If you're suffering from a cough and an itchy throat, consult your doctor to determine the cause. A cough with an itchy throat may be due to the common cold, the flu, allergies, or a more serious illness, like emphysema or lung cancer. If it's approved by your doctor, use home remedies to help soothe your cough and itchy throat.
Humidifier
Running a humidifier may help loosen the mucus in the chest and soothe an irritated throat, says the Mayo Clinic. A humidifier, when filled with water, releases water vapor into the air that is absorbed into the vocal folds and lungs. Humidifiers may spread bacteria and mold if they are not cleaned properly. Change the water in the humidifier every day, and clean it several times a week. If you don't have a humidifier, run hot water in the shower or bath and sit in the bathroom. Breathe deeply for 10 to 15 minutes.
Lemon and Honey
Sipping a mixture of warm water, honey and lemon juice may help cut mucus in the back of the throat that causes irritation, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, honey may act as a cough suppressant and the steam from the hot liquid helps loosen tightness in the chest. Mix 1 tbsp. of honey and 1 tbsp. of lemon juice in a cup of hot water and stir. Sip the mixture slowly and inhale the steam as you drink it. Repeat as necessary throughout the day to help reduce congestion, soothe a cough, and lessen throat irritation.
Throat Lozenge
Sucking on a throat lozenge may help thin out mucus and soothe the irritation of a scratchy throat, says Alexander C. Chester, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Throat lozenges help stimulate the production of saliva, which will clear away mucus that collects in the back of the throat. Suck on a lozenge before bed to help reduce coughing and throat irritation.
