Natural Cough Relief

If you've ever suffered from a cough that just won't quit, you understand how great finding easy to use natural cough relief remedies would be. Thankfully, help is easy to find as there are a number of different things that you can use right at home that will help to provide relief from that dreadful cough.
  1. Common Causes of Cough

    • There are a number of different things that can cause us to cough. Coughing is how our body removes mucus from our lungs and throat, as well as foreign materials that may get into our airways. There are two different kinds of cough that we can suffer from, a productive cough and a non-productive cough. A productive cough is a cough that removes phlegm and mucus from the lungs, while with a non-productive cough, there is no fluid removal.

      Productive coughs are generally caused by colds and allergies. Non-productive coughs are usually caused by outside influences like weather changes or smoking, but can also be caused by health conditions like an inflammation of the pharynx or larynx and asthma. Either way, coughing is a reflex action that our body performs. Fortunately, there are ways to control that reflex and help provide you with relief from constant coughing.

    Natural Cough Relief Home Remedies

    • One of the most commonly used cough relief remedies is honey. Honey helps to coat the throat and reduce irritation and inflammation, which is why it is the primary ingredient in many products made to control coughing. You don't have to have a store bought product that contains honey to get this relief, though; you can easily use it right at home. Mixing honey with tea or whole fruit juice, particularly grape juice, has proven to be one of the most beneficial cough remedies around.

      For productive coughs, boil a pot of water. Remove from heat and add salt to the water. Inhale the steam from the water to help break up phlegm and reduce coughing. You can also try sipping warm broth, which will not only help to break up phlegm and mucous, but soothe an irritated throat as well.

    Herbal Treatments for Cough Relief

    • There are many herbs that are beneficial in providing cough relief. Most of these herbs work best if consumed in warm tea which will help to provide additional soothing relief. Some of the most commonly used herbs used to treat a cough include teas made from peppermint, fennel, hyssop, salvia or thyme. You can also dissolve fresh cinnamon in warm water to drink as a tea which is wonderful for getting rid of a cough.

      Some herbs also have an expectorant and effervescent quality to them such as peppermint and eucalyptus. These herbs, purchased in essential oil form, can be added to steam baths and lotions to additionally help break up phlegm and reduce coughing.

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