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Remedy to Stop a Cough

With causes ranging from allergies to respiratory infections, a cough can be a minor annoyance, or it may signal a serious condition. The Mayo Clinic recommends seeing your doctor if a cough continues past 10 days or if you also have breathing problems, a stiff neck or a fever, or if you produce bloody or greenish phlegm. However, you can relieve moderate cases of coughing with basic home remedies.

  1. Increase Fluid Intake

    • If you've got post-nasal drip, thin the mucus dripping down your throat to relieve the irritation and throat clearing that leads to chronic coughing. Drink eight cups of water daily or sip on warm beverages like tea, broth or warm water with honey. The fluids will soothe your throat, moisturize nasal passages and reduce coughing, since it's more prevalent when mucus thickens.

    Soothe a Dry Throat

    • In addition to increasing fluids and using lozenges to moisten your throat, you can relieve a dry cough by increasing the moisture in the air. A room humidifier can keep the humidity level at an optimal 40 percent. When using a humidifier, stick to a regular maintenance schedule and ensure the humidity level stays under 50 percent to avoid the growth of mold and allergens that can trigger more coughing or additional health problems.

    Avoid Allergens

    • When allergies exacerbate your cough, reduce contact with allergens that lead to a runny nose, post-nasal drip and an irritated throat. During allergy season, for example, keep windows closed and circulate the air with your air conditioning system, equipped with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to reduce allergens. Vacuum carpets and wash bedding frequently to eliminate dust mites and pet dander. Avoid even second-hand cigarette smoke that can bother your nasal passages and make a chronic cough worse.

    Try Herbal Remedies

    • Drinking a cup of tea flavored with herbs or extracts not only can soothe your throat to eliminate a dry cough, but also may help control your coughing reflex. Brew a cup of peppermint or ginger tea by boiling six fresh mint leaves or a 1-inch piece of fresh-peeled ginger in two cups of water for 10 minutes. To sweeten either tea, add a dash of honey or a spritz of fresh lemon juice before drinking. Tea made with marshmallow root, thyme or wild cherry bark also can remedy a coughing spell.

    Gargle to Reduce Throat Irritation

    • Calm your throat to alleviate a habitual dry cough. Create a blend of one cup of warm water, the juice of half a lemon, a teaspoon of vinegar and a teaspoon of salt. Gargle with the mixture when coughing is at its worst. If you don't have the other ingredients on hand, gargling with a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of lukewarm water also can have a soothing effect.

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