It starts as a tickle in your throat. Then you feel a cough coming on. You try to stop it, which always make it worse. Then, it starts. The dry, hacking, aggravating cough that startles your co-workers and keeps you up at night.
While coughing is good for your system, we all want to know how to get rid of dry cough fast. Over-the-counter and prescribed medications work well, but there are home remedies for dry cough that can be found in your own cupboard.
So, read on as we discuss the causes of dry cough and some home remedies that may help you feel like yourself again in no time.
Dry CoughIt’s never a fun situation when you have a persistent cough. You don’t want to be that person in a quiet room during a lecture that can’t stop breaking the silence with your hacking, or that person at the restaurant that makes people fling themselves over their plates to protect their food while you cough away. Or that person on the plane that everyone throws disgusted looks at. Coughs are just terribly uncomfortable all around, both physically and otherwise.
There are two primary types of coughs, dry and productive. A productive cough is one in which you are coughing up phlegm or mucous-this is not a cough that should be suppressed, as your body needs to rid itself of the gunk that’s in your chest/lungs. While it shouldn’t be suppressed, some of these remedies will address a productive cough by including an expectorant, or something that loosens mucous and makes it easier for the body to get rid of.
A dry, hacking, cough is another story. This is one we do want to stop. It can be caused by allergies, dry air, a random tickle at the back of your throat that won’t go away, the aftermath of a cold, being in a dusty environment, etc. etc. For these we turn to demulcents, ingredients that soothe irritated mucous membranes and remove the irritant triggering the cough. Studies conducted in 2004 found that the main ingredients in cough syrup (dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine) have the same effectiveness in treating coughs as a placebo ingredient. Instead of turning to chemical solutions for every minor ailment, try some home remedies instead. They are not only better for you, but they taste a whole lot better than most cough syrup too!
A dry cough is referred to as a non-productive cough because it does not create phlegm or sputum. It occurs when the brain perceives an irritant or blockage in your throat as a threat and triggers the body to remove it.
Sinus InfectionsSeveral conditions can cause dry cough, from irritants in the air we breathe to chronic health issues.
- Cold or flu
- Allergies
- Acid reflux
- Post-nasal drip
- Cigarette smoke
- Environmental Pollutants
- Asthma
- Sinus infection
- Pneumonia
A Spoonful of Honey
Studies, such as one conducted at Penn State College of Medicine, have found that honey can work more efficiently to calm a cough than over-the-counter drugs. It is a rich demulcent, with a high viscosity and stickiness that does an incredible job of coating and soothing those irritated mucous membranes. Thanks to an enzyme added by bees when they harvest honey, it also has antibacterial properties as well, which may help shorten how long you have the cough if it is due to bacterial illness.
Note: This is an excellent alternative remedy for both kids and adults, but should never be given to children under the age of 2 years due to the risk of botulism.
You will need
- 1 tablespoon of organic, raw, honey
Directions
Take 1 tablespoon of honey 1-3 times daily as needed to control coughing. Take immediately before bed if cough is disrupting your sleep. For children, you can adjust the dosing to 1 teaspoon up to one tablespoon.
Licorice Root Tea
Licorice root is both an expectorant and demulcent, simultaneously soothing your airways while loosening and thinning mucous, easing congestion. It can also ease any inflammation that may be irritating your throat. Its main constituent, glycyrrhizin, is responsible for most of its effects. 30-50 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), it inhibits an enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (how would like you to write that on a name tag?) This enzyme regulates access of glucocorticoid (a steroid hormone) to steroid receptors, ultimately slowing the conversion of cortisol to cortisone. This increases the effect of cortisol and reducing inflammation. If you are on steroids, or have any problems with your kidneys, it is best to steer clear of licorice root.
- 2 tablespoons of dried licorice root
- 8 ounces of fresh water
Directions
Bring water to a boil and place the licorice root in a mug. Cover with water and steep for 10-15 minutes. Drink the entire cup up to 2 times daily.
Gargle Salt Water
Also a popular remedy for sore throats, salt water can ease the discomfort caused by a cough the same way it helps a sore throat-through osmosis. When the concentration of salt is higher outside of the cells in your mucous membranes, water flows out of the cells to balance everything out. When water leaves the cells, swelling goes down, and discomfort is decreased. If you have a cough that happens to come along with inflamed tissue, this is a good route to take. It can also help dislodge any phlegm that’s hanging out and allow you to expel it easily.
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 8 ounces of warm water
Directions
Stir salt into water until it is thoroughly dissolved. Gargle for 15 seconds, spit, and repeat with the remaining water. Rinse with plain water afterwards.
Steam, Steam, Steam!
I can’t say how underrated steam is when it comes to anything dealing with a cough, cold, or congestion. Not only does the steam quite literally loosen mucous and phlegm, almost immediately, but you can add numerous essential oils that will impart wonderful healing benefits. These benefits (anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory etc.) do become airborne, so you inhale them while you breathe in the steam. For this particular blend I’ve included both tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil, which can help soothe and open your airways as well as help fight off bacteria or a virus.
