A persistent cough can be quite annoying. You want to sleep, but you can't stop coughing. You want to go to work, but the cough is too strong and unmanageable. Luckily, there are remedies that can help calm her down without even having to go to the doctor. With the help of simple ingredients available in the kitchen, the fumigations, the intake of supplements and certain yoga postures, the cough will pass in no time. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Preventing a Persistent Cough
Step 1. Gargle with salt water
When you cough a lot, your throat can become irritated and inflamed. Salt water acts on inflammation and reduces irritation in the area. In addition, it promotes the dissolution of the mucus that makes you cough. Preparing salt water for gargling is pretty easy. Here's how to prepare it:
- Pour lukewarm water into a glass. Add half a teaspoon of salt. Turn it over until it dissolves.
- Gargle 3-5 times a day for faster results.
Step 2. Make sure you are maintaining optimal hydration levels
When you drink plenty of water, mucus from your throat and nose is less likely to thicken and irritate your airways. In fact, water generally dilutes the phlegm. Hydration is also important for your overall health, as water helps expel viruses and bacteria from your body. For good hydration, you can choose other drinks besides plain water. Here are some of them:
Coconut water, hot herbal teas, green tea, fruit juices and sports drinks like Gatorade
Step 3. When you go to sleep, keep your head and shoulders elevated
If you've noticed that your cough gets worse at night, this is because mucus collects at the back of your throat while you sleep. This irritates the mucous membranes and causes you to cough to clear the phlegm. You can avoid this by keeping your head elevated while you sleep so that the mucus doesn't thicken in your throat. To do it:
Keep your head and shoulders elevated with several pillows, so that your head remains elevated over your chest
Step 4. Avoid perfumes and other strong fragrances
While you love the scent, it's best not to use it when you have a cough. Perfumes can cause irritation that would cause the body to produce more mucus. As your body generates more mucus, you are more likely to cough more frequently, causing a vicious cycle. While healing, stay away from scents.
Step 5. Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
Quitting smoking isn't easy, but if you want to get rid of your cough, you'll need to start avoiding cigarettes. If you don't even know where to start to quit, read this article.
If you are not a smoker, try to avoid secondhand smoke as you recover from a cough. It can irritate the mucous membranes, causing phlegm to build up and make you cough
Step 6. Exercise regularly to strengthen your immune system
Exercise can strengthen the immune system. If you move 3-5 times a week for at least 30 minutes per session, your body will get stronger, and it will be easier to fight off cough-causing infections.
Try to do both aerobic (such as running, hiking, cycling, and swimming) and strength exercises (such as weight lifting, stretching, and yoga)
Method 2 of 5: Using Kitchen-Available Ingredients
Step 1. Add honey to your drinks and dishes to fight infection
Honey is a miracle natural remedy. It is a natural expectorant, which means it allows mucus to flow more easily. In addition, it is antiviral and antibacterial, that is, it can fight the viral and bacterial infections underlying the cough. As if this were not enough, it has analgesic properties that allow it to eliminate mucus and relieve irritation of the respiratory tract. How to use it:
- Add a teaspoon of honey to a cup of hot milk or tea, and sip the drink in the evening, before going to bed.
- You can also eat a spoonful of honey a day.
Step 2. Drink green tea before bed
Green tea contains enzymes and antioxidants that attack free radicals (just like viruses and bacteria, they can make you sick), which would otherwise cause inflammation. Drinking one cup of tea in the morning and one in the evening before bedtime can soothe your respiratory tract and help speed up the healing process.
Step 3. Eat more pepper
Pepper cannot be missing in the kitchen not only because it gives flavor to foods, but also because it has therapeutic properties. These properties promote the flow of mucus, which helps you get rid of a cough.
- Fry 2-3 black pepper seeds and chew them well.
- Crush 2-3 black pepper seeds and add them to a glass of water. Bring it to a boil. Once the water has halved, filter the seeds, add a tablespoon of honey and drink it.
- Chop 4-5 black pepper seeds and add a tablespoon of honey. Mix well and take the mixture before going to bed.
Step 4. Make a lemon juice, honey, and cayenne pepper drink to get rid of a cough
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, which helps fight infections and reduces inflammation of the respiratory tract. Once they have relieved, the cough will become less frequent.
Squeeze the juice of one lemon and add a tablespoon of honey and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is also useful for clearing the sinuses. Mix the ingredients well. Drink the juice
Step 5. Drink grapefruit juice every day to get rid of a cough
This drink is a natural expectorant, which means that it loosens mucus and clears it through the nose and throat. As a result, it helps you get rid of the cough. In addition, it is a rich source of vitamin C and other nutrients.
- Drink a glass of grapefruit juice once a day, or eat half a fruit.
- If you find the grapefruit juice too sour, you can also add some honey.
Step 6. Drink some onion juice
The strong smell of onions can stimulate lacrimation, but it also allows you to get rid of a cough. Onion juice relieves congestion due to cough. Additionally, onion has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that help you fight off any cough-causing infection. How to prepare the juice:
Cut an onion into small pieces and chop them to get the juice. Pour half a teaspoon of onion juice into a glass and add a teaspoon of honey. Mix well and drink the juice for relief. You can drink it 2 times a day until completely healed
Step 7. Drink ginger tea
The antiviral properties of ginger can help treat cough caused by viral infections. Ginger is a natural antihistamine, and gingerol, its active constituent, warms the airways and helps eliminate mucus. Here's how to prepare the drink:
Take a piece of ginger about 2.5 cm in size and crush it. Add it to a cup of water and bring it to a boil for a couple of minutes. Filter the liquid and drink it 2 times
Step 8. Eat more garlic
The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of garlic help treat coughs. Bring it closer to your nose - inhaling the pungent smell of this plant helps fight fungi and bacteria. In addition, it contains allicin, which strengthens the immune system and prevents the cough from returning:
- Crush 4-5 heads of garlic. Add a teaspoon of honey to the crushed garlic and eat the mixture.
