12 Natural cough remedies for dry coughs and phlegm

Coughing can also be accompanied by other symptoms that are no less disturbing, such as sore throat and runny nose. Various cough medicines that can be obtained easily at the pharmacy can be relied on as the first treatment. However, sometimes you may rely more on traditional methods or natural ingredients to relieve coughs before taking medicine. For that, see the complete review of the following natural cough remedies.

Various choices of natural cough medicines

Before trying non-prescription cough medicines that can be purchased at pharmacies or supermarkets, you can actually try a variety of natural ingredients to relieve cough symptoms due to minor respiratory infections, such as colds and flu. In fact, this traditional ingredient is not only useful for various types of coughs, but also treats other respiratory symptoms that may accompany it, such as nasal congestion.

Although many think that natural ingredients do not have side effects like OTC cough medicines, you still have to consult your doctor.

Some natural and traditional ingredients that can help you relieve cough are:

1. Salt water

Salt can be a natural cough medicine that is easily available at home. Gargling with warm salt water can help prevent bacterial growth from infecting your throat. This traditional method can also help thin the phlegm that has clumped in the throat, so that the cough is more relieved.

To make phlegm cough medicine from a saline solution, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt to 250 ml of warm water, then stir until it dissolves. Then gargle with this solution every three hours for 3-4 times a day.

If you want to use this traditional ingredient as cough medicine for children, make sure you teach and tell your little one how to rinse properly so that the solution is not swallowed.

2. Honey

Honey has long been used as a natural remedy for various diseases, including coughs.

Various studies, one of which is in the journal Canadian Family Physician, proves that the ingredients in honey can be effective in curing coughs if consumed regularly.

The analgesic found in natural ingredients is able to stop infection in diseases that cause dry cough or cough with phlegm.

For optimal effect as a traditional cough medicine, you can drink a teaspoon of honey directly on an empty stomach. Alternatively, you can mix it into milk or herbal tea with lemon juice.

The combination of honey and lemon can better cure coughs because it helps expedite the movement of air in the respiratory tract.

3. Ginger

Drinking a mixture of ginger that has been diluted in warm water or tea can help relieve cough symptoms. According to the National Institute of Health, ginger has antibacterial and antiviral properties so it can increase the immune system's ability to fight infections in the respiratory tract. This content is also able to simultaneously prevent the development of new viruses and bacteria.

Ginger is also a natural analgesic (pain reliever) that can have a warming effect. The warm sensation of this traditional ingredient helps thin the phlegm in the respiratory tract so it is very suitable to be used as a herbal remedy for curing a cough with phlegm.

Not only that, ginger as a natural cough medicine can reduce pain in the throat due to a dry cough. The sensation of warmth can relax the tight throat muscles.

You can drink this traditional cough medicine by consuming it directly. You can also mix it with lemon juice, tea, honey, or milk. Drink this twice a day while you have a cough.

4. Lemon

Fruits can also be used as a natural cough medicine, one of which is lemon.

As a cough medicine, lemon can reduce inflammation that occurs in the throat, as well as provide vitamin C for the body. Vitamin C itself is useful for increasing the strength of the immune system in eradicating bacterial infections, including infections that occur in the airways which cause coughs.

A simple cough medicine can be made by mixing one teaspoon of lemon juice with one teaspoon of honey. Drink it several times a day.

Another way to consume lemon as a cough medicine is to mix pepper and honey in lemon juice.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric is believed to reduce the symptoms of persistent cough, especially for a natural dry cough medicine.

In turmeric, there is curcumin which has anti-inflammatory properties. This compound has abilities as strong as some drugs that also contain anti-inflammatory agents. Its function is to fight infection-causing foreign particles in the respiratory tract.

To make turmeric as a natural cough medicine, you can crush the turmeric into a fine powder and mix it in one glass of hot milk. You can also mix it with salt in tea along with four glasses of water to relieve itching in the throat.