- 3 drops of tea tree oil
- 1-2 drops of eucalyptus oil
- A bowl of water
- A soft, clean, towel
Bring enough water to a boil to halfway fill a medium size-heat proof bowl. Pour the water into it, let it cool slightly for 30-60 seconds, and add the essential oils, giving it a quick stir to release the vapors. Lean over the bowl and get as close as you can while still being comfortable. Remember that steam can seriously burn! Use the towel to cover your head like a tent, trapping the steam, and breathe deeply. Ideally, do this for 5-10 minutes 2-3 times a day.
Thyme has been used for centuries, and was even used during one of the most devastating pandemics to take place in human history. The Black Death was a plague that peaked in Europe from 1346-1353. During that time, and in other incidents of the plague thereafter, townspeople would gather to burn large bundles of thyme to ward off the disease, or carry pockets of thyme on them. Indeed, thyme does have anti-microbial properties, but we’re not warding off any plague here-just your cough. Thyme relaxes the muscles of the trachea and bronchi, and also opens up airways. The result is less coughing, and increased comfort.
You will need
- a handful of fresh thyme sprigs OR 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 8 ounces of fresh water
- Honey or lemon (optional)
Lightly bruise the thyme, e.g. with a mortar and pestle, and then place in a mug. Cover with 8 ounces of boiling water, cover, and let it steep for 10-15 minutes. Add some lemon or honey to taste, and drink the whole thing. Repeat 2-3 times daily as needed. It’s absolutely delightful just before bedtime (unless you aren’t a fan of thyme. But drink some anyways.)
Black pepper is the world’s most traded spice, but most of its use is limited to the culinary world. What people don’t know is that it can make a great remedy for coughs that are accompanied by a lot of mucous or chest congestion. If you’ve accidently leaned too close to black pepper while it’s being grinded, you know it can make you cough or tickle your nose. This may not be fun on a regular basis, but it’s a plus if you need to expel all the nasty stuff that’s gunking up your lungs. The honey adds its antibacterial properties, and it makes it so the pepper isn’t too irritating. You can make black pepper “syrup” with honey, or a tea, as below. If possible, use freshly ground black pepper, as the pre-ground pepper simply seems to lose some of its punch.
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 8 ounces of fresh water
Place the pepper and honey in a mug and then cover with boiling water. Give it stir to disperse the pepper flakes and melt in the honey. Steep for 10 minutes, stir once more, and drink in its entirety. Repeat 1-2 times a day as needed to loosen mucous.
Ginger Peppermint Syrup
Here you get the soothing qualities of warming ginger, all wrapped up in a delicious easy to swallow cough syrup. Spicy ginger works as an expectorant, helping loosen and expel mucous from the lungs. It can also stop the painful tickle at the back of throat that can trigger a cough if the first place, if you are experiencing a dry cough. The peppermint will also help relieve the irritating tickle of a cough.
You will need
- 3 tablespoons of chopped ginger
- 1 tablespoon of dried peppermint
- 4 cups of water
- 1 cup of honey
Chop the ginger and add it along with the peppermint to 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat so that the liquid simmer. Simmer until the liquid has been reduced by half, than strain. Let it cool slightly, and then stir in 1 cup of honey until it has been dissolved completely. Bottle and take 1 tablespoon every few hours as needed to ease your cough. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 weeks.
Onion Syrup
Honey and Onion have soothing and antiseptic properties that can help remove mucus.
- Peel 3-4 medium-sized onions and cut into small pieces.
- Mix a cup of honey with onions in a bowl.Heat them for 2 hours.Make sure do not use too hot temperature.
- Put the preparation in a glass jar after filtering the mixture.
- When you have a cough, take 1 tablespoon.
- You can also cut an onion in half and sniff it, this can help your clogged nose.
This remedy is particularly effective for treating diseases such as bronchitis, whooping cough. To prepare this remedy, peel 4 cloves of garlic and remove their germ. Put them in 1 liter of milk in a saucepan.
Heat them in the milk. Stop the fire when the milk starts to simmer, then let the garlic steep for 5 minutes. You can drink 2 to 3 glasses a day after heating the milk. Do not store this remedy for more than 2 days in the refrigerator.
You may think that eating will not do much in order to help your condition or make it worse but there are some food products that might make you feel more uncomfortable.
For instance, if you eat spicy food, there is a chance that your throat will become drier and will also cause some problems with how often your cough is going to be heard. Instead, you may want to try eating organic food products that can soothe your throat.
One example of a soothing food product is honey. Since it has anti-inflammatory properties, it can help get rid of the inflammation of your tonsils. There are even some people who say that taking in honey can be the same as drinking cough medicine only it is more organic.
There is always a chance that you are going to inhale products that are harmful to your health such as smoke, insecticides and sometimes even other perfume.
If you are going to inhale products that are harmful to your nose, throat and your overall respiratory system, this might make your respiratory system become inflamed which can result in it working harder.
Elevate Your Head when Lying Down
Now that you have already eaten and done everything that can try to relieve the discomfort that you are feeling, now is the time that you would lie down on your bed. Lying down on the bed can be a bit hard to do since you will not be able to breathe that well or you may have constant coughs that would make you want to sit down. Elevating your head with the use of a pillow may help reduce this need.
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