Lahore: It’s never a fun situation when you have a persistent cough. You surely do not want to be that person in a quiet room during a lecture that can’t stop breaking the silence with your inevitable coughing, or that person at the restaurant that makes people fling themselves over their plates to protect their food while you cough away. Coughs are just terribly uncomfortable all around, both physically and otherwise.
Constant coughing can often leave your chest aching. You must keep yourself hydrated, which helps to keep the mucous membranes moist so that they can be easily flushed out. Instead of turning to chemical solutions such as cough syrup for every minor ailment, try some home remedies instead. They are not only better for you, but they taste a whole lot better than most medicines do.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of a Cough (Urdu)
Compiled from Reader’s digest, here is a list of natural remedies to try out before a dry cough attacks you with the changing weather. These safety measures will definitely help you to ease into the upcoming winter season.
Blow off some steam for the flu
This at-home remedy isn’t new but we thought we’d include it just because of how beneficial it is. Breathing moist air helps ease nasal congestion and pain. Simply heat some water in a saucepan and breathe in its fumes for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Another way of taking steam is by indulging in a hot shower once or twice a day while you’re unwell. There is nothing like standing under warm water on a cold winter’s day, especially when you’re all clogged up inside.
A spoonful of honey
Studies, such as one conducted at Penn State College of Medicine, have found that honey can work more efficiently to calm a dry cough than over-the-counter drugs. It is a rich demulcent, with a high viscosity and stickiness that does an incredible job of coating and soothing those irritated mucous membranes. It also has antibacterial properties as well, which may help shorten how long you have the cough if it is due to bacterial illness.
Turmeric Remedy
Curcumin, a substance found in turmeric, may be anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial. Additionally, it might be helpful for a number of ailments, such as a dry cough. Black pepper enhances the bloodstream absorption of curcumin. You can make a drink, like cold orange juice, by mixing 1 teaspoon of turmeric and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper together. It can also be brewed into a hot cup of tea. In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been used for generations to deal with bronchitis, asthma, and upper respiratory illnesses.
Saltwater
Also a popular remedy for sore throats, salt water can ease the discomfort caused by a dry cough the same way it helps a sore throat-through osmosis. When the concentration of salt is higher outside of the cells in your mucous membranes, water flows out of the cells to balance everything out. When water leaves the cells, swelling goes down, and discomfort is decreased. If you have a cough that happens to come along with inflamed tissue, this is a good route to take. It can also help dislodge any phlegm that’s hanging out and allow you to expel it easily.
Ginger peppermint syrup
Spicy ginger works as an expectorant, helping loosen and expel mucous from the lungs. It can also stop the painful tickle at the back of the throat that can trigger a cough if the first place if you are experiencing a dry cough. The peppermint will also help relieve the irritating tickle of a cough.
