Top 11 Completely Natural Remedies to Calm a Cough

Young woman has a flu. Coughing.

Photo credit: bigstock

Don’t you hate it when you have a nagging, irritating cough? Next time, instead of reaching for on over the counter expensive bottle of cough syrup that may or may not work, try one of these old-fashioned, all natural cures that your grandmother probably used.

Coughs occur when some substance such as dust, pollen, bacteria, or mucus irritate the nerve endings in the little space between your throat and your lungs. Coughing is your body’s way of trying to remove these irritants and clear the airway. Humans can cough at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and even an average cough can almost fill a two-liter bottle with air. If you don’t cover your mouth, that cough can spray several feet and have as much as 3,000 miniscule droplets of saliva. Yuck.

Although some chronic, ongoing coughs can be a sign of a serious illness, such as lung cancer, most people think of a typical cough as nothing more than an annoyance. Perhaps the most irritating thing about a cough’s ability to interrupt your sleep (and your family’s sleep) as well as annoying in what would be otherwise quiet places such as churches or hospitals. When you also consider that you could be spreading those germs everywhere, it seems like a kindness to all to quiet that cough ASAP.

Although many people are quick to reach for an over the counter cough syrup, these are often a waste of money as many of the ingredients in them won’t actually do much for you cough.

Check out these top 11 all natural cough quieting remedies that will allow everyone to get a good night’s sleep.

 

1. All natural honey “cough syrup”

There is actually scientific evidence to back up the belief that honey can work extremely well in treating coughs and even sore throats. Try swallowing a tablespoon of raw, organic honey directly, or mix it with a bit of coconut oil and lemon juice for a bit of added health benefits. Grandma also had a great standby to quell a cough before bedtime; a shot of bourbon with a tablespoon of honey! Read also about honey benefits for super “bugs”. 

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