When evaluating the characteristics of a cough, you might be able to pinpoint the source of your respiratory or airway discomfort. A cough is not a condition or a disease; it is simply a symptom that affects the lungs and upper airways passages. As you cough, whatever is causing blockage will most likely become dislodged, whether it is a piece of food or mucus. Sometimes coughs are persistent and need a little extra treatment. This is when a natural remedy may sooth your body’s reaction to foreign materials invading your airways.

Causes and Symptoms

A cough may come in the form of either a productive or nonproductive irritation. Productive coughs are those connected to the body’s manufacturing of mucus or phlegm. This occurrence often surfaces when mucus drains down the back of the throat or the sinuses produce postnasal drainage. The lungs may also play a role in the development of a productive cough. While the cough may create irritation and dryness, it is the body’s way of fighting infection by removing mucus from the lungs.

Productive coughs are a result of viral illnesses, as well as an infection of the lungs or upper airway passages, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. A productive cough may also develop as a sign that a pulmonary disease has taken a turn for the worst. When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, coughing may occur, just as smoking and other forms of tobacco will also irritate the throat.

Nonreproductive coughs are dry and do not deal with the removal of mucus. They serve as a reaction to something in the body that is causing irritation. A hacking sound is often associated with this sort of cough, which is commonly seen at the end of a cold or when one is exposed to an irritating substance, such as cigar smoke or a dusty attic.

There are several different causes for a nonproductive cough, including viral illnesses, irritated bronchial tubes that spasm during the night, allergies, and asthma. The place where you work may also produce this type of cough, especially if you are exposed to dust, fumes, and chemicals. Certain types of medications also contribute to a nonproductive cough, such as drugs used to control high blood pressure, like Zestril or Capoten.

Natural Remedies for Coughs

When suffering a round of coughing, you may notice the presence of phlegm, which comes in white, yellow, and green varieties. It is through coughing that these particles are removed, but it can also produce an uncomfortable irritation that you’d like to soothe. Below you will find natural remedies to treat anything from a dry cough to an oncoming infection.

a) Thyme and Lungwort Syrup:

To provide chest cough relief, a syrup can be made using (10 grams of licorice juice stick; 10 grams dried thyme; 10 grams of dried lungwort leaves; 5 grams dried cowslip flowers; 5 grams of anise seeds; 500 grams of honey; and 750 ml of water). To make the syrup, dissolve the licorice by heating within a pan of water. Next, mix the herbs and seeds together, and then cover with the hot licorice juice.

Allow the mixture to steep for 10 minutes and then strain. Upon returning the steeped mixture to the pan, add the honey, and heat until it simmers. Next, stir the honey until dissolved. After cooling the syrup, pour the mixture into dark, clean, glass bottles and seal with cork stoppers.

b) Tumeric:

When using the root of the turmeric plant, a helpful dry cough natural remedy is created. All you have to do is roast the root and then make it into a powder. The recommended dosage is three grams per serving (taken at morning and night).

c) Licorice:

As a soothing expectorant, licorice is known to treat stubborn coughs, which also provides an accepting flavor.

d) Thyme:

When looking for a nice antiseptic to treat chest infections, thyme is a respectable herb to consider.

e) Wild Cherry:

Wild cherry has always been a common flavor for cough drops. This mildly sedating ingredient is good to suppress a cough that is responsible for creating a considerable amount of irritation.

f) Hyssop:

This herb has a reputation for treating stubborn colds and also makes a good accompaniment to a wild cherry remedy.

Cough Prevention

Preventing coughs come when medical threats that bring about hacking, dry, and phlegm-filled attacks are eliminated or reduced. To keep from suffering and dealing with the irritation that accompanies coughing, the only way to avoid these occurrences is to reduce the risk. Below you will find a few home approaches to consider, especially during the winter season :

a) Smoking:

When you continue to smoke cigarettes and any other tobacco products, you are not only placing your health in serious danger, but also increase the intensity of any coughs you may suffer from. Coughing is such a part of the smoking process that individuals who continuously use tobacco-related goods are stricken with what is referred to as “smoker’s cough.”

The worst part about it is that you don’t even have to smoke cigarettes to suffer from a cough of this sort; just being around those who smoke will cause the circumstances to develop. When secondhand smoke is inhaled, it enters the system and greatly affects your health, including your lungs, throat, and esophagus.

b) Avoid Cold and Influenza:

To prevent the spread of the virus that causes colds and influenza, it is necessary to wash your hands at all times. Making this a habit is a great way to approach the cold and flu season [1].

c) Increase Fluids:

When you consume extra fluids, the accumulation of mucus in your system is kept thin so that coughing is less stressful on the body. Dehydration is also avoided when you increase fluids. Hydration also eases an irritated throat, where dry, hacking coughs filled with discomfort is the result. Some of the home treatments to consider include placing honey in hot water, tea, or lemon juice [2].

Resources
[1] http://www.webmd.com/hw/%3Cwbr%3Eparenting_%3Cb%3Eand%3C/cold_and_flu/aa156290.asp?printing=true
[2] http://health.yahoo.com/topic/other/symptoms/article/healthwise/aa156269;_ylt=Aj8voaDwfQvpnAtknxkaGfee7M8F