After writing how to get rid of cold?, how to get rid of a stuffy nose?, how to get rid of runny nose?, we are now writing how to get rid of a cough? A cough can be indicative to the upper respiratory problems like flu or cold. It is generally accompanied by them. It can be caused due to asthma, allergies, smoke, acid reflux, dry air, etc. Coughing intermittently is not a major health issue but it should be treated on time. Otherwise, you may develop other secondary upper respiratory problems.
You should not leave it unattended as it may cause damages to your bronchial tubes. When you develop a cough you get the constant urge for cleaning your throat and you feel annoyed. Some other indications are difficulty in breathing, runny nose, a cough, weakness, etc. You need not to worry for this. There are several home remedies which may help you get rid of a cough without any side effects.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of a Cough:
1) Inhale Steam and Take Steam Bath
One of the simplest ways to get rid of a cough is to inhale steam 4-5 times a day. It is an old remedy followed by our ancestors from ages. On inhaling steam through your nasal passages, the dryness present in your tract vanishes. As a result it becomes easier for you to breathe. You just need to take a bowl full of hot steaming water. Take a towel and cover your head while keeping your nose above that bowl. In this way, your throat soothes up and you can get rid of a cough easily. You may take hot steam bath in your bathroom. Stand there for about 10 minutes. It may give you enough relief from your health condition. Repeat this many times a day. You will be feeling better in a day or so.
2) Inhale Essential Oil in Boiling Water
Essential oils like eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil are variably used in the cure of nasal congestion. Its strong and soothing aroma can work wonders for your throat infection. Put few drops of eucalyptus oil or tea tree oil in the boiling water. Inhale the steam while covering your head with a towel. You can also apply this oil near your nasal area, neck and chest. This is very much beneficial in relieving you from mucus congestion in your chest. It will slowly melt down the mucus stuck inside your respiratory tract. Certainly, it is one of the natural ways to get rid of a cough.
3) Ginger to Suppress a Cough
Ginger has been used from ages to treat throat infections and a cough. It is a natural decongestant. It can help you fight against a cough. The antiviral, antibacterial and expectorant properties of ginger can help you get rid of a cough naturally. It clears the irritation you feel in your throat, in turn, you breathe easily and skips coughing.
For this, you can chew up ginger slices. You can take out ginger juice about one teaspoonful. Add one teaspoon honey to it. Have this mixture thrice a day. Consumption of ginger in your food can also prove beneficial in improving the symptoms. Then, you may not feel the irritation in your throat that causes a cough.
4) Salt Water to Soothe a Cough
Salt has anti bacterial properties. It can help in fighting off those bacteria which cause a cough. Coughing for a long time can leave you with a chest pain. You can opt for gargling with salted warm water. It can be soothing to your throat and as a result it reduces the irritation. For this, add one-fourth teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. You may gargle with this solution 4-5 times a day. Soon you will be relieved out from this coughing problem. Indeed, one of the effective ways to get rid of a cough.
5) Hot Liquids to Treat a Cough Reflex
Hot liquids like herbal tea, ginger tea, chicken soup, tomato soup, etc. can be helpful in moistening the throat so that you can easily get rid of a cough. These warm liquids moisten the nasal passage and respiratory tract and consequently it terminates the cough reflex. It can be soothing to your throat and can bring relaxation to it. Having these liquids 4-5 times a day can be quite beneficial. You can add garlic and ginger to your soup for getting better outcome.
6) Turmeric to Treat a Cough
Turmeric is antibacterial and anti inflammatory in nature. Its anti bacterial property will help in fighting off the bacteria causing irritation in your throat. It can reduce their number by killing them. Turmeric will improve your immune system too.
There are various ways to use turmeric. Just add a teaspoon of turmeric to your glass of milk and drink it. Repeat it two times a day. You can also add turmeric to the warm water you are using for gargling along with salt. Furthermore, you can add one-half teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of warm water and drink it.
7) Peppermint to Get Rid of a Cough
Peppermint is used widely for soothing and calming a dry cough. It is an excellent expectorant which can melt down mucus and opens up the airways. Peppermint can provide you quick recovery from your health condition. You can use it in making teas and soups. Peppermint oil is also available in pharmacies which you can add in boiling water and can inhale its steam.
8) Honey to Get Rid of a Cough
Honey is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal in nature. It can soothe your infected respiratory tract and can be aiding to calm a cough. Indeed, a great home remedy you can opt to. Its antiseptic property can improve your immunization. Put a pinch of black pepper in a tablespoon of honey and have this mixture two times a day.
Pepper can help in treating throat infection while honey will soothe the mucous membranes. It will keep the nasal secretions moist, in turn, you do not get cough reflexes. You can also have honey by adding it to a glass of warm water.
9) Thyme Tea to Get Rid of a Cough
Thyme has anti-microbial properties in it. It can be a great ingredient for relaxing the tracheal muscles and opening the airways to nullify a cough reflex. Further it boosts your immune system to fight against numerous infections. It relieves you from the cough symptoms. You just require two tablespoons of thyme, one glass of boiling water and two teaspoon of honey or lemon juice. Have this amazing tea throughout the day. You will feel better.
10) Use Lemon to Get Rid of a Cough
Lemon is a superb ingredient for curing throat and nasal infections. Lemon is rich in vitamin C and thus increases the body’s resistance against infections. It is said to have antibacterial properties too. Just add two teaspoons of lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey to a glass of warm water. Have this 2-3 times a day.
Another method is to cut a lemon into two halves. Put some salt and pepper over one-half of lemon. Suck out the juice into your mouth. Do it 3-4 times a day for better results. You can have it before going to bed so that your sleep does not get disrupted.