There are natural ways to relieve your cough. Drinking lots of fluids will thin out mucus in your airways and make coughing less frequent.
Gargling with salt water can reduce swelling in your throat tissue, helping to loosen up a cough. You could also try using a Neti pot for this purpose.
Ginger Tea
Coughing can be a miserable experience, but one natural remedy that has been around for centuries is ginger tea. The active ingredient in ginger, gingerol, may help strengthen your immunity while relieving symptoms associated with colds, flu and coughs.
Make a delicious ginger tea in no time with just water and fresh ginger. Not only is it deliciously spicy, but it can help soothe your throat and stop coughing as well.
Once cleaned and sliced roughly two-inch knob of fresh ginger root finely (don’t have to peel it), add them to three cups boiling water and boil for 10-20 minutes until tender.
You can make this tea less spicy by boiling it for less time or adding a small amount of powdered ginger. For additional flavor and health benefits, add cinnamon sticks, turmeric, orange peel or fennel seeds for added benefits.
Elderberry Extract
Elderberry extract, made from the berries of Sambucus nigra tree, has long been used as a natural remedy for coughs and colds. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which support immunity while aiding digestion and preventing infections.
Berries are also packed with flavonoids and phenolic acids, plant-based compounds that provide numerous health benefits. These include strengthening the immune system, combatting inflammation and relieving stress.
Although folk wisdom has suggested that elderberry extracts may be helpful in relieving flu symptoms, more research is necessary to confirm its efficacy.
One study revealed that economy class overseas travelers who took liquid elderberry extract (BerryPharma, Iprona AG and Lana BZ, Italy) for 10 days before and 5 days after traveling were less likely to contract the flu than those who did not take it.
Studies have also suggested that elderberry extract has antibacterial properties which may reduce gum inflammation, commonly known as gingivitis.
Menthol
One of the best natural remedies for coughs is menthol. This plant compound found in peppermint and other mints has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cooling effects.
It has a variety of medical uses, such as inhalers, nasal sprays and cough drops. Additionally, it helps treat headaches and indigestion by activating thermoreceptors in the body.
Drinking plenty of liquids is another essential step in treating a cough. Fluids help thin out mucus and facilitate breathing out congestion from the lungs.
If your cough is persistent, it may be best to see a doctor. They can determine if there is an underlying medical issue and prescribe medication for relief.
It is especially important to avoid smoking if you have a cough, as menthol is an ingredient in cigarette flavoring. While the FDA hasn’t implemented an outright ban on menthol cigarettes yet, they have proposed new rules that would remove this ingredient from all tobacco products by spring 2022.
Cough Drops
Coughing is a natural reflex that helps your body clear out mucus or irritants from your airways. But it can be uncomfortable or even hazardous if it’s caused by an underlying medical condition.
Thankfully, there are plenty of natural remedies that can help relieve the symptoms of a cough. Many are safe to take without a doctor’s approval and may be especially beneficial when taken along with prescribed medication.
Cough drops can be an effective way to relieve throat irritation or calm the cough reflex. These products typically contain medications like menthol (peppermint oil) or eucalyptus oil for maximum soothing power.
Cough drops can also be an effective remedy for oral pain, such as canker sores or other mouth injuries. Some cough drops are specifically designed to address this need, like Cepacol Extra Strength cough drops with a powerful numbing agent which temporarily alleviates mouth and throat discomfort.