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Suvyne xapublished in How to
08/06/2022

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How to get rid of a bad cough without drugs.

A cough is actually a good thing. It’s your body’s way of clearing your airways in response to an irritant. But a cough can also keep you up all night, make you very miserable and sometimes it feels like it’s never going to go away.

If you’re struggling with how to get rid of a cough, here’s the good news: Most coughs clear up on their own without treatment. In the meantime, there are several natural remedies for cough that have proven benefits and most of this natural remedies for can be done at home with a few ingredients many of which you probably already have in your kitchen or medicine cabinet.

1. Have Some Honey — It’s a Natural Cough Suppressant

If you enjoy the taste of honey, you’re in luck. Hot liquids with honey can soothe and treat cough for short-term periods. Use plain hot water or a favorite hot tea, and add honey and lemon to taste (the lemon is just for flavor).

Honey right from the spoon is another low-cost cough home remedy with proven benefits. In a study published in the journal Pediatric Clinics of North America, children age 2 and older with upper respiratory tract infections resulting in cough were given up to 2 teaspoons of honey at bedtime. Not only did the honey reduce nighttime coughing, it also improved sleep.

2. Suck on Lozenges or Hard Candy to Help Stimulate Saliva

Lozenges and hard candy help stimulate saliva or increase secretions in the mouth, which can dampen any cough you may have, explains Russell. This works especially well as a dry cough remedy, he adds. There is not a lot of scientific evidence to back up herbal lozenges like those containing zinc, vitamin C, and echinacea, notes Russell, but they may have modest benefits — even if it’s just a placebo effect — and none of them are harmful.

3. Drink Fluids for Hydration and to Boost Your Immune System

Drinking fluids of all kinds, especially warm ones, like hot water, chicken soup, and tea, is another good home remedy for a cough, says Russell. “Many people who have a cough tend to get dehydrated,” he explains. In addition to hydration, fluids also help your immune system fight off the source of the infection or virus that may be causing your cough, and soothe the sore throat that is common with a cough, he adds.

4. Gargling May Make Your Cough Go Away Faster

Have some table salt at home? Go ahead and add some to warm water and gargle with it. In a small study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, simple water gargling tended to weaken the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (aka the common cold) and even prevent the infections from happening in the first place. In a pilot study published in January 2019 in Scientific Reports, gargling with warm salt water (along with nasal irrigation) was also been shown to have some benefits for improving cold symptoms and reducing the duration of symptoms like cough.

5. Use a Humidifier or Take a Steamy Shower to Ease Congestion

If you’ve ever noticed your cough or congestion easing up as you enjoy a hot bath or shower, then you know the value of humidity for easing cold symptoms. You can create this simple cough remedy at home by taking a steamy shower or by using a cool mist humidifier. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, and cool-mist humidifiers may help ease coughing and congestion due to a cold, according to the Mayo Clinic. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s directions to keep your humidifier clean and avoid encouraging bacteria and mold.

6. Cut Up an Onion to Relieve Your Cough

Many people start to cry the minute they begin chopping up an onion. But while there isn’t any science behind it, some people swear that the strong vapor an onion emits when it’s cut helps relieve a cough, says Russell. Before you go to bed, cut an onion into quarters and leave it on a plate on your bedside table or at the foot of the bed. Although using onions may sound like nothing more than an old wives’ tale, Russell says it’s quite popular in Spain and France.

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