Home Remedies For Cough

A cough is defined as a condition in which certain minute particles enter the respiratory pathway and irritates the airways. This blockage hampers the normal flow of air from the lung to the nose and vice versa. This disease can attack people of any age group. A person suffering from a cough finds trouble breathing, speaking, and finds difficulty in sleeping. If the cough persists for more than 15 days, the patient should immediately be taken for a medical checkup as it may result in other severe diseases. A cough is a natural reaction, designed to expel irritating, toxic material and mucus accumulations in the bronchial tubes. However, as everyone knows, even repeated coughing is sometimes ineffective at ridding the body of these irritants, and it itself becomes fatiguing and debilitating. For coughs, there are herbs that have a specific affinity to the chest and lung area (pectorals).

Some herbs are true antitussives or cough-suppressants (coltsfoot, horehound, wild cherry bark, licorice) or are just effective antispasmodics. Many are demulcents, soothing irritated bronchial tubes while others are expectorants, helping expel tough, adherent mucus. The powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties of many of these same plants make them an excellent choice for getting at both symptoms and causes. Many herbal cough formulas are available that combine these various properties and are often superior to a single herb.

The herbs below represent the best of literally hundreds of herbal cough medicines. Note that demulcent herbs are more applicable to dry coughs (licorice, slippery elm, mullein, althea), while astringent plants are more suitable to moist, rattly, or congested coughs (anise, eyebright, cowslip, thyme, eucalyptus).

Causes of Cough

• The major causes of cough are Cough, heart disease, lung cancer, asthma, viral, flu, and sinus.
• A cough may be caused by inflammation of the larynx or the pharynx.
• A cough can develop in the chest due to changes in weather or seasonal changes.
• The real cause of this disorder, however, is the clogging of the bronchial tubes with waste matter. This is due to wrong feeding habits. The reason for the higher incidence of cough during winter than in other seasons is that an average person usually eats more catarrh-forming foods such as white bread, meat, sugar, porridge, puddings, and pies during the colder months of the year. Being over-clothed with heavy undergarments and other garments during this period also prevents proper aeration of the skin.

Home Remedies For Cough

1. This is good to use for a persistent, stubborn cough. Pour 2 1/2 cups of boiling water over 2 tablespoons of dried agrimony flowers or leaves, and 1 tablespoon of dried parsley. Cover and steep until the mixture is cool. Strain. Use as a gargle to soothe sore throats. To stop persistent coughs, take 2-3 tablespoons of the infusion morning and evening.
2. Grapes are one of the most effective home remedies for the treatment of a cough. Grapes tone up the lungs and act as an expectorant, relieving a simple cold and cough in a couple of days. A cup of grape juice mixed with a teaspoon of honey is advised for cough relief.
3. Almonds are useful for dry coughs. Seven kernels should be soaked in water overnight and the brown skin removed. They should then be ground well to form a fine paste. A quantity of twenty grams each of butter and sugar should men be added to the paste. This paste should be taken in the morning and evening.
4. Haldi (Turmeric) powder – Turmeric powder is not only a perfect remedy for Cough and cough, but science has also proved that turmeric powder is helpful for cancer patients as well. Take a tablespoon of carom seeds or ajwain to a glass of water and add one tablespoon of turmeric powder to it. When the water reduces to half of its quantity, add honey to it. Take this syrup 2-3 times a day. This loosens chest congestion and improves breathing. Take 2 teaspoons full of turmeric powder and add it to warm milk. This has a magical effect in loosening the cough and clearing the mucus membrane. This is one of the best home remedies for cough.
5. Onion – Onion plays important role in the treatment of cough. The juice extracted from finely chopped onion helps in loosening the cough and clears chest congestion. Cough syrup prepared by mixing onion juice with honey is highly recommended. Take 1-2 teaspoons of onion juice, and add 1-2 teaspoons of honey to it. Keep this mixture aside for 5-6 hours, and then give a teaspoon of it to the patient at least two times a day. Another cough syrup made from onion juice contains lemon juice mixed in water along with honey. Take 1-2 teaspoons of onion juice, and add 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice to it. Pour a little amount of water and allow it to boil, later add 1-2 teaspoons of honey into it. Keep this cough syrup aside for 5-6 hours and give a teaspoon of it to the patient at least two times a day.
6. Adrak (Ginger) syrup – Ginger is one of the most used and effective home remedies. It is used for the cure of several diseases including cough. Prepare cough syrup by mixing a half tablespoon of ginger paste, and a half tablespoon of pepper powder. Further, add an equal amount (one tablespoon) of vinegar and honey into it. Mix with 2-3 tablespoons of water and keep it aside. Take this cough syrup 2-3 times a day. This is one of the widely accepted home remedies for the treatment of cough. This is one of the important home remedies for cough.
7. Ginger, garlic tea – Like ginger, garlic to is a very old home remedy. Doctors all over the world have admitted the usefulness of these two natural doctors of mankind. Ginger and garlic tea not only soothe the throat, but it also loosens the mucus membrane and clears chest congestion. Prepare tea by adding a small piece of ginger cut into small slices, 1-2 garlic seeds, and a small amount of lemon juice into the boiling water. Boil it for around 15-20 minutes. Strain the liquid and keep it aside. Add a little amount of honey into it and give it to the patient. The lemon juice added to it loosens the cough and makes breathing easy.
8. Kali Mirch (Black pepper) – A home remedy for cough is incomplete without black pepper. It loses the mucous membrane and opens chest congestion. The patient may take 2-3 black pepper seeds and chew them, or fry them a little in oil. If the patient finds it difficult in chewing it because of its strong bitter taste, add 2-3 pepper seeds to a glass of milk. Another way of taking black pepper is with cumin seeds. Take both black pepper and cumin seeds in small amounts and add 1/2 spoon of salt to it. Chew it slowly.

