7 Natural

Cough
Remedies for
Persistent &
Dry Coughs
Its never a

fun situation when you

have a persistent cough.
You dont want to be that
person in a quiet room
during a lecture that cant
stop breaking the silence
with your hacking, or that
person at the restaurant
that makes people fling
themselves over their
plates to protect their
food while you cough
away. Or that person on
the plane that everyone
throws disgusted looks at.
Coughs are just terribly
uncomfortable all around,
both physically and
otherwise.
There are two primary
types of coughs, dry and
productive. A productive
cough is one in which you
are coughing up phlegm
or mucous-this is not a
cough that should be
suppressed, as your body
needs to rid itself of the
gunk thats in your
chest/lungs. While it
shouldnt be suppressed,
some of these remedies
will address a productive
cough by including an
expectorant, or
something that loosens
mucous and makes it
easier for the body to get
rid of.
A dry, hacking, cough is
another story. This is one
we do want to stop. It can
be caused by allergies,
dry air, a random tickle at
the back of your throat
that wont go away, the
aftermath of a cold, being
in a dusty environment,
etc. etc. For these we turn
to demulcents,
ingredients that soothe
irritated mucous
membranes and remove
the irritant triggering the
cough. Studies conducted
in 2004 found that the
main ingredients in cough
syrup (dextromethorphan
and diphenhydramine)
have the same
effectiveness in treating
coughs as a placebo
ingredient. Instead of
turning to chemical
solutions for every minor
ailment, try some home
remedies instead. They
are not only better for
you, but they taste a
whole lot better than
most cough syrup too!
1. A Spoonful of
Honey
Studies, such as one
conducted at Penn State
College of Medicine, have
found that honey can
work more efficiently to
calm a cough than over-
the-counter drugs. It is a
rich demulcent, with a
high viscosity and
stickiness that does an
incredible job of coating
and soothing those
irritated mucous
membranes. Thanks to an
enzyme added by bees
when they harvest honey,
it also has antibacterial
properties as well, which
may help shorten how
long you have the cough
if it is due to bacterial
illness.
Note: This is an excellent
alternative remedy for
both kids and adults, but
should never be given to
children under the age of
2 years due to the risk of
botulism.
You will need
-1 tablespoon of organic,
raw, honey
Directions
Take 1 tablespoon of
honey 1-3 times daily as
needed to control
coughing. Take
immediately before bed if
cough is disrupting your
sleep. For children, you
can adjust the dosing to 1
teaspoon up to one
tablespoon.
2. Licorice Root
Tea
Licorice root is both an
expectorant and
demulcent,
simultaneously soothing
your airways while
loosening and thinning
mucous, easing
congestion. It can also
ease any inflammation
that may be irritating
your throat. Its main
constituent, glycyrrhizin,
is responsible for most of
its effects. 30-50 times
sweeter than sucrose
(table sugar), it inhibits
an enzyme 11beta-
hydroxysteroid
dehydrogenase (how
would like you to write
that on a name tag?) This
enzyme regulates access
of glucocorticoid (a
steroid hormone) to
steroid receptors,
ultimately slowing the
conversion of cortisol to
cortisone. This increases
the effect of cortisol and
reducing inflammation. If
you are on steroids, or
have any problems with
your kidneys, it is best to
steer clear of licorice root.
You will need
-2 tablespoons of dried
licorice root
-8 ounces of fresh water
Directions
Bring water to a boil and
place the licorice root in a
mug. Cover with water
and steep for 10-15
minutes. Drink the entire
cup up to 2 times daily.
3. Gargle Salt
Water
Also a popular remedy for
sore throats, salt water
can ease the discomfort
caused by a cough the
same way it helps a sore
throat-through osmosis.
When the concentration
of salt is higher outside of
the cells in your mucous
membranes, water flows
out of the cells to balance
everything out. When
water leaves the cells,
swelling goes down, and
discomfort is decreased. If
you have a cough that
happens to come along
with inflamed tissue, this
is a good route to take. It
can also help dislodge
any phlegm thats
hanging out and allow
you to expel it easily.
You will need
-1 teaspoon of salt
-8 ounces of warm water
Directions
Stir salt into water until it
is thoroughly dissolved.
Gargle for 15 seconds,
spit, and repeat with the
remaining water. Rinse
with plain water
afterwards.
4. Steam, Steam,
Steam!
I cant say how
underrated steam is when
it comes to anything
dealing with a cough,
cold, or congestion. Not
only does the steam quite
literally loosen mucous
and phlegm, almost
immediately, but you can
add numerous essential
oils that will impart
wonderful healing
benefits. These benefits
(anti-viral, anti-bacterial,
anti-inflammatory etc.) do
become airborne, so you
inhale them while you
breathe in the steam. For
this particular blend Ive
included both tea tree oil
and eucalyptus oil, which
can help soothe and open
your airways as well as
help fight off bacteria or a
virus.
You will need
-3 drops of tea tree oil
-1-2 drops of eucalyptus
oil
-A bowl of water
-A soft, clean, towel
Directions
Bring enough water to a
boil to halfway fill a
medium size-heat proof
bowl. Pour the water into
it, let it cool slightly for
30-60 seconds, and add
the essential oils, giving it
a quick stir to release the
vapors. Lean over the
bowl and get as close as
you can while still being
comfortable. Remember
that steam can seriously
burn! Use the towel to
cover your head like a
tent, trapping the steam,
and breathe deeply.
Ideally, do this for 5-10
minutes 2-3 times a day.
5. Tea Thyme
Thyme has been used for
centuries, and was even
used during one of the
most devastating
pandemics to take place
in human history. The
Black Death was a plague
that peaked in Europe
from 1346-1353. During
that time, and in other
incidents of the plague
thereafter, townspeople
would gather to burn
large bundles of thyme to
ward off the disease, or
carry pockets of thyme on
them. Indeed, thyme does
have anti-microbial
properties, but were not
warding off any plague
here-just your cough.
Thyme relaxes the
muscles of the trachea
and bronchi, and also
opens up airways. The
result is less coughing,
and increased comfort.
You will need
-a handful of fresh thyme
sprigs OR 2 tablespoons
dried thyme
-8 ounces of fresh water
-Honey or lemon
(optional)
Directions
Lightly bruise the thyme,
e.g. with a mortar and
pestle, and then place in
a mug. Cover with 8
ounces of boiling water,
cover, and let it steep for
10-15 minutes. Add some
lemon or honey to taste,
and drink the whole thing.
Repeat 2-3 times daily as
needed. Its absolutely
delightful just before
bedtime (unless you
arent a fan of thyme. But
drink some anyways.)

