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Definition
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Coughing is
a natural body defense mechanism that protects the respiratory system by
clearing the air passages of foreign material.
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Persistent
and unproductive cough can be a symptom of mild illness such as a cold or it
can be indicative of a serious respiratory illness. This type of cough may interfere with sleep,
and it may also be accompanied by dizziness,
chest pain, or breathlessness.
Assuming you
have had a medical evaluation of your condition, there is a wide range of
natural cough remedies available.
Nature Medicine and Home Remedies for Cough
Home remedies for cough #1: Make a cough
syrup with the juice of 2 lemons, 1/2 ounce honey, 2 cups whiskey or other hard
liquor, and 2 pieces of fresh anise or 2 teaspoons anise seed. Boil for 10
minutes and take by the teaspoonful as needed.
Home remedies for whooping cough #2: Boil together 1 ginger root, 2 cloves garlic, and 2 cups
water for 15 minutes. Take by the teaspoonful as needed.
Home remedies for cough #3: Grate a
clove or two of garlic and mix with a teaspoonful of honey. Take as needed.
Home remedies for cough #4: Take one
tablespoon of honey with a couple drops of pure lemon juice.
Home remedies for cough #5: Slice 1
large onion into an ovenproof bowl and add 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup lemon juice,
and a dash of cinnamon. Bake it in a preheated oven at 300°F for about 2 hours
or until the sugar is melted and the onion soft. Remove the onion and sip the juice.
Home remedies for cough #6: Carrot juice
mixed with honey and a little warm water is a traditional Russian remedy for
coughs. Take by the spoonful throughout the day.
Home remedies for dry cough #7: Hollow out a black radish and fill the cavity with a teaspoon of
honey. After two or three hours, drink the juice.
Home remedies for cough #8: Mix a
tablespoon or two of dry mustard with a cup of flour. Add hot water to make a
paste, then spread the paste over a thin cloth. Place the cloth on your chest,
add a second layer of cloth, then a layer of plastic, and a heating pad or hot
water bottle on top. Don't leave the plaster on for more than fifteen or twenty
minutes, and check frequently to make sure your skin is not irritated. To avoid
irritation or blistering, remove the mustard plaster immediately if your skin
is painful and glowing red.
Home remedies for cough #9: Boil a piece
of a ginger root for about twenty minutes, soak a cloth in the tea, and place
on your chest. Keep the compress warm by covering it with a layer of plastic
and a towel.
Home remedies for cough #10: Get some
fresh ginger root and cut off a small piece. Wash and chew on it, swallowing
the juice. This should help soothe your throat and ease your cough.
Home remedies for cough #11: Put a
teaspoon of yerba santa dry leaves in a heavy mug. Pour on boiling water, cover
and let it steep for 20 or 30 minutes. It may be used hot or cold. Drink the
tea at bedtime.
Home remedies for cough #12: Brew one
tablespoon of fenugreek seed into some boiling water. Then let the seeds steep and stir
occasionally until the water turns yellow and aromatic. Drink one cup each hour on the hour the first
day. Reduce the dosage the next day to
four cups spread evenly throughout the day. The fenugreek tea flushes the mucus
out of the body.
Home remedies for cough #13: Put
eucalyptus oil in a vaporizer and inhale the fumes.
Home remedies for cough #14: Add a few
drops of peppermint oil to a cup of boiling water and inhale the vapors to
relieve congestion or make a tea of fresh peppermint leaves and drink with a
little honey.
Home remedies for cough #15: Take a warm
bath before retiring, adding a couple of drops of pine oil to the water. The
relaxing vapors should open up your bronchial passages and help you breathe
more easily while you sleep.
Home remedies for cough #16: Apply hot
onion packs to the chest and back at least three times a day. The onions should
be sliced, steamed, and placed between soft cloths. Place a heating pad over
the onion pack to help retain heat.
Home remedies for cough #17: Add twenty
bay leaves to a cup of boiling water, cover and let stand for fifteen minutes.
Put the warm, moist leaves in a cloth, placing it on your chest and covering
with a towel to retain heat. Keep the liquid to re-freshen the bay leaves after
an hour. Make sure you heat the water before soaking the leaves in it.
Home remedies for cough #18: Gargle with
a mixture of warm water and three tablespoons of dark Kara syrup.
Home remedies for cough #19: Combine six
medium-sized onions, coarsely chopped, along with a half cup honey in the top
of a double boiler. Mix slowly for two hours and store it in a tightly sealed
jar. Take a tablespoon every two to three hours.
Home remedies for cough #20: Add a
cinnamon stick, three cloves, a tablespoon of honey, and a few pieces of lemon
peel to three cups dry red wine. Make sure you stir while heating and try not
to splash onto countertops since the red wine can stain. Take up to three cups
a day.
Home remedies for cough #21 Combine the
juice of one lemon, a half cup olive oil, and one cup honey and cook for five
minutes. Remove from heat and stir for several minutes. Take one teaspoon every
two hours.
Home remedies for cough #22 Mix a half
cup water with a half cup apple cider vinegar, adding one teaspoon cayenne
pepper and enough honey to sweeten for your individual taste. Take a tablespoon
at bedtime and anytime you have a severe coughing fit.
Home remedies for cough #23 Brew a tea
from the licorice root. However, licorice, used for extended periods, acts as a
laxative and anyone with high blood pressure should avoid licorice since it
will exacerbate the condition.
Natural Cures Recommendations
Avoid mucous-producing foods (dairy products sugar and
foods high in sodium) can be
effective in healing a cough condition.
Take supplements of vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, vitamin A, and folic acid
to help in preventing or treating conditions (including colds and flu) that
lead to coughs.
Use a room
vaporizer or humidifier to soothe airways and make breathing easier.
Drink at
least eight glasses a day in order to expel more easily mucus from your lungs.
If coughing
is accompanied by chest pains and other symptoms, consult a qualified medical
practitioner.
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