A cough is the body’s response to inflammation or irritation in the throat, larynx, bronchial tubes, or lungs. There are two basic kinds of coughs, congested and dry, with each one having different underlying causes. Coughs can be caused by colds, flu, bronchial infections, heartburn, sinus congestion, smoking, and the need to rid the throat of foreign matter such as dust, pollen, chemicals, and other irritants. Let’s look at some natural remedies you can use to stop that nasty cough now.
HERBS TO STOP A COUGH
Drink hot wild cherry bark, horehound, or pine needle tea to break up the mucus and open and moisten the airways. You can also chew on a piece of ginger, which helps to disperse mucus congestion.
Cough drops or hard candy often help stop the tickle and moisten the throat if you have a dry cough. Look for herbal lozenges or candy in natural food stores that contain mint, ginger, horehound, hyssop, or wild cherry to calm your cough.
Licorice root, marshmallow root, and slippery elm bark all bind with phlegm and carry it out of the body via the intestines. Use as tea or lozenges as needed, up to a dozen daily.
ACUPRESSURE TO STOP A COUGH
The feet contain points that correspond to all parts of the body. By massaging them, you can move blockages in other parts. To affect the lungs, rub the padded area below your big toe in various directions at the first sign of a cough. Also, hold back the toes and press on the raised area with your thumb. This will help relieve chest congestion and corresponds to the lungs according to foot reflexologists.
WHEN TO SEE YOUR M.D.
See your doctor if you cough for more than three days for no apparent reason or if you have any of the following:
• Shortness of breath or sharp pains in your chest when you cough.
• A fever along with a persistent cough—this could be indicative of a serious respiratory illness. If you have a high fever and difficulty breathing,
• you may have pneumonia.
• If you cough up blood or bloody mucus or if your mucus is yellow, brown, or green and does not improve in a few days—this may indicate that you have an infection.
• Persistent chills or excessive night sweats
• Laryngitis and a persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks
BENEFICIAL BEVERAGES FOR COUGH RELIEF
Drink at least eight 8-ounce (235 ml) glasses of water each day to relieve a cough. This is especially important if your cough is due to an illness. Water is the best expectorant you can take and will help thin the mucus and loosen the cough. Drink hot water for the best expectorant effect. Also, keep a glass of water with 2 teaspoons (10 ml) apple cider vinegar in it by the bed. Take a couple of swallows if you wake up coughing.
SOOTHING PRACTICES FOR A COUGH
Breathe in steam from a vaporizer, hot shower, or pan of boiling water. The moist air will soothe the airways and loosen sinus congestion and phlegm in your throat and lungs.
A few drops of essential oil can help fight infection and disperse congestion. Use eucalyptus, cedar, cypress, or pine to help this process.
During the winter, if your house is dry, use a humidifier and a cool-mist vaporizer in your bedroom at night. This will help thin the mucus. Be sure to thoroughly clean the vaporizer as it can harbor bacteria. Elevate the head of your bed to allow sinuses and nasal passages to drain better.
Thrifty Cures!
To ease that cough, mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper in 1 cup (235 ml) of water and use it as a gargle for a couple of minutes. (You can also gargle a glass of water or juice to which you have added 15 to 20 drops of Tabasco sauce.) Cayenne pepper is antiseptic and rich in vitamin C, helps clear congestion, and draws blood to the throat to fight infection.
GOOD TO KNOW!
A folk remedy for a cough is to loosely tie a black thread around your neck. It has to be black. Many people vouch for this remedy. We have no idea why it works, but it might be worth a try!
Skip This!
When you have a cough, avoid foods that increase the production of mucus, such as dairy products and wheat.
Cures from Grandma’s Kitchen
To relieve a cough, grate one or two cloves of garlic and mix with 1 teaspoon (13 g) of honey, or mix 1 teaspoon (13 g) honey with the juice of a fresh lemon. Not only does honey soothe the tickle, it also has antibacterial properties. Take a dose every three hours if needed.
This How To Stop a Cough article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
