Coughing is not a disease, although it can be a symptom of certain illnesses. But normally it is a natural action that the body takes to get rid of annoying things that are lodged in the air passage. Normally, the irritant in question is excess mucus or phlegm produced by the body. Sometimes, it is something that has gotten caught in the sticky substance and needs to be expelled.
A dry cough is a recurring cough that does not expel any mucus or phlegm from the air passage. It is often caused by more serious irritations such as allergy attacks and bronchitis, which inflame the air passageways.
There are many pharmaceutical drugs designed to relieve dry cough or the irritants responsible for it. However, these drugs use synthetic chemical compounds that could be more harmful than the cough it treats. (Related: Herbal combination used in Chinese medicine found to improve efficacy of asthma relief drug, study finds.)
Since dry coughing is one of the most widespread symptoms of common ailments, traditional medicinal systems has come with many treatments for it. Many of these are home remedies that can be made with natural ingredients.
Honey and lemon are two delicious and nutritious foods. Containing powerful antioxidants that fight inflammation, they can be taken together to help manage dry cough. Take two teaspoons each of honey and lemon juice. Mix them together, heat it until it grows warm, and enjoy the sweet-and-sour flavor.
If you want something a bit stronger, add black pepper to the honey-lemon combination. Black pepper is another home remedy for dry cough, but it might be hard to swallow on its own. To make black pepper more palatable, you can mix its powder with honey and lemon. The strengthened concoction will encourage the production of mucus that will help clear the airways.
Garlic is not just a spice that you add to Italian food. It is a popular and powerful home remedy that has been recommended for all kinds of illnesses.
Garlic possesses powerful antibiotic effects against ailments that involve dry coughs. It contains a natural compound called allicin that can help deal with diseases ranging from colds, flu, sore throat, and even cancer.
There are two ways to treat dry cough using raw garlic. If you have a sturdy stomach, you can chew an entire clove of the bulb or suck on a fresh slice of it for several minutes.
If your stomach or nose is too sensitive, you can take one or two cloves, mince them, and let the crushed garlic stand for 15 minutes. Add honey or a little olive oil to it before chewing on the garlic for several minutes.
The seed of the anise – also called aniseed – are often used in both cooking and natural medicines. Among other things, it relieves irritation in the respiratory system.
For dry cough, you can put aniseed in a tea bag and brew yourself a cup of warm tea. The tea will help dislodge mucus that has been provoking the cough.
Last but not least, onion can also be used to provide relief. Crush any onion – preferably avoiding the gas that makes you tear up – to extract its juice. Mix two teaspoons of this onion juice with a teaspoon of honey. It will help alleviate the congested feeling in your chest.
AlternativeMedicine.news has more articles about natural cough remedies.
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