Avoid not drinking water immediately after consuming this cough medicine. Water can inhibit the action of the anti-inflammatory compounds contained in turmeric.

6. Garlic

Garlic is one of the easiest to obtain phlegm cough natural remedies. The antimicrobial properties contained in garlic can stop infection or irritation that causes excess phlegm. It's thanks to compounds allicin which can kill bacteria and viruses in the throat.

Apart from being eaten, you can also smell the pungent aroma of garlic. Alternatively, you can make a traditional cough medicine mixture by mixing fine garlic, honey, and tea. Drink this cough medicine at least twice a day to relieve cough and sore throat.

7. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid which is antibacterial. Because of this nature, apple cider vinegar can be processed into a natural cough medicine. The antibacterial properties in apple cider vinegar can break down mucus clots and kill bacteria that attack the respiratory tract.

To process apple cider vinegar into a natural phlegm cough remedy, you can dilute 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in one glass of water. Then, gargle with this solution and drink it directly. Repeat this method for one to two successive times an hour.

Before gargling with a solution of traditional cough medicine from apple cider vinegar, drink as much water as possible.

8. Probiotic foods

Probiotics are microorganisms that have many health benefits. Probiotic foods do not cure coughs directly. However, probiotic foods help strengthen the immune system because they balance the good bacteria in digestion.

Beneficial probiotics such as Lactobacillus are commonly found in milk, kefir, yogurt, and apple cider vinegar. This natural ingredient can reduce symptoms in coughs caused by certain allergens.

Therefore, probiotics can be used as a medicine for coughs caused by allergies. The best probiotic content is in milk, but its consumption still needs to be watched out because it can make phlegm thickened.

10. Pineapple

Pineapple can also be a natural cough medicine. Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which can help relieve cough with phlegm naturally. The content of bormelain which is composed of enzymes proteolytic and this protease has anti-inflammatory properties so it can break down the phlegm that clots in the throat and lungs.

Eat 60 grams of chopped pineapple a day. You can also make the juice and drink it 3 times a day until the symptoms you feel gradually improve.

However, it should be noted, if taken together with antibiotics, the enzyme bromelain in pineapple can reduce the efficacy of the drug against bacteria.

11. Bone broth soup

Eating bone broth can have many positive effects on health, from helping to boost the immune system, thinning phlegm in the respiratory tract, to increasing the body's detophysification ability.

Bone broth does not directly cure coughs. However, this natural cough medicine can relieve cough symptoms due to infection with dangerous particles, such as exposure to pollution, chemicals, bacteria, and other toxic substances.

When you have a prolonged cough, your body fluid levels tend to decrease, making you prone to dehydration. Bone broth is a natural cough medicine that contains electrolytes in the form of sodium so that the body can more easily absorb incoming fluids.

You can take cough medicine from heated bone broth so that it can give a maximum relaxing effect to the congested respiratory tract.

12. Licorice root

Has long been used as a herbal remedy to relieve laryngitis, roots licorice can also be used as a natural cough medicine, especially cough with phlegm and cough due to allergies.

Content glycyrrhizin on the cough medicine from the root licorice It has antiallergenic properties so it can thin the mucus which results in a feeling of shortness of breath.

Know this before taking natural cough medicines

Natural or traditional cough medicine made from various popular herbal ingredients is an alternative cough treatment because it is claimed to have minimal risk of side effects, is cheap, and easy to obtain.

Unfortunately, more and more massive clinical trials are needed to find out how effective this natural remedy is to cure coughs. However, that does not mean that natural and traditional ingredients are not useful at all for coughs.

Meanwhile, the use of traditional cough medicines is quite safe if used for a short time. However, You should not replace your doctor's medication with herbal remedies, especially for chronic respiratory diseases, such as coughing up blood. This could indicate serious inflammation in the lungs that the herbs cannot cure.

Most appropriately, consult a doctor before deciding to take natural cough medicines, whether for dry coughs, phlegm, or bleeding. That way, you can get the most appropriate advice so that your treatment can also run optimally.