1. Get Natural Relief
Sometimes you want a gentle, natural way of stopping a cough without drugs and their accompanying side effects. There are several herbal remedies purported to relieve minor coughing associated with allergies or an upper respiratory infection. You can buy these herbs as a tea, or as a tincture that you can add to the beverage of your choice. You can use slippery elm, licorice root, ginger or European elder. If you don't care for the taste of the tea, wash it down with a tablespoon of honey, which can also coat and soothe an inflamed throat.
2. Stop That Hacking Cough
If you have a dry, hacking cough that won't quit, you may benefit from a cough suppressant. Even if the cough produces no mucous, dry air and other triggers can keep a cough going well after other cold symptoms have disappeared. A cough suppressant works by squelching the cough reflex in the throat. Look for the active ingredient dextromethorphan on the product label.
3. Express Yourself
If you have an abundance of mucous in your chest or nasal passages, coughing can become difficult or even painful as your body attempts to dislodge this unhealthy crud. An expectorant may be just what the doctor ordered. An expectorant loosens mucous and phlegm so that each cough is more productive than without the medicine. The most prevalent expectorant on the market is guaifenesin, available under popular brand names and drug-store generic products.
4. An Oldie but a Goodie
Many of us are instantly transported back to childhood when we smell the soothing vapors of a medicated chest rub. These ointments and creams contain camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol, all of which act as natural cough suppressants when the patient breathes in the vapors. These products also provide parents of children over the age of 2 with a cough-relieving alternative that doesn't cause drowsiness or jittery feelings. Simply apply it liberally to the throat and chest, up to three times a day. If you're achy, the camphor and menthol act as a topical pain reliever, as well.
5. When Over-the-Counter Isn't Enough
If you've tried some of the cough-relief products in your pharmacy aisle, but you're still coughing through the night, ask your doctor about prescription-strength cough medicines. Cough medicines that contain the narcotic hydrocodone may be an option for severe coughs that don't abate at night, as this medicine causes marked drowsiness. Benzonatate is a prescription non-narcotic cough suppressant appropriate for daytime use.
