Why do we Cough?
Coughing is a vital defense mechanism to drive out excess mucus from inside the lungs. If your cough has phlegm, sputum, or mucus, it is a wet or productive cough. If not, it’s a dry or non-productive cough.
A cough is mostly not something to worry about, but if it gets prolonged, it is best to consult a doctor to find out the underlying causes. Prolonged coughs, if not treated, can lead to infections. And that is not what you want! Trust me.
Here are some easy natural home remedies for cough that will not only help you get rid of it but will also boost your lungs and overall immune system.
Honey with Dried Ginger Powder
Honey is the oldest and most tested home remedy for coughs and colds. It has amazing properties that soothe your throat and studies have even shown that honey has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Add Dried Ginger Powder to that and what you get is the solution to your irritated throat and congested chest.
The optimum way to take it is to take 2 to 3 tablespoons of honey and add ginger powder to it. Mix and drink. You can also add a touch of powdered black pepper as that will also help if you have congestion.
Or just take honey!
Grapes
Grapes are considered nature’s expectorants. If you have a wet or productive cough, eating grapes will thin your mucus and help excrete it, ridding you of the unwanted viruses and bacteria.
You can also drink grape juice as a replacement. But you should always try to use fresh fruits and juices. Drinking processed juices does more harm than good and hence I would never recommend that.
Turmeric
The active ingredient in Turmeric, called Curcumin has proven benefits against fighting cough and other lung problems. Research has proven it to be beneficial even in treatment and improvement in the quality of life in asthma patients (you can read the complete paper here).
In another research, 500 mg curcumin capsules taken twice daily for 30 days showed significant improvement cough and chest obstruction. The study concluded that Curcumin therapy was effective and safe (you can read the complete paper here).
You can use Turmeric in multiple ways as shown below. You can try all of them and see what works best for you.
Turmeric Powder, Cinnamon, and Black Pepper
Add 1 small cinnamon stick, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, and 1 teaspoon black pepper to 1 cup of water. Bring the water to a boil and let it reduce to half a cup. Pour in a cup and add honey. Drink while it is warm.
Milk and Turmeric
Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a hot glass of milk, or boil the milk with the turmeric added in it. Pour in a cup and drink warm.
Turmeric Tea
Add one tablespoon of turmeric powder into 4 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Let it boil for a few minutes. Strain and pour into a cup. Add lemon and honey, and drink while it is warm.
Herbal Tea
This is one of the oldest, most time-honored home remedies not just for regular coughs and colds, but also for smoker’s cough, inflammation, irritation, sore throat, and chest congestion.
You will need:
- 2 small cinnamon sticks
- 2 small cardamoms (green)
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 2 cloves
- 2 basil leaves
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (crushed)
Take 2 glasses of clean drinking water in a pan and add the above ingredients. Bring the water to boil, and then leave it on low to medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes to let the herbs infuse in the water.
Pour in a cup, add honey as required, and drink while it is warm.
You can also add these ingredients to green tea, or regular tea and it will still be as effective!
Supportive Home Remedies for Cough
Inhale steam several times every day
Pour some boiled water into a basin, drape a towel over your head and inhale the steam for 5 to 10 minutes. This will help loosen the mucus and make it easier for you to cough it up. Add cloves, cardamoms, or essential oils containing menthol or eucalyptus to the water while boiling it to make it more effective.
You can also invest in a humidifier. I would recommend Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier (affiliate link).
Drink warm liquids
Stay away from cold drinks and increase your intake of warm liquids to soothe your throat.
Drink fresh juices
Drink fresh juices to build up your immunity. Citrus juices are best for the burst of Vitamin C they provide.
Eat chicken soup
Chicken soup will soothe your throat and work as an inflammatory. Add fresh onions, carrots, and sweet potatoes if you can.
Rest
Your body needs rest while trying to heal. So give it time to heal, stay hydrated, and keep eating healthy foods.
