There are two kinds of cough – non-productive and productive. A non-productive cough is usually known as a dry cough; it doesn’t produce mucus, while a productive cough produces mucus or phlegm to clear the lungs. Generally, dry coughs linger for weeks post your flu or the cold.
Causes For Dry Cough
A persistent dry cough that keeps you up at night can be quite irritating. In addition to typically being viewed as a communicable infection, it may be caused by non-contagious factors such as acid reflux or allergies.
Home Remedies
A dry cough can have a huge impact on your day-to-day life; besides, it can make your sleep unpleasant at night. There are plenty of home remedies for dry cough which are passed on from generation to generation. However, they are considered safe for short-term use only. Apart from environmental factors like smoke, dust, pollution, mold, pollen and other allergies, asthma, pneumonia, sinusitis, tuberculosis, Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), and Interstitial Lung Disease are some of the causes of dry cough, so don’t be negligent.
Raw Honey
Honey is one of the oldest home remedies for dry cough; it is natural, anti-inflammatory, and coats your throat. It has antimicrobial effects that can temper minor bacterial or viral infections. It is the best alternative for adults as well as children, but it should not be given to children under the age of two years. Honey triggers the salivary glands to produce more saliva, which in turn lubricates your airways and eases your cough.
Turmeric
Another multifunctional remedy is turmeric, which contains curcumin. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, so all these are beneficial for several issues including dry cough. Turmeric is a centuries-old Ayurvedic medicine that can treat arthritis to respiratory diseases.
Ginger
Ginger has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that boost immunity as well as help in relieving discomfort. It is one of the effective home remedies for dry coughs as it is an expectorant that will expel mucus and reduce the intensity of coughing bouts.
Steam
Breathing in steam is one of the best home remedies for dry coughs as it helps in loosening the mucus. You can also add varied essential oils for added healing. Even without an additive, warm steam can help moisturize dry and irritated nasal passages, ease throat pain, and reduce the severity of the cough.
To make steam, simply take a large bowl full of hot water; add a couple of drops of essential oils like Nilgiri oil (eucalyptus oil), rosemary oil and tea tree oil. Lean over the bowl with a towel over your head and inhale the vapors for five minutes. If the steam feels too hot on your skin, then quickly discontinue it.
Salt Water Gargles
Doctors always advise the patient to do saltwater gargles when it comes to adopting home remedies for dry cough due to their effectiveness in easing a sore throat. Saltwater is osmotic, which changes the direction of fluids; it draws moisture away from the area of soreness which helps in reducing swelling as well as the irritation caused by a dry cough.
Take a glass full of warm water and stir in a half tablespoon of salt. Allow it to cool down before gargling. The saltwater needs to stay for a few seconds at the back of your throat before you spit it out. Repeat and do it for a few days for proper effect.
Thyme Tea
Thyme has been in medicinal use since the Black Plague in Europe. It contains a compound that is antispasmodic, helping relax the muscles of the throat. Apart from being a good home remedy for dry cough and sore throat, thyme also contains antioxidant properties that relieve digestive issues.
Masala Chai Tea
The beverage’s origins can be traced back to 9000 years ago when an Indian king infused Black tea with milk and spices to create a cleansing Ayurvedic beverage as a remedy for diseases. Since the commercialization of tea during the British era, India has been known as a “tea-drinking nation,” and tea has been a staple beverage ever since.
The medicinal qualities of the spicy-sweet, creamy beverage are derived from the masala, the beverage’s main component.
A variety of spices, including cinnamon, black pepper, clove, and ginger, are rich in antioxidant and antibacterial qualities. Despite providing a much-needed energy boost, the tea break also strengthens the body’s immunological system.
Mint
The quality of these sweet and cool-smelling leaves allows them to grow long beyond a glass of Virgin Mojito. The scent of mint, which contains menthol, can aid in the release of mucus. Therefore, it facilitates breathing by clearing out the nasal passages. Additionally, the cooling effect soothes a sore throat.
Chilli Pepper
Capsaicin, a component of chili peppers obtained from plants, aids in the treatment of colds and coughs. According to published research, the bioactive component soothes throat discomfort by constricting the dilated blood vessels of an inflamed throat. The important qualities dissolve calcified mucus.
Peppermint Oil
The peppermint herb, which is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint, yields an essential oil with anti-cold and other medicinal properties. Since the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, it has been used as a medicine. The menthol and menthon included in the oil produce a cooling feeling that calms and relaxes the bronchial muscles.
