10 Home Remedies For Cough 2024
Today, I give you 10 home remedies for cough. The cough is one of our body’s natural mechanisms to prevent germs and particles from invading our respiratory system. To give you a brief description of how this works, let us take a brief moment to look at how our respiratory system works.
Our respiratory system has mucus and small hair-like substances, that help trap dust particles and foreign objects from reaching the lungs. The cough is also a mechanism that helps expel these particles out of the respiratory system.
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Although cough is a very important defence mechanism, it can also become a nuisance, especially if it becomes too much. The best way to get rid of a cough is to deal with the underlying problem, which could be an infection, allergies or even reflux of food particles or acid from the stomach back into the respiratory system.
In today’s article, I will show you some natural home remedies for cough. Remember, if the cough is severe, or persists for a long time, say a few weeks, it is probably a wise move to visit the doctor, as it may be a sign of other conditions such as Tuberculosis or pneumonia.
Home Remedies for cough
Ginger
Ginger is not only a master at relieving cough, it can be used in nausea and pain. This is because ginger has some anti-inflammatory properties. But I have to warn you about it, because in some people, it may cause some stomach upset and heartburn.
To make it at home, just boil some ginger in water, add a lemon or two, or honey for taste, and you are good to go.
Take plenty of fluids.
Fluids are essential to our body, so when a cough or sore throat. Ensure that you are well hydrated at all times. Also, I do advise using warm or hot water or beverage.
Fluids help deal with running nose, sore throat and coughing. Try it, you will be really surprised.
Steam therapy.
This is probably the best method I have tried at home. Take some hot steaming water into a bowl or basin. You can add some herbs, such as eucalyptus or rosemary. Cover yourself and the basin with a blanket for about 30 minutes, or until you feel some relief.
Be careful, this hot water could burn you, so be careful not to spill it on yourself.
Home remedies for cough – continuation
Salt.
Ever heard of the phrase, “Salt is the light of the world”? This is probably true. Salt has many purposes, apart from bringing taste to our food. Mixing salt with water reduces the mucus in the back of the throat, which causes cough, especially productive cough.
So take some salt, maybe a tablespoon, mix with warm water until it completely dissolves, and then allow it to cool. Gargle this solution and let it stay in your mouth for about a few minutes, then spit it out. You can do this severally for better results.
Can I use antibiotics for my cough as home remedies for cough?
Most coughs are usually viral in nature, and antibiotics are not required for treatment. Most coughs are self-limiting, meaning they will eventually settle down by themselves. Also, remember that frequent use of antibiotics leads to resistance of microorganisms to the antibiotics, which is not a good thing.
What you can get is an antitussive medication, which will help suppress the cough. A cough that persists for more than 2 weeks can be a sign of an underlying disease, for example, Tuberculosis.
When to see a doctor?
Please visit your doctor when you see the following associated with the cough;
- Unexplained Weight Loss. Losing weight, unintentionally, is not a good sign and may be due to an underlying illness.
- Presence of blood stain when coughing. If you notice a blood stain on your handkerchief after coughing, please visit your local health facility.
- Difficulty in breathing.
- A persistent cough that lasts for more than two weeks can be a sign of other infections such as Tuberculosis.
- Cough is associated with high fever, especially in children. Can be a sign of pneumonia, which is fatal if untreated.
- If you have had recent contact with a person who is confirmed to have Tuberculosis, it is a good idea to visit the hospital to rule it out.
How to prevent getting cough and flu.
Hygiene.
As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, cough is the body’s natural mechanism of expelling unwanted foreign material, such as dust from the respiratory system. Therefore, if you live in a place full of dust, you are more likely to cough or catch the flu.
Avoid overcrowded places.
Overcrowded areas predispose you to not only flu and coughs, but other diseases such as Covid 19. If overcrowded places, infections that are airborne are easily passed from one person to the other.
Improve your health-seeking habits.
Go for a medical check at least twice a year. Your doctor will advise you if you should receive a flu shot, and check your general body wellbeing.