A cough is the body’s natural way of responding to any irritant in the throat or airways. It can occasionally occur as a result of a cold, viral, or bacterial infection. Regardless of the cause, the distress and irritation associated with cough can be frustrating. Hence, we have come up with the best home remedies to get rid of a cough in 5 minutes.
The cough typically goes away on its own without any medication. For chronic cough, some highly effective home remedies can help to get instant relief in 5 minutes.
Highlights
- Cough due to any irritant or infection affecting the throat can go away on its own but natural home remedies can help for instant relief.
- Gargling with salt water and taking steam can soothe the throat immediately.
- Honey, garlic, turmeric, and hot liquids can help get rid of a cough in 5 minutes.
Home Remedies To Get Rid of a Cough Fast
Use the following home remedies to get rid of dry cough in 5 minutes;
1. Does Garlic help Cough?
Garlic is loaded with a lot of health benefits. High amounts of antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory substances are found in garlic as per research. Adding garlic to your diet can help in improving the immune system functioning which is helpful in preventing viral or bacterial cough.
According to pre-clinical and clinical investigations, garlic is widely used to treat the common cold, fever, coughs, asthma, and wounds.
How to Consume Garlic?
To use garlic for cough;
- Roast a chopped clove of garlic
- Eat it with a spoon of honey before going to bed.
- Furthermore, you can prepare some chopped garlic in oil and incorporate it into your cooking. It will help improve both digestion and coughing in the winter season.
2. Which Gargle is best for Cough?
Gargling with salt water is an age-old home remedy with medicinal benefits and an easier solution to get rid of cough fast at home.
According to a 2019 study, it dramatically reduces the duration of the cough. This sort of treatment has been successful in removing bacteria in the throat, however, it may sting a little at first. Salt water gargling aids in pain relief and mucous release as well.
How to Consume?
To gargle with salt water;
- Take a half-teaspoon of table salt and combine it with eight ounces of warm water to get instant relief from the cough.
- First, you need to gargle with this water and wait for a while.
- Continue gargling, then spit it out. You will feel relief from coughing within 5 minutes.
- Repeat it multiple times throughout the day, until your throat feels good.
3. Is pineapple good for dry cough?
Pineapple is a nutrient-dense fruit that offers many health benefits. Although there is little scientific evidence to support its use to soothe a cough, some people claim that it works as a simple home remedy.
Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, is recommended as a cough treatment. Numerous studies indicate that this enzyme may aid in reducing coughing and thinning throat mucus. Pineapple also aids in the relief of sinusitis and allergy-related sinus conditions, which frequently cause coughing.
How to Consume?
To use Pineapple for cough;
- Eat a piece of pineapple or consume 250 ml of fresh pineapple juice twice daily if you have a cough.
Caution: Fruits and beverages that are too cold may aggravate the coughing.
4. Is Honey good for dry or wet coughs?
Honey is the most effective home remedy to cure cough in both adults and children. Honey has been extensively used to get rid of a cough and sore throat due to its soothing properties which are comparable to OTC medicines for cough. Honey is enriched with constituents that impart antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties to honey.
Attention: Honey should not be given to babies under 1 year of age. The reason is that honey has the potential to cause ‘neonatal botulism’ which is a serious illness caused by toxins that attack the body’s nerves and cause difficulty breathing.
How to Consume Honey?
Honey can be consumed in the following ways to cure cough naturally;
- Honey can be consumed raw
- Add honey to herbal teas or mix it in warm water.
- Mix one tablespoon of honey in a cup of warm water and sip slowly in order to achieve effective results in 5 minutes.
- Honey with lemon juice can help with congestion along with cough.
5. Is Ginger water good for cough?
Ginger is one of the vegetables that have a strong smell. Flip to the other side of the coin and you will see the numerous health benefits of ginger. It can aid in easing symptoms of cold, flu, sore throat, and cough.
