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What home remedies are there for a dry cough

(12 Feb 2010)

A dry cough can be every bit as aggravating as a usual one and it can often be worse since it may leave you with a sore throat. A cough would usually result most commonly due to upper airway infections and possibly other causes such as smoking and allergies. A dry cough can usually be treated with the help of home remedies in much the same way a normal cough would, whether or not you have a cold or other accompanying symptoms.

To being with, dry cough would mean that you would require proper hydration. To get this your body would need all the fluids possible, especially healthy fluids. You should have a lot of water, especially when it is hot or very warm, since this will do wonders for the throat. You can increase the soothing powers of warm water for that dry cough by adding other natural home remedies to it. Honey makes the water flow more smoothly and can ease the pain of coughing a lot. The combination of warm water and some good quality honey can go a long way in easing a dry cough. Fluids alone can have a positive effect on your symptoms and can make the cough more bearable. The warmth offered is soothing while the water ensures that your throat does not get sore and that you do not run out of fluids. As far as fluids go, you will have plenty of other choices, such as herbal tea, which not only acts as a soothing beverage but which can also help you fight the cough. Besides these combinations, there are plenty of other natural remedies to help with the case of dry cough. Ginger, for instance, is one remedy from the kitchen which can often help the body fight plenty of such throat and bronchial problems. The ginger can be added to tea or it can be dried and powdered such that it may be consumed directly. Since your health has already been compromised by the cough, you would have to take care to eat properly and maintain a healthy diet such that you do not fall prey to further likely infections. This is because a cough will often deteriorate into other problems like a sore throat or a cold and possibly even a fever. Talk to your doctor if such a dry cough is persistent or if the cough progresses into something worse.

answered by M W on 12 Feb 2010, 1:05:54

Coughing is a natural reflex and part of your body’s natural defense to expel foreign matter and it helps to clear mucus accumulated in the airways. Unfortunately it can also cause a great deal of distress and dryness of the throat. A dry cough can cause severe throat irritation, inflammation and make eating or simply swallowing your saliva painful. Thankfully, this is one condition that can be treated very easily at home itself, with some natural methods.

A cough of this nature may be caused towards the end of a cold, from exposure to irritants like smoke or dust. At times it may be caused more as an allergic reaction, while in some cases the cough may even be induced by certain medications. One problem that is quite common particularly in regions where air conditioning or artificial heaters are the norm would be drying of the mucus membranes and dehydration, which contributes to and aggravates irritation of the throat. It may also be caused as a result of other conditions, particularly esophageal or gastroesophageal reflux, a condition where the digestive juices escape from the stomach to reach the esophagus, causing irritation and even inflammation or damage to the lining.

At times treatment will depend on the cause, but in most cases certain natural remedies will prove effective in themselves. In the case of another condition being causative, you will need to treat that condition to solve the problem. Here are some tips and remedies to help treat a dry cough:

Warm salt water gargles may seem trite, because you’ve heard it a million times before, but it truly is the most effective remedy for a cough, if followed diligently. Simply add a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water for a gargle.

Herbal teas in themselves are extremely soothing and great for a dry cough or sore throat. A cup of green tea with honey added in would be even better.

Onions can also be used as an excellent remedy and can simply need to cut finely to extract the juice. Mix this with a teaspoon of honey and once mixed well you can use it almost as you would a cough syrup.

Hot milk with a dash of turmeric can also help treat a dry cough or throat infection.

A humidifier would be particularly helpful if you live in a region with low humidity levels or if there is artificial heating and cooling in your living quarters.

Keep in mind that in addition to these remedies you should avoid aggravating the throat by screaming, whispering, or talking too much. Give your throat some rest and make sure you only eat healthy foods that do not cause irritation to the throat. Most fresh fruits and vegetables are recommended with the exception citrus fruits.

answered by S D on 16 Nov 2009, 1:19:11