How To Get Rid Of a Cough? – Try These Home Remedies For Cough
Coughing is a natural process that could either be normal or serious. When an irritant or phlegm reaches your throat, you are likely to cough to get rid of it.
If your cough persists for longer than usual, then it could be due to a bacterial infection, viral infection or allergy. While most coughs emanate from the lungs, some could be due to GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Coughs caused by sinus infections, allergies, and colds can easily be treated using conventional medicine. If it is a bacterial infection, it may require you to take some antibiotics.
To soothe a sore throat and prevent you from coughing, you may need a hot cup of tea.
Like many others, you are likely to find the aroma, flavor, and warmth of tea and some of the herbs used to make it have a soothing effect. There are some tea blends, which are useful when it comes to providing relief against coughs.
Why Tea Is Good For Simple and Dry Cough?
It doesn’t matter if you drink tea on a regular basis or occasionally. If you have a sore throat or a cough, you can take tea to get some comfort.
The following are the reasons to drink tea when you have a cough:
· Anti-inflammatory properties. Tea and some of the herbs used to make it have anti-inflammatory properties. Take the combination of oregano and turmeric, for example. There is no better way to treat a scratchy or a sore throat.
· Full of vitamin C. When mixed with lime or lemon juice, tea contains a lot of vitamin C. This will help boost your immunity to fight a current cough and prevent its recurrence. As an antioxidant, vitamin C also helps the throat tissues to heal quickly.
· keep your throat hydrated: One of the best ways to keep your throat moist or hydrated is to take the best tea for a cough. This reduces pain and irritation, which lead to a cough. Since tea is warm liquid, it will help soothe your throat when it’s feeling sore.
· When you drink tea with honey, you stand a high chance of getting quick relief from a sore throat. After all, honey has been established to have the ability to provide relief from common colds.
· When you take a blend of tea and black peppercorn, you will find a better way of stimulating the flow of mucus. The more the mucus moves out of your body, the sooner you will feel better.
What tea is good for cough and phlegm?
You might be confused as to what is the best tea to drink for a cough. The following are some of the best tea blends that will help you get quick relief from a cough.
1. Slippery Elm Tea
For centuries, people have used slippery elm (an herb), to provide natural relief. One of its contents is a substance known as mucilage, which becomes a gel after mixing with water. After drinking slippery elm tea, the gel forms a coat in your throat, thus helping provide relief from a cough. In one scientific study, slippery elm tea was established to be better at soothing a sore throat, compared to orange pekoe tea (decaffeinated).
2. Thyme Tea
What’s the reason thyme tea is a favorite of singers and other individuals who make great use of their voices?
This is the best tea for a cough. It helps get rid of infections in your lungs and vocal tract. The thyme herb has anti-inflammatory properties. It is also a pain reliever and brings about healing by addressing the cause of a cough. If you have a cough due to a bacterial infection, this anti-bacterial herb is sure to bring about quick healing.
3. Licorice Root Tea
Licorice root tea works in the same way as slippery elm tea. It is a standard treatment for coughs and sore throats. You can take this tea by sipping slowly or gargling it in your throat. Remember that every package of licorice root tea comes with preparation instructions.
Follow these while preparing it before gargling it in your throat. Ensure that it is cold enough to avoid scolding your throat. Gulp the tea and gargle it. That should take a couple of seconds. Spit it out, and you will feel relieved from your cough.
When taken in large quantities, licorice root tea can expose you to some dangers if you suffer from specific health issues. Before you try licorice root tea, talk to your doctor.
4. Lemon Tea with Honey and Cinnamon
One of the best characteristics of lemon is that it had antibacterial properties. Since it is acidic and could be harsh to your tonsils. That’s why it should be taken with honey to help neutralize the acidity. Honey is also useful when it comes to killing bacteria. Once it reaches a sore throat, it creates a protective film against bacteria. Cinnamon, on the other hand, helps break the mucus. In a way, it boosts the power in the lemon and cinnamon.
5. Horehound Tea
Some of the highest properties of the horehound herb include anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Traditionally it is an excellent remedy for colds and sore throats. If you need a mild cough expectorant, horehound tea is something you want to try. It can expel mucus from deep down your chest. You will find horehound tea at the local health food store or pharmacy.
6. Mint Teas
This is perhaps the best tea for a cough. Mint can dissolve mucus and can help you get relief from difficult breathing.
If you are finding it hard to breathe due to thick mucus, mint tea should be a top priority. It will help you to expel mucus, even if it is stuck on your airways.
Mint tea also provides an excellent counter to the infection and inflammation causing the cough. To create a more potent mixture, add in a cinnamon stick or two.
7. Chamomile Tea
If you are a tea lover, you must have taken chamomile tea at some point. When you talk about herbal tea, this is one of the well-known and widely available.
Chamomile has been found to have the ability to treat a number of health conditions. In a positive review, chamomile was found to have the ability to lubricate the throat, thus helping reduce pain and hoarseness in your voice.
Chamomile tea also has a lot of anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce redness and swelling. Due to its antioxidant properties, chamomile will help heal tissues and maintain their health. This tea also has an antispasmodic action which may help provide relief from a cough. If you have a cough due to a cold, take chamomile tea to get relief from the other symptoms.
