How to Get Out of Flowers Quickly

A persistent cough makes you miserable, and you probably want to get rid of your cough as soon as possible. Coughing is a common side effect of the flu, but it can also be caused by allergies, asthma, acid reflux, dry air, cigarette smoke, and even medication. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Going to the Source} Cough can be extremely uncomfortable and painful, so try the tips below to get rid of a cough quickly.

Table of Contents

Natural Cough Remedies

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Use honey. Honey is an effective way to curb a cough and soothe a sore throat. ^{[2] X Sources of Research} Many studies have found that honey is at least as effective as over-the-counter cough suppressants, and sometimes even more effective. ^{[3] X Research Source}^{[4] X Research Source} Honey coats and soothes mucous membranes. Honey is very helpful when taken right before bed if the cough is making it difficult for you to fall asleep.

Honey is fine for adults and children, but don’t give honey to babies under 1 year old because it can increase the risk of infant botulism. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
You can drink honey directly. When you have a persistent cough, try drinking 1 tablespoon of honey every few hours. Another option is to add 1 tablespoon of honey (or more) to hot lemon tea and drink.
Some studies suggest that honey is as effective at treating coughs as dextromethorphan, an ingredient commonly used in many over-the-counter cough medicines. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Drink licorice tea. Licorice tea soothes the airways, helps reduce swelling and loosens phlegm. Put 2 tablespoons of dried licorice root in the pot, pour 240ml of boiling water and soak for 10-15 minutes. Drink twice a day. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Do not drink licorice tea if you are taking steroids or have kidney problems.
The active ingredient glycyrrhiza can cause side effects in some people. Look for DGL, or deglycyrrhizinated licorice in health food stores or drugstores, which are equally effective. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Try thyme tea. In some countries, for example in Germany, thyme is used to treat respiratory ailments. Thyme relaxes the muscles in the throat and reduces inflammation. Bring water to a boil, put 2 teaspoons of ground thyme in a cup, pour boiling water in and soak for 10 minutes. Strain the tea before drinking. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Add honey and lemon for an extra soothing effect. It also adds flavor to this drink.
Do not take thyme oil by mouth. Use only fresh and dried thyme.

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Enjoy a hard candy. If cough lozenges are not readily available or do not like medicated lozenges, you can soothe and stop a cough by sucking on a hard candy. ^{[10] X Research Source}

A dry cough without phlegm can be stopped with any kind of hard candy. Hard candies make you salivate and swallow more, which in turn can curb coughing.
If the cough has phlegm, sucking on cough candy with lemon usually works well. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Hard candies are effective for coughs in children 6 years of age and older. ^{[12] X Trusted Source HealthyChildren.org Go to Source} Do not give candy or cough lozenges to children under 3 years of age, as they may choke. ^{[13] X Research Source}

READ More: Paulo Coelho

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Try using technology. Turmeric is a traditional cough remedy that many people find effective. Try mixing half a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a cup of warm milk. You can also try mixing turmeric powder with a teaspoon of honey for a dry cough. To make turmeric tea, add 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder to 1 liter of boiling water. Allow to infuse, then filter again. Add a little honey and lemon as ingredients to relieve cough. ^{[14] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

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Dissolve the mint and ginger in the lemon juice. Ginger helps loosen phlegm. Both ginger and mint can curb irritation in the throat. Add honey to the mixture to increase the effect.

Add 3 tablespoons of minced ginger and 1 tablespoon of dried mint to 1 quart of water. Bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat. Let it simmer until it’s all gone, then strain again. Allow to cool for a few minutes, then add 240 ml of honey, stirring until completely dissolved. Drink 1 tablespoon every few hours. This mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. ^{[15] X Research Source}
You can add a mint to the lemon juice. Use a small saucepan to heat until the candy melts. You can also try adding honey. Add 1 tablespoon (15ml) of honey to the mixture and stir well. ^{[16] X Research Source}

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Try using essential oils. Combining a steam bath with essential oils can help you inhale the essential oils and be effective. Try tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil, both of which are said to soothe and clear the airways. Tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils also have antiviral, bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Boil water and pour into a bowl. Leave for 1 minute to cool down. Add 3 drops of tea tree oil, 1-2 drops of eucalyptus oil and stir. Lean forward and wrap a towel around your head to catch the steam. Breathe deeply for about 5-10 minutes, 2-3 times a day. You need to be careful not to bend down too close lest you burn your face from the hot steam. ^{[18] X Research Sources}
Do not drink tea tree oil as it is toxic when swallowed.

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Make cough syrup from corn whiskey. If you prefer an effective adult-only cough syrup, you can mix some whiskey into a mug of warm lemonade. ^{[19] X Research Source} Although alcohol doesn’t appear to have any effect on coughs, it can help you relax. ^{[20] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

Mix 60 ml of whiskey, 60 ml of lemon juice and 60 – 125 ml of water in a microwaveable mug.
Heat for 45 seconds in the microwave.
Add a tablespoon (15 ml) of honey to the mixture and heat in the microwave for another 45 seconds.

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Try Korean folk remedies. If you have a cough due to a cold or flu, you can make a batch of traditional Korean cold medicine. It is a mixture of dried jujube with spices, honey and many other beneficial ingredients.

