Oh that dry annoying cough. It’s the middle of the night and that tedious annoying cough has you up once again. Pretty much exhausted, you sit on the edge of the bed hacking like you need to expel that hairball that you somehow swallowed hours earlier. You think to yourself, come on there must be some type of dry cough remedy out there to bring me some relief. You drink some water and finally it subsides, but you know that at any given moment that bothersome cough can reappear and plague you all over again. As you gingerly place your head back onto the pillow, you promise yourself that tomorrow you will definitely seek out a treatment for this problem.
So Why do We Cough?
There are many reasons that cause coughing, but technically speaking it is the body’s way of purging and expelling unwanted and foreign materials as well as mucus from the lungs and air passages. A cough is the body’s violence reaction to something that just should not be there. In reality it is really quite a productive process. A lot of the time it’s the end result to the body’s immune system performing its job. After completing its mission within the body, the spent immune cells along with dead bacteria and neutralized toxins are deposited into the mucus cells. Next the body discards this waste through coughing. Viruses and germs are also dispelled by the body via coughing. That’s why it’s so important to cover your mouth when you cough.
Besides this, there are many other reasons why we cough. Those dry hacking coughs can be caused by dirt, pollution, and smoke in the air. And let’s not omit smoking. If you’re a smoker and have developed a cough you really should seek professional help because your cough may be a symptom of a more serious condition. Coughs can also be the result of post nasal drip, acid reflux disease, asthma, allergies, and also the flu or the common cold. The latter two causes will generally run their course and you’ll be rid of them within a week or so, but the types of coughs that require a bit more concentration on your part may be the type that’s considered chronic. They are the ones that the doctors aren’t too anxious about and suggest possibly seeking out a home remedy to bring some relief. If that’s the case, then what type of cough relief, cough medicine, or cough treatment will bring the best results?
As you seek a solution for that dry cough, be ready to try several suggestions including cough medicines. If you persevere you will find just the right treatment to assuage your cough. Because cough medicines often make you drowsy, taking them during the daytime may not be a viable option. So in this search to locate just the right dry cough remedy let’s explore some of the more natural remedies first. To begin with, drink lots of water. Keeping the body hydrated will thin out the body’s mucus secretions, relieve the throat, and may well be the prerequisite to any dry cough remedy. You can suck on a cough drop. It will help to get the juices flowing and soothe and hydrate the throat. If the lozenge has menthol it can also clear congested nasal passages.
Others:
- Hot tea with lemon and honey
- spoonful of a honey and lemon juice mixture.
- Hot carrot juice
- Hot water with honey
- Hot water with lemon
- Apple cider vinegar and honey
- Grape juice and honey
- Hot tardy at night
These are all suggested measures to ward off a dry cough. Another great remedy for the nighttime is using a few extra pillows to raise the head. If you adhere to the herbal treatments then there’s a dry cough remedy out there for you too. Check with your physician or a naturopathic doctor for guidance on how to use herbs properly as a dry cough remedy. You can ask about ginger, holy basil leaves,marjoram, anise, fennel, eucalyptus leaves, peppermint and spearmint leaves, and turmeric. Black, white, and cayenne pepper all seem to be very high on the list of herbal cough solutions as is onions and garlic. Another practical suggestion is to stay away from dairy products. They cause mucus to build up within the body.
If You Decide Medicine
If you’ve decided the medicine route is the best way to go, there are many great choices. Just make sure you select the medicine that’s designed to treat your type of cough. Consult your physician or the pharmacist for guidance. If your cough is due to asthma or bronchitis you’ll definitely need a prescription medication for that. If you’re experiencing a lot of thick mucus an expectorant cough medication might be best. If your cough is dry and hacking a suppressant is preferred. Remember to stay away from things that will trigger your cough. There isn’t a remedy that will help if you don’t avoid the things that make you cough, like smoke or other things that you may be allergic to.
The key to soothing that cough and feeling well again is finding the dry cough remedy that works best for you. Be smart, be proactive, and commit to making the necessary changes in diet, habits, and lifestyle and you will find that you have become a healthier new you.
