Have a Cough That Just Won’t Quit? Try These Fast, Natural Home Remedies
These remedies get to work in as little as 10 minutes
A nagging cough is not only annoying but can drain your energy, disrupt sleep and worsen a sore throat. Fortunately, doctors agree there are several home remedies for a cough that can ease symptoms fast. Read on to find out what works best (you may be surprised to find eating pineapple on the list!), plus when to see a doctor.
Why you might be coughing
“A cough is a vital protective reflex and can act as the body’s natural defense to clear the throat of phlegm [thick mucus] and irritants,” says Protibha Sanyal, MD, a primary care physician at Indiana University Health in Fishers, IN. A cough is commonly caused by having a cold, the flu, sinusitis (a sinus infection), bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma or allergies, says Dr. Sanyal. Other culprits include:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Smoking
- Nasal irritants such as dust or chemical fumes
- Certain medications such as ACE inhibitors and beta blockers
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
The 5 best home remedies for a cough
While over-the-counter medications such as antitussives (cough suppressants) and expectorants (mucus thinners) can help, they can also cause side effects like drowsiness and dizziness. If you’d prefer to try natural home remedies first, consider these easy, effective fixes for a stubborn cough:
Woman's World Answers
1. Sip marshmallow root tea for a cough
Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is a plant that has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, including as a natural cough remedy. Today you can find the botanical ingredient in supplements, as a liquid extract, in lozenges and in herbal tea.
“Marshmallow root helps coat the throat, reducing irritation and a cough, and it may also help loosen mucus,” says Delana Wardlaw, MD, a family medicine physician at Fair Hill Community Physicians — Nicetown, which is part of the Temple University Health System in Philadelphia, PA.
As it works quickly, too. One study in Complementary Medicine Research found people suffering from a cough experienced relief in as little as 10 minutes after taking cough drops with marshmallow root.
Tip: If you’re sipping marshmallow root tea, add a spoonful of honey. An Oxford University study found it reduced both the frequency and severity of a cough.
2. Switch on a humidifier for a cough
Dry air can cause a tickling sensation that makes you cough, which can worsen a sore throat (and in turn, trigger more coughing). An effective fix: Turning on a humidifier in the rooms you use most. A humidifier releases water or steam into the atmosphere to hydrate your nasal passages and throat.
“Warm and cold mist humidifiers add moisture to the air, which can help dryness and irritation and reduce the cough symptoms,” says Dr. Wardlaw. “It also helps thin the mucus, making it easier to cough up mucus or blow secretions from the nose.”
Don’t have a humidifier? Inhaling steam from a hot shower or leaning your head over a bowl of hot water (not too close, though!) can also do the trick.
3. Snack on pineapple for a cough
Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that can loosen mucus by breaking it up at a more molecular level, says Dr. Sanyal. “Bromelain can also act as an anti-inflammatory agent, which decreases the edema [swelling] that perpetuates mucus production.” In fact, research in the International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences notes that pineapples reduce swelling in acute sinusitis and a sore throat.
The fruit is also rich in vitamin C, an effective antioxidant that helps fight bacterial and viral infections, such as those that cause upper respiratory tract infections.
4. Prop up your pillows for a cough
Elevating your head slightly at night can help avoid cough-triggering mucus from accumulating in your throat. “This can be particularly helpful with postnasal drip, as the mucus drains down the back of your throat lying down,” Dr. Wardlaw says.
Using extra pillows or a wedge pillow can put you in a more upright position. But if that’s not comfortable, try sleeping on your side instead. Either of these positions better allows mucus to drip out instead of into the back of your throat, according to doctors at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
5. Apply Vicks VapoRub for a cough
Rubbing some Vicks topically on your chest or throat helps quiet a cough. That’s because camphor, menthol and eucalyptus oil, all ingredients in Vicks VapoRub, act as natural cough suppressants. “The cell receptors involved in triggering cough interact with these ingredients and can play a role in mitigating cough sensitivity,” explains Dr. Sanyal.
Using this product (or its generic equivalent) can even help you sleep more soundly when you’re sick. That’s key, since sleep plays a powerful role in strengthening your immune system. A study in the Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases found when people with colds used Vicks before bed, 89 percent reported sleeping better.
What to do if home remedies for a cough aren’t working
If you’ve been coughing longer than seven to 10 days, Dr. Sanyal recommends visiting your doctor. “The sooner we get to the root cause of it, the better the chance of getting rid of it sooner,” she says. At this point, your doctor may suggest a prescription medication.
You should also schedule an appointment if you experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pain, difficulty swallowing or if you’re coughing up blood, Dr. Wardlaw says. These could be signs of a more serious underlying medical condition.
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