Some coughs can be cured by eliminating the source, such as avoiding smoke and other irritants, as well as allergens like mold or pet dander. If that doesn’t work, try Dr. Russell’s favorite home remedies for cough, many of which you probably already have in your kitchen or medicine cabinet.
1. Have Some Honey — It’s a Natural Cough Suppressant
If you enjoy the taste of honey, you’re in luck. “Hot liquids with honey can soothe and treat coughs for short-term periods,” says Russell. Use plain hot water or your favorite hot tea, and add honey and lemon to taste (the lemon is just for flavor).
Honey right from the spoon is another low-cost cough home remedy with proven benefits. It’s anti-inflammatory by nature, so it works to reduce the swelling in your throat and airways that causes coughing. Honey also helps thin out mucus, a contributing factor to a wet cough.
One review of 10 studies found that honey may be more effective than cough medication or a placebo in relieving symptoms and improving sleep in children with acute cough. However, this evidence is low quality, and more research is needed.
But never give honey to children under 12 months, Russell says. In rare cases, it can cause infant botulism.
2. Suck on Lozenges or Hard Candy to Help Stimulate Saliva
Lozenges and hard candy help stimulate saliva or increase secretions in the mouth, which can dampen any cough you may have, explains Russell. This works especially well as a dry cough remedy, he adds.
There is not a lot of scientific evidence to back up herbal lozenges like those containing zinc, vitamin C, and echinacea, notes Russell, but they may have modest benefits — even if it’s just a placebo effect — and none of them, if used moderately, is harmful.
3. Drink Fluids for Hydration and to Boost Your Immune System
“Many people who have a cough tend to get dehydrated,” Russell explains.
In addition to hydration, fluids also help your immune system fight off the source of the infection or virus that may be causing your cough, and soothe the sore throat that is common with a cough, he adds.
4. Gargling May Make Your Cough Go Away Faster
Have some table salt at home? Go ahead and add some to warm water and gargle with it. In a small study, simply gargling water was found to relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (aka the common cold) and even prevent the infections from happening in the first place.
5. Use a Humidifier or Take a Steamy Shower to Ease Congestion
If you’ve ever noticed your cough or congestion easing up as you enjoy a hot bath or shower, then you know the value of humidity for easing cold symptoms. You can create this simple cough remedy at home by taking a steamy shower or by using a cool mist humidifier.
Humidifiers add moisture to the air, and cool-mist humidifiers may help ease coughing and congestion due to a cold. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s directions to keep your humidifier clean and prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.
6. Cut Up an Onion to Relieve Your Cough (or So People Say)
Many people start to cry the minute they begin chopping up an onion. But while there isn’t any science behind it, some people swear the strong vapor an onion emits when it’s cut helps relieve a cough, says Russell.
Before you go to bed, cut an onion into quarters and leave it on a plate on your bedside table or at the foot of the bed. Although using an onion for a cough may sound like nothing more than an old wives’ tale, Russell says it’s quite popular in Spain and France.
7. Use Over-the-Counter Cough Medicine if Nothing Else Works
If you’ve tried other cough remedies and you’re contemplating the stash of cough and cold products in your medicine cabinet, read the labels first.
Researchers have found that products containing dextromethorphan may be slightly better than placebo in helping to reduce cough, says Russell. Products that contain pseudoephedrine can help stop postnasal drip caused by a virus or allergies and may also reduce cough, he adds.
But these medications have their limitations: Dextromethorphan is not safe for children under age 5, says Russell, and pseudoephedrine tends to increase blood pressure and heart rate.
Nighttime cough medications like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) typically contain an antihistamine that makes you feel sleepy. Diphenhydramine may have side effects for people over age 65, such as reduced stability in the middle of the night, cognitive impairment or confusion, and urinary retention. Russell says you should try natural remedies before turning to cough medicines, and then proceed with caution.
The Takeaway
- Most coughs clear on their own or after removing the source of the irritant or allergen, like mold or pet dander.
- Natural home remedies, like a spoonful of honey or a saltwater gargle, can alleviate cold symptoms like coughing and may even shorten a cold’s duration. Lozenges and hard candy can also help stimulate saliva, which may be helpful for dry coughs.
- If you’ve exhausted these natural remedies and your cough persists, talk to your healthcare provider.
Additional reporting by Andria Park Huynh.
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