6. Pepper &
Honey
Black pepper is the
worlds most traded spice,
but most of its use is
limited to the culinary
world. What people dont
know is that it can make a
great remedy for coughs
that are accompanied by
a lot of mucous or chest
congestion. If youve
accidently leaned too
close to black pepper
while its being grinded,
you know it can make you
cough or tickle your nose.
This may not be fun on a
regular basis, but its a
plus if you need to expel
all the nasty stuff thats
gunking up your lungs.
The honey adds its
antibacterial properties,
and it makes it so the
pepper isnt too irritating.
You can make black
pepper syrup with
honey, or a tea, as below.
If possible, use freshly
ground black pepper, as
the pre-ground pepper
simply seems to lose
some of its punch.
You will need
-1 teaspoon freshly
ground black pepper
-1 tablespoon of honey
-8 ounces of fresh water
Directions
Place the pepper and
honey in a mug and then
cover with boiling water.
Give it stir to disperse the
pepper flakes and melt in
the honey. Steep for 10
minutes, stir once more,
and drink in its entirety.
Repeat 1-2 times a day as
needed to loosen mucous.
7. Ginger
Peppermint
Syrup
Here you get the soothing
qualities of warming
ginger, all wrapped up in
a delicious easy to
swallow cough syrup.
Spicy ginger works as an
expectorant, helping
loosen and expel mucous
from the lungs. It can also
stop the painful tickle at
the back of throat that
can trigger a cough if the
first place, if you are
experiencing a dry cough.
The peppermint will also
help relieve the irritating
tickle of a cough.
You will need
-3 tablespoons of
chopped ginger
-1 tablespoon of dried
peppermint
-4 cups of water
-1 cup of honey
Directions
Chop the ginger and add
it along with the
peppermint to 4 cups of
water. Bring to a boil and
then lower the heat so
that the liquid simmer.
Simmer until the liquid
has been reduced by half,
than strain. Let it cool
slightly, and then stir in 1
cup of honey until it has
been dissolved
completely. Bottle and
take 1 tablespoon every
few hours as needed to
ease your cough. Keep
refrigerated for up to 3
weeks.