Coughs can be annoying and uncomfortable, especially when they are persistent. The good news is, there are lots of things you can do to calm your or your child’s cough quickly and help it to heal faster.
Check it’s nothing serious
A cough is one of the main signs of an ear, nose, or throat problem, and it can also be a symptom of lung infections, cancers, and other serious illnesses.
So, if your cough lasts for more than a few days, the first thing you should do is talk to a doctor. If your cough is not serious, one of the cough-calming remedies below might be of use.
Honey
Numerous studies have shown that honey is great at easing coughs and soothing sore throats, so eating a tablespoon before bed is often a great way to ensure your cough doesn’t keep you up at night.
Alternatively, boil some water and add a squeeze of honey and a little lemon juice for similar results. Oh, and remember you should not give honey to babies younger than one-year-old.
Cough drops
If you have a dry cough, then boiled sweets, particularly cough drops, but any herbal candy will work just as well, are a good option. They can prevent the urge you have to cough that causes that annoying tickle in the back of your throat, allowing you to get some rest.
Just make sure you never fall asleep while sucking on a cough drop as they can be a serious choking hazard.
Saltwater
Gargling with saltwater is another very simple remedy that will soothe your throat. The saltwater will also help to kill off any bacteria that are working in the back of your throat, so recovery from the infection causing you to cough is likely to be faster than it otherwise might.
Peppermint tea
Not only is peppermint tea delicious, but peppermint has been shown to be effective at soothing sore throats and enabling individuals to breathe with greater ease, so it is a good choice when you have any sort of head cold or cough.
It is probably the menthol content of peppermint tea that makes it so effective, and you should definitely drink a cup or two when you are looking to calm a cough.
Ginger
Ginger is a warm, aromatic spice that goes greatest in everything from curry to cakes, but it is also pretty good for your health, and particularly calming a cough too.
It helps to relax the muscles in the airways, which not only helps to prevent a sore, scratchy throat when you keep coughing, but also makes it much easier for you to breathe too.
Place a 2-inch piece of fresh ginger in a cup and pour over boiling water to make your own ginger tea whenever you have a cough.
As you can see, there are a number of very effective remedies for soothing throats and calming coughs, but remember if a cough is persistent, and neither over-the-counter medicines of DIY remedies work, you should talk to an experienced health professional.
