Coughing
is one of the most common health problems. When there is a blockage or irritant
in your throat or upper air passages, your brain thinks a foreign element is
present and tells your body to cough to remove that element. Coughing can also be due to a viral infection, common
cold, flu, and smoking or health problems such as asthma, tuberculosis, and lung
cancer
Some of the symptoms of a cough are itchy throat, chest pain, and
congestion. Instead of using over-the-counter cough syrups, you can try some
natural cough treatments using readily available ingredients in your kitchen.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for a cough.
1. Turmeric
The herb turmeric has a therapeutic effect on coughs,
particularly a dry cough.
- · You can make a sort of herbal tea by adding one teaspoon of turmeric powder and one teaspoon of carom seeds to a cup of water, and boil it until water reduces to one-half cup. Add some honey and drink this herbal solution two to three times a day.
- · Another way to use turmeric is to roast turmeric root and grind it into a smooth powder. Mix it with water and honey, and drink it twice a day.
- · You can also put one tablespoon honey and one teaspoon each of turmeric and black pepper in half a cup of water. You can add cinnamon sticks too. Boil it for two to three minutes. Drink it daily until your cough subsides.
2. Ginger
Ginger is one of the most popular natural cures for a cough.
- · Cut fresh ginger into small slices and crush them slightly. Put them in a cup of water and bring to a boil. Drink this herbal solution three to four times a day for relief from sore throat, non-stop coughing and even congestion.
- · You can also chew fresh raw ginger on and off throughout the day to reduce your cough symptoms.
3. Lemon
Lemons can be used in a variety of ways for curing coughs.
Lemons have properties that reduce inflammation and also provide a dose of
infection-fighting vitamin C.
- · A simple cough syrup can be made by combining two tablespoons of lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey and heating it until warm. Drink this healthy syrup several times a day.
- · You can also make your favorite tea and add ginger, honey and lemon and drink it as often as you want.
- · Another way to use lemons is to blend lemon juice with a little honey and a pinch of cayenne pepper and then drink it.
4. Garlic
Garlic has both antibacterial and antimicrobial components
that help treat coughs.
- · Boil two to three cloves of garlic in a cup of water and add a teaspoon of oregano. Allow it to cool to room temperature, add some honey and drink it. This will help your breathing and alleviate other cough symptoms.
- · Eat a clove of crushed garlic mixed with a few drops of clove oil and some honey for sore throat relief. You can also use garlic in your cooking.
5. Onion
One of the simplest home remedies for a cough is to cut
onions. Breathing in the strong vapors can help stop coughing.
- · You can also make a cough syrup from baked onion juice, comfrey tea and honey. Drink it daily to get relief from a dry cough.
- · Another option is to combine one-half teaspoon of onion juice with one teaspoon of pure honey. Swallow this solution at least twice a day to alleviate a cough and soothe your throat.
6. Hot Milk with Honey
Hot milk with honey can relieve a dry cough and reduce chest
pain you may be experiencing from continuous coughing. For best results, drink
it before going to sleep. For added benefits from the analgesic properties of
honey, swallow a teaspoon of plain honey on empty stomach. This will help clear
the mucus and soothe your throat.
7. Throat Lozenges
A study conducted at Wayne State
University, in Detroit, showed that patients who took zinc lozenges every two
to three waking hours cut the duration of a cold by almost half. The
irritation caused by constant coughing can also be overcome by using throat
lozenges. They are also known toprevent the progression of a sore throat to a cough. While
some lozenges are medicated and contain ingredients such as dextromethorphan (a
cough suppressant) or benzocaine(an anesthetic), others
contain natural soothing ingredients such as honey, menthol, peppermint oil or
eucalyptus oil. In many homes, it is also quite common to make small children
suck on the red-colored variety of rock candy (Mishri in Hindi) to stop cough.
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