If you’re suffering from a cough, it can be frustrating and painful. You’re willing to do just about anything to find relief. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural cough suppressants that you can try right now in your own home. Best of all, none of these remedies have the side effects you’d usually find in over-the-counter cough medicines. So, if you’re looking for how to get rid of a cough, you may want to try some of these.
If you’re wondering how to stop coughing, these homemade cough remedies may be helpful to you.
Honey is both antibacterial and antiviral, so it can be a helpful way to treat your cough. Since honey is so thick and sticky, it also works as a natural cough suppressant.
Take a teaspoon full of honey as needed to relieve your cough symptoms.
Licorice root has been used for thousands of years to treat various ailments and it’s one of the best natural remedies for a pesky cough. Today, it’s still used to treat things like oral pain, colds, and coughs. Here’s how to make a tasty cup of licorice root tea:
Once your water has reached a boil, remove it from the heat and add the licorice root. Let steep for 5 minutes and then strain the tea into a cup. Discard the licorice root. Sweeten with raw honey if desired.
Gargling salt water is an age-old remedy that can help ease your cough symptoms. It’s easy and effective.
Combine the salt and water and stir until the salt dissolves. Take a mouthful of this mixture and gargle, then spit it out. Repeat this process until you’ve finished the glass.
This tasty and helpful remedy is useful for everybody, and it’s especially great if you have small children. Taken at the first sign of a cold, many people swear this remedy completely neutralizes their symptoms within a few hours.
Mix the two ingredients together and refrigerate. Take a teaspoon full at the first sign of a cough.
A hot, steamy shower can work wonders if you’re suffering from a cough. Steam helps to flush out mucus, and it can also moisturize dry nasal passages. Keep in mind that if your cough is related to asthma, you’ll want to avoid steam as it can exacerbate your symptoms. These are effective cough suppressants that you can use at home.
Thyme helps to relax the muscles that are associated with coughing, and it’s a natural anti-inflammatory which makes it a helpful addition to your routine if you’re looking to stop a cough.
Bring the water to a boil and remove it from the heat. Add the crushed thyme leaves and steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain the leaves out of your tea and pour them into a cup. Add a bit of honey or sugar and enjoy.
We already know that honey is one of the best natural cough suppressants. What you may not know is that pepper stimulates circulation and mucus flow. Together, they make an effective treatment for a wet cough.
Bring your water to a boil and remove it from the heat. Add the honey and black pepper and stir until the honey dissolves. Let the mixture steep for 5-10 minutes and then drink it.
Ginger is a powerful natural cough remedy that’s sure to help ease your cold symptoms. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory, and it also kills rhinoviruses, which are responsible for causing colds.
As you’re bringing the water to a boil, clean and prepare your ginger. You can slice it into tiny pieces, or grate it. Once your water has reached a boil, remove it from the heat and add the ginger. Let it steep for 5-10 minutes and strain. Add honey to taste and enjoy.
Peppermint is practically anti-everything. It’s antispasmodic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antiviral. Peppermint essential oil is useful for managing cough, and it also makes a delicious tea. To make peppermint tea, follow this recipe
Bring your water to a boil, then remove it from the heat and add your peppermint leaves. Allow the tea to steep for 5-10 minutes and then strain the leaves. Sweeten with honey if you like, and enjoy.
File this one under preventative maintenance. While probiotics won’t necessarily help with your cold and cough now, they can be very helpful in preventing symptoms from sprouting up in the future. The probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus is most useful in preventing coughs and colds.
You can find bromelain in the stems and juice of pineapple. While some studies disagree, many people believe that the enzymes found in bromelain make it one of the best cough suppressants. Bromelain is widely available in pill form at your local vitamin shop if you’d like to give it a shot for your cough. This is one of the effective cough suppressants.
These fluffy and delicious campfire treats can also help to ease the pain of a sore throat and treat a cough, as well! For centuries, marshmallow root tea has been used as a home remedy for cough. Here’s how you can make your own.
Bring your water to a boil and remove it from the heat. Next, add the powdered marshmallow root and stir until it’s dissolved. Add honey to taste and enjoy.
It may seem strange, but a recent study revealed that honey and coffee together are a powerful way to fight a persistent cough. Here’s how you can make your own honey coffee cough medicine.
Combine the honey and instant coffee and mix until you’ve achieved a thick paste. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of this mixture in 8oz of hot water and drink 3 times per day.
If you’re over the age of 21, your old friend alcohol can help treat your cough! You’ve probably noticed that most cough medicines contain alcohol. Alcohol is anti-bacterial and serves as a counter-irritant in your throat.
Next time you’re suffering from a cough, have a shot of vodka or brandy and see if that doesn’t help to bring you relief.
