Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was medically reviewed by Shari Forschen, NP, MA. Shari Forschen is a Registered Nurse at Sanford Health in North Dakota. Shari has worked in healthcare since 1996 and her expertise lies in acute care bedside nursing on a medical oncology floor. She received her degree from Medcenter one College of Nursing in 2003 and her Family Nurse Practitioner Masters from the University of North Dakota in 2014. Shari is a member of the American Nurses Association.
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A dry cough is most commonly called a tickly cough. This type of cough is usually associated with relatively minor irritations in the throat. Chronic dry coughs can also be due to smoking, post-nasal drip (irritating the throat and causing a reflex cough), allergies, asthma (especially in children), and chronic bronchitis. It can also be caused by irritants in the air, medications, or certain diseases.[1] You should identify the cause of your cough so you can avoid triggers and choose the most effective treatment.
Steps
Use honey. Honey has both antibacterial and antiviral properties, which can help if you have an underlying viral or bacterial cause for your cough. In one study, honey was found to be more effective than cough medicine for lessening coughs in children.[2][3]- Don't give honey to children who are one year and younger.
Add lemon to your beverages. Lemon is great when you are sick because it contains high levels of vitamin C. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties.- You can mix honey and lemon together for a great cough remedy. Warm up one cup of honey, and then add three to four tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. You can also add bottled lemon juice. Add about 1/3 cup of water, and heat it on low heat for 10 minutes. Place in the refrigerator, and drink one to two tablespoons when needed.[4]
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Take garlic. Garlic also has antibacterial and antiviral properties, along with antiparasitic and antifungal properties. You can mix honey, lemon, and garlic for an effective cough suppressant.- Warm a cup of honey, then add three to four tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Then peel two to three cloves of garlic and chop them as finely as possible. Place them into the mixture. Add ⅓ cup of water, and heat on low heat for 10 minutes.
Add some ginger. Ginger is used as an expectorant, which thins out mucus and phlegm and acts as a bronchial relaxant. Adding ginger to tea, food, or a honey-lemon mixture can decrease the desire to cough.- Peel and grate between one and two inches of fresh ginger root. Add it to a honey-lemon mixture.
Gargle with warm salt water. Warm salt water helps reduce swelling in your throat, which can lessen the cough. Just add one teaspoon of salt to approximately six ounces of water. Stir to dissolve the salt completely in the water. Then, gargle.[5]- Repeat every few hours or whenever your throat feels swollen.
- If the cause of your cough is not a sore or irritated throat, this may not help your cough.
Brew an herbal tea. Many dry herbs are used to suppress coughs and relieve irritation. To make a tea, place one to two teaspoons of the dried herb in one cup of boiled water. You can sweeten the tea with honey to add even more cough relief.- Try making tea out of peppermint, marshmallow root, thyme, or ginger.
Make an herbal steam treatment. Herbs can also be used for steam treatments. These steam treatments can help quiet your cough. You can use peppermint, marshmallow root, thyme, or ginger.[6]- To make a steam treatment, add one to two teaspoons of the dried herb to two cups of boiled water. Cover your head with a towel. Hold your head over the steam far enough so you don't burn yourself, and breathe in.
Chew ginger. Ginger root is not only a cough suppressant, but it also increases saliva, which can relieve a dry throat. Cut off a small, quarter-sized slice of fresh ginger root and chew it.- If the taste of ginger is too strong, you can make a ginger tea or a ginger steam and get similar results.
Make turmeric milk. Turmeric milk is a traditional treatment for cough. You can use cow, soy, or almond milk for this recipe.[7]- Mix ½ teaspoon of turmeric in a glass of warm milk. Drink the whole glass.
- You can drink this a few times a day.
Drink a fish oil blend. Combining fish oil with juice from a fresh lemon or orange provides multiple vitamins, which can help treat a respiratory infection.[8] If this is the cause of your cough, then give this method a try. Mix ½ ounce of fish oil with the juice of either one lemon or one orange.
Get plenty of rest. If the cough is related to an infection or other sickness, then take a day off from work or school. This can help you get better faster and give your body time to heal.[9]
Expose yourself to humid air. Keep the air humid by using a vaporizer or by taking hot, steamy showers. This helps loosen congestion.[10]- You can also do this by boiling water on the stove.
Drink warm fluids. Hydrating your body helps thin out your mucus. During the day, drink a lot of water, which can be warm. At a minimum, try to drink nine to 12 8-ounce glasses of water a day.- Hot tea is a great way to help sooth a cough. Try green tea, which gives you an antioxidant boost.
- You can also drink clear chicken broth, juice, or vegetable broth. Try some chicken soup because it can help coughs.[11]
Have small meals. When you feel bad, you want to provide your body with a constant supply of energy through small meals. Make sure to eat easily digestible food in small portions. The best things to eat are quality proteins, like fish and poultry, along with complex carbs.- Eat foods that boost your immune system. Eggs, mushrooms, and yogurt help boost the immune system.
- Incorporate foods that are rich in vitamins. Vitamin C and vitamin A are important for immune health, along with foods containing antioxidants and beta-carotenes. Try red peppers, carrots, oranges, berries, leafy green vegetables, squash, and sweet potatoes.
- These dietary tips are more effective if followed before you get sick, so that your immune system is healthy enough to fight off infection.
Use cough drops. Cough drops and hard candies help coat the throat and ease the cough. You can also try throat sprays to lessen a dry cough.- Ice chips may also work if you don’t have cough drops.[12]
Elevate your upper body. Raising your upper body helps mucus to flow out of your throat more easily. You can stack pillows under your head, lean against the headboard of a bed or the back of a couch, or even raise the head of the bed by placing it on two by fours.
See your doctor. There are some conditions that require you to see your doctor to help get rid of your cough. For example, ACE inhibitors and other medications can cause dry coughs. You can talk to your doctor about switching the medicine.- If you believe your dry cough is a symptom of an underlying condition, or you have been dealing with it for a few weeks with no relief, then go see your physician.
- If your symptoms don't get better in five to seven days, or they keep recurring, go see your physician. Also see a doctor if the mucus is green or yellow, if you are wheezing or whistling, or you have difficulty breathing.[13]
Heal a Sore Throat With This Expert Series
Expert Q&A
Tips
Warnings
- Herbal remedies can be effective; however, they are not FDA-approved as they are not studied at rigorous levels as prescription medications. Try to balance homeopathy and medicine.Thanks
- A cough that takes your breath away and makes breathing difficult is an emergency and needs to be evaluated immediately.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21888-dry-cough-and-chest-tightness
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18056558/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/honey-for-sore-throat-and-cough/
- ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/pharyngitis-sore-throat
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21505-tonsil-stones
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/bronchitis-home-remedies/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21505-tonsil-stones
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/fish-oil
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12342-common-cold
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/Coughs-and-Colds-Medicines-or-Home-Remedies.aspx
- ↑ https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-faqs/how-to-sleep-with-a-cough
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/Coughs-and-Colds-Medicines-or-Home-Remedies.aspx
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/childs-cough.html
About This Article
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
A simple way to get rid of a tickly cough at home is to swallow a spoonful of honey, which has antibacterial and antiviral properties that can help if your cough is caused by a virus or bacteria. Also, try adding lemon to your drinks, because in addition to antiviral and antibacterial properties, lemons contain a lot of vitamin C. For a sore or irritated throat, gargle warm salt water. By gargling a mixture of 6 ounces of warm water and 1 teaspoon of salt, you can reduce the swelling in your throat and lessen your cough. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to make an herbal steam treatment, read on!
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