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Natural Cures With Humidity for a Cough

Coughing is a common symptom of several medical ailments. Most frequently, coughing occurs when you are infected with a cold or flu and is often accompanied by a runny nose, low fever and sore throat. Treating a cough at home with humidity is one way to help prevent throat irritation from coughing without taking over the counter medicines.

  1. Dry Coughing Versus Wet Coughing

    • Dry coughing and wet coughing are two different symptoms caused by different things. Dry coughing is a dry, itchy sensation at the back of the throat and is caused by irritation of the mucus membrane in your throat. Wet coughs, also called productive coughs, release phlegm accumulated in your lungs and throat from mucus membrane irritation. Dry coughs are the symptom most frequently treated with humidity as they are often caused by irritation from breathing air with little moisture.

    Humidifiers

    • Humidifiers, or vaporizers, are the most common way to treat a dry cough with humidity at home. Humidifiers come in both warm and cool models. The warm models boil the air and then release a vapor into the air which increases the humidity of the room and soothes your throat. The cold model uses a fan to distribute a mist into the air, increasing the room's humidity.

    Steam Method

    • People without a humidifier or those seeking immediate relief from their dry coughs use boiling water to treat their symptoms with humidity. This method requires you to boil a large pot of water, then lean gently over it at a safe distance to avoid splashing, with a towel draped over your head. This will quickly allow you to inhale the humid steam, soothing your sore throat.

    Additives

    • Adding essential oils to humidifiers and pots of water can also help soothe a sore throat and prevent dry coughing. Eucalyptus oil is commonly used to treat coughs with humidity, as it has a soothing quality and is also a natural expectorant, helping to clear any phlegm from your chest. One to two drops can be added to humidifier water, while three to five can be added to pots of water. Since humidifiers are designed to process water exclusively, adding too much oil can cause clogging.

    When to Consult a Doctor

    • Adding essential oils to humidifiers and pots of water can also help soothe a sore throat and prevent dry coughing. Eucalyptus oil is commonly used to treat coughs with humidity, as it has a soothing quality and is also a natural expectorant, helping to clear any phlegm from your chest. One to two drops can be added to humidifier water, while three to five can be added to pots of water. Since humidifiers are designed to process water exclusively, adding too much oil can cause clogging.

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