Vapor rub is a great way to clear sinuses and alleviate some of the symptoms associated with a cough or cold. You can make an all-natural vapor rub at home with this simple recipe.
Heat the beeswax and coconut oil on a double burner until combined. If you don’t have a double burner, you can mimic this process with a bit of ingenuity. Pour boiling water into a Pyrex baking pan and place a bowl with the beeswax and coconut oil into the pan. The heat from the boiling water outside the bowl will melt the two ingredients, allowing you to combine them. Once these two ingredients are combined, add the essential oils and transfer them to a jar or container. Let the mixture cool and then use it as needed to treat cough, cold, and congestion symptoms.
Wild cherry bark extract has long been prized for its ability to reduce or eliminate a chronic cough. You can steep the wild cherry bark in hot water to create tea. But, wild cherry bark extract is perhaps even more effective.
You can find wild cherry bark extract at most health food and vitamin stores. It’s typically available in 1-4 oz. bottles. Taken throughout the day, wild cherry bark extract is a proven remedy for reducing or eliminating a cough.
If you’re suffering from a cough, drinking more water can be a helpful way to alleviate your symptoms. Drinking water helps ease congestion and postnasal drip, which can exasperate a cough. It also moistens dry throats and can improve the productivity of your cough as well.
Elderberries are an amazing fruit that helps to boost your immune system. Taken at the first sign of a cold or cough, elderberry can help boost your immune response and stop sickness dead in its tracks. This homemade syrup is a helpful way to reduce your cough symptoms now while providing your immune system with the boost it needs to fight off the cold and flu.
Combine the water, ginger, elderberries, and cinnamon in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Next, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for up to an hour until the liquid in the pan is reduced by about half. Strain the mixture into a large container and allow it to cool. Once it’s cool, add the honey and mix until it’s thoroughly combined. Store your syrup in the refrigerator and take 1 tbsp. daily for an immunity boost. If you’re already experiencing cold, cough, or flu symptoms, up the dosage to 3 times per day.
Slippery elm is another great way to coat your throat to treat a cough. It’s available as a powder, in lozenges and teas, and as the slippery elm bark itself. Here’s an easy recipe for slippery elm tea.
Steep the elm bark in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Next, remove the bark and add honey or sugar to your liking and enjoy.
Believe it or not, relieving a cough can be as simple as getting some fresh air. The cold air helps to ease the inflammation and swelling of the throat which can reduce the symptoms of a cough.
If your cough is dry, milk and butter can be a helpful way to reduce or eliminate your symptoms. The fat and oil from the butter and milk help to coat the throat and ease cough symptoms.
Warm the milk and butter on the stove until the butter has melted completely into the milk. Pour the mixture into a glass and drink. Be careful not to heat this mixture to a boil as it will spoil the milk. Also, you’ll want to avoid using 2% or fat-free milk as it isn’t thick enough to coat the throat.
Some like it hot, and if you’re one of those people, this remedy may be a good one for you. Chinese hot mustard or wasabi can clear the sinuses in a hurry, and it also helps to ease congestion and calm coughs. Feel free to apply them liberally to food, or just eat a small spoonful straight, if you’re particularly daring.
For adults, several different factors both internal and external can cause a cough. A dry cough is typically associated with most of the causes below. A wet cough is typically associated with cold or flu viruses. Some of the most likely culprits include:
It can be nearly impossible to prevent a cough, especially if you’re already suffering from one. However, there are some steps you can take to try and prevent a cough.
Sometimes, your cough may be too severe to handle on your own. Consult with a doctor if:
It can be quite embarrassing to couch in public. You’re standing over here making this loud noise that spews germs all over the room and it can bring all eyes onto you. If you cough while sitting in an office or a classroom, it can be a hard thing to figure out the etiquette. But there is a right and wrong way to think about coughing as well as a right and wrong way to cough in public. All of our best tips are below.
It is embarrassing because you have forgotten this is a thing that happens to everyone. We all have had a cold before, or some other lung issue that causes excessive coughing. Just like you can remember everyone farts if you let one out against your will, the same can be true of coughing.
This is a good one to remember! It is a new decision of mine to determine that anything out of my control is not going to impact me for very long. You cannot control coughing any more than you can control the sun rising, don’t take yourself so seriously.
The thing you CAN control when it comes to coughing is how you do it. Are you covering your mouth? If you aren’t that is the time to get embarrassed. The best way to cover your mouth is to put the dip side of your elbow over your mouth as you cough and cough into the elbow, the same as you would for sneezing. This way, the germs do not fly everywhere and your hand stays clean for use.
Sometimes it’s nice to just say sorry. Try it out!
