Coughing, an action designed to keep the airways of the throat clear, may produce mucus, or it may be a dry cough. A variety of conditions may cause coughing, including respiratory infection, cold or flu, allergies, lung diseases, cigarette smoke and air pollutants, according to MedlinePlus. In addition to typical home care treatments like keeping the throat lubricated, ayurvedic treatments, or an ancient, holistic medical system practiced most often in India, exist to effectively treat coughs.
Garlic
According to the website for Ayushveda, garlic may be utilized in ayurvedic treatment of coughs, particularly a severe cough like whooping cough. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend extracting syrup from two to three cloves of garlic; the cough sufferer will ingest the syrup two to three times per day until symptoms clear up. If the cough persists, the dosage should be increased to treat the condition.
Ginger
Kerala Agricultural University Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station reports that medicinal plants find use as a first line of defense in ayurvedic home remedies. Ginger, one such medicinal plant, may help soothe a cough. Sufferers may use fresh or dried ginger in their treatment. Frequently drinking ginger juice mixed with honey may reduce cough. Another ayurvedic treatment for cough includes mixing dried, powdered ginger with honey and ingesting it twice every day until the cough subsides.
Licorice Root
For whooping cough, ayurvedic treatments may offer effective relief through the use of licorice. Licorice root treats whooping cough by soothing the throat, and many belief it contains anti-inflammatory properties. This root should be dried and powdered, then mixed with honey and ingested three times every day until the cough subsides. The sufferer may also make a solution of one cup of water to a half tsp. of dried and powdered licorice root, which should be taken three times daily.
