The body responds to irritants in the throat by coughing. Acute illnesses such as the flu, seasonal or annual allergies, and chronic conditions like bronchitis or emphysema may be the cause of coughing, which might be painful or merely annoying. Regardless of the cause, most people seek relief from coughing by either taking over-the-counter medicines or using home remedies and natural treatments. Some herbal treatments may produce side effects, and people should consult a health practitioner before trying an unfamiliar herb or other medical product to treat coughing.
Step 1
Drink warm liquids like tea or soup to relieve coughing, suggests the University of Maryland Medical Center. The warmth emitted from a bowl of chicken soup may loosen congestion in the chest and soothe mucus membranes.
Step 2
Squeeze half a fresh lemon into 1 cup of boiling water. Sweeten with honey and allow to cool. Drink as needed to control a nagging dry cough..Fresh lemon juice is high in nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants, and may help fight colds and flu, according to "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook."
Step 3
Eat a small spoonful of honey to soothe away a dry, hacking cough. The Medical College of Wisconsin explains that honey and other sweet syrups act to suppress a dry cough, although researchers do not know how it works.
Step 4
Drink a mixture of baking soda and apple cider vinegar to stop a dry cough resulting from episodes of acid reflux, according to "The pH Miracle." Measure 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar into a tall glass and add a flat 1/2 tsp. of baking soda. It will foam and fizz for a few minutes. Stir gently with a spoon until the foaming stops. Pour in 6 to 8 oz. water and drink. Baking soda can raise blood pressure, so consult your health practitioner before using this remedy.
Step 5
Use a vaporizer in the bedroom to moisten the air with steam, which may help relieve the tickling and irritation in the throat causing a cough. A drop or two of eucalyptus oil can help relieve tight, painful congestion in the chest, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Avoid using eucalyptus and homeopathic remedies at the same time. The eucalyptus oil renders the homeopathic remedies ineffective.
Step 6
Take a cough suppressant. Most over-the-counter cough medicines available from pharmacies will offer some relieve for dry cough; however, medicines may produce serious side effects. Consult with your doctor or pharmacists for recommendations.
Tips and Warnings
- Organic honey is free of impurities that may aggravate an irritating cough. The combination of apple cider vinegar and baking soda creates an almost perfect neutral pH of seven, which helps balance stomach acids and prevents acid reflux and the coughing that often accompanies it.
- If coughing persists or worsens, contact a health practitioner for additional guidance and treatment.
Things You'll Need
- Warm liquids
- Soup
- Lemons
- Tall glass
- Apple cider vinegar
- Baking soda
- Measuring spoons
- Honey
- Vaporizer
- Eucalyptus Oil
References
- Medical College of Wisconsin: 200 Non-Opioid Anti-Tussives
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Cough
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Asthma
- "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook: Your Everyday Reference to the Best Herbs for Healing"; James Duke; 2002
- "The pH Miracle"; Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young; 2003
