Home Remedies for Dry Cough and How to Use Them

A dry cough can occur due to a variety of reasons ranging from the common cold, flu, upper respiratory infections, and respiratory diseases to other factors such as heart disease.

It can cause discomfort and interfere with your sleep if it occurs at night. Yet, most cases of dry cough tend to resolve within a few days.

This article has compiled a few effective home remedies you can try to soothe your cough.

1. Gargle with salt water

Salt water gargles are a traditional home remedy for cough. Salt can help loosen the mucus collected in the throat and also acts as a disinfectant to kill germs. 

How to use:

1. Mix ½–1 teaspoon of salt in a small glass of warm water.
2. Take a drink and tilt your head back.
3. Gargle this water around your throat and spit it out. 

2. Try using honey

Honey is a natural demulcent and is effective against a lot of infections due to its antimicrobial properties.  The World Health Organization reports that honey can be used as a cough remedy as it helps soothe the throat. 

Honey is also used as an additive in many cough syrups. 

How to use:

1. Add 2 tablespoons of honey to a glass of warm water.
2. Drink the solution at least twice a day.

3. Use licorice root

Licorice root is anti-inflammatory in nature. It contains an active compound called glycyrrhizin, which helps reduce cough. It also acts as both an expectorant and demulcent and clears the throat.

How to use:

1. Add a couple of tablespoons of licorice root to a cup of water.
2. Boil it for 5–10 minutes.
3. Drink this tea twice a day.

 4. Consume ginger

Ginger contains a phytocompound called gingerol, which helps reduce cough and helps clear mucus buildup. 

How to use:

1. Chop a piece of ginger into tiny pieces.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of honey to the ginger pieces.
3. Eat this twice a day for faster relief. Read More