Natural Remedies for Cough

Coughing is a respiratory disorder. It comes as natural reflux to clear your respiratory tract from irritating materials like mucus or debris. Severe coughing may cause pain in the chest and throat and also irritates your respiratory system. There are many natural remedies that can heal your cough and relieve you from pain. These natural home treatments can soothe your throat and treat your throat infection. These remedies are also used to clean your breath and keep your mouth healthy and fresh.

• Consider oil pulling: This method is an Ayurveda treatment to kill bacteria and microbes in your mouth. Use organic oil such as vegetable, sesame, olive, or coconut oil just to swish in your mouth. Take 1 tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 1 to 2 seconds. Continue this treatment for at least 15 to 20 minutes daily. This method helps kill germs and microbes present in your mouth. Throw it out of your mouth and wash your mouth with warm water. Oil has lipids that remove toxins from your mouth and clean your saliva. Oil stops bacteria from sticking to the wall of teeth. This contains moisturizing properties that moisturize your mouth and throat and treat your cough.

• Take elderberry extract: Elderberry contains anti-inflammatory and antiviral agents that help treat your cough, sore throat and other respiratory disorders and also strengthens your immune system. Make elderberry tea by boiling 3 to 5 grams of dried elderberries in one cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes.  Drink elderberry tea 3 to 5 cups daily. Drink herbal tea only for 3 to 5 days only because it could be dangerous for your health in prolonged use. It may also be dangerous for those with low blood pressure because it helps thinning the blood. Elderberry extract is also available in the form of syrup, lozenge or dietary capsule supplement in nearby pharmacies or stores. Do not consume uncooked elderberries as it may be poisonous for you. Stay in touch with your doctor if you are consuming elderberry tea because it has many side effects for pregnant women, people with autoimmune diseases, and people taking diabetic medications, laxatives, chemotherapy drugs, or immunosuppressants.

• Use peppermint: Peppermint is very beneficial for cleaning your respiratory tract and breathing. Make sure to eat fresh peppermint leaves for better results. You can make peppermint tea by mixing 3-4 grams or 1 ½ teaspoon of dried peppermint in a cup of hot water with a temperature between 80–85°C. Drink peppermint tea 3 times a day regularly. You can also take Peppermint in other forms like in lozenges, dietary supplements, herbal teas, fresh herbs and essential oils. Peppermint contains methanol in it which soothes your throat and moisturizes your respiratory tract. It breaks your phlegm and cleanses your mouth from irritants. Don’t give peppermint or methanol to infants orally. Do aromatherapy or as a rub on their chest. 

• Use eucalyptus: You can use eucalyptus both orally as well as tropically as an ointment. Apply eucalyptus ointment tropically in your nasal cavity or on your chest. Eucalyptus is also available in lozenges, cough syrups, and vapor baths in your nearby pharmacy or drug stores. You can also drink eucalyptus tea by mixing 2 to 4 grams of dried eucalyptus leaves in a cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes and drinking at least 3 cups daily. Eucalyptus has cineole in it which treats your cough and other respiratory disorders. Eucalyptus has Antioxidants that protect your respiratory system from free radicals and molecules. You may use eucalyptus water for gargles after eating or before going to bed to clean and remove bad smell from your breath. For making eucalyptus water, put 2 to 4 dried eucalyptus leaves in a cup of warm water having temperature 40°C for 5-10 minutes. Drink eucalyptus water 3 times a day regularly. 

• Eat honey: Honey has a sweet taste and it can also be used as a sweetener for your drinks. Honey also has the ability to clean your throat and soothe your cough. If you have a bad cough while sleeping then eat 2 tablespoons of honey before going to bed. Honey also gives you a smooth sleep if you take it before going to bed. Keep away honey from infants because it may cause bloating in your child.

• Use ginger: Ginger moisturizes your throat and respiratory tract by increasing the secretion of mucus and relieves you from cough. You can have ginger in many ways like chewing small pieces of ginger, drinking ginger tea and also by putting a few teaspoons of ginger powder on one tablespoon of honey. Ginger also relieves your stomach pain and helps heal gastric disorders. Use this treatment many times a day to treat your cough.

• Try thyme: Use thyme in your thyme-honey tea by boiling 3 fresh thyme leaves in one cup of water with 2 tablespoons of honey for 20 minutes. Filter the mixture and drink it. Using Thyme is the best method to treat bronchitis and cough. Avoid eating or drinking thyme oil because it could be poisonous for you. If you are taking any blood thinner medicine then you should consult your doctor before taking thyme as it causes excessive bleeding from any injury and restricts blood clotting.

• Consider other natural herbs: Despite all the herbs mentioned above like thyme, eucalyptus, peppermint etc. you can also use many other natural herbs for treating your cough. There are many natural home remedies that are made from natural herbs. You can use these natural herbs as home remedies to treat your cough or other respiratory disorders:
  • Marshmallow (Althea officinalis).
  • Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva).
  • Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).
  • Mullein (Verbascum densiflorum).
  • Sundew (Drosera spp.).
  • Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).

• Add more Vitamin C to your diet: Vitamin C is an Antioxidant that strengthens your immune system to fight against microbes and bacteria present in your respiratory tract. Vitamin C prevents you from many chronic diseases. It heals your cough and other viral infections like cold. You can take vitamin C supplements daily but the best way to take vitamin C is to consume it through the foods in your diet. Try consuming these foods in your diet to get vitamin C: 
  • Sweet red or green peppers.
  • Citrus fruits such as oranges, pomelo, grapefruit, limes or non-concentrated citrus juices.
  • Spinach, broccoli and Brussel sprouts.
  • Strawberries and raspberries.
  • Tomatoes.