There are many factors that can lead to congestion and cough, and coughs can range from merely annoying to life-threatening. Regardless of the organic cause, however, a cough is a manifestation of lung or throat irritation, and in some cases, it's possible to alleviate coughing and congestion with home remedies that sooth and moisten delicate, irritated tissue.
Susceptibility
While anyone can come down with a virus (some of which lead to coughing), certain members of the population are more susceptible to coughing. Smokers, for instance, often suffer from chronic coughing, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH also notes that asthmatics and those who suffer from seasonal airborne allergies experience coughing and congestion with greater frequency than most people.
Types
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) provides a cough symptom flow chart (see Resources) to help you figure out what kind of cough you have, and whether you might be able to treat it at home. Productive coughs, in which you expel mucus ranging in color from clear to green, are generally due to infection and will resolve on their own. For these, you might benefit from home remedies to relieve symptoms while you wait for your immune system to get rid of the infection.
Prevention
The NIH suggests that a good way to prevent coughing related to dry air or seasonal allergies is to moisten lung tissues by breathing steam. Hot tea is one way to soothe the throat and inhale steam at the same time. You also can benefit from the soothing power of steam by filling a sink or pot with hot water, draping a towel over your head and inhaling the steam. Home Remedies Web suggests adding essential oils to the hot water. "Adding 5 to 10 drops of certain essential oils...can also help stimulate your lungs to expel phlegm. Some effective oils are thyme essential oil and peppermint oil," it says.
Suggested Remedies
Several Internet sites offer home remedies to stop a cough. While the combination might not sound appealing, Home Remedies Web recommends a combination of garlic and honey. According to Natural Home Remedies, eucalyptus is also helpful for coughs and congestion in tea form. Granny Med suggests licorice, as it is a natural coating agent that also has expectorant properties, meaning it can loosen phlegm and make it easier to cough up.
Warning
According to the AAFP, some coughs can be life threatening and shouldn't be treated at home. If you have a history of asthma, your cough could be an indication that you're beginning an asthma attack, which is a medical emergency. Alternately, if your cough leaves you short of breath and you're coughing up blood or frothy, pink mucus, you might have pulmonary edema. This requires emergency treatment at a hospital.
