Before going to talk about how to get rid of cough, let’s get an idea about cough. The cough is one infection that virtually everyone will get at some point in their life. In fact, you may experience a cough or a cold once or twice every year, especially as the seasons change.

There are two main types of cough, infectious and non-infectious.

• Infectious coughs are the result of an infection in our respiratory tract. This includes the common cold but also covers bronchitis, whopping cough and a whole range of sinus infections.
• Noninfectious coughs are when an existing condition, such as emphysema or asthma flares up and irritates the lining of your respiratory tract. These can also be caused by environmental toxins.

Put simply, a cough occurs any time your respiratory system is irritated. You can cough voluntarily or involuntarily but the good news is that these remedies will sooth your throat and provide instant relief for the irritation.

If you want to know about remedies for cough, you can continue reading this article. But if you want to read about bronchitis, we have already written an article about bronchitis, so you can read it.

Different Types of Cough

01. Dry coughs

These are the ones which sound like you’re hacking your lungs up and will quickly make the back of your throat feel sore.

It usually refers to the upper respiratory tract but it can be a sign that your lower tract has become infected. This is the most common cough associated with a cold although it can also be caused by asthma and exposure to cigarette smoke.

02. Wet cough

When fluid collects in the lower respiratory tract you need to cough in order to get rid of the fluid. If you don’t you will risk a more serious infection and even potential breathing issues. These are commonly the result of an infection or asthma and you will generally cough up fluids; although not blood.

03. Croup

This is a version of the dry cough but you’ll sound like a seal barking. You may also notice a high pitched noise when breathing. This cough sounds much worse than it is and generally only affects children. But you do need to treat it as early as possible.

04. Whopping Cough

If you have this you’re likely to have a dry cough but it will be hard to shift. It will generally be worse at night and result in a coughing fit. After the fit you’ll need to breathe deeply and there may be a whopping sound accompanying it.

10 Effective Remedies to Get Rid of Cough

01. Ginger Syrup

You’ll need;

• 1 tsp of ground ginger.
• A pinch of cayenne pepper.
• 3 tablespoons Honey, preferably runny honey.
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar.
• 1 lemon juiced.
• 1 cup of water.

Making this remedy is simple! All you need to do is place all the ingredients inside a bottle or container which can be sealed shut.

A sealed container allows you to keep the mixture for a while but it will also allow you to shake it vigorously. You should give it a further shake before you take the medicine.

It is advisable to only take 1 teaspoon of the syrup remedy at a time. This is a potent remedy, too much at one go might leave you feeling your throat is on fire!

The good news is that you can use this all natural syrup remedy as many times as you want throughout the day. While this is safe for children as well as adults, it should never be given to a child under 1 year old.

At this age honey can be dangerous to children and this mixture has a fairly large amount of honey! The mixture should be kept in a sealed container but it does not need to be kept in the refrigerator.

02. Homemade Herbal Syrup

You’ll need;

• ½ cup Ginger – preferably freshly grated root.
• ½ cup marshmallow root – again preferably freshly grated.
• ½ cup flowers from a Chamomile plant.
• 3 tablespoons of dried cinnamon.
• 1 Freshly squeezed lemon.
• 2 cups honey; preferably liquid honey.
• 8 cups of water.

Start by putting the water into a saucepan with the chamomile, marshmallow, cinnamon and ginger. Bring it to the boil and allow to simmer.

You’ll need to keep it simmering until the mixture has reduced by half. You can then run the mixture through a strainer to ensure you have just the liquid and not the flowers or other parts of the herb plants.

Next, allow it to cool for five minutes so that it is warm but not boiling. Add the honey and the lemon, stirring as you go to ensure it is thoroughly mixed.

You can then transfer it to a sealed container and store in your refrigerator. It should be used within 2 months of being made.

Administer 1 tablespoon for adults or a teaspoon for children when needed. There is no limit to how much you can consume each day.

03. Chocolate Syrup

You’ll need;

• 4 tablespoons honey.
• 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar.
• 3 tablespoons water.
• 4 tablespoons melted chocolate; preferably dark chocolate.
• ¼ teaspoon grated ginger; preferably fresh ginger.
• ½ teaspoon grated garlic; preferably fresh.
• Pinch of cayenne pepper.

This is another mixture which is very easy to make. Simply place all the ingredients into a sealable jar or container and shake vigorously for several minutes.