- If you don't feel like eating garlic, you can also take garlic supplements.
Step 9. Chew licorice
Glycyrrhizin is the active ingredient in licorice. Its purpose is to form a thin film on the mucous membranes, which prevents the inflammation caused by the cough from getting worse. It also helps dilute the phlegm that makes you cough.
You can chew bits of licorice or drink an infusion
Step 10. Make a fenugreek and water drink
Fenugreek is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It can strengthen your body and give you cough relief. Dip a teaspoon of fenugreek in the water and leave it to soak overnight. The next morning, drink the water on an empty stomach.
Method 3 of 5: Herbal Suffumigi
Step 1. Make mint-based fumigations
Mint contains menthol, which allows you to relieve inflammation in the throat and calm cough spasms. At the same time, it also performs the function of diluting the mucus and helps you expel it when you blow your nose. You can prepare fumigations by doing the following:
- Boil 200 ml of water. Add 3 drops of peppermint essential oil. Place a towel over your head to cover the pot as well and form a sort of curtain. This way, you prevent the steam from escaping. Inhale the steam until you feel your sinuses clear and your throat is less sore.
- If the cough is particularly severe, you can do it 3 times a day.
Step 2. Prepare eucalyptus based fumigations
Eucalyptus has antiseptic properties, which help decrease swelling of the tissues lining the airways. Like mint, it can soothe throat discomfort and help clear sinuses. Here's how to prepare eucalyptus fumigations:
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add 3-4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and mix. Put a towel on your head, just as explained in the previous step. You should form a kind of curtain that wraps around the garment and the pot. Inhale the steam thoroughly
Step 3. Make turmeric-based fumigations
Turmeric has antiviral and antibacterial properties because it contains curcumin. This active ingredient relieves congestion in the chest area, which helps you get rid of a bad cough. Here's how to prepare curcumin fumigations:
Add 2 tablespoons of turmeric powder after bringing the water to a boil. Place a towel over your head, shoulders, and the pot full of water. Inhale the turmeric-based vapors
Method 4 of 5: Take Cough Supplements
Step 1. Take a vitamin C supplement to strengthen the immune system
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant because it strengthens the immune system, which means it helps the body fight the infection underlying the cough.
You should try to get around 40 mg of vitamin C per day. You can do this by taking a supplement or by eating foods that are rich in it, such as oranges, lemons, spinach, broccoli, and strawberries
Step 2. Try taking iron supplements, especially if the cough is caused by prolonged use of high blood pressure medications
Some blood pressure medications can lower iron levels and cause a cough to develop. While you shouldn't stop taking them without first checking with your doctor, you can take iron supplements to help counter a cough.
Take supplements that allow you to take 10-20 mg of iron per day
Step 3. Take Vitamin B12 tablets to curb cough
When you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, you may develop a chronic cough. By taking these supplements, the intensity of the cough is quite likely to decrease. Vitamin B12 promotes proper functioning of the nerves. When you don't get enough of it into your body, nerve irritation can cause a cough.
Adults should try to take 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 per day
Step 4. Try taking a ginseng tablet
Ginseng is known to improve overall health, reduce fatigue and nourish the cerebral cortex. It is an adaptogen, which is a substance that helps you feel better by relieving mental and physical stress. It can also strengthen the immune system and, in the meantime, fight an already existing cough.
Method 5 of 5: Yoga Positions to Reduce Cough
Step 1. Try the lying cobbler position
This exercise is simple and helps you calm down. Reduces cough by relaxing the respiratory system. Sit on the ground, with your legs crossed. Slowly stretch your thighs outward, so that the soles of your feet touch. Place your hands on your knees with palms facing up and breathe deeply for 3 minutes.
You can make this position easier by placing a pillow or blanket folded under each thigh so that the muscles don't stretch too much
Step 2. Try the posture called uttanasana
This asana is useful for reducing sinus congestion, and thus helps you get rid of coughing. Before starting, arrange a chair in front of you, with the seat facing you; put a pillow on it so you can rest your head on the surface.
Get up. With your feet apart at the same width as your hips, lean your body forward so that your head touches the cushion you placed on the chair. If you can't reach the surface, place your hands on it and lean your upper half towards the pillow, trying to get as close as possible. Hold this position for 5-10 minutes. It will help you clear the mucus from your sinuses
Step 3. Test the position of the supported bridge
This asana allows blood to circulate freely in the chest area, and thus improves circulation in the upper half of the body. You should try to hold it for 5 minutes.
Place a pillow or blanket folded on the floor. Lie down so that your back is supported with this surface. Bend your knees so your feet are flat on the floor. Leave your arms extended at your sides and breathe deeply
Step 4. Try leaning your legs against the wall
If your chest is quite congested, this yoga pose is helpful, as it helps relieve that heaviness you feel when your chest and sinuses are blocked.
