40 Effective Home Remedies For Dry, Persistent Coughs & Itchy, Sore Throat..Natural Herbal Treatment That Works

40 Effective Home Remedies For Dry, Persistent Coughs & Itchy, Sore Throat..Natural Herbal Treatment That Works

Dry, persistent coughs and an itchy throat are common symptoms of colds or fever or an allergy. These problems can be quite inconvenient especially when you want to have a good night sleep.

Usually, normal or productive coughing is said to be the body?s way of removing unwanted substances like phlegm, and shouldn?t be inhibited. Contrastingly, a dry, persistent cough, also called unproductive cough does not come with any substance ? it?s just dry ? and needs to be suppressed.

Causes of itchy throats and dry coughs

As already stated in the introduction, dry coughs and itchy throats can be the symptoms of colds or flu; however, they can be the result of some other underlying health conditions. The following are some of the other common causes of itchy throats and dry coughs:

• Bacterial and viral infections like tonsillitis or bronchitis
• Heartburn
• Smoking
• Air pollution
• Hayfever
• The side effect of some other medication
• Food or drug allergies

Home remedies for itchy throats and dry coughs

While there are many ways of bringing relief to dry coughs and an itchy throat, you may have to try some natural methods at home before seeking professional medical treatment.

• Honey

Taking raw honey is a sweet and effective remedy for itchy and dry coughs. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-irritating effects of honey will help in bringing quick relief to the itchy throat. You can take a tablespoon of honey three times every day, especially before going to sleep.

• Inhaling water vapor

Setting a source of steam under the nostrils is a simple way of treating all types of coughs. The wet vapors help to soothe the dryness and to soften the mucus. For increased effectiveness, you can add some drops of an essential oil in the boiling water.

• Get some sleep

Getting enough rest, especially during night sleep, is also a home remedy for dry coughs and itchy throats. During sleep, the body does some repairs to ailing parts including the throat.

• Salt water solution

Gargling the mouth with salt water solution can help to prevent and treat dry coughs. This is because of the anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of salt.

• Oregano oil

A research shows that applying a drop of oregano oil to either side of the tongue can help in bringing relief to dry coughs and itchy throats. The oil helps to treat the coughs as well as in its prevention. A word of caution though: oregano oil is known to be acerbic, so you need to only use it in drops and not in large amounts.

• Drink bone stock

Based on the studies of an epidemiologist, drinking hot bone stock can help in alleviating dry cough and itchy throat. Spicing up the bone broth will make it more effective due to the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of spices.

• Drinking water

Drinking lots of water helps to get rid of unwanted compounds in the body as well as in keeping the body hydrated. Hydrating the body will help to remedy the irritated linings of the throat to stop the coughing.

• Add more spices

Adding more spices to your meal or mixing them with water to consume can help to bring relief to your itchy throat. A good spice for this purpose is cayenne pepper which contains capsaicin, which is an anti-irritant due to its anti-microbial properties.

• Shower

Taking a long, hot shower can do a lot to the body. This method is particularly great for kids or even adults who are averse to taking cough medicine. Moreover, since a cough may be caused by a cold, getting the body warm will help to alleviate the underlying problem.

• Marshmallow tea

Like any other tea, drinking a filtered mixture of marshmallow roots in boiled water is a home treatment for an itchy throat. The soothing effect of this tea helps in reducing the dryness and itching of the throat.

• Stop smoking

If you are suffering from itchy throat and dry coughs and you are a smoker, you need to quit the habit. This is because smoking only aggravates the problem.

• Thyme tea

Adding some leaves of fresh or dried thyme to warm water, and drinking will bring relief to an irritating throat and cough. Thyme is an age-old herb with great health benefits including anti-bacterial and immune-boosting properties.

• Ginger peppermint syrup

This is an effective home treatment for dry coughs. While ginger helps to soften the phlegm ? if any, the peppermint works as an anti-irritating agent to stop the itching. Boiling some ginger and peppermint in water, and subsequently adding honey produces a home solution to your cough.

• Onion juice

Onion contains flavonoids which have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help in the treatment of itchy throat and dry coughs.

• Nasal wash

Rinsing the nostrils with salt water solution can help to get rid of phlegm or other unwanted substances congesting the nose.

• Propolis

Propolis is a combination of beeswax and bee saliva. This mixture is effective in the treatment of respiratory tract infections. You can consume propolis by adding a few drops to a glass of water.

• Licorice root tea

Licorice root is a known herbal plant with several medicinal properties. The tea made from this root is a healthy and natural solution to dry coughs and tickly throats.

• Yogurt With Probiotics

Yogurt is a rich source of probiotics that are beneficial in the treatment of colds. Moreover, these beneficial bacteria can help in relieving respiratory problems. To take yogurt as a remedy for your dry cough, ensure that it isn?t cold to prevent aggravating the problem.

• Turmeric milk

Turmeric is found in curry and is known to contain antioxidants as well as having anti-inflammatory properties. Drinking a mixture of turmeric added to one cup of hot milk every day will aid in relieving irritated throats. To get the best from turmeric, it is advised that you use goat milk instead of the cow variant as the latter promotes the production of mucus.

• Carrots

Carrots are rich in minerals and vitamins such as vitamins A and C. Although the vitamin C content isn’t as much as the vitamin A, it still helps in the reduction of coughs. You can eat raw carrots or you can blend them into a juice for drinking.

Home remedies for a dry cough at night

• Use a pillow while sleeping.

Lying flat while sleeping can be a stimulant for heartburn to occur. Heartburn or acid reflux is a cause of dry coughs as stated previously; to reduce the occurrence of this happening while sleeping, use a pillow or cushion to elevate the head.

• Sage tea

Like thyme, sage has been used since ancient times in the treatment of coughs. To prepare sage tea, add some leaves of the plant to boiling water. Allow the mixture to steep for some minutes and drink through the day including before bedtime.

• Lemon juice

To soothe your tickly throat and treat dry coughs that deny you from having a good night sleep, you should drink lemon juice. To get the juice, squeeze a lemon fruit into warm water. You can add honey to the mixture and drink.

• Humidifying your room and your throat

Increasing the moisture in the air inside your room is a good way of soothing the dry cough. You can also moisturize your throat by inhaling steam or by having a hot shower.

• Honey-vinegar mixture

Apple cider vinegar and honey are rich sources of antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties which help in alleviating dry coughs. Drinking this mixture before going to bed is a natural treatment for dry coughs and itchy throats.

• Aloe vera juice

Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties that help in relieving dry cough and itchy throats. To make a juice from the plant, split a leaf and use a spoon to take out the gel. You can consume the gel alone or can sweeten it with honey.

Home remedies for dry coughs in children

• Dried grapes

If your child is down with dry coughs, you can feed her with raisin syrup. This syrup can be made by boiling crushed raisins in water.

• Honey

The use of honey for treating dry coughs in children should only be administered to children above one year of age. That being said, you can give your child honey if she has a dry cough and is older than one.

• Milk

Feed your young child with milk to reduce coughing in children.

• Massage

Massaging your child’s chest and back when he comes down with a cough can help to relieve sore muscles which are associated with a dry cough.

• Sugar candy

This is a sweet remedy for dry coughs in children. The presence of capsaicin in the candy helps to relieve the symptoms of cold and flu due to its anti-bacterial properties. A word of caution though, you shouldn?t give a child younger than 3 years of age sugar candy to avoid choking.

• Garlic

Adding mashed garlic to your meal is a healthy way of treating dry coughs. The anti-inflammatory and anti-irritation properties of the herb help to soothe the cough.

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