To use, take one teaspoon every couple of hours. The mixture will keep for approximately a week in a cool and dry place.

04. Olive Cough Syrup

You’ll need;

• 1 Cup liquid honey.
• ½ cup olive oil.
• 1 freshly squeezed lemon.

Mixing them is easy; you simply need a suitable sized container and then place all the ingredients into it. Shake vigorously until they are fully blended and then store the syrup in the refrigerator.

It will last up to 6 weeks in the refrigerator or just 2 weeks if you keep it on the side. To use, simply take 1 teaspoon as and when you need it.

It is best to give half a dose to children and none to any child under one year old. It is also worth noting that the honey in all these recipes can be replaced with maple syrup, if you prefer.

05. Garlic Balm

You’ll need;

• 6 cloves of Garlic.
• ¼ cup Coconut Oil.
• 10 drops of lavender oil.

Start by peeling the garlic cloves and then acing them in a blender. You can add the coconut oil and lavender oil before you blend.

Then simply turn your blender on, with the lid in place, to transform the ingredients into a paste. This will take several minutes and you will need to scrape the bowl several times to ensure every part of the garlic is blended.

You might also note it smells! Once it is all blended properly you will need to transfer it into a container. It will last in the refrigerator for approximately 4 weeks. The refrigerator will also speed up the setting process.

To apply simply rub a little on your chest, or your child’s chest and some on the soles of your feet. There are a huge number of receptors in your feet. You can reapply the balm every 3 hours and it can even be used on babies.

06. Lemon Ointment

You’ll need;

• 3 freshly squeezed lemons.
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
• Additional essential oils to suit your taste buds.

Simply warm the coconut oil gently, it will melt and become liquid. This allows you to add the lemon juice and any oils you want to the coconut oil.

Blend thoroughly before removing from the heat, pouring into a suitable container and allowing it to cool. You can then use it on your chest and throat to help sure you don’t need to cough.

07. Eucalyptus Oil Ointment

Eucalyptus oil has been used for centuries to treat a wild array of medicinal issues, including respiratory issues. It is very effective at relieving the symptom and irritation of a cough but you should never use this essential oil directly onto your skin; it will burn!

Instead, mix 20 drops of it with ½ cup if a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil. This will provide an ointment which can be used directly on your skin.

08. Herbal Ointment

You’ll need;

• ¼ cup crushed eucalyptus leaves.
• ¼ cup crushed peppermint leaves.
• Pinch crushed rosemary leaves.
• Pinch crushed thyme leaves.
• ¼ cup jojoba oil.
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil.
• 15 drops eucalyptus oil.
• 10 drops peppermint oil.
• ¼ cup beeswax.

Place all the oils in a small pan or heat proof bowl and then add the crushed herbs to the mixture. Place this bowl into a pan of hot water and allow them to infuse for thirty minutes.

Then bring the water to boiling point and allow the mixture to simmer for one hour. You can then strain the oil to remove all the crushed herbs. The liquid will need to be returned to the pan in order for you to add the beeswax.

Keep heating the pan so that the beeswax melts and blends with the other oils. You can then pour the ointment into a container and leave it to set. If stored in a cool, dry place it should last for a whole year!

To administer simply rub the ointment onto your chest, shoulders, back and neck. It should provide virtually instant relief.

09. Pineapple Juice

You might be surprised to learn that pineapple juice is actually a very effective cough reliever. Pineapple juice is known as a lytic agent. This means it is capable of thinning the mucus in your body.

The consequence of this is that the mucus will be easier to shift and can be got out of your body without the need to have coughing fits.

Research has also shown that pineapple juice contains a substance known as bromelain which is effective at relieving other respiratory symptoms; such as asthma.

This makes it a good all-rounder and it is very easy to administer.

10. Salted Water

Finally, you will find it beneficial to gargle with salt water. It is best to boil the water to ensure the salt melts into it and then wait for it to be cool before using it.

Salt water will kill the bacteria in your throat which is causing the infection and the need to cough. All you need to do is gargle with the salt water two or three times a day and your cough will disappear in virtually no time.

Source: Homemade Herbal Remedies + DIY Sanitizer And Face Masks How To Heal Sore Throat, Relieve Cough, Make Herbal Antibiotics,… (Smith, Arnold Perlman, Shia Hart, Zachary)