When you get upper respiratory viral infection such as common cold or flu, you will get cough. The home remedies for cough and post viral cough may not differ too much except that the cough during the infection is generally progressive but post viral cough is usually dry cough.
Viruses are microorganisms much smaller than the fungus an bacterium, that invades cells to reproduce and multiply. When viruses attack, nose, upper respiratory tract and airways, mucus is produced as the body's natural way to respond to the attack. The throat and respiratory tract get inflamed.
Common cold and flu viruses are the most common viral attacks to the human body though they also attack intestines and other body organs.
Home remedies for throat infections and upper respiratory infections invariably include use of drinking lots of fluids and taking rest. Some of the same remedies can also be applied for viral cough. However, additional remedies will be required for the dry post viral cough.
Viral infections of the upper respiratory tract and lungs are sore throat, common cold, runny nose, sinusitis, bronchitis, flu and pneumonia. Most of these conditions will cause reproductive cough during the infection period and in some cases the dry cough will linger on post viral infection. Common cold and flu can leave post viral dry coughs that can last upto 8 weeks.
Home Remedies for Reproductive Cough During Viral Infections
A productive cough produces phlegm or mucus. The mucus may move down the back of the throat from the nose or sinuses or may come up from the lungs. The mucus can cause chest congestion. It is important to understand that a productive cough generally should not be suppressed. The cough actually clears mucus from the lungs. Any left over mucus in the lungs can cause complications such as chronic bronchitis.
The goal here is to remove the mucus. All home remedies for reproductive cough given below aim to release the mucus from the linings and remove it.
1. Drink Lots of Fluids to Get Rid of Viral Cough
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water and other non-aerated fluids such as fruit juices daily. This appears like a home remedy for dehydration. In fact it is. A well hydrated body will remove mucus from the lining easily and you will be able to cough it out.
Sip the water slowly every time you drink a glass of water. if you have water retention problems such as edema, then contact your doctor for water drinking limits. Except for such patients everyone will benefit from drinking enough water. Most of us in the modern lifestyle of living are dehydrated almost all the time.
2. Inhale Steam to Release Cough Due to Viral Infections of Upper Respiratory Tract
Inhaling steam is one of the best home remedies for cough that is progressive and wet. Hot steam helps remove mucus from the lining and cough it out. This reduces airways irritation giving you relief.
- Heat water in a pot until it starts to release steam
- Put the boiling water pot on a table and sit on a comfortable chair
- Keep the pot in such a position that you can lean on it and your face comes 6-8 inch directly above the pot.
- cover your head and the pot in a tent shape by a large towel To trap the steam
- inhale the steam alternatively from the nose and mouth for 5 minutes.
- If the steam us unbearable, remove the towel for a few seconds and repeat the process
3. Ginger Tea for Clearing Viral Cough
Ginger tea is one of the most effective home remedies for sinus infections and other cough producing conditions.
- Cut a one inch of ginger root, clean it and crush it
- Add it to a one glass of boiling water in a pot on the burner
- Steep it for 10 minutes and stop the burner heat
- Let it cool down to palatable temperature
- Add a teapots not of honey and stir it well
- Sip it slowly
Drink this tea 3-4 times a day. You can also add 1-2 meshed garlic cloves, a small chopped onion and a teaspoon of lemon juice in addition to one inch of crushed ginger root to a liter of hot boiling water and fill it in a thermos. Strain it and drink it throughout the day.
How to Treat Post Viral Cough
A post-viral cough is a dry cough that persists for more than eight weeks even after the infection is gone. Exact causes of post-viral cough are not well understood. It appears that after the infection is resolved the airways are still irritated causing cough, although no mucus is produced. The conventional medicines usually are ineffective, therefore it can be irritating. Some of the home remedies that work very well to treat post viral cough are given below. Even the remedies given above for progressive cough will work well for post viral dry cough also.
1. Honey Lemon Syrup for Post Viral Dry Cough
Honey and lemon syrup is an excellent home remedy for dry cough. Honey southeast the throat and lemon removes the irritants and reduces inflammation.
- Extract juice of one lemon in a bowl
- Add two tablespoon of honey and stir it well until the mixture is homogeneous syrup
- Sip 2 teaspoons honey lemon syrup at a time
- Store the rest of the syrup for the day for 3-4 more uses
When you consume this syrup 3-4 times a day for a few days your dry post viral cough will go away.
2. Onion Juice and Black Pepper for Dry Post Viral Cough
Onion juice and black pepper powder are very potent remedies for post viral cough.
- Chop a large onion into small pieces
- Grind it in a blender grinder
- Strain the juice in a bowl
- Add a teaspoon of finely ground black pepper powder
- stir it well
- Take one teaspoon of the juice at a time
This preparation will last a day with 3-4 servings of one teaspoon at a time depending on the size of the onion you took initially. Continue for a few days until the dry cough is completely gone.