10+Easy natural home remedies for cough

  What is cough? Cough is a responsive action of the throat. It helps in clearing irritants and mucus  in the throat . Coughing is a very n...

 

What is cough?

Cough is a responsive action of the throat. It helps in clearing irritants and mucus  in the throat . Coughing is a very natural action. however certain diseases may increase the frequency of coughing.

A cough lasts for about 2-3 weeks if it is acute cough. However, if it lasts for more than three weeks , it is called chronic cough. In such a case . you should  consult a doctor in this case.

Causes of cough:

Throat clearance:

Cough is a reflex action to any foreign particles such as smoke and dust that enter the throat . The action of coughing forces the particles out of the throat. Hence, it helps in clearing of throat. It makes  breathing easier.

This type of cough is fairly uncommon ,although coughing will increase if you expose to irritants such as dust and smoke.

Viral and bacterial infections:

The most common cause of cough is due to flu and cold.

In this condition , the viruses and bacteria enter the throat and cause inflammation of the throat. This causes a lot of coughing and can be controlled by some home remedies for cough. It is seen that cough is severe in flu conditions.

Smoking :*image

smoking causes a lot of sputum and hence produces a lot of cough. It affects the lungs hence, to clear breathing pathway ,coughing is required . This type of chronic cough is called as the 'smokers cough'. This type of cough has a very distinct sound.

Asthmatic condition:*image

It is a very common cause of cough in small children. The asthmatic cough is also known as wheezing cough.

Asthmatic symptoms  should treated by using inhaler immediately. Children with asthma may outgrow this condition later in life.

Other conditions:

There are some other conditions which will produce cough. These are:

• vocal chord damage
• infections such as whooping cough, croup and pneumonia.
• Serious disorders such as heart fail and pulmonary embolism.

Can cough be an emergency?

It is observed that most of the times cough  caused by mild infections goes away within 2 weeks. However, if cough lasts for more than 3 weeks , you should consult the doctors and get the required tests done. This is because chronic cough could be due to some serious issues related to your lungs.

Hence , if the cough lasts for more than 14 days, it could be a severe condition of the lung. If the condition is diagnosed in early stages there are always chances of improvement in the health of the person.

symptoms along with cough to watch out for:

• severe headache
• pain in the chest .
• tiredness or fatigue.
• fever

10+ home remedies for cough:*image

In this article we look through some of the easy natural home remedies for cough.

Honey tea:*image

Honey provides soothing effect to the throat. Researches studied honey along with dextromethorphan for relieving cough. It was found that it relieved cough and provided relief. In children also honey showed good results . Parents prefer honey first as compared to other medications.

Honey can be taken along with turmeric . take honey  by dissolving 2 tbsp. of honey in warm water or herbal tea.

Ginger:*image

In ancient Indian medicine cough was treated with Ginger tea. Ginger has anti-inflammatory property and eases throat pain .

One study showed that Ginger relieved cough by relaxing the cell membranes . Researchers have not yet done these studies in humans. However, in ancient India a concoction of ginger was given for cough relief.

To prepare ginger tea , take 2 tsps. of grated ginger and add it to one cup of boiling water. Boil for some time and have this concoction twice or thrice daily.

Staying hydrated:*image

Researchers have said  that having water at room temperature benefit in relieving cough and flu like symptoms.

Staying hydrated will help relieve some cough . You should also  drink hot water throughout the day. You should have hot beverages.

Some hot beverages are:

• Tea
• Coffee
• herbal tea
• clear soup

Steam:*image

Steam relieves wet cough. Wet cough produces a lot of phlegm and mucus. Take a warm bath and let the steam fill the room. stay in the steam until symptoms go away .

You can also have steam with a vaporizer. Fill the vaporizer with water and some herbs such as basil, eucalyptus and rosemary. It is best remedy for cough . It also clears decongestion. Lean over the bowl and breathe in the vapor for 5 minutes . After this drink a glass of room temperature water to prevent dehydration. However , this is useful for wet cough only.

Marshmallow root :*image

Marshmallow root is used in treatment of cough and sore throat from ancient times. This root has a lot of mucilage. mucilage is a thick ,gluey substance. It coats the throat. Moreover , it provides ease from irritation and coughing.

Marshmallow root is available as dried powder or tea bag. Add this marshmallow root to hot water and let it cool don. The mucilage seeps out of the root into the water. drink this for cough relief.

Saltwater gargle:*image

Saltwater gargle helps in relieving wet cough and sore throat. Moreover, it also reduces the mucus that forms behind the throat .

Take 1-2 tsp of salt in warm water and gargle every night until symptoms disappear. It is a very easy and efficient natural home  remedies for cough relief. you should avoid giving salt water to small children as they may drink it accidentally.

Pineapples:*image

Pineapple is very effective home remedy for cough. Pineapple contains bromelain compound . This compound is present in more amount in the core of the fruit.

Bromelain has mucolytic property and anti inflammatory property. Hence , when you have cough or other mucus related problems , you should drink pineapple juice. It is best home remedy for cough.

Bromelain is also available as nutritional supplement. However, you should consult your doctor before taking any of these supplements.

Thyme:*image

Thyme is very effective for cough, sore throat  and bronchitis. Moreover it also has anti oxidant property.

A study showed that a cough syrup containing thyme relieved cough when compared to placebo syrup. You can make thyme tea by adding 2 tsp of dried thyme to a cup of warm water. Wait for 10 mins, strain and drink.

It is one of the best natural home remedy for cough.

Acid reflux:*image

Acid reflux is one the most common cause of cough. acid reflux occurs when some acid from the stomach enters the esophagus and irritates it. This type of cough can be prevented by omitting food which causes acidity. Food and drinks that trigger acid reflux are:

• Alcohol
• caffeine
• oily food
• garlic and onions
• tomatoes preparations.

Turmeric:*image

Turmeric produces a lot of mucus and expels out the viral and bacterial particles. Moreover, it also relieves cough symptoms. It is antiviral and antibacterial in action. It soothes  the throat from inflammation.

Turmeric can be taken along with hot milk. Add 2 tsp of turmeric powder to milk and boil it for some time. Drink this turmeric milk for relief from cough. Turmeric is found in Indian households , it is the best home remedy for cough.

Probiotics:*image

Probiotics do not directly treat cough but they help in boosting the immune system. They increase the intestinal flora and improve immune system. Thus, our body is able to fight these minor infections which cause cough.

Probiotics ae available in the market. However , some easily available probiotics at home are :

• curd or yoghurt*image
• kimchi
• miso soup *image
• sauerkraut .

Conclusion:

Cough can be easily treated by the help of these home remedies. These are the primary treatments for dry cough as well as wet cough. However, if cough lasts for more than 3 weeks, you should consult your physician for further guidance.

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