Coughs, including allergies, viruses, and acid reflux, are several potential causes but persistent coughing can be annoying. Coughs play a role in clearing irritants and infections from the body. The best treatment for a cough will depend on its underlying cause.
Treatment for cough depends upon its causes but there are many natural ways to get rid of persistent cough and cold.
Causes of cough
Most coughs are caused by viruses and, without medication, clear up.
Causes of short term cough
- Flu
- Common cold
- Fever
Causes of long term cough
- Tobacco
- Dripping mucus from the back of the nose down the throat (post nasal drip)
- GERD (Disease of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux)
- Asthma
- Some drugs (inhibitors of ACE, for example)
Types of cough
1. Dry cough
Dry coughs, such as colds and flu, typically arise from respiratory illnesses. When there is little to no mucus in the throat, these coughs form. In their throat, a person can feel a tickling sensation and be unable to stop coughing.
The cough goes away on its own in most situations.
2. Wet cough
This cough takes place when mucus or phlegm is coughed up by a human.
Wet coughs, such as the flu, the common cold, or a lung infection, are usually attributed to an infection.
3. Chronic cough
A chronic cough is a cough which lasts longer, usually 8 weeks or more, than a typical disease. Sometimes these coughs signify an underlying illness. For proper diagnosis and care, a person should see a physician.
Natural remedies to cure cough
There are many remedies used for treatment of cough, some of the effective ones are explained below:
Note:
There are a lot of natural remedies to use for curing cough but it is important to seek medical advice if a cough is serious or lasts for more than a few weeks.
1. Salt water gargles
For treating a sore throat and wet cough, this simple remedy is one of the most effective. Salt water reduces the back of the throat’s phlegm and mucus, which may minimise the need to cough.
How to prepare
Ingredients
Half teaspoon of salt
1 Cup of warm water
Directions
- Stir half teaspoon of salt in warm water.
- Mix the solution until the salt is dissolved.
- Let the mix cool before gargle.
- Take a sip of the mixture and let it set in back of throat for a few moments, do not swallow it.
- After a few moments spit it out.
- Repeat it for 4 to 5 times.
Advantages
Salt water reduces the back of the throat’s phlegm and mucus, which may minimise the need to cough.
How often you should use this remedy
Use this remedy in the morning or before going to bed each day until the cough is improved.
2. Honey and lemon
Some researches have proven that honey and lemon can quickly relive soar throat.
How to prepare
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Squeeze half lemon to a glass of warm water.
- Mix well, add two teaspoons of honey to it. Drink right that moment.
Advantages:
Vitamin C in the lemon helps in fat oxidation, and the honey exhibits lipid-lowering activities.
It is a very famous ancient remedy to cure soar throat.
The atomic structure of lemon juice is so similar to our digestive fluids that it tricks the liver into producing bile and helps in quick digestion .
And we can’t forget about honey. The rich, raw stuff contains prebiotics, which acts as fuel for healthy bacteria in the lower digestive system.
It even helps in weight loss.
How often you should use this remedy:
There are no side-effects of this remedy as its purely natural.
You can drink it 3-4 times a day or right after your every meal of the day.
Its an effective remedy which has immediate results and you will surely notice a bit change in your cough after some days.
3. Ginger
As it has anti-inflammatory properties, ginger can ease a dry or asthmatic cough. Nausea and discomfort can be relieved as well.
How to prepare
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp of grated ginger
- Warm water
Directions:
- Add a teaspoon of grated ginger to a cup of hot water.
- Steep for 7 minutes and strain.
- Add a little honey for a better taste(Optional).
- Drink it before it turns cold.
Advantages:
Ginger is your new best friend for supporting everything regarding fighting against inflammatory bacteria.
The antibacterial properties that ginger possesses show that food truly is medicine.
Ginger also helps in digestion by supporting the stomach lining as well.
How often you should use this remedy:
Drink it once or twice daily.
Drink if before your meal.
4. Steam
With steam, a wet cough can improve, which is one that produces mucus or phlegm.
