HOME THERAPIES FOR DRY COUGH

Coughing is one of the most common health problems and can be very uncomfortable. Coughing can be due to a viral infection, common cold, flu and smoking or health problems such as asthma, tuberculosis and lung cancer. Instead of using over-the-counter cough syrups, you can try some natural cough treatments using readily available ingredients in your kitchen.

Turmeric: The herb turmeric has a therapeutic effect on coughs, particularly a dry cough.

• Heat half a cup of water in a boiling pot. Add one teaspoon turmeric powder, and one teaspoon black pepper. You may also add cinnamon sticks. Boil this for about two to three minutes. Add one tablespoon of honey. Drink this daily until the condition improves. • Another way to use turmeric is to roast turmeric root and grind it into a smooth powder. Mix it with water and honey, and drink it twice a day.

Ginger: Ginger is one of the most popular natural cures for a cough.

• Cut fresh ginger into small slices and crush them slightly. Put them in a cup of water and boil. Drink this herbal solution three to four times a day for relief from sore throat and nonstop coughing. • Another option is to chew fresh, raw ginger on and off throughout the day to reduce your cough. Garlic: Garlic has antibacterial components that help treat coughs

• Boil two to three cloves of garlic in a cup of water and add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Allow it to cool to room temperature, add some honey and drink it. This will help your breathing and alleviate other cough symptoms.

• Eat a clove of crushed garlic mixed with a few drops of olive oil and some honey for sore throat relief. You can also use garlic in your cooking. Onion: One of the simplest home remedies for a cough is to cut onions; breathing in the strong vapors can help stop coughing.

• You can also make a cough syrup from baked onion juice, ginger tea and honey. Drink it daily to get relief from a dry cough.

• Another option is to combine one-half teaspoon of onion juice with one teaspoon of pure honey. Swallow this solution at least twice a day to alleviate a cough and soothe your throat. Hot Milk with Honey: Hot milk with honey can relieve a dry cough and reduce chest pain you may be experiencing from continuous coughing. For best results, drink it before going to sleep. For added benefits, swallow a teaspoon of plain honey on empty stomach. This will help clear the mucus and soothe your throat.