Let’s be honest, a cough that won’t go away is inconvenient and irritating to most everyone. Who wants to cough without ceasing? A repetitive cough could be a warning sign that your body is fighting off allergies, strep throat, or could be just a simple cold, depending on the other symptoms.
(The following cough remedies are not intended to diagnose or treat your ailment, but rather to provide all-natural relief from the tiresome cough itself).
Wintertime coughs can be prevalent and it’s a great idea to be prepared with supplies on hand to be able to treat them with soothing solutions quickly and easily. A little preparation is a blessing so that no one has to run to the convenience store in the middle of the night for a cough that just won’t quit. Here are a few of our favorite all-natural cough remedies:
Warm Thyme Tea – Brew a small amount of herbal Thyme tea and then stir in a spoonful of raw honey for sweetness. Sip tea as warm as you can manage it to be. The warmth of the tea and honey will not only soothe the throat but also can lessen any swelling that may cause a cough.
The thyme herb used in the tea naturally contains phyto-nutrients and essential oils such as Thymol, which is known for its antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. Herbal (non-caffeinated) tea is ideal as to not interfere with the extra rest you need as well.
Warm Bone Broth – You can purchase low-sodium broth or better yet, make your own homemade broth easily by straining the juices from chicken that you boil in water or cook in the crock pot. Pour a small amount of warm broth in a mug or bowl and sip. You can also add cooked pasta and chicken to have a quick, chicken noodle soup meal. Grandma knew what she was talking about when she served up chicken noodle soup for most illnesses.
According to Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist and Certified Holistic Health Coach, Wendy Myers, bone broth has “…real collagen that is the source of stock’s immune-boosting properties. Chicken soup during a respiratory infection reduces the number of white blood cells, which are the cells that cause flu and cold symptoms. There’s a reason that it’s prescribed by Grandma when you’re feeling under the weather.”
Salt Water Gargle – Mixing one teaspoon of salt to one cup of water and gargling several times is said to flush toxins and any phlegm that may be lingering in the throat. Also, it seems to dry out moisture from swollen throat tissues and relieve inflammation – which often causes coughing.
Salt water (sometimes called saline) contains bromide which relieves pain and swelling and when using sea salt instead of iodized table salt, many health benefits are increased.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a cup of warm water and sip for additional relief of your constant cough. How can this powerhouse vinegar help, you ask? It’s jam-packed with antioxidants and antimicrobial properties.
One benefit, for example, is that the organic acids in vinegar (like acetic acid) kill bacteria. Since apple cider vinegar is high in acetic acid, it also aids in helping your body absorb essential nutrients from the foods we eat.
Honey & Garlic Spoon – Fresh garlic is a well-known antimicrobial and expectorant, and when mixed with honey can be very effective in fighting the bacteria and soothing an itchy throat. Simply place ½ teaspoon chopped garlic in a tablespoon and fill remaining area with raw honey and swallow all at once.
Upon testing the effectiveness of different types of honey on lessening a nocturnal cough, a Johns Hopkins Medicine podcast said “…regardless of the type of honey utilized, benefits resulted. We are in agreement with the World Health Organization, then, that honey can be employed by parents to calm their child’s cough…”
Herbal tea, broth, salt water, apple cider vinegar, honey, and fresh garlic are all simple, inexpensive ingredients that are found in most homes. These cough remedies have proven to be tried and true blessings for our family time and time again.
