6 Best Home Remedies for Cough to Give You Instant Relief

Who doesn’t love a slight nip in the air? (Sniff, sniff) Or a chilly breeze? (Cough, cough). We get it, definitely not someone who’s been suffering from a sudden flu attack. Even a little cough can bring your life to a standstill but know that the changing weather is not the only reason for your misery.Cough is a common reflex action that occurs when mucus or foreign irritants drain down the back of the throat. It is a signal that your body is trying to clear the breathing passage. In his book, Ayurvedic Home Remedies, author Deepak Chopra, explains, “From an Ayurvedic perspective, most coughs are caused by excess Pitta or Kapha in the bronchial tree, causing congestion and irritation of the bronchial mucous membrane.” He further suggests that the easy solution to manage this condition is to reduce the unwanted pitta or kapha.

In order to treat cough most effectively, you need to first find out if its dry cough or productive cough. Dry cough may occur due to inflammation of the trachea or irritation in the throat. A productive cough results from the presence of mucus or other fluid in the respiratory tract and it is usually a symptom of a respiratory disease like pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, or tuberculosis. Constant coughing can often leave your chest aching.

You must keep yourself hydrated, which helps to keep the mucous membranes moist so that it can be easily flushed out. Besides this, before you reach out for pills, try these five effective home remedies for cough that might help you feel better.

1. Tumeric Milk

Ayurvedic Expert, Dr. BN Sinha suggests that you should drink a glass of milk with 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric twice daily to clear your throat. Another home remedy for a stubborn cough is adding garlic to the above blend. Simply, boil a clove of garlic with milk and then add a pinch of turmeric to it. This drink helps in healing and soothing your throat. You can even add ginger instead of garlic, both work equally well. Gargle with turmeric water few times in a day to get relief from constant coughing.

Why it helps:Turmeric contains an active agent called curcumin that has strong anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties which helps in treating infections. Ginger and garlic help in relieving the congestion in the tonsils and act as natural analgesics. You must drink it at night before sleeping to avoid any irritation. Moreover, hot milk helps bring the mucus up from your chest.

2. Giloy Juice

“In case of chronic cough, you must have 2 tablespoons of Giloy juice with water in the morning everyday till it becomes better,” advices Dr. Sinha.

Why it helps: It builds your immunity and is known to bring about a balance in three doshas – Vatta, Pita and Kapha. It acts as an anti-allergic and thus, helps in treating cough caused due to allergic reactions to smoke, pollution or pollen.

3. Honey + Mulethi + Cinnamon

“A mix of 1/4 teaspoon honey, 1/4 teaspoon mulethi powder and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon with water had twice daily in the morning and evening works wonders,” suggests Dr. Sinha.

Why it helps:Honey is known for its great anti-inflammatory properties. A 2007 study conducted at Penn State College of Medicine showed that honey is actually more effective than over-the-counter medicines that mostly contain cough suppressants like dextromethorphan.

4. Black Pepper

For productive cough, black pepper is the simplest home remedy. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper with desi ghee and have it on a full stomach.

Why it helps: The heating quality helps in clearing congestion. Have this concoction at least two to three times a day for best results.

5. Pomegranate Juice for Kids

In his book, Deepak Chopra suggests a brilliant remedy for kids. You could give them a mix of 1/2 cup pomegranate juice, a pinch of ginger powder along with pippali powder.

Why it helps: Pippali is a rejuvenating Ayurvedic herb. Pomegranate juice has a mild effect on the throat and ginger works due to its heating action. Pomegranate is also rich in Vitamin A and C that boost immunity. You could even replace ginger with black pepper.

6. Spiced Tea

A warm cup of spiced tea is a great way to get rid of a bad cough, naturally. Add 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder, a pinch of cinnamon and some cloves.

Why it helps: All three spices are known to heal you from within. These warming spices gently reduce congestion and phlegm in the lungs, and also help in drying up a runny nose.

A quick tip: Coughing tends to increase at night while sleeping. This happens because the mucous tends to drip from the nose into the throat when you lie down. You can tackle this situation by keeping your head at a higher position. This will reduce coughing and help you sleep better.