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Home Remedies for a Sharp Cough

For many years, people have taken care of several ailments at home without having to go to the doctor. Home remedies can take care of several problems and give relief to the individual. Home remedies for coughs are excellent alternatives to physician visits and will depend on what type of cough you have.

  1. Types of Cough

    • There are two types of coughs, congested or dry. There will be, however, different sounds to coughs that will signify what is causing them. For instance, a sharp cough is in fact a loud, gasping cough and will be followed by a gasping for breath. This is the body's attempt at removing any foreign bacteria, excess mucous or irritation in the throat and lungs.

    Aromatherapy

    • Aromatherapy is an excellent cough reliever. Essential oils that aide in the relief of a sharp cough will include cedar, eucalyptus or peppermint oil. Place 10 to 15 drops of the desired essential oil in hot water and inhale the steam. This soothes the lungs and lessens the sound of sharp coughs.

    Chest Rub

    • Chest rubs are home remedies made with essential oils and rubbed on the chest to aid in expelling mucous. The chest rubs are made with three to five drops of an essential oil in a carrier oil, such as olive oil, and rubbed into the chest several times a day. This gives the same result for sharp coughs as the essential oil steam.

    Drinks

    • Grate two cloves of garlic into one teaspoon of honey and ingest it several times a day. Garlic and honey both are a natural antibiotic and will help in loosening phlegm. Honey can be used with fresh lemon. Squeeze the juice from a fresh lemon into the honey and drink this several times a day. Honey and lemon can be heated in the microwave for a warm, soothing drink that will lessen the severity of sharp coughs.

    Reflexology

    • Reflexology has been used in the calming of sharp coughs. Rub and press on the pad under the big toe as soon as a cough feels as though it is coming on. By pressing on this area and rubbing it in different directions, this will tell the body to stop coughing. If reflexology is done often enough, it can reduce chest congestion.

    When to see a Physician

    • It is important to note that if a cough lasts more than three days, a physician needs to be consulted. Sharp, prolonged coughing can result in a fractured rib. Other signs to note that a physician needs to be seen are coughing up blood, high fever, difficulty breathing or chest pain. These symptoms may indicate an infection like pneumonia or bronchitis and will require more in-depth treatment.

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