14 Best Natural home remedies for dry cough 

Introduction

Cough is annoying at any time of the day. The daily schedule is disturbed, and one loses valuable nighttime sleep. Fortunately, knowing home remedies to stop coughing without medications can easily be managed. 

Unless a person has a significant medical condition or a complication of an existing illness, it’s not difficult to get rid of a cough. The severity of the cough can be greatly diminished by using safe, effective home treatments and following instructions. 

By using the following home remedies, say goodbye to the cough due to common causes, such as respiratory infections.

Causes of dry cough

A dry cough may result from

• Allergy, such as an allergy to pollen or dust.
• Smoking
• Asthma
• A viral disease, such as the flu, common cold or COVID
• Laryngitis
• Inhaling foreign particles
• Post-viral disease cough
• Post nasal drip – Mucus discharges from the nose or sinuses, draining down the back of the throat.
• Tuberculosis
• Interstitial lung disease
• Medication-induced cough, such as that caused by ACE medications.

14 Dry cough home remedies

A dry cough can significantly impact daily life and interfere with sleep at night. Many traditional dry cough home remedies have been handed down through the generations. They are only thought to be safe for short-term use.

Hydration

A dry throat can exacerbate a cough. Drinking soothing liquids, like tea or water with lemon, can help with a dry cough. Maintaining hydration is among the easiest and safest ways to reduce coughing.

The mucus can leave the body through the mouth or nose by becoming thinner due to hydration. It can also assist unwell people in replacing fluids lost through sweat or a runny nose.

Saltwater gargle

Due to its efficiency in relieving a sore throat, doctors often encourage patients to use saltwater gargles while using home remedies for dry cough. Since saltwater is osmotic, which alters the direction of fluids, it draws moisture away from sensitive spots, reducing swelling and irritation caused by a dry cough.

Add a spoonful of salt to a glass of warm water. Use this mixture to gargle. Let the water rest in the throat for a while before spitting it out. For the best results, do it several times for a few days.

Gargle with salt water several times daily until the cough subsides. 

Warm liquids

Staying warm and hydrated is essential for people with a cough or cold. Anytime a patient sips on something hot, the symptoms can ease immediately.  

Warm liquids, including water, clear broths and herbal teas, can rapidly relieve chills, a scratchy throat and a dry cough. These effects can last for a while after drinking the hot liquid.

Honey

Research states that honey is a better alternative for treating upper respiratory infection symptoms like coughing.

Honey has a high viscosity and has similar effects to cough drops. It coats the throat lining when swallowed, reducing pain or scratchiness. Dark honey, such as dark buckwheat honey, is more frequently used in treating coughs than clover honey, which is more widely available.

In addition to its soothing effects, honey possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These qualities can strengthen the immune system and aid in the prevention of illnesses.

While honey can be eaten on its own, mixing it with hot tea can enhance its throat-soothing properties.

To prepare lemon honey water, you will need 

• Honey – two tablespoons
• Lemon juice – one-half teaspoon 
• Water – 1 glass

Procedure 

• Mix the honey thoroughly with the boiling water.
• Add the lemon juice, then thoroughly stir and consume.

Take a glass of this drink in the morning and at night. Other combinations, like honey with cinnamon, peppermint and ginger, are also effective.

Ginger

In addition to boosting immunity and easing pain, ginger has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. As an expectorant that will release mucus and lessen the intensity of coughing fits, ginger is an effective natural treatment for dry coughs.

Consider choosing teas with ginger as an ingredient. A cup of hot water with half a teaspoon of ginger powder added to it three times each day does wonders for a coughing person. 

Combine a spoonful of raw honey and ginger juice and consume it twice daily. Note that consuming too much ginger may cause gastrointestinal distress.

Steam inhalation

Nasal congestion can be relieved by inhaling steam. This will help a person blow their nose more easily, and if there is a post-nasal drip, it releases accumulated mucus in the throat. Steam may ease pain since it can moisturise a sore throat.

Try inhaling steam from a boiling pot of water for momentary relief. Heat water in a bowl. Sit in a comfortable position with the bowl of hot water placed in front. Put a cloth over your head to help contain the steam, but watch out for getting too close, or it can cause burning. Taking a hot shower has a similar impact as well.

Liquorice root

Liquorice root has been used for ages for its purported ability to reduce pain, cleanse mucus and soothe coughing. Tea made from liquorice root may relieve congestion and discomfort in the throat. 

Turmeric

Turmeric, with its curcumin content, makes an excellent home remedy for dry cough. 

