Coughing Remedies
A cough is a reflex action to clear your airways of mucus and irritants such as dust or smoke.
Causes of Coughs
Mainly people with a cough have a respiratory tract infection caused by a virus, such as the common cold, flu or bronchitis.
A persistent cough in adults can be caused by smoking, a condition such as rhinitis or asthma, or a prescribed medicine such as an ACE-inhibitor to treat heart disease.
Coughing Remedies
1. Aloe vera Mix equal parts of aloe juice and honey. This is very good for a scratchy cough.
2. Angelica Use a tincture of the root or leaf, or make a tea. Angelica is an expectorant. Do not use if you are pregnant.
3. Bee balm Native Americans used bee balm to alleviate colds and coughs. Steep two teaspoons of fresh (one, dried) bee balm leaves in a cup of hot water, covered, for four minutes. Sip a cup three times a day. Bee balm has antiseptic compounds that can help heal respiratory infections and clear nasal congestion.
4. Carrot juice Mix with honey and a little warm water. Take a tablespoonful several times a day.
5. Cayenne pepper Mix 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of pepper in a glass of water and use as a gargle, swallowing afterward. You can also use 15-20 drops of Tabasco sauce in a glass of water or juice. Pepper helps clear congestion and draws blood to the throat to fight infection.
6. Chamomile tea will soothe the throat.
7. Garlic Grate one or two cloves of garlic and mix with a teaspoon of honey. Take as needed.
8. Ginger Make a tea using ginger and drink 6 oz several times a day, as needed.
9. Grape juice Mix a cup of grape juice with a teaspoon of honey.
10. Honey Mix honey with juice of a fresh lemon and take as needed.
11. Hyssop Steep two teaspoons of dried hyssop in one cup of boiling water, covered for ten minutes; strain and drink cool for an expectorant or hot to relieve congestion. The oils in hyssop are good for
12. Lime juice Mix equal parts of lime juice and honey.
Mullein soothes and relaxes the lungs and bronchial tubes, which eases a cough. Use 25-30 drops of tincture in a small glass of boiling water three times a day.
13. Onion broth Make a broth by boiling an onion for 10-15 minutes; strain and drink the broth several times a day. The broth will reduce congestion.
14. Onion juice Make a syrup by combining 1 teaspoonful of raw onion juice with 1 teaspoonful of honey; let stand for 3-4 hours, and take in divided doses.
Tips:
1. Breathe the steam from a vaporizer, hot shower, or pan of boiling water. The moist air will soothe the airways and loosen sinus congestion and phlegm in your throat and lungs. A few drops of the oil of eucalyptus will help this process.
2. Elevate the head of your bed. This will allow your sinuses and nasal passages to drain better and not create that “tickle” in your throat.
3. Stop smoking. Passive smoke or other irritants, such as chemicals, can be a cause. Household cleaners, new carpeting, paneling and mattresses are some of the many possible sources of chemical irritants.
4. Drink at least 8 eight ounce glasses of water. This is especially important if your cough is due to an illness. Water is the best expectorant you can take and will help thin the mucus and loosen the cough.
5. Do not use over-the-counter expectorant cough remedies as they just suppress the symptoms and do not address the underlying problem. If you have the kind of cough with mucus you want to get it out of your respiratory system, not suppress it. Try one of the natural expectorant remedies below.
6. Try eating hot chili peppers, horseradish or other spicy foods. They will help loosen mucus.
7. During the winter, if your house is dry, use a humidifier and a cool-mist vaporizer in your bedroom at night. This will help thin the mucus. Be sure to thoroughly clean the vaporizer, as it can harbor bacteria.
8. Drink hot tea to break up the mucus and open and moisten the airways.
9. Cough drops or hard candy will help stop the tickle if you have a dry cough and will moisten the throat.
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