If you’ve ever experienced a hacking dry cough, then you know how uncomfortable it can be. A dry cough often results because something has lodged in your airway – from dirt to bacteria or pollen. A dry cough also results as a condition of long-term smoking and can point to a more serious issue, such as chronic lung disease. Whatever the reason of your dry cough here are some home remedies for dry cough that you can try, they are that are effective and economical. Read on to learn more about these 12 easy natural remedies that you can whip up in your kitchen today!
With our home remedies for dry cough you are sure to feel better in no time!
1. Warm Honey Milk
The combination of warm milk and honey make the perfect antidote to soothe a dry cough at least temporarily. Did you know that honey is used in many over-the-counter cough syrups? That’s because it has an analgesic property that helps to relieve pain. It coats your throat and soothes it with its antioxidant and antibacterial properties as well. Pair it with warm milk to help ingest it more easily.
Instructions
- Warm a 1/2 cup of milk in a small saucepan, making sure not to boil or burn.
- Drop in 2 tablespoons of your favorite honey.
- Mix the two ingredients as the milk warms until smooth.
- Pour into a mug and sip.
2. Lemon Cough Syrup
You can make your very own cough syrup from lemons and honey, and not only is this natural cough syrup effective because lemons are known for their anti-inflammation properties, but they are also rich in Vitamin C, which helps to fight infections, but this is one of the home remedies for dry cough that truly tastes delicious. In addition, you can make this recipe in bulk and store it in your refrigerator for a week or two at a time, helping to ensure that whenever you need a little pick-me-up for a dry cough, you’ve got a natural remedy right inside your refrigerator door.
Instructions
- Cut a lemon in half and squeeze into a small bowl.
- Measure out two tablespoons of real lemon juice.
- Add one tablespoon of honey.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper and mix.
- Drink this natural syrup several times a day to alleviate dry cough.
3. Ginger Water
Like honey, ginger has analgesic properties that aid in the reduction of pain. It also helps to soothe irritated airways and to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Finally, it is known to cleanse the respiratory system. You can achieve all of this by making an easy and refreshing ginger water. Alternatively, you can chew slices of fresh ginger to combat and soothe a dry cough.
Instructions
- Grate some raw ginger root into a small bowl, enough for about two teaspoons.
- Bring a cup of water to a boil.
- Add the fresh, grated ginger and allow the mixture to boil for two minutes.
- Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool.
- Pour over ice or sip warm up to three times a day.
4. Onion Cough Syrup
If you’re the kind of person who can’t eat a salad or a piece of meat without the addition of onions, then this recipe is for you. Our next addition to the home remedies for dry cough list is a tangy, effective natural cough syrup from onion juice. What’s great is that making onion cough syrup is a great natural antidote to whip up in your kitchen while you’re already cooking dinner. The pungent vapors that arise from cutting and baking onions help to provide relief for a dry cough.
Instructions
- Slice three large onions and layer in a baking dish.
- Cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until soft.
- Carefully strain the liquid from the baking dish.
- Add raw honey to sweeten.
- Mix and take a tablespoon twice a day to relieve a dry cough.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice that is effective for fighting a dry cough. That’s because of its main active ingredient, curcumin, that has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Keep mind that turmeric is a spicy antidote to a dry cough, so mixing it with milk serves as a pH stabilizer that will take away a little of the sting of this effective dry-cough-fighting spice.
Instructions
- Bring a cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan.
- Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a teaspoon of carom seeds.
- Boil until the water reduces by half.
- Add 2 tablespoons of honey and a 1/2 cup of milk.
- Mix the mixture and allow it to settle to a warm temperature.
- Pour into a mug and drink this mixture up to three times a day.
6. Cayenne Cough Concoction
Seems that ingredients that are the spiciest also happen to be the ones that help with a dry cough the most. That is certainly the case with any natural remedy that contains cayenne. Cayenne helps to reduce the pain your chest feels from repetitive coughing. It also helps to wake up your throat and chest and warm it in the process of ingesting the cayenne. Make one of the most pungent home remedies for dry cough with these three spicy-sweet ingredients.
