Coughing is a reflex carried out by the body to remove irritants and protect the airways. Various irritants cause a cough, including mucus, allergens and foreign objects that make their way into the airways. A cough that is caused by tickling in the throat is often an indication of mucus draining down the back of the throat. Throat itching, hoarseness and pain are common with a tickly cough. Home remedies may help relieve such symptoms.
Cool Fluids
Nearly any cool fluid can sooth a tickly cough. Citrus and carbonated beverages should be avoided as they can make symptoms worse. Better choices include water, fruit (noncitrus) juice and sometimes milk. However, milk can increase mucus production in some illnesses and make symptoms worse. When the cough is dry and tickly, the milk may be soothing.
Soup
Warm soup can thin mucus and lubricate a dry, tickly throat. Chicken soup has long been a popular home remedy. The steam, salt and warmth encountered while eating the soup can all have soothing properties for individuals with a tickly cough and mucus drainage. Any broth-based soup, instead of cream-based, provides the same benefits.
Herbal Teas
Sipping warm herbal tea can have the same benefits as eating chicken soup. Some herbs have more pain-relieving and congestion-reducing properties than others. Steeping eucalyptus or peppermint leaves to make tea can be especially helpful in cutting mucus or reducing congestion, suggests the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Lemon Juice
Fresh lemon juice or bottled lemon juice can be mixed with water or tea and sipped to cut through thick mucus. Lemon juice alone may be painful if the individual's throat is sore.
Honey
Honey can be added to tea as a method of coating a sore and dry throat. The honey can also be taken by the teaspoonful to reduce coughing, according to MayoClinic.com.
Gargling
A mixture of 1/2 to 1 tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water is sufficient for gargling. Gargling about 30 seconds at a time can cut mucus away from the throat and help heal throat soreness.
