Seven home remedies: how to get rid of a cough
Coughing is annoying and can affect everyday life. But you don’t always have to resort to medicine to ease the symptoms. Here are seven home remedies that help.
Coughing fits usually come at the worst possible time: before sleeping, in a meeting, during yoga or on public transport. Coughing is not only annoying – it can also have a lasting effect on your quality of life.
Simple home remedies, which you’re sure to have in the fridge, can bring relief.
Seven home remedies to help with coughing
Which remedies actually help? It’s best to use natural ingredients that soothe irritation and have a moistening effect.
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Thyme tea loosens mucus
If you’ve got a cough, you need to drink a lot, preferably tea. The increased fluid intake helps prevent the mucous membranes from drying out and reduces the urge to cough. It also loosens any tough mucus.
Certain medicinal plants, such as thyme or sage, also promote expectoration. You can buy both as ready-mixed cough teas from drugstores or pharmacies.
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Ginger compress relieves cough irritation
The essential oils in ginger promote blood circulation, have a warming and anti-inflammatory effect and help to loosen mucus in the bronchial tubes.
It’s simple: Coarsely grate a piece of fresh ginger and wrap it in a cloth to make a packet. Then dip the packet in hot water, wring it out and place it on your chest. Cover it with another cloth to retain the heat.
Apply the ginger compress once a day for 15 to 30 minutes.
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Inhaling moistens the mucous membranes
Warm water vapours moisten the mucous membranes and soothe the urge to cough. If you don’t have an inhalation device at home, put hot water in a dish, place a towel over your head and bend your head over the dish.
Make sure that the dish is stable and that the water isn’t too hot.
A few drops of essential oils – sage or eucalyptus – have an expectorant effect. Caution: Essential oils are not suitable for young children or people with asthma.
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Oil baths soothe the bronchial tubes and promote sleep
A warm bath with essential oils has a similar effect to tea or inhalation: the warm water vapours moisten and sooth the mucous membranes.
Add expectorant essential oils such as eucalyptus or thyme to the bath (only for adults without asthma). Adding a little cream or milk as an emulsifier mixes the oil with the water.
Taking a warm bath before going to bed has a soothing effect and promotes long, deep sleep.
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Warm potato compresses have a soothing effect
As with numerous home remedies, the positive effect of potato compresses hasn’t been scientifically proven, but many people swear by them. In fact, warmth on the chest is beneficial for coughs.
It’s simple: Mash some boiled, hot potatoes and place them in a fresh cloth. Once the compress is sufficiently cool, place it on the chest and leave it there to cool down.
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Onion juice as a substitute for cough mixture
The sulphur substances, flavonoids and essential oils contained in onions have an antibacterial effect and help to loosen mucus in the airways.
It’s simple: Finely dice an onion, mix with two to three tablespoons of honey or sugar and leave the mixture in a sealed glass in the fridge overnight. Then strain the mixture through a sieve or cotton cloth and drink throughout the day.
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All-rounder: honey and milk mixture
A mixture of honey and milk is a tried-and-tested home remedy for coughs. This combination soothes the irritated mucous membranes and helps reduce the urge to cough.
Honey also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be particularly beneficial for dry coughs and sore throats.
It’s simple: Dissolve 2 tablespoons of honey in a cup of hot milk.
Important: Honey isn’t suitable for children under one as it can cause life-threatening infant botulism.
Why do we cough?
Coughing isn’t an illness. It is in fact the body’s natural reflex to get rid of pathogens as quickly as possible.
What usually starts as an irritating dry cough, develops into a cough with phlegm after a few days. Coughing up phlegm clears the airways. So, this “wet” cough is part of the recovery process and the expectoration of mucus should be encouraged rather than suppressed.
This is in stark contrast to a dry, irritating cough, which can put too much strain on the mucous membranes, so it’s a good idea to find a way to suppress it.