Since it possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and antibacterial characteristics, people with dry cough can benefit from them. Being an ancient Ayurvedic remedy, turmeric can treat everything from respiratory illnesses to arthritis. 

Ingredients required 

• Rice, almond or coconut milk – 1 Cup
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Method of preparation

• Add a quarter teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of milk (it can be any milk) and mix well.
• Drink a glass of this turmeric milk daily till the cough subsides.

This warm turmeric milk soothes a cough by hydrating the parched, scratchy throat. Additionally, it eases chest congestion and aids in sputum ejection. Turmeric’s remarkable ability to heal and fight bacteria will go a long way toward treating a persistent cough.

Thyme

Thyme has been used as medicine since the Black Plaque in Europe. It contains an antispasmodic substance that aids in calming the muscles of the throat. Thyme has antioxidant properties that soothe digestive problems and is an effective home treatment for a dry cough and sore throat.

Sip some thyme tea couple of times a day. One can also taste-test adding lemon juice or honey to sweeten it.

Marshmallow root

Marshmallow root is an old-fashioned herb that helps to relieve a dry cough is marshmallow root. Some studies support its efficacy in calming the throat and minimising the irritation from a dry cough.

Aromatherapy

It may also be beneficial to use aromatherapy to treat dry cough by adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to hot water and breathing the resulting vapours. 

Eucalyptus oil is a fantastic natural cure for dry cough because research has demonstrated its effectiveness in treating respiratory disorders.

Humidifier

For individuals living in a dry area or during the winter, a humidifier serves as a great alternative to keep the sinuses clear. By dispersing steam or water vapour into space, humidifiers provide moisture to the air.

Keeping a humidifier in a room where a person spends most of the time is the best option as they add enough moisture to the room.

On using a humidifier, make sure to regularly replace the water and maintain it clean to avoid unintentionally spreading mould or bacteria.

Mint

These leaves have a unique characteristic that helps release mucus more easily due to the menthol in mint’s aroma. As a result, opening up the nasal passageways makes breathing easier. A sore throat or dry cough is also relieved by the cooling effect.

Inhaling a mint-based inhaler will help keep the nasal passages clear and soothe the throat by relieving congestion. It is also beneficial to boil the leaves and inhale the fumes.

The therapeutic properties of peppermint leaves have long been recognised. Peppermint, which contains the natural decongestant menthol, soothes sore throats and reduces excessive mucus production.

Peppermint tea, when taken as a hot beverage, can also help you stay more hydrated.

Masala Chai/Tea 

In India, masala chai is used to treat conditions such as a sore throat and dry cough. 

Masala chai is a drink that contains several antioxidant ingredients, including cloves and cardamom. These ingredients may help to improve your health and help to relieve congestion. 

Masala Chai  also has spices like cinnamon, which have anti-inflammatory properties. 

Masala Tea Recipe : 

Cloves- 2 Nos  

Cardamom- 2 Nos 

Grated ginger- 2 tbsp 

Cinnamon- 1 stick 

Water- Half cup 

Milk- 2 cups 

Tea leaves- 2 tsp 

Sugar/Honey- As per taste 

Method: 

• Boil the spices together for 5 minutes in water. 
• Boil till  the aroma of the masala smells up your kitchen and the colour of the water becomes dark brown. 
• Now add boiled milk to the spiced water. 

• Boil it for 3 to 4 minutes and serve hot. 

When to see a doctor?

If any of the following appear, along with persistent cough, one should definitely see a doctor.

• Coughing blood
• Decreased appetite
• Continuous high fever
• Breathing difficulty
• Body weakness and exhaustion
• Chest pain
• Sweats at night

Usually, a more significant problem results from the occurrence of two or more of the aforementioned symptoms in combination. Therefore, it is always recommended to visit the doctor and have a comprehensive check-up if home remedies for dryness do not help.

How to prevent coughing?

A patient can try to prevent a seasonal cough before it starts by following a few easy steps.

• Keep the digestive system in good condition. Yoghurt, which contains live cultures and other probiotics can help prevent respiratory infections by boosting the immune system.
• Prevent triggers for acid reflux. Alcohol, excessive fat, spicy food, eating late at night and coughing can all be aggravated by acid reflux.
• Wash hands frequently. Eliminating these bacteria will help lower the chance of becoming ill from common viruses and bacteria, which frequently cause coughs and colds.

Conclusion

The purpose of natural dry cough home remedies is to provide temporary relief from minor illnesses, allergies, asthma and reflux. Treatment is necessary for moderate to severe coughs or coughs that are persistent. A healthcare professional can identify the root cause of a continuous dry cough and provide a plan of action to help the condition.

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