Natural Treatments of a Cough

What’s in a Cough?

Generally speaking, coughing is perfectly normal. A cough can help to keep your throat clear from phlegm and other irritants. However, sustained coughing can also be symptomatic of a number of conditions.

Coughs may be dry or chesty. They’re also classified according to how long they last: an acute cough lasts for less than three weeks; a subacute cough gets better over a three-to-eight-week period; a chronic (persistent) cough lasts for longer than eight weeks.

Most coughs caused by the ‘common cold’ or by flu usually clear up within two weeks. The common causes are respiratory tract infections; rhinitis; a medicine like those prescribed for high blood pressure or heart disease; and smoking.

Cough Symptoms to Watch Out For

Respiratory tract infections involve body aches and fever, whereas allergies do not. You should see a doctor if you develop a fever or experience chills, as these symptoms can be a sign of a serious lung infection like bronchitis. You should also seek medical attention if your cough is violent or you produce thick, bad-smelling, off-colored phlegm.

You can treat coughs due to colds, allergies, and sinus infections with a number of over-the-counter medicines. However, for those who prefer to avoid chemicals, we've listed a few home remedies that can help.

See your GP if you’ve had a cough for more than two weeks after a viral infection, or if your cough is progressively getting worse.

Natural treatment of a cough 

☛A Spoonful of Honey: Take 1 tablespoon of honey 1-3 times daily as needed to control coughing. Take immediately before bed if a cough is disrupting your sleep. For children, you can adjust the dosing to 1 teaspoon up to one tablespoon. Read more Health Benefits of Honey
☛Licorice Root Tea: Stir salt into water until it is thoroughly dissolved. Gargle for 15 seconds, spit and repeat with the remaining water. Rinse with plain water afterward.
☛Steam: Bring enough water to a boil to halfway fill a medium size heatproof bowl. Pour the water into it, let it cool slightly for 30-60 seconds, and add the essential oils, giving it a quick stir to release the vapors. Lean over the bowl and get as close as you can while still being comfortable. Remember that steam can seriously burn! Use the towel to cover your head like a tent, trapping the steam, and breathe deeply. Ideally, do this for 5-10 minutes 2-3 times a day.
☛Tea Thyme: Lightly bruise the thyme, e.g. with a mortar and pestle, and then place in a mug. Cover with 8 ounces of boiling water, cover, and let it steep for 10-15 minutes. Add some lemon or honey to taste, and drink the whole thing. Repeat 2-3 times daily as needed. It’s absolutely delightful just before bedtime (unless you aren’t a fan of thyme. But drink some anyway.)
☛Pepper & Honey: Place the pepper and honey in a mug and then cover with boiling water. Give it stir to disperse the pepper flakes and melt in the honey. Steep for 10 minutes, stir once more, and drink in its entirety. Repeat 1-2 times a day as needed to loosen mucous.
☛Lentil: Make a decoction of the green or dry pods and the seeds.
☛Lemon: Drinks 4-8 glasses of lemon juice per day. See more Health Benefits of Lemons
☛Hibiscus: Make a decoction of the roots.
☛Acacia: Take 1 teaspoon of the paste made from the leaves with 1 teaspoon of honey and a little warm water.
Cabbage: Make the juice of a purple cabbage into a syrup.
☛Orange: Eat ripe fruit. See more Health Benefits of Oranges
☛Walnut: Make an infusion of the leaves, using 20 grams for 1 liter of water.
☛Garden lettuce: Eat the fresh raw leaves.
☛Mango tree: Eat the ripe fruit, either with honey or as syrup.
☛French Bean: Bruise some French beans and boil them with garlic. This is a very powerful treatment for coughs that are very persistent.
☛Country Gooseberry: Make a decoction of the whole, thoroughly cleaned, plant.
☛Ginger: Make an infusion of the rhizome. More Health Benefits of Ginger roots