Cough syrups and cough drops sold simply disguise symptoms, which means your cough could return at any time. Rather than hoping for the best, you can use holistic methods to get to the root of even the most severe coughs.
Cough management necessitates a realistic, all-encompassing approach, and we’ll teach you how to defeat your cough at home using these at-home cough remedies.
What Causes Coughing?
When you need to eliminate an irritant or deal with the symptoms of a respiratory ailment, you cough.
Coughing that lasts shorter than three weeks is referred to as acute coughing. Coughing fits and reactions to short-term respiratory illnesses are examples of this. Acute coughs are usually “dry,” which means no mucus is present in the airway.
Chronic coughing, on the other hand, is coughing that lasts for eight weeks or longer and necessitates medical attention. Coughs that are “wet” are characterized by excessive phlegm and mucus production as a result of pulmonary inflammation.
Chronic cough can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Allergies
- Infections caused by viruses (bronchitis, pneumonia, cold, flu)
- Infection of the sinuses (due to persistent nasal drip)
- GERD (Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease (acid reflux disease)
- Asthma
- Fibrosis of the lungs
- A reaction to certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, which can irritate nerve endings in the throat, can also induce chronic coughing.
Here are five of the most effective home cough remedies:
1. Raw Honey
When it comes to finding a home treatment for coughing, raw honey’s immune-boosting antioxidants and antibacterial properties are ideal. Researchers believe that raw honey can help with coughs by lowering inflammation and alleviating discomfort, according to a 2011 meta-analysis.
Honey was compared to the cough suppressant dextromethorphan in children with nighttime coughing in a 2007 study published in The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Coughing was reduced more in the honey group than in the dextromethorphan group.
To make your own honey elixir, combine 1-2 teaspoons raw honey with a few drops of lemon juice in a cup of warm water. However, due to the risk of baby botulism, you should not administer raw honey to any child under the age of one year if you’re trying to relieve coughing in youngsters.
2. Marshmallow Root
In Germany, marshmallow root extract has long been utilized as a key component in natural cough medicines. It contains a lot of mucilage, which coats the throat in a thick, gluey material and makes coughing easier.
After just 12 days of treatment, a short study indicated that a herbal cough medication combining marshmallow root, thyme, and ivy can successfully reduce coughing caused by respiratory tract infections in adults.
Consumers reported on the efficacy of marshmallow root syrup as a treatment for irritative cough in a 2018 study published in the journal Complementary Medicine Research. Within 10 minutes of treatment, the majority of subjects reported a significant improvement in dry cough symptoms.
3. Essential Oils
Essential oils are derived from medicinal plants’ roots, stems, blossoms, and leaves. Antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory qualities are all present in most essential oils, making them perfect for combating infection and addressing the underlying reasons of coughing.
Some essential oils, on the other hand, can aid evacuate mucus by relaxing respiratory muscles. Some of the greatest essential oils for colds and coughs are eucalyptus, peppermint, and rosemary.
According to studies, these three essential oils help reduce cough frequency, relieve scratchy throats and congestion, and reduce inflammation and mucus production.
Essential Oils for Cough: How to Use Them
Add a few drops of essential oil to any hot shower to combine the oil with the steam and open up your sinuses, resulting in less inflammation and coughing. You may also prepare your own essential oil vapor rub by combining 1-2 drops of essential oil with 1/2 teaspoon coconut or MCT oil. For quick relief, apply this DIY vapor massage over the chest and back of the neck.
4. Gargling Salt Water
This simple, natural cough cure also works well to relieve a sore throat. Gargling salt water has been demonstrated to prevent respiratory infections by up to 40% while also lowering phlegm and mucus in the throat, lessening the urge to cough.
8.45 oz (250 ml) boiling water with a teaspoon of salt. Stir in the salt until it is completely dissolved. Make sure the water isn’t too hot, then gargle for 15 to 30 seconds with a sip of salt water. You can then spit out the salt water and repeat the process three times a day.
5. Eating Right
Immune-boosting meals can help prevent and treat coughs. Here are some of the greatest foods for increasing immunity, lowering inflammation, and thin mucus:
- Probiotic foods: If you have recurrent, reoccurring coughs, your gut lining may be weakened, making you more prone to sickness. Kombucha, coconut kefir, apple cider vinegar, sauerkraut, and kimchi are all probiotic foods that can help to strengthen the gut lining and the immune system.
- Ginger root: includes anti-inflammatory chemicals such as zingibain, which may calm the muscles that control coughing in the upper airway.
- Bone broth: Drinking a hot bone broth produced from chicken or beef cartilage helps thin mucus and aid in the regeneration of the intestinal lining by providing collagen.
- Stay Hydrated: It may sound self-evident, but you’ll need to drink plenty of fluids to be totally cough-resistant. Staying hydrated has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of coughs, as well as softening mucosal secretions and clearing the airway.
Other Tips for Getting Rid of a Cough at Home
You should avoid pro-inflammatory foods like gluten, sugar, drink, fruit juice, dairy, hydrogenated oils, and processed meals if you wish to use home remedies for cough alleviation.
When your nasal passageways are blocked, irritation from nasal drip might aggravate your cough. If this is the case, a neti pot can help to wash out allergens while also thinning the mucus.
We recommend contacting a doctor for medical advice and treatment if you have been coughing for more than eight weeks. Although at-home remedies are effective for treating common cold and flu symptoms, more serious issues may occur, necessitating expert care.