9. Long (Clove) – Take 2-3 cloves and fry in little oil. Chew those cloves; the patient may also take little water after chewing them.Anise-Pimpinella anisum

• Helps expel mucus, while being anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic.
• For colds, coughs, and bronchitis; also reduces nausea, gas, and bloating.
• Safe for infants and children; a popular colic and indigestion remedy.
• Often mixed with other herbs for the above effects and sweet licorice taste.

10. Coltsfoot-Tussilago farfara

• Expels mucus, soothes irritated membranes, and suppresses coughs.
• Coughs related to upper respiratory infections (colds), acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma, hoarseness, whooping cough, and emphysema.
• See Dosage. Should not be used excessively or for prolonged periods.

11. Cowslip-Primula veris

• Strong antispasmodic and expectorant for rattly coughs, and chronic bronchitis with thick white mucus. Warming and sedative effects.

12. Elecampane-Inula helenium

• For coughs and bronchitis, including chronic cough; gentle for children.
• Soothing expectorant; helps expel excess mucus, antibacterial effects.
• Relieves bronchial spasms in asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis.

13. Eucalyptus—Eucalyptus globulus

• Expectorant, the natural decongestant, is often used in rubs and liniments.
• Opens bronchial passages, and clears mucus during colds, flu, and bronchitis.
• Natural antiseptic. Use as an inhalant or lotion; high toxicity internally.

14. Grindelia-Gumweed/Grindelia camporum

• For coughs of bronchitis and asthma, whooping cough, or viral coughs.
• Clears tough mucus, improves breathing, and smothers the tendency on falling asleep. Slows rapid heartbeat and reduces high blood pressure.

15. Horehound—Marrubium vulgare

• Loosens mucus, soothes coughs; aids stuffy nose, sore throat, and colds.
• For bronchitis, wheezing, congested chest, with the inability to expel mucus.
• Treats asthma or chronic lung conditions with poor expectoration.

16. Hyssop-Hyssopus officinalis

• Relieves coughs, and bronchitis; loosens and expels mucus accumulations.
• Best in chronic coughs; a tonic, stimulating herb that speeds recovery.
• Asthmatic coughs in adults, and children. Promotes sweat in colds and flu.

17. Irish Moss–Chondrus crispus

• A mucilaginous, jelly-like seaweed is used in many respiratory conditions.
• A soothing demulcent used for irritating coughs, and inflamed membranes.
• An expectorant for phlegm and mucus encourages a productive cough.

18. Licorice-Glycyrrhiza glabra

• A powerful cough suppressant, soothing expectorant, demulcent and anti-inflammatory. Treats bronchitis, coughs, asthma, and sore throats.

19. Lomatium-Lomatium dissectum

• Powerful antiviral, antibacterial herb, that kills at least ten bacterial strains.
• Eliminates a broad range of acute and chronic viruses.
• For flu, cold, chronic bronchitis, and viral pneumonia. Expels hard mucus.

20. Lungwort-Sticta pulmonaria

• For cough and bronchitis. For dry hacking night cough, preventing sleep.
• Treats lingering coughs after measles, flu, colds, and whooping cough.
• Soothes tickling in throat, and bronchi, where one cough incites another.

21. Maidenhair Fern-Adiantum cappillus

• Used for coughs, bronchitis, asthma, and general respiratory disorders.
• Soothes sore throats, expels mucus and helps chronic sinus congestion.

22. Mullein-Verbascum thapsus

• Traditional cough remedy that soothes dry and inflamed throat and bronchi, clears mucus, allays bronchial spasms, and shrinks swollen glands.
• Useful in colds, flu, bronchitis, asthma, and even emphysema.

23. Sesame seeds (Til) and Sugar candy (Mishri) are boiled in water for 10 minutes and filtered and this decoction taken thrice a day helps to cure Cough.
24. Aniseed (Saunf), Carom seeds (Ajwain) boiled in water, filtered and this decoction mixed with Honey taken thrice a day helps to get relief from Cough.
25. Equal quantities of Harad (Haritaki), Gooseberry, and Glycyrrhiza glabra (Jyeshta Madhu) powdered and one spoon of this powder taken with one spoon of Sugar with Milk thrice a day cure severe cough.
26. Malabar (Abdulasa, adusoge) leaf juice with Honey and Rock salt taken twice a day helps to cure severe cough.
27. Add a gram of turmeric (Haldi) powder to a teaspoon of honey for curing dry cough. Also, chew a cardamom for a long time.

Author: Dr Izharul Hasan

READ MORE:

• Home Remedies For Constipation
• Home Remedies For Cold Sores