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder with 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder.
- Add 1 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.
- Top off with 2 tablespoons of filtered water.
- Mix together and ingest 1 tablespoon up to three times a day.
7. Garlic Tea
Garlic is known for its antimicrobial properties, which make it one of the most excellent natural home remedies for dry cough. This miracle plant also helps with other ailments, being used in a lot of other home remedies, you can also read about its important role as a home remedy for nasal congestion. Make a spicy-sweet, ever-pungent garlic tea with this recipe.
Instructions
- Take off the skins of three garlic cloves.
- Place in a small saucepan with 1 cup of water.
- Add 1 teaspoon oregano.
- Bring to a rolling boil, remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Add 2 teaspoons of honey to the mixture.
- Pour into a cup, warm up in your microwave and sip.
8. Almond Paste
Almonds are a great source of nutrients and protein, boosting your immune system and helping your body to get over a dry cough. Make an easy and healthy almond paste whenever you need a health and a hunger pickup. This is one of the home remedies for dry cough that you can store for several weeks and make in bulk.
Instructions
- Soak 10 almonds in a bowl of water for about 10 hours.
- Add to your blender when they are already soft for blending.
- Mix with 1 teaspoon of natural butter.
- Eat 1 tablespoon up to four times a day.
9. Licorice Root
Licorice root is an excellent dry cough home remedy. It is both a natural expectorant, which loosens mucus in your airways and a natural demulcent, which helps to ease the pain of congestion. It is rich in glycyrrhizin, which is its most active ingredient. Keep in mind that you should not ingest licorice root tea if you have kidney issues or currently are taking steroids.
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, add 8 ounces of filtered water and bring to a boil.
- Add 2 tablespoons of dried licorice root.
- Turn off the heat and cover the mixture for 15 minutes.
- Strain into a mug and sip twice a day.
10. Carrot Juice
If you and your children love your natural vegetables, then for you making a simple carrot juice may be an excellent choice from the home remedies for dry cough list. Carrots are healthy and have a great taste. However, a simple carrot juice still packs a punch for your dry cough because carrots are rich in immune system-boosting nutrients and vitamins.
Instructions
- Wash and peel five carrots.
- Grate into a bowl and strain the flesh from the juice.
- If you have a juicing machine, you also can extract juice from the carrots this way.
- Pour into a glass and dilute with water.
- Mix in 1 teaspoon of honey.
- Drink up to four times a day to beat your dry cough.
11. Thyme Tea
Literally, since The Black Plague, thyme has been used as one of the top home remedies for dry cough because it is rich in anti-microbial agents. It relaxes your airways and helps to open them up when they are clogged with congestion, leading to less of a likelihood that you’ll experience dry coughing.
Instructions
- Boil 8 ounces of fresh water into a pan.
- Add a handful of washed, fresh thyme sprigs. Or you can add 2 tablespoons of dried thyme.
- Remove from heat and cover.
- Allow it to steep for 15 minutes.
- Remove the thyme sprigs and strain the tea into a mug.
- Add lemon and/or honey if you wish.
- Sip up to three times a day.
12. Grape Juice
Not only are grapes refreshing, but they are also good for you. Grapes have the natural properties of an expectorant, helping to break up the mucous lodged in your lungs. Your dry cough becomes less of an issue when that mucus is extracted from your body over time, making grape juice one of the sweetest home remedies for dry cough. Keep in mind, that like any recipe requiring juice extraction, it may take a little patience and time to get the purest, filtered end product. It’s well worth it in the end, however.
Instructions
- Crush 30 grapes in large bowl.
- Strain into a glass and add a little water.
- If you have a juicer, now is the time to use it to get a purer grape juice.
- Add a tablespoon of honey and mix well.
- Drink up to two times a day.
Conclusion
A nagging dry cough can be uncomfortable and the sign of a more serious issue. Give these 12 easy and effective home remedies a try, but if your dry cough continues for more than four days, it may be time to consult your physician. If you used any of the dry cough home remedies in this guide, let us know! Leave a comment below to tell us about your favorite one or to flag a particularly effective remedy you used.
Leave a Reply