Home Remedies For Cough That Really Do Work

We all know how irritating it can be to have a cough, especially when the clock is ticking fast (for some it can be very slow, especially when you are alone and it gets boring) and you have to get up to go to work, but unfortunately can get to sleep.

Well let’s start of by getting a bit of insight about cough, but before that, be sure to try the fantastic ideas at the end the next time you have a cough. Some of them really do work wonders. I have tried most of them myself. My personal favorite is number 8.

A cough is a sudden and strong release of air from the lungs. It is not an illness, but a protective reflex designed to help you clear foreign material or excess secretions, such as mucus, from your airways.

Coughs are often categorized based on two characteristics—whether or not they produce or expel mucus, and how long they last. A productive cough is one that produces or expels sputum mucus or phlegm. Productive coughs help clear and protect the lungs and other parts of the lower respiratory tract from infectious mucus and other potentially harmful agents. Nonproductive, or dry coughs, produce little or no phlegm; they are usually the result of a minor irritation in the throat.

A cough can be very brief, lasting just long enough to clear something from your throat. Or it can last for several days, weeks, or even months. An acute cough is one that may lasts for less than three weeks. A chronic cough however, may last for more than three weeks.

Coughing is an automatic reflex that begins when your body senses that something has entered your airways that shouldn't be there. Nerves called cough receptors, which are located near the surface of the upper and lower passages of the respiratory tract, sense the presence of the unwanted material and send distress signals to your brain. The brain then relays messages to your lungs and respiratory muscles, which force you first to take a deep breath and then to exhale forcefully.

The force behind a cough occurs because the opening to your windpipe, located at the back of your throat, momentarily closes as you exhale. While the windpipe is closed, extra pressure builds up in your lungs. Then, when the windpipe finally opens, the air explodes out, helping to dislodge particles from your airways.

Coughing can be caused by many different conditions and illnesses. Bronchitis caused by cigarette smoking is the leading cause of chronic cough.

Home remedies that work. Don’t ask why, just try them next time you have cough.

1. Take a hot shower. Make it a long one and breathe in the steam. It will help to moisturize your throat.

2. Raise your head, especially while sleeping.

3. Do not over do it on the cough medicine. Taking too much of it can cause a drying effect. Instead try hard candy. It will moisturize your throat and mouth.

4. Drink more liquids. They will also help to break up any mucous in your system making your cough more productive.

5. Use a vaporizer while sleeping.

6. Drinking tea is always a favourite choice, especially when one has a cough and a cold. This tea will help open your airways and moisturize your throat.

7. Stop smoking and stay away from other smokers. The smoke will dry your throat more causing you to cough more.

8. Rub Vicks onto the sole of your feet and slightly on the rest of it, then put on your socks and get into bed. You will not be coughing soon after that. It works magic on babies and children, as they have limited medication they can take anyway.

9. Put some Salt and Pepper on a Slice of Lemon and suck on it, it should give you an instant relief.

10. Crush one medium sized onion, add one lemon juice and one cup of boiling water and add honey according to your taste.

The above remedies are just a few to list, there are hundreds out there. Not everything works for everyone, and as I used to suffer at least 3 months in year coughing, I have found that the above are the most effective. Some work better than any meadication. And trust me when I say that.