Coughing is generally normal. A wet cough that produces mucus is a body's natural reaction to the obstructions in the throat and lungs such as foreign particles and microbes.
This kind of cough is good for health.
It is the dry and/or a persistent wet cough that requires attention and home remedies are your best first attempts to deal with them.
Allergies can cause cough. Viral and bacterial infections also cause cough. Common flu, cold, and bronchitis are such infections whose one of the main symptoms is cough.
Any bout of cough that lasts longer than 2-3 weeks requires attention. Don't simply run to the doctor on the first signs of cough. You can do a lot better than that. Get rid of it at home. Most of the powerful natural home remedies for cough are available in your kitchen.
Getting cough bouts in public is not only discomforting but embarrassing also. But, sometimes we just can’t help it. Go ahead and try these simple foods which can help you to get rid of your cough.
1. Ginger
Ginger has been used for centuries to get rid of cough, cold, and flu around the world, but more specifically in the eastern world. Ginger has antihistamine and decongestant capabilities. These properties help clear air passage caused by cough. You can experience ginger benefits in many different ways. But the most effective way is to take it with honey.
- Extract 1/4 teaspoon of ginger juice and add it to 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix it well. Keep the viscous mixture in your mouth and let it slowly melt and go down your throat. Don’t swallow it or gulp it down. Just keep it in the mouth. Drink it twice a day to get rid of the cough.
- Add ginger to your black tea and drink it warm. Sip it slowly by enjoying the aroma. 3-4 times a day of ginger mixed tea will instantly give relief from cough and sustain it.
- Make ginger tea by adding 3-4 one-inch slices of ginger to one cup of water in a pot and simmer it for 10 minutes. Let it cool to an acceptable temperature. Add some lemon juice and honey for taste and enjoy the sips. Drink such tea 4 times a day to treat cough.
2. Black Pepper and Lemon
Black pepper can stimulates circulation and mucus flow to clear the air passage. You can use a combination of black pepper and honey, lemon and black pepper, or all three together to get rid of your cough.
- Add 1/8 teaspoon of ground black pepper to one teaspoon of honey. Keep it in the mouth. Don’t swallow just let it melt away on its own to move down with saliva to the throat. This helps clear irritants that are causing cough.
- Take honey and lemon juice in a 5:1 ratio and mix it in a cup. Consume one tablespoon of the mixture 3 times a day. The prepared one cup mixture should last 3-4 days by which time you would be cured of cough.
- Prepare a black pepper tea by adding 1/8 teaspoon of ground black pepper powder in a pot. Add a cup of water. Boil it and then let it simmer for 10 minutes. Add juice from half a lemon and a teaspoon of honey. Drink warm tea 2-3 times a day.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric is very good, particularly for dry cough in its very early stages. With its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric can stop coughs and colds in its early stages.
- Mix turmeric powder to one teaspoon of honey until a thick paste is made. The paste should be thick enough to convert the mixture into 4-5 balls (1cm diameter).
- Keep one ball in the mouth and let it melt on its own.
- Consume the rest of the turmeric honey balls during the day at regular intervals
By consuming turmeric in this way, the cough should vanish within 3-4 days.
4. Thyme Tea
Thyme leaves contain flavonoids that heal muscles in the throat and nasal passage involved in the coughing process by reducing inflammation. It is particularly beneficial in dry and whooping cough.
- Soak and clean thyme leaves in water.
- Crush two teaspoons of thyme and leave for fast preparation, though you can use them without crushing also.
- Mix crushed leaves in a cup of boiling water and cover it. Steep it for 10-15 minutes.
- Let the tea cool down to a palatable temperature. Strain, slowly sip, and enjoy.
You can drink thyme tea 2-3 times a day and get rid of your cough.
5. Honey
Honey has been used to cure cough for ages around the globe. The viscous honey does a great job of clearing the passage and soothing the irritated membrane of the throat. Honey also possesses antibacterial properties helping get rid of bacteria if any. You can take one teaspoon of raw organic honey 2 -3 times a day.
6. Apricot and Grapes
When you have excessive mucus formation restricting nasal tracts and you can’t even cough due to blockage, eating fruits such as apricots and grapes slowly helps in cough symptoms. They retard the production of mucus as well as help its movement thus clearing air passages.
- Eat one fresh or 4 dried apricots at least twice a day for good results to deal with cough. Both fresh and dried apricots make excellent relief agents.
- Eat 250gms of grapes daily for a week. Make sure the grapes are not overripe and are organically farmed for the best effect. Grapes absorb chemicals (pesticides etc) easily so be careful in selecting the grapes.
7. Almonds for Dry Cough
Almonds are very useful nuts (dry fruits) with many health benefits. Eating soaked almonds helps relieve dry cough.
- Soak 5-6 almonds overnight in water. Eat them by slowly chewing one by one in the morning.
- Chew each almond at least 40 times before it is gulped down the throat and consumed to get the best results. This will not only treat your cough but will make your digestion better.
In addition to these remedies, you can use many essential oils for cough relief. If nothing works then you should consult a doctor.