Experts suggest taking ginger tea for reducing cough, as it relaxes the membranes present in the airways, thus providing relief. All of this is due to ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties.
Gingerol is one of the greatest nutrients found in ginger. It significantly aids in reducing airway hyperresponsiveness and relieving the symptoms of cough and sore throat.
How to Consume Ginger Tea:
In order to make ginger tea,
- Boil two glasses of water, add a small piece of ginger and let the mixture cool before serving.
- Ginger juice is another easy option to consume. Cook the mixture further until only one glass remains, to make ginger juice.
Caution: Consuming too much ginger can cause heartburn and upset stomach.
6. Is steam good for cough?
Dryness can induce cough. Steam makes the air more humid, which soothes your air waterways and can significantly help to get rid of cough naturally. It also helps in easing the congestion brought on by a cold. Steam therapy helps moisturize the throat and loosen the phlegm. It also helps keep the secretions thin and promotes protection against infection by retaining moisture.
How to Take Steam?
The best way to intake steam is;
- Boil water in a saucepan and cover your head with a towel. while slouching against the hot pot.
- To prevent face burns, make sure the pot is partially covered. Take a deep breath and inhale the steam.
- Drops of rosemary and eucalyptus can also be added to the water.
- Inhaling steam from a cup or bowl thins the mucus so it can be easily removed and hence, clears the breathing tract.
7. How to use Peppermint for cough?
Menthol is a substance usually found in peppermint leaves. It works by numbing the nerve endings in the throat responsible for relieving throat irritation due to coughing. Additionally, scientific evidence says that menthol in peppermint is effective for thinning mucus and easing congestion.
How to Consume it?
To treat cough;
- Sip peppermint tea two to three times per day.
- Using peppermint oil for aromatherapy is another effective way to use the herb.
8. Can Turmeric cure dry cough?
Turmeric is a common spice that is usually found in every home and is useful in curing a wide range of ailments. It has antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Since ancient times, this yellow spice has been used to produce Ayurvedic medicines to treat respiratory illnesses, as reported by food scientists.
Read to know how to cure cough in newborns
How to Consume?
Before going to bed;
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric into a glass of warm milk and sip it slowly.
- Repeat for 2-3 days and you will feel an obvious difference in your throat’s condition.
9. How do you use Eucalyptus Oil for cough?
Eucalyptus essential oil can not only help you stop coughing, but it can also clear your lungs of mucus.
Studies show that eucalyptus essential oil contains the two crucial chemicals eucalyptol and cineole, which are also utilized in over-the-counter chest rubs and vapor rubs that are believed to relieve chest congestion. In addition to this, the essential oil may treat muscle tension, soreness, and inflammation.
How to Consume?
- Rub the chest and throat with a few drops of eucalyptus oil.
- You can also mix it with carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil.
- Another option is to inhale eucalyptus vapor with steam.
Also read: Codeine cough syrup uses
Wrapping Up!
Coughing can cause discomfort and irritates your throat. A few natural remedies can help get rid of coughs immediately. Consuming natural ingredients like garlic, honey, peppermint, etc boiled in water can help in keeping your throat moist to avoid a dry cough. These effective home remedies also help in removing mucous to cure wet cough. If your cough does not get better with these remedies, you should consult a doctor immediately to avoid complications.
FAQs
1. What is the fastest way to cure a cough?
To calm a sore throat and remove phlegm, drink plenty of liquids, or use a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer. Eat some honey before going to bed. Sugar grains can also help to get rid of cough naturally.
2. Why is your cough worse at night?
Gravity is your biggest adversary when it comes to midnight coughing. When you go to sleep at night, all the postnasal discharge and mucus you ingest during the day back up and irritate your throat.
3. How long does a cough last?
The cough can go away on its own in 3 weeks or less. Your reflex motion of coughing helps to clear your airways of mucus and allergens like smoke and dust. However, if your cough does not seem to get better, visit a pulmonologist.