to no effect and work just as a placebo. On the other hand, there are many natural remedies which can help treat coughs with no side-effects and without harming your health.
Here are the top 10 remedies against coughs:
Water
Simply increasing your water intake is a great way of relieving a dry cough. Coughs are often caused by improper hydration, so make sure to drink 6-8 glasses of water or more every day.
Garlic
Garlic is a potent antibacterial and antiviral remedy that can help you in cases of colds, the flu and coughs. It will strengthen your immune system better than anything else. For best results, make garlic tea and add some honey and oregano with it (another natural antibiotic), then drink the tea a few times a day to get rid of the annoying cough.
Ginger-peppermint syrup
A syrup made of ginger and peppermint will surely stop your cough and remove the excess phlegm from your lungs. Brew a cup of ginger tea and add a few mint leaves, then drink it 2-3 times per day for best results.
Honey
Honey is a great natural cough suppressant – it will soothe the irritation in your throat and hydrate it as well. Take a tablespoon of honey up to 3 times per day and add some in herbal teas as well to relieve your cough quickly.
Honey and black pepper
This combination works great against coughs and sore throat as well. It can also help you in cases of excess mucus in your throat. Pour water in a pot and bring it to a boil, then add a teaspoon of honey and black pepper and drink the tea 2 times a day.
Keep your air humid
Buying a humidifier and turning it on in your home is a great way of keeping your air moist and reducing the risk of coughing. Humidifiers are pretty cheap now – just get the one that covers the are in your living room.
Licorice root tea
This herbal tea will soothe your airways and reduce the inflammation and irritation in your throat. Add 2 tablespoons of dry licorice root to 8 oz. of boiled water, then add a bit of honey in and drink the tea 2-3 times a day to soothe your throat.
Salt water
Gargling salt water a couple of times per day is a great way of eliminating the bacteria in your throat and soothing the inflammation. This will also hydrate your dry throat and prevent dry coughs from occurring again.
Thyme
Thyme has numerous health benefits, and one of them is soothing a dry cough. Brew a cup of thyme tea and drink it with some honey to open up your airways and soothe a cough.
Turmeric
Turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin have powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties which can cure a cough and resolve other health problems as well. Boil ½ a cup of water and add a teaspoon of turmeric powder and cardamom seeds, then drink the tea for a few days in order to soothe the irritation in your throat.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to resolve your coughs without putting your health at harm. However, if they don’t provide results in a week, we suggest visiting your doctor.