How to prepare
There are two ways to use steam remedy.
Way 1: Steam bath
Directions
- Take a hot shower or bath.
- Allow the bathroom area to fill with steam.
- Stay in the steam for a few minutes.
How often you should use this remedy
Take a steam bath daily or on alternate days until the cough and cold improves.
Note:
Always drink a glass of water after steam bath to prevent from dehydration.
Way 2: Steam bowl
Ingredients
How water
Some herbs such as rosemary
Essential oils
Directions
- Fill the bowl with hot water.
- Mix the herbs and essential oils which may relieve decongestion.
- Lean over the bowl.
- Put a towel over the head.
- Inhale vapors for at least 5 minutes.
6. Marshmallow root
Marshmallow root is a herb used as a remedy for coughs and sore throats with a long history of use. Due to its high mucilage content, the herb can relieve discomfort resulting from coughing. A dense, gluey material that covers the throat is mucilage.
How to prepare
Ingredients
Marshmallow root either dry bagged tea.
Hot water
Directions
- Dip the marshmallow root in hot water.
- Let the root stay in hot water for a while.
- The longer the root of the marshmallow steeps in the water, the more mucilage the drink will have.
- Let the mixture cool for a while.
- Drink it immediately.
Advantages
A dense, gluey material that covers the throat is mucilage. Marshmallow contains high mucilage content which can relieve discomfort resulting from coughing.
How often you should use this remedy
Drink it once after every 2 days because it may upset the stomach.
7. Prebiotics
Probiotics do not directly relieve a cough, but by balancing the bacteria in the gut, they can improve the immune system.
A superior immune system may help to fend off cough-causing infections or allergens.
Advantages
According to study, one type of probiotic, a bacterium called Lactobacillus, offers a modest advantage in preventing common colds.
Foods rich in prebiotics
- Miso soup
- Natural yogurt
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
8. Turmeric
Herb turmeric has a curative effect on coughs, particularly dry coughs.
How to prepare
Way 1
Ingredients
1 teaspoon of turmeric
Half cup of water
Boiling pot
Black pepper
1 tbsp of honey
Directions
- Heat half a cup of water in a boiling pot.
- Add one teaspoon turmeric powder.
- Add one teaspoon of black pepper.
- Boil this for two to three minutes.
- Add one table spoon of honey for a better taste.
How often you should use this remedy
Drink this mixture daily until the condition improves.
Way 2
Directions
- Roasting the turmeric root and grinding it into a smooth powder is another way to use turmeric.
- Combine it with honey and water and drink it twice a day.
9. Honey milk
Hot honey milk may alleviate a dry cough and reduce the discomfort you can feel from constant coughing in the chest.
How to prepare
Ingredients
1 cup of milk
Raw honey
Directions
- Boil the milk.
- Add 1 tablespoon of honey in the warm milk.
- Drink it before going to sleep.
Advantages
It will help clear the mucus and soothe your throat.
How often you should use this remedy
Use this remedy daily before going to bed.
10. Carrot juice
Carrots have many vitamins and nutrients that can help relieve various symptoms of a cough.
How to prepare
Ingredients
Four to five fresh carrots
Water
1 teaspoon of honey
Directions
- Make fresh juice from four to five carrots.
- Add some water to dilute it.
- Add a teaspoon of honey.
How often you should use this remedy
Drink this juice three to four times per day until the symptoms improve.
11. Grapes
Grapes have properties that act as an expectorant that releases mucus from the affected respiratory system areas. The faster you get rid of the mucus, the faster it will end your coughing.
Directions
Simply eat the grapes or make some fresh grape juice.
Grape juice with a spoonful of honey will be soothing as well as effective.
12. Almonds
In curing cough symptoms, almonds have nutritional properties that play a preventive function.
How to prepare
Ingredients
1 teaspoon of Butter
Five to six Almonds
Small bowl of water
Directions
- For 8 to 10 hours, soak five to six almonds in water.