8. Rooibos Tea with Lemon
Apart from forming rashes and sneezing, respiratory allergies also lead to coughs.
To help get relief from cough due to allergic reactions, it is recommended that you take Rooibos tea with lemon juice. It works very well due to its antihistamine properties.
This is perhaps the best tea for cough, given its high nutrient and mineral content. Don’t hesitate to use it if you have flu or a cold.
9. Turmeric Tea
This herb that belongs to the ginger family is mostly used as a spice. After drying, it is ground to produce a bright yellow powder. You don’t have to wait until you use it in other foods.
Why can’t you drink it like tea?
You may prepare it using turmeric tea bags or adding turmeric powder to boiling water and leave it simmering for some time. After straining it into a cup, add some honey to make it sweet.
In one study, turmeric was found to have potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiseptic properties. It is useful when it comes to relieving throat pain and irritation. You can, therefore, call it one of the best teas for a cough.
10. Ginger Tea with Honey
Ginger tea doesn’t just get rid of a cough; it deals with the cause. You can use it for a mild or a chronic cough. It is a long-term solution to the pesky condition of a persistent cough.
11. Green Tea
Due to loads of antioxidants contained in green tea, this herbal drink provides you with anti-inflammation benefits. Green tea has been used as a relief for a cough and sore throat.
You only need to gargle it. In one study, gargling green tea was found to have the ability to reduce the symptoms of a sore throat. Due to the other health benefits of green tea, it promotes the overall healing of the body.
How will you drink your green tea?
After brewing a cup, allow it to cool to a bearable temperature. For several seconds, gargle it. Spit it out once you are through. Repeat this process between 2 and 3 times until you get relief.
12. Black Pepper Tea with Honey
For centuries, this has been a medicinal remedy for the people in New England and China. After all, black pepper is very useful when it comes to stimulating circulation and the flow of mucus.
As for the honey, it naturally suppresses cough and acts as an antibiotic, even though mild.
You can make this tea using 1 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground) and 2 tablespoons of honey. Put these ingredients in a cup and then add in boiling water. Cover and let it sleep for a minimum 15 minutes. After straining, sip as required.
If you have a cough due to mucus, this is the best remedy for you. Don’t use it for a dry cough.
13. Peppermint Tea
Did you know that peppermint leaves are very potent when it comes to healing all sorts of ailments?
When taken in tea, peppermint releases menthol, which will soothe your throat and help to decongest your chest by breaking down the mucus.
It doesn’t matter if you inhale the vapor or take it as peppermint tea. Within no time, you will be able to decongest your chest. If you cannot find the fresh leaves, then you can add up to 4 drops of peppermint oil to boiling hot water and drink it.
15. Marshmallow Tea
Marshmallow is the product of Althaea Officinalis, a flower that blooms in the summer. For centuries, the roots and leaves of this herb have formed a central part of throat-treatment remedies. Although Marshmallow has hardly undergone any scientific studies, it is thought to be safe enough.
When marshmallow is mixed with water, the paste in it forms a gel which coats your throat and prevents a cough. This is perhaps the best tea for treating a cough. Only be careful not to give it to children.
Read this before taking any Cough Remedies
While tea is excellent as a remedy for a type of cough, you shouldn’t try it before speaking to your doctor. Some of the herbs used to make these teas are known to react with medications and should be avoided if you have a long-term health condition.
For instance, licorice root tea can turn out to be dangerous when taken in vast quantities. Be careful with the herbs, since they are hardly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
When sold in processed form, the herbs could be contaminated or contain active chemicals different from what’s indicated on the label. To ensure your safety, you should only buy herbs from trusted sources.
The doctor will open up your eyes to the possible risks that come with using certain herbs. Apart from possible side-effects, the herbs may also cause drug interactions. Don’t hesitate to consult a doctor if your cough, gets worse, lasts for at least a week or comes with a fever, nausea, chills, and vomiting.
How to Prevent a Cough?
Undoubtedly, the best tea for a cough plays a key role when it comes to giving you the much-needed relief. You may want to protect yourself from the flu by getting vaccinated annually. You may also want to take the following steps:
- · Steer is clear of people who are sick, since they may infect you. If it is you who is sick, don’t go to school or work. You don’t want to infect others. If you do, the flu could end up staying in your circles you longer than you might want.
- · Every time you have a cough, cover your mouth and nose.
- · When you have a cough due to a cold, you need to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and fluids for that.
- · Ensure that all the school, work or common home areas are ever clean. Think regarding mobile phones, toys, and countertops.
- · Frequently wash your hands, especially after eating, coughing, and visiting the bathroom. If you have been taking care of a sick person, wash your hands too.
If your cough is due to the effect of specific allergens, what you need to do is to altogether avoid them. Common respiratory allergens include insects, mold, animal fur, dust mites, pollen, and trees. You may also want to get allergy shots on a regular basis. After talking to your doctors, you will know exactly how to go about it.
Conclusion
One of the ways of soothing a cold is to sip a cup of warm herbal tea. You may also want to gargle the tea. Sweeten the tea by adding some honey. However, put your doctor in the picture to avoid certain side-effects and drug interactions.