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Easy Homemade Remedies
for a Cough





It's been going on for years but that doesn't make it any less irritating. I get ill but make it through somehow - please don't mock remember Man-Flu is real! But even after my amazing recovery, I still have a cough that just won't shift and hangs about for months.


So whilst looking up inexpensive homemade remedy cures and Googling "How can I cure a cough" I found out some fairly interesting things about coughs and coughing which I shall now bore you with…….





A cough is a reflex action that clears the throat of mucus and other irritants. Coughing to clear your throat is an infrequent action, although there is a number of different conditions which can cause coughing to become more frequent.


The treatment of cough depends on the underlying causes, some coughs can last between 4 to 8 weeks. A persistent cough that lasts more than eight weeks is referred to as a chronic cough. Most coughs will clear up, or at least significantly improve, within 2-3 weeks.



You should always make an appointment for a doctors advice if you cough up blood, have a “barking” cough or if your cough hasn’t improved after a few weeks as it may be more serious and needs a consultation.


The common cause of a cough is respiratory tract infection, such as tuberculosis, cold and flu. These infections are usually caused by a virus and may last for days. Infections caused by flu takes a longer time to clear up and may require antibiotics. Yet another cause of a cough might be a voluntary action. A cough is a way of clearing the throat when your airways become packed with mucus or foreign particles such as smoke or dust.


This reflex action clears the particles and makes breathing easier. Smoking is also a cause of coughing. This type of coughing is actually infrequent, but it will increase with exposure to irritants such as smoke. A cough caused by smoking is almost always a chronic cough with a distinctive sound. It’s often known as “smoker’s cough.”





Another cause of coughing in young children is asthma. Typically, asthmatic coughing involves wheezing, making it easy to identify. Asthma exacerbations should receive treatment using an inhaler. It’s possible for children to grow out of asthma as they get older. Some medications also cause coughing but it is a rare side effect. Other causes of a cough include damage to the vocal cords, postnasal drip, bacterial infections such as pneumonia, whooping cough, and croup and serious conditions such as pulmonary embolism and heart failure.


However, there are some homemade herbal remedies to cure a cough:



HOME REMEDIES





There are a number of home remedies you can try rather than expensive shop bought medicines. If you are interested in reading more about Herbal Remedies I would suggest either of these great books. Herbal Healing For Everybody or Herbal Remedy Secrets Uncovered use the BrainSILT special Coupon Code of YG7YARBYZO to get 50% off (yep that is half price).


Here are a few things that you can try for that cough specifically.


Honey: Honey is a very sweet, natural, viscous food substance that is produced by bees and some related insects. Honey offers several health benefits of which it can be used to cure a cough. It is a remedy for a sore throat and also relieves a cough more effectively than medicines. You can create a natural remedy at home by mixing up to 2 teaspoons of honey with herbal tea or warm water and lemon. The honey does the soothing, while the lemon juice can help with congestion. You can also simply eat the honey by a spoonful or spread it on bread for a snack.





Ginger: Ginger is an ingredient used in cooking. It may ease a dry or an asthmatic cough because it has anti-inflammatory properties. It can also relieve nausea and pain. You can create the remedy by brewing up a soothing ginger tea by adding 10–40 grams of fresh ginger slices to a cup of hot water. Allow to steep for a few minutes before drinking. Add honey or lemon juice to improve the taste and further soothe a cough. It can cause stomach upset and heartburn


Probiotics: They are live microorganisms that are consumed through fermented foods or supplements. Probiotics provide a lot of health benefits. Fortified milk is a great source of Lactobacillus. You should be cautious, however, as dairy may make phlegm thicker. You can also purchase probiotic supplements at most health food stores and drug stores. Each supplement manufacturer may have different daily recommended intakes. Probiotics are also added to some yogurt types and are present in miso soup and sourdough bread.





Steam: Make a steam bowl. To do this, you have to fill a large bowl with hot water. Add herbs or essential oils, such as eucalyptus or rosemary, which may also relieve decongestion. Bend over to wherever the bowl is placed and place a towel over your head. This traps the steam. Inhale the vapours for 5 minutes. If the steam feels hot on the skin, discontinue until the skin cools down. Take a hot shower or bath and allow the bathroom to fill with steam. Stay in this steam for a few minutes until symptoms subside. Drink a glass of water afterwards to cool down and prevent dehydration.


Marshmallow root: This root is a herb that has a long history of use as a treatment for most coughs and sore throats. This herb can ease irritation resulting from coughing because of its high mucilage content. It has the same side effects as ginger which include stomach upset, but it may be possible to counter this by drinking extra fluids.


Thyme: Thyme has both culinary and medicinal uses and is a common remedy for a cough, sore throat, bronchitis, and digestive issues. Antioxidants in the plant may be responsible for its benefits. To treat coughs using thyme, look for a cough syrup that contains this herb. Alternatively, make a thyme tea by adding 2 tsp of dried thyme to a cup of hot water. Steep for 10 minutes before straining and drinking.

Have you tried any of these remedies? How did you get on? What is your 'go-to' homemade or herbal remedy to help stop coughing and cure a cough?


Let me know in the comments.


(This was originally written a Pre-Covid World)