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Home > Respiratory Health > Cough, Cold & Flu > 11 Home Remedies to Ease a Cough

11 Home Remedies to Ease a Cough

July 10, 2020 - Updated on August 3, 2021
10 min read
By Steven Kmucha, MD | Otolaryngologist

In this article:

  • Home Remedies for Cough
  • Self-Care Tips to Relieve Cough
  • Preventive Measures
  • Most-Asked Questions About Cough
  • Final Word

Coughing is a reflex action of the body that helps in clearing the airway of any irritants. Generally, the cough does not cause any discomfort and is healthy. Therefore, treatment is only required if the symptoms cause uneasiness or interfere with your sleep and daily activities.

at-home remedies for cough management

Home Remedies for Cough

Various ingredients that are readily available in your kitchen can help relieve the symptoms of a cough.

1. Consume honey

Honey can be used to lower the frequency and severity of cough, thereby aiding uninterrupted sleep. Additionally, it does not have any side effects. (1)

How to use:

  • Boil a mug of water and mix the juice from half a lemon into it. Add 1–2 teaspoons of honey, and consume this drink while still warm.
  • For children above 1 year of age, give them a 2.5 ml dose of honey before bedtime. (2)

Caution: Refrain from giving honey to children younger than 1 year to avoid the risk of botulism. (3)

Summary:

Consumption of honey is generally more efficacious than no treatment for reducing the frequency of cough.

2. Use licorice

consuming licorice root can help relieve cough

Licorice root boiled in water is often used to improve cough and bronchial problems. Licorice lozenges are found to be effective in lowering post-operative sore throat and cough among smokers. (4)

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Additionally, gargling with licorice significantly lowers the incidence of sore throat and decreases mucus production to help treat cough. (5)

How to use:

Boil half a teaspoon of licorice in one cup of water for ten minutes and consume the warm tea.

Summary:

Licorice is popular for its expectorant and antitussive properties which can help improve cough and other bronchial symptoms.

3. Drink coffee

The instant coffee powder obtained from Coffea arabica beans can act as an antitussive and cough suppressant, depending on the dose. (6) Additionally, coffee with honey can be employed as an alternative treatment for persistent post-infectious cough. (7)

How to use:

Add 1 teaspoon coffee and 1 teaspoon of honey in a cup of warm water, and consume this drink to help relieve cough symptoms.

Summary:

The use of instant coffee powder help suppress cough, especially when taken along with honey.

4. Use marshmallow root

The marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis) has been long used for treating the symptoms of dry cough. (8)

A study suggested that a combination of A. officinalis and other plant extracts can be used for treating respiratory ailments such as sore throat and cough. (9)

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How to use:

Add ¼ cup of marshmallow root in a pint-sized jar, and fill it with lukewarm or cold water. Allow it to stand for four hours, strain the liquid, and consume this drink once a day.

Summary:

Marshmallow infused in lukewarm water can help improve the symptoms of dry cough.

5. Consume apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has been anecdotally used to treat cough for long. Moreover, using ACV along with honey in teas improves its efficacy. However, scientific research is required to establish the use of this remedy.

How to use:

Mix one tablespoon of ACV and 1 tablespoon of honey in one cup of hot water and consume.

Caution: Avoid the use of this remedy if you are allergic to ACV.

6. Try thyme

Thyme has various active constituents, such as thymol, which possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, spasmolytic, and antioxidant properties that can help improve a cough. (10)

How to use:

Boil a few thyme leaves in a cup of water to make a tea. Add one teaspoon of honey and consume. There are also many thyme extract-based medications available for treating cough.

7. Drink ginger-lemon tea

drinking ginger-lemon tea can help relieve symptoms of cough

The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger, along with the taste of lemon make this tea an effective remedy for cough symptoms.

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How to use:

Add one teaspoon of freshly grated ginger to one cup of hot water and allow to stand. After ten minutes, strain the tea and add one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and honey or sugar to sweeten the tea.

8. Gargle with warm saltwater

Gargling with warm saltwater helps remove mucus and soothes the throat.

How to use:

Mix one teaspoon of salt in one cup of lukewarm water and use it for gargling. Repeat this remedy up to three times a day.

9. Use peppermint leaves

Peppermint is generally used to help treat cold symptoms. While there is no scientific evidence to support the use of peppermint leaves for cough, it has been used anecdotally in the form of tea or a steam bath for extracting the benefits of menthol.

10. Apply menthol vaporub

Vapor rub is popularly used to help relieve the symptoms of cough. OTC menthol rubs can be applied to the chest or feet for relief.

11. Consume probiotics

While not directly effective on cough, probiotics can help treat the underlying conditions. Additionally, probiotics like Lactobacillus are found to help prevent colds and flu. (11)

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Probiotic consumption can also lower the incidence of respiratory tract infections in children. (12)

Self-Care Tips to Relieve Cough

self-care tips that can help relieve cough

The following tips and at-home treatments can help prevent and treat cough:

1. Stay hydrated

Consuming ample liquids, especially water, helps thin out the mucus, enabling easy expulsion. Additionally, warm fluids such as tea, broth, and lemon juice give a soothing effect.

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Intake of liquids and fluids is considered to be a key factor for treating cough and colds in children. (13)

2. Elevate your head

Using extra pillows to elevate your head helps reduce cough while sleeping.

3. Use cough drops

Sugar-free hard candies and cough drops can help with a dry cough by giving a soothing effect to the throat.

4. Take hot showers

Steamy hot showers can help in loosening the mucus to aid decongestion. (14) A room humidifier can be another option.

5. Relax

Deep breathing techniques can help relax the body and relieve the discomfort associated with cough.

