Cure A Dry Cough With Home Remedies
Prolonged coughing episodes sometimes occur when you have a lung infection. This is how your body tries to eliminate the mucus that blocks the respiratory tract. If your cough becomes dry and doesn’t disappear in a few days, you should see it is a sign that something’s not right.
If you recognise any of the symptoms listed below, you shouldn’t ignore them. Doing so may complicate your health. Do try some of these homemade remedies; but if symptoms continue, consult your GP without delay.
What Causes Coughing?
There are a number of reasons why a dry cough might occur. Coughing may occur after a very bad cold. Perhaps you’ve been exposed to some sort of irritant – cigarettes, for instance. Other causes to consider are allergies, asthma, certain medications (such as those used to regulate blood pressure) or a dry environment. Gastric reflux can also lead to dry coughing.
Sip Soothing, Hot Beverages
Weapon number one in your arsenal against an annoying cough is a nice, hot drink. Because coughing may occur in reaction to an irritated throat, the best way to initially address the problem is by drinking a warm beverage. Try soups or sip teas such as ginger, lemon or mint. They are the most effective for this problem, as they open your airways and help shed mucus. Ensure that you drink them at room temperature – and often! Having a hot shower before bed will also loosen the tightness in your body and should result in a better night’s sleep.
Onion Juice
Chop an onion and add two tablespoons of agave nectar. Let the mixture settle for half an hour so that all of the onion’s juices are released. A few times daily, drink a spoonful of this blend. We can’t promise that you’ll enjoy the taste, but you’ll appreciate how effective it is on your dry cough. It may well fight other flu symptoms, too.
Salt Gargle
Mix a tablespoon of salt with a half a glass of warm water. Gargle with it, but don’t swallow it. Spit it out once you’ve finished gargling. Again, it’s not tasty, but this remedy is easy, cheap – and it really works! You can do this a few times each day.
Glorious Grapes
Who knew that grapes are an excellent ally for your lungs and make a good expectorant! Eat whole grapes for a few days and you’ll soon notice an improvement in your health. If you’d rather juice them, that’s an option. Just add sweetener to taste and drink as often as three or four times daily. Grapes may be the most pleasant and delicious way of getting rid of a dry cough.
Almonds
Almonds are another cold-fighting superhero that you may find surprisingly effective. They’re the essential component in this simple, home remedy for treating a horrible, dry cough. To prepare, just let six whole almonds soak overnight. In the morning, remove the skins and grind them into a paste. Add twenty grams of raw virgin coconut oil and twenty grams of sugar. Combine all ingredients well and eat a teaspoon of the paste twice a day for at least three days. Repeat as long as the cough continues.
One caveat that you should bear in mind: don’t try all of these remedies simultaneously. Start with one and only move on to the next when and if the first remedy doesn’t work. Keep trying until you find one that gives you relief.
Another extremely important piece of advice is what we cautioned at the start of this article. Should your dry cough persist over the course of more than a few days, despite trying some of the remedies outlined here, you should see your GP immediately to rule out any serious health issues.
