How to Treat we Cough with Home Remedies
Wet cough is type of cough that brings up phlegm and mucus. It’s also known as a productive cough because you can feel the excess phlegm and mucus moving up and out of lungs. After consistent cough, you will feel phlegm in the mouth.
The cough reflex is a defense mechanism, where it helps protect our body from irritants, like dust particles in the air. When our nervous system detects an irritant in your airways, it warns your brain. Our brain sends a message to the muscles in our chest and abdomen, making them to contract and push out a burst of air. Unfortunately, our cough reflex action is easily triggered by mucus.
A wet, continuous cough is almost confirm a sign of a viral or bacterial infection, particularly in children. When people have an upper respiratory infection, like a cold or flu, their body produces much more mucus than normal. In nose, this mucus is called “snot.” But in chest, it’s called phlegm.
When there is accumulation of phlegm in chest it can become hard to breath. Intensity of cough is more at night, as phlegm accumulates at the back of throat when we lie down. Although it can cause disruption in sleep, a wet cough is normally nothing to worry about. Viruses take time to run their course, so cough can last several weeks, but it will usually resolve without any treatment.
So how to quell that cough without resorting to medicines through home remedies is mentioned below with some efficient herbal remedies, which will be effective in wet cough.
1. Honey
It is a best remedy for cough, it has madhur rasa but its vipaka is katu, which helps clearing the phlegm and mucus and provide relief in cough. Use of madhu (honey) in cough has great medicinal role which is mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts. We can have its 1 teaspoon as it is or can have it with lemon.
Take 1/4 teaspoon honey, 1/4 teaspoon mulethi powder and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon with lukewarm water twice daily in the morning and evening works magically.
2. Turmeric Milk
Turmeric contains an active agent called Curcumin that has very effective anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties which helps in treating infections. It is a household spice in India and also known as Haridra. You must have it at night before sleeping to avoid any irritation. Moreover, warm milk helps bring the mucus up from your chest.
Have a glass of milk with 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric, twice daily to clear your congested throat with cough. For a stubborn cough add garlic to the above blend. Simply, boil a small piece of garlic with milk and then add a pinch of turmeric to it. This turmeric and milk combined drink is an ideal cough treatment because it helps in healing and soothing your throat. You can even add ginger to it if garlic is not available, both work very efficiently.
3. Giloy Juice
Giloy is also called Guduchi or amrita. Its botanical name is Tinospora cordifolia. It has great anti-oxidant properties and is very good immunity booster. And it also brings balance in three doshas – Vatta, Pita and Kapha. It works as an anti-allergic and thus, helps in treating cough which is caused due to allergic reactions to smoking, pollution or pollen.
In chronic cough, take 2 tablespoons of Giloy juice with water in the morning everyday till cough persist.
4. Ginger
It is also called as adrak. Ginger have proven secret powers in it and it has been used for its medicinal properties since ancient times. Ginger proves very good in easing a dry or asthmatic cough, as it has anti-inflammatory properties in it. It is also helpful in relieving nausea and pain. Anti-inflammatory compounds, which are found in ginger can relax membranes in the airways, which could reduce coughing and helps in reduction of chest congestion.
Make ginger tea by adding 12 slices of fresh ginger in a pot having 3 cups water. Allow it to boil in mild heat for 20 minutes and remove from heat. Strain it, add 1 tablespoon of honey and lemon.
5. Black Pepper
It is also another spice which can be easily found in every Indian household. It has ushna guna and anti-bacterial properties, anti-allergic properties, it also act as a blood purifier and have anti-oxidant properties. The heating quality of black pepper helps in clearing congestions. It stimulates circulation and mucus flow.
For productive cough, black pepper act as the simplest home remedy.
Take 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper with deshi cow ghee and have it when you have a full stomach.
6. Pomegranate Juice (for Kids)
It is a brilliant remedy for kids who are having cough. Its juice mixed with pippali and ginger works wonder in kids who are having cough. Pomegranates are found rich in Vitamin A and C that boost immunity. Pippali is a rejuvenating Ayurvedic herb. Pomegranate juice has a very mild effect on the throat and ginger works due to its heating property (ushna guna). Pomegranate is very rich in Vitamin A and C that boost the immunity. One can even replace ginger with black pepper.
Take a mix of 1/2 cup pomegranate juice with a pinch of ginger powder along with pippali powder. It is very effective in cough.
