When it comes to a dry cough, home remedies can be incredibly effective. There are several different ways to treat a dry cough, and each person may respond differently to each treatment. However, some home remedies are more effective than others.
You can get rid of dry cough with the help of many home remedies. A dry cough can be caused by both upper and lower respiratory infections. It generally results from an infection by cold and flu viruses.
Certain elements such as atmospheric pollutants (cigarette smoke) irritate your throat and can cause dry cough.
Dry cough can also be caused by irritation or inflammation in the throat or chest. It is a signal that there are irritants in the air passage. A dry cough is more troublesome than a normal cough.
Types of Cough
Coughing is a common and annoying condition. It not only annoys you but also disrupts the tranquility around you, which may annoy other people. There are two main types of cough.
- productive cough (a cough that produces mucus or phlegm)
- dry cough (no mucus).
These coughs can be further divided into croup cough, whooping coup, and wet cough. We will focus here on Dry Cough.
Dry cough produces no mucus and that is why it is more difficult to deal with. A dry or hacking cough is often caused by an infection of the nose or throat in the upper respiratory tract. These infections can be a cold or influenza. A dry cough usually gets worse in a warm room. It gets worse in night time also.
Dry cough may also be an early sign of an infection of the lower respiratory tract such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Other causes are asthma and exposure to cigarette smoke or other similar irritants.
7 Home Remedies for Dry Cough
While there are many over-the-counter and prescription medicines available to treat a dry cough, some people prefer to try home remedies first. But how effective are these home remedies? Let's take a look at some of the most popular options.
1. Betel Leaf for Dry Cough
Betel leaves have antiseptic properties that help in treating dry cough. Betel leaf can be used in many different ways to get rid of cough. The betel leaf is usually 3-6 inches long and 2-4 inches wide.
- Just wash and clean a green betel leaf.
- Fold it or roll it and put it in your mouth.
- Chew it and let the juice flow slowly to your throat.
Betel Leaf with turmeric
Turmeric also contains antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties which help to get relief from dry cough
- Take a pinch of turmeric powder and put it on a clean washed betel leaf.
- Fold the betel leaf and chew it.
The juice that flows on chewing along with turmeric powder will clear the throat of all the irritants that are causing the cough.
Use Betel leaf with Basil leaves
- Keep a clean green and soft betel leaf on a plate facing up! Put 5-6 clean basil leaves on top of it.
- fold it and keep in your mouth and chew it to produce juice that will clear the throat
Other ingredients such as clove and ginger can also be added to make it even more effective. Add one1-2mm thick small slice of ginger and clove to the above and chew it to cure dry cough.
2. Ginger for Cough
Ginger is suitable for both productive and dry cough. Ginger also can be used in many different ways. The two simple ways ginger benefits combat dry cough are given here.
Ginger and honey make a perfect combination to deal with any type of cough. You can prepare a mixture of ginger and honey and keep it for longer use up to a week.
- Peel and clean a 2-3 inch size ginger root.
- Cut into thin slices and extract the juice.
- Add the extract to 4 tablespoons of honey.
- Take this mixture of ginger juice and honey one tablespoon at a time, 4 times during the day.
- Continue this for the next day or two
The above preparation is for one day. You can either make a fresh preparation or can make 3-4 days of preparation at once and use it daily. You should get complete relief from the dry cough within a couple of days. If you have an allergy to ginger then replace ginger with raw onion and add it to honey and consume it the same way, i.e. one tablespoon of a mixture of onion extract and honey 4 times a day.
3. Lemon Juice with Honey for Dry Cough
Lemon, rich in Vitamin C is a powerful remedy for dry cough. Squeeze the juice out of a lemon and add it to one glass of water. Add one teaspoon of honey. Stir well to mix the lemon juice and honey in the water.
Sip it slowly and enjoy the drink. Drinking this lemon juice 3-4 times a day will give you enough relief from the dry cough.
4. Turmeric and Lemon Drink for Dry Cough
This is another preparation with lemon for dry cough. The objective here is to create a coating of lemon in the throat for which Honey is the best carrier. Honey itself also gives relief from dry cough. Another antiseptic ingredient we will add is turmeric which will help to make the mixture thick. Use the lemon and honey in the following way.
- Take one teaspoon of turmeric powder in a small crucible
- Add 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and mix it well.
- Add two tablespoons of honey and still the entire mixture of the 3 ingredients well
You have roughly 3 tablespoons of mixture ready. Consume one tablespoon at a time 3 times a day. Just keep one tablespoon mixture in your mouth and let it slowly move down your throat. You shouldn't put any effort to swallow it. The viscous mixture will slowly seep through your throat creating a nice coating on the inflammation and giving a soothing effect. Your dry cough should completely be cured within 3 days by this mixture
5. Black Pepper and Honey for Dry Cough
Prepare a tea with black pepper powder to get rid of dry cough. Freshly ground black pepper powder will produce better results. Take a teaspoon of black pepper seeds and grind them into fine powder. Add this powder to 300 ml of water and steep it for 10-15 minutes. Add one tablespoon of honey. Stir well to mix. Drink it warm 3-4 times a day.
6. Salt Water Gargle for Dry Cough
Whether you have a normal productive cough that produces phlegm or mucus-free dry cough, salt water gargle works very well. Salt absorbs water, which is why salt water gargling is effective. Since the alkalinity in your mouth due to salt water is higher than the cells in the mouth and throat, the water from the swollen cells is pulled out by the salt in the mouth. As the swelling subsides, the irritation goes away and you can breathe without coughing.
Salt water gargling is simple. Just add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. Make sure that the water is at the right temperature for you to put inside your mouth. Too hot water otherwise can produce blisters in the mouth and the tongue due to burning. Take a sip of the warm water, but don't swallow. Swish it inside the mouth for some time and spit it. Repeat the cycle until you finish the saltwater in the glass. Do it 3-4 times a day.
7. Inhale Steam for Dry Cough
Like salt water gargling this also is effective in both productive cough (with phlegm) and dry cough without mucus as well as for sore throat. Steam helps to moisturize the entire respiratory tract. Makes breathing easy, as a result, the coughing reduces or even stops.
Take boiling water in a pot. Keep the pot on a table and pull a chair to sit. Keep your head tilted forward so that your face is 6-8 inches above the pot and ready to directly inhale the steam emerging from the water pot. Cover your head and the pot with a towel in such a way that it forms a tent in which your head and the pot are fully covered. Slowly inhale steam through the nostrils and exhale through the mouth. Continue the breathing. Your face will be perspiring due to hot and humid conditions.
Take your face out for some time and repeat it until the entire steam is consumed. Do it 3-4 times a day.
Precautions and Tips
Following precautions will help you to stay away from dry cough
- Quit active and passive smoking
- Drink more water to stay hydrated. This improves immunity against infections.
- Increase humidity in the room
- Inhale cool air
- Protect yourself against chemical fumes, dust, and other irritants
You should get relief from dry cough by following the above precautions and home remedies. If your dry cough lasts for more than 2 weeks then consult your doctor.
Bottomline
In conclusion, home remedies for dry cough are effective for some people and not effective for others. It depends on the person and the severity of their cough. Some home remedies may work better than others. If your cough is severe, you should see a doctor.