- From the soaked almonds, make a smooth paste and add one teaspoon of butter.
- Eat it three or four times a day, until the symptoms are gone.
When to see a doctor
Without the side effects of pills and cough syrups, these home remedies will relieve you from the different symptoms of a cough.
If you have had more than two weeks of constant coughing, contact your doctor.
3 ways to stop coughing in 5 minutes
A cough is painful and irritating. Anything from a dry throat to sinus drainage to asthma may cause it. Selecting the correct cure for your form of cough is the secret to combating your cough quickly.
Step 1: Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is your first line of coughing protection. If your cough is caused by a dry throat, maybe all you need is a little hydration.
Step 2: Change your environment
Keep upright because, for example, you can prop up your head with pillows while sleeping with a cough to prevent sinus drainage from pooling in your mouth, causing you to cough.
Keep away from polluted air, cigarette smoke included.
Step 3: Drink some effective cough syrup
If your cough persists, consider trying anti-cough medicines.
What causes a wet cough
Infections of microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses, such as those that cause a cold or flu, most frequently result from wet coughs.
1. Bronchitis
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the tubes that bring air into the lungs, is bronchitis. Usually, acute bronchitis is caused by a number of viruses. Chronic bronchitis, often caused by smoking, is an ongoing disease which results in wet cough as well.
2. Asthma
Yes asthma, Although individuals with asthma are more likely to have a dry cough but a small subset of individuals produce persistent excess mucus and experience a chronic wet cough.
3. COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) is a category of diseases that affect your lungs as well as the tubes that carry oxygen into your lungs which may result in wet cough.
What causes a dry cough
The type of cough which doesn’t produce phlegm or mucus just dryness in throat is known as dry cough.
Some of the causes of dry cough include:
1. Asthma
Asthma is a disorder in which the airways swell and narrow.
A typical symptom of asthma is coughing, but it’s typically not the most noticeable one. There is, however, a kind of asthma called cough variant asthma (CVA) that contains as its key symptom a chronic dry cough.
2. Disease of Gastroesophageal Reflux
Chronic acid reflux is a form of gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD). It occurs as stomach acid flows back into your oesophagus daily, which links your stomach to your mouth. Stomach acid will make your oesophagus irritated and activate your cough reflex.
3. Infection by viruses
Your short-term effects usually last less than a week when you get infected with one of the many viruses that cause the common cold. However, it’s not rare for a cough to persist even after the other symptoms have improved.
Typically, these post-cold coughs are dry and can last up to two months.
How to stop dry cough fast
1. Ginger Ginger
Ginger can be used to help quiet a dry cough in different ways, as it is believed to stimulate the production of saliva and break down mucus.
Directions
Eat a fresh cut piece sprinkled with salt if you can brave the powerful taste.
In a cup of tea with added honey or basil leaves, you can also use ginger.
Another alternative is to use crushed ginger juice blended with 10 leaves of tulsi.
To taste, you can add honey or sugar. Using this on three occasions a day.
2. Honey
Honey can prevent a dry cough as it coats the membranes in your mouth.
Directions
Mix the honey and drink in a glass of warm water.
To ensure a restful night, you can also eat a spoonful of honey at bedtime.
As some products can contain added ingredients that can irritate a sore throat, it is safer to use organic honey.
3. Salt water
A salt and water solution, passed down from generation to generation, is trusted by many to thin out the irritated throat membranes.
Conclusion
Coughs play a role in clearing irritants and infections from the body, but persistent coughing can be annoying. The best treatment for a cough will depend on its underlying cause. There are many possible causes of coughs, including allergies, infections, and acid reflux.
Some natural remedies may help to relieve a cough. People who want to use natural remedies to treat their cough should research sources and brands. They should also be aware that some herbs and supplements can interfere with medications, which may result in unwanted side effects.
If a cough is severe or persists for more than a few weeks, it is essential to seek medical advice.
Directions
Twice a day, mix hot water with salt and gargle.
Try not to swallow, as more pain in the throat can result.