Place 25 dried jujubes (sliced), 1 large pear (quartered and seeded), an 8-cm-long piece of ginger (sliced), 2-3 branches of cinnamon and 3 liters of water in a large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until it starts to boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
Strain the water and discard all.
Add 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) of honey to sweeten the tea. Enjoy a cup to soothe your throat and stop a cough in just a few minutes. One of the simplest things you can do is relax and breathe deeply.

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Gargle with salt water. Salt water is used to relieve a sore throat, but can also ease a cough because it helps reduce swelling and loosen phlegm. Mix ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt in 240 ml of warm water, stir until completely dissolved and gargle for 15 seconds. Spit it out and repeat until the brine is gone. ^{[21] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Try apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a good cough remedy without drugs. You can warm up apple cider vinegar and use it as a tea by adding a teaspoon of honey, or drink it cold with apple juice.

Treat Cough With Medicine

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Use a decongestant. Decongestants help relieve coughs by reducing nasal congestion, drying up phlegm in the lungs, and dilating the airways. You can take decongestants in many forms, such as pills, liquids, or nasal sprays. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Look for pills and lotions that have the active ingredients phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine.
Using too much decongestant can lead to a dry nose and throat and a dry cough.
Use the nasal spray only for 2-3 days. Longer use may cause additional nasal congestion due to the “feedback effect”. You can become dependent on decongestants if overused. ^{[23] X Trusted Source FamilyDoctor.org Go to Source}

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Try medicated cough lozenges. Try a menthp cough as this seems to be the most effective. Cough lozenges numb the throat, limit the cough response and help stop the cough quickly. ^{[24] X Research Source}

If you have a productive cough, lozenges with a bitter mint ingredient often work well. Bitter mint is a herb with both bitter and sweet taste, which has expectorant properties, thus helping to expel phlegm faster, making the cough go away faster. Pregnant women should avoid bitter mint. ^{[25] X Research Sources}
To treat a dry cough, you can use slippery elm lozenges. This lozenge is made from slippery elm bark. The substances in the lozenges coat the lining of the throat, thereby limiting the cough response and ending a dry cough. ^{[26] X Research Source} Pregnant and lactating women should not use slippery elm. ^{[27] X Research Source}

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Use medicated oil to warm the chest. An over-the-counter chest warmer, containing menthp or camphor, can stop most types of dry and productive coughs. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

This oil is for external use only, do not drink.
Do not use breast warmers for infants.

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Try cough medicine. Cough medicines are most useful when used to treat productive coughs that often occur at night. ^{[29] X Trusted Source FamilyDoctor.org Go to Source}

Cough medicines block the flow of phlegm that causes coughing and send signals to the brain to limit the cough response. This is a good solution if you need to temporarily suppress a cough to sleep at night or for other reasons. But you should not depend on cough medicine during illness because cough medicine can cause phlegm to collect in the lungs, increasing the risk of bacterial infection.
Look for cough medicines that contain dextromethorphan, phpcodine, or antihistamines.
Be careful when taking the medicine if your main symptom is a cough. The antihistamines and decongestants in cough medicine can make phlegm thick, dry, and difficult to get out of the airways. ^{[30] X Trusted Source FamilyDoctor.org Go to Source}
Do not give cough medicine to children under 4 years old.

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Use expectorants. An expectorant thins phlegm, making it easier to expel when coughing. An expectorant is very effective if you have a cough with thick phlegm. ^{[31] X Research Source}

Do not give cough medicine to children under 4 years old because it can cause serious side effects. ^{[32] X Research Source}

Stop Coughing With Other Methods

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Drink liquids. Adequate hydration is important in both dry and productive coughs. The liquid helps to thin the phlegm that normally drains into the throat causing a cough. ^{[33] X Research Source} Any drink is fine, except alcohol and caffeinated drinks (which can dehydrate you) and acidic citrus drinks or juices (because may cause throat irritation). ^{[34] X Trusted Source World Health Organization Go to Source}

Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water (8 x 250ml) a day while coughing.
To treat cough in babies 3 months – 1 year old: give your child 1-3 teaspoons (5 -15ml) of warm, clear liquid, such as apple juice, up to 4 times a day to soothe the cough. ^{[35] X Trusted Source HealthyChildren.org Go to Source} It’s in addition to the usual amount of fluids a baby drinks like breast milk or formula.

Advice

Note that antibiotics are rarely, if ever, used to treat coughs. Antibiotics only kill bacteria and don’t help, so they’re ineffective in treating viral and non-illness coughs. Your doctor will only prescribe antibiotics if he or she suspects your cough is a symptom of an infection.
If you have trouble breathing, use an inhaler.
Liquids like coffee or black tea can lower immunity.
When drinking water, drink warm water because cold water will irritate your throat.
Rest a lot. Avoid hiking, jogging, or exercising until you feel better.

Warning

Know when to see a doctor. Coughs usually go away on their own within 10 days, and if you apply the above remedies, they will go away even faster. But if the cough persists for more than two to four weeks, you should call your doctor. You should also see your doctor if you cough up blood, or cough with sharp chest pain, extreme fatigue, heavy weight loss, chills, or a fever of 38.3 degrees Celsius or higher.

Steps

Natural Cough Remedies

Treat Cough With Medicine

Stop Coughing With Other Methods

Advice

Warning

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