6. Perform mild exercises

Mild exercises help open the airways. However, avoid heavy exercises as they can aggravate the problem.

7. Get proper rest

It is important to take breaks, sleep properly, and take naps to allow your body to recover.

8. Eat well

Consuming foods such as citrus fruits and herbs such as ginger and cinnamon helps reduce cough and colds. It is advisable to consume small portions frequently rather than a few large meals.

Preventive Measures

preventive measures that can relieve cough

These lifestyle changes could help reduce the risk of cough:

1. Avoid aerosols

Aerosol sprays such as deodorants, hairsprays, and cleaning agents often contain throat irritants.

2. Maintain good hygiene

It is vital to wash your hands frequently in the flu and cold season to prevent infection. Additionally, make sure to cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing.

3. Use a humidifier

A cool-mist humidifier can be used at night to avoid dry cough.

4. Quit smoking

It is essential to avoid smoking and secondhand smoke since cigarette smoke causes airway inflammation that produces mucus, thus causing a cough. (15)

Also, smoking increases the risk of cough and related diseases in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, etc. (16)

5. Stay away from infected people

Maintain distance from people who you believe may have influenza or colds to prevent getting infected.

6. Avoid touching your face

Refrain from touching your nose, eyes, or mouth as your hands may have picked up germs from contaminated surfaces. 

7. Do not take cough-inducing medicines

Ask your doctor to prescribe a different drug if a certain medication is causing the cough.

8. Avoid allergens

It is necessary to avoid things you are allergic to in order to prevent cough.

Most-Asked Questions About Cough

How can you stop coughing fits immediately?

A coughing attack may develop at any point in time, causing difficulty in breathing. In such cases, it is recommended to breathe only through the nose every 8 seconds. Additionally, you may consume a spoonful of honey or drink clear warm fluids if available at that time.

Why does cough worsen at night?

When you lie down, the nasal passages become obstructed, resulting in mouth breathing. The mouth breathing causes throat dryness, inducing coughing, and makes the throat more susceptible to other irritants.

Additionally, when you lie down, mucus from the nose and sinuses drains into the throat or airways (post-nasal drip) because of gravity and the normal cleaning functions of the nose and sinuses. This mucus may cause throat irritation and cough.

Also, while lying down, the acid from your stomach travels up the esophagus and reaches your throat. This irritates and burns the throat, thus inducing cough.

Final Word

Taking preventive steps to avoid cough and colds is highly recommended and useful. For this, one should get proper rest, consume immune-boosting foods such as fruits and vegetables, and practice proper hand hygiene.

Continue Reading Continue ReadingWhy Do We Cough: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
References
  1. M; NMPC. Is Honey an Effective Treatment for Acute Cough in Children? Medwave. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27280298/.
  2. Goldman RD. Honey for treatment of cough in children. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4264806/. Published December 2014.
  3. Ashkin E, Mounsey A. PURLs: a spoonful of honey helps a coughing child sleep. The Journal of family practice. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3601686/. Published March 2013.
  4. JP; GDASS. Effect of Preoperative Licorice Lozenges on Incidence of Postextubation Cough and Sore Throat in Smokers Undergoing General Anesthesia and Endotracheal Intubation. Middle East journal of anaesthesiology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24180166/.
  5. Ruetzler K; Fleck M; Nabecker S; Pinter K; Landskron G; Lassnigg A; You J; Sessler DI; A Randomized, Double-Blind Comparison of Licorice Versus Sugar-Water Gargle for Prevention of Postoperative Sore Throat and Postextubation Coughing. Anesthesia and analgesia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23921656/.
  6. Nosáľová G; Prisenžňáková L; Paulovičová E; Capek P; Matulová M; Navarini L; Liverani FS; Antitussive and Immunomodulating Activities of Instant Coffee Arabinogalactan-Protein. International journal of biological macromolecules. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21689679/.
  7. Raeessi MA; Aslani J; Raeessi N; Gharaie H; Karimi Zarchi AA; Raeessi F; Honey Plus Coffee Versus Systemic Steroid in the Treatment of Persistent Post-Infectious Cough: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Primary care respiratory journal: journal of the General Practice Airways Group. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23966217.
  8. K; FCSMK. [Marshmallow Root Extract for the Treatment of Irritative Cough: Two Surveys on Users’ View on Effectiveness and Tolerability]. Complementary medicine research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30064132.
  9. M; M. Marsh Mallow (Althaea Officinalis L.) and Its Potency in the Treatment of Cough. Complementary medicine research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31770755.
  10. AM; SKKHJJF. [Treatment of Cough in Respiratory Tract Infections – The Effect of Combining the Natural Active Compounds With Thymol]. Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland: 1960). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28214817/.
  11. Kang E-J, Kim SY, Hwang I-H, Ji Y-J. The effect of probiotics on prevention of common cold: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial studies. Korean journal of family medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3560336/. Published January 2013.
  12. Wang Y, Li X, Ge T, et al. Probiotics for prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infections in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4979858/. Published August 2016.
  13. Goldman RD, Canadian Paediatric Society, Drug Therapy and Hazardous Substances Committee. Treating cough and cold: Guidance for caregivers of children and youth. Paediatrics & child health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3223897/. Published November 2011.
  14. M; SMS. Heated, Humidified Air for the Common Cold. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21563130/.
  15. Shen Y, Huang S, Kang J, et al. Management of airway mucus hypersecretion in chronic airway inflammatory disease: Chinese expert consensus (English edition). International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796802/. Published January 30, 2018.
  16. Melzer AC, Feemster LC, Crothers K, et al. Respiratory and Bronchitic Symptoms Predict Intention to Quit Smoking among Current Smokers with, and at Risk for, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Annals of the American Thoracic Society. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5059497/. Published September 2016.
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