When something irritates your throat or airway, the natural reflex of an individual is to cough, which tends to be annoying and discomforting. Occasional coughs are completely normal as they help eliminate the built-up mucus and debris, but long-term coughs can be dangerous.
Let’s check some of the common causes of coughing:
- Irritation from cigarette smoke or pollutants
- Bacterial infection
- Allergies
- Viral illness like cold or flu
It is crucial to consult a doctor if the cough persists for a longer duration. But, if you are starting to feel irritation in your throat or are likely to get a sore throat, here are a few home remedies to try to relieve your cough:
Saltwater Gargle
The first thing every mother prepares to ease her child’s cough is a concoction of salt with lukewarm water. Gargling with salt water aids in killing the bacteria and even loosening the mucus in the throat. Additionally, salt water gargle aids to reduce swelling and irritation by coughing too much.
Honey – The natural cough reliever
Honey has antibacterial properties, and taking a teaspoon of it tends to coat the throat and help relieve irritation. Make sure to mix honey in warm liquid to soothe and treat cough. You can also take a teaspoon of honey to ease your cough.
Ginger
Another effective way to ease cough is by including ginger. Rich in antioxidants, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, ginger is the right solution for your cough. It is spicy and stimulates saliva production that helps to improve dryness in the mouth or throat.
Consuming ginger by mixing it in your tea or chewing the ginger root helps ease a dry cough. Other than this, you can add honey to your tea to make the most out of it.
Try aromatherapy with eucalyptus oil
You can get rid of cough by using an essential oil like eucalyptus oil as it is a good decongestant. You can use a diffuser or an inhaler with eucalyptus oil or inhale its steam by adding a few drops of oil to a bowl with hot water.
Tip – If nighttime coughing seems to impact your sleep or keep you awake, you can scent your room with eucalyptus oil.
Turmeric
The all-powerful turmeric has healing properties, and that includes treating dry cough. It works because of the presence of an active compound, curcumin which has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties.
How to take turmeric:
- Mix a teaspoon of turmeric with a 1/8th teaspoon black pepper in any beverage like tea or a cold orange juice.
- Drinking turmeric milk before sleep tends to help in recovering faster from cold and cough.
Ginger-Tulsi drink
All you need is ginger juice, a few tulsi leaves, and honey. Take ginger juice, crush a few tulsi in it and add honey. Drink the mixture to get relief from a cough.
Here is a list of foods to eat and avoid if you have a cough:
Eat
- Chicken soup
- Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons
- Blueberries
- Ginger
- Garlic
Avoid
- Milk
- Processed, fast, and fried foods
- Juices
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
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