While Colds and the flu are the most common causes of coughing, it can also happen due to allergies, throat irritants, drugs or underlying medical conditions.
Types of Cough
The action of coughing expels mucous, germs, and dust particles from the airways, defending the lungs from infection and swelling.
Cough marks the defence of the body against disease. There are usually two types of cough. A dry cough and a wet cough.
Dry Cough
A dry cough is not productive i.e. no sputum is produced in the disease. It can be as a result of an allergic reaction in the throat. Also, a persistent dry cough can be a result of gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma, lung cancer, heart failure or some medication side effects.
Dry Cough Common Home Remedy
Turmeric Milk: If you have a dry cough, you should drink turmeric mixed milk to get rid of it. Turmeric is an excellent natural antibiotic to cure your cough quickly.
Ginger-Honey-Mulethi: Add a little ginger juice to 1 spoon of honey and drink it. After this, keep a small stick of licorice in the mouth. The licorice will not let your throat dry. The licorice will work to relieve dry throat and sore throat.
Hot Water Gargling: Mixing 1 teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water and gargling in the morning and evening provides relief in dry cough.
Basil Tea-Pepper-Ginger Tea: A tea of tulsi (basil leaves), black pepper and ginger are considered best in curing dry cough.
Cough suppressants: Honey is also an effective remedy for dry cough other than nonprescription agents such as dextromethorphan that can partially suppress the cough reflex, promoting patient comfort.
Wet Cough
Whereas in wet cough, there is a tightness in the ribs (chest) with a wheezing sound. This kind of cough produces mucus from the lungs or sinuses. Every wet cough is associated with an underlying infection be it bronchitis, pneumonia or the common cold.
Wet Cough Common Home Remedy
Mulethi-Black pepper-Honey: If you have a wet cough, you should make a paste by mixing licorice (mulethi) powder and black pepper powder in honey. Licking this paste slowly with your finger or take with a spoon.
Avoid Tumeric Milk: One should not take turmeric milk to treat wet cough. Because milk can create problems by increasing phlegm or making the mucous thicker.
Use a humidifier: In wet cough, a throat becomes dry causing more irritation and inflammation. The humidifier prevents you from breathing in dry air.
Steam Therapy: steamy inhalation helps to moisten airways and loosen up the mucus in your chest.
Cough Expectorants: Guaifenesin is common over the counter cough syrup that can help. In-home remedy, you can consider taking pineapple juice which contains an anti-cough compound called bromelain.
Clove Tea: In cold and respiratory infections, clove tea offers benefits by working as an expectorant loosening the mucus in the airways.
