Effective Natural Remedies for Cough Relief

Anise Seed

Posted by Brigitte (Houston, Texas) on 01/11/2008
★★★★★

Re: Anise seed tincture for treatment of nonproductive coughs.

A nonproductive cough is another name for a dry cough which does nothing to move phlegm from the throat and lungs. This is often a precursor to a more serious ailment like pneumonia. It is of the utmost importance that you remove the excessive phlem from your system.

I have found that the best expectorant that I can find is made by placing five tablespoons anise seeds into 1 cup of rum. (Allow seeds to soak in rum for 2 weeks and then strain out the seeds. The anise infused rum will last for a long time.)

I take no more than 2 teaspoons of this as needed to induce a cough which allows for the mucus to be removed from the body. A note to nursing mothers who have problems with milk production; a good side affect of anise is that it increases milk production in lactating mothers. I know this for a fact as my last child was born when I was 40 and I had problems producing milk sufficient to meet my child's needs. Be cognisant of the fact that you do not want to over do it with alcohol if you are nursing as this would be counter productive to the health and well being of the child who depends on you for nourishment. I used an anise tea when I was nursing it works well for increasing milk production.

Turmeric

Posted by Anna (USA) on 05/11/2006
★★★★★

1 tsp of turmeric cured my cough. 1 tsp of turmeric, 1 tbsp of honey mixed into a glass of warm milk. drink warm or hot. I am reliving all that I learnt as a child in India after reading material on your site .Thanks!

Oregano

Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 12/08/2023
★★★★★

Yvette, a woman from Mexico City stopped by my house to talk about her health problems with me to see if I could help her. We got to talking about all the children getting sick. She told me that when she was a little girl in Mexico, her mom would make her and her siblings drink “Te de oregano tea” whenever they got sick.

Back a few years ago, I was studying “Greek Folk Remedies for Excess Phlegm”. Oregano brewed into a tea was used to eliminate excess phlegm responsible for a congested respiratory tract. Thyme tea is always recommended by Hippocrates for coughing, but it always makes me feel wonky after I drink it. Oregano does not.

Yvette told me that when her kiddos get sick, she always makes them this oregano tea.

It's simple to make with 3 ingredients:

1 TBSP Oregano leaf – I buy mine at Dollartree in the spice aisle.
Honey – It helps with the taste and has health benefits for cough.
Water – 3 cups

In making a herbal tea used for medical purposes. You will need a pot with a lid. This will keep the steam in the pot so the medical properties won't wick out with the steam.

Also, don't boil the water on high heat. Make the tea on low simmer for about 10 minutes after the water starts simmering.

Allow the water in the pot to cool. Again, so the medical properties don't wick up in the steam once the lid is lifted.

If you don't believe this procedure makes a difference, try making your home tea using the above heating process and the taste of your tea will be like night and day. Learned this from the cook at Sonny Bar-B-Que. That's why their tea taste so good.

How does it taste? Like I put a handful of weeds from the field into a pot and made a tea out of it and added honey. The good part is you will get use to it.

Is Oregano tea safe for toddlers? I cannot get a clear answer from any of the website gurus. It really comes down to the child, possible allergies, current medications, etc… when in doubt, consult your pediatrician. However, Yvette growup on drinking oregano tea, her kids also drink it so it is really your choice.

Peanut Butter

Posted by B (Arkansas ) on 05/22/2017
★★★★★

So I've been having a very bad cough for about a week now, and tonight I just happened to have an apple with crunchy peanut butter as a snack. The peanut butter made my throat feel so much better and really soothed it to where I wasn't coughing!! I would definitely give it a try!

Ginger

Posted by Patrice ( Nashua, New Hampshire, Usa) on 08/08/2014
★★★★★

I've been reading the posts for some time now regarding cough and excess mucous and tried everything that was suggested. Nothing worked until I came upon one who suggested chewing on fresh ginger.

I've been plagued with coughing spasms 3 to 4 times a day with expectorating clear mucous and throat clearing. I've tried allegra, sudafed, claritin etc., that is supposed to dry up excessive secretions which it does, but the dried up material languishes in the sinuses and I then get a severe infection. When I mentioned this to the doctor and several doctors that I've sought for this problem, they agreed that ‘yes that does cause that'. This has bothered me for at least 6 years and it got so bad that March of this year I lost my voice as a result of severe coughing, developing callouses on my vocal chords, and only recently has it started to come back but with hoarseness and occasional crackles. So when I saw the suggestion of chewing fresh ginger I figured to give that a try as nothing else has worked... ACV, ginger tea, grapefruit etc.Well it has now been one full week and I've not had one coughing spell and it appears the mucous is disappearing. Whenever I begin to get this little tickle that usually is the hint that I'm about to have a coughing fit, I immediately knife off a 1/8 slice of fresh ginger and begin chewing it swallowing the juices and then spitting out the roughage. And my problem is immediately resolved. I have to say I do not like the taste of this ginger, it is very hot and burning, but it is short lived and worth not having to exhaust myself with a 10 minute coughing spasm that has me running around with a box of tissue and in the end collapsing with exhaustion.

So thanks whoever offered that suggestion. You've made my life so much more livable. Patrice

Vitamin A

Posted by John H (Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, Uk) on 01/18/2011
★★★★★

For years I had a cough without apparent reason (no infection). I then noticed if I ate liver the cough completely disappeared within 24 hours. Further investigation showed that I just has a Vitamin A deficiency and the problem was resolved eating liver once a week or taking a Vitamin A supplement. I have found that Vitamin A retinol works much better the carrots (carotin) but be aware not to have too much retinol. I have tested this by stopping the Vitamin A and the cough returns. This is worth a try for anyone having a chronic cough or any mucus membrane problems.

Baking Soda Steam

Posted by Rana (Abu Dhabi, Uae) on 12/25/2009
★★★★★

Baking Soda inhalation for dry cough

This is the most quick relief remedy for dry cough.

Boil a cup of water then take it on the side and keep your face far and add a teaspoon of baking soda, cover your head with a towel and place it over the B.s and water and open largly your mouth and inhale as long as you can. Directly you will cough out phlegms.

Cayenne

Posted by Samantha (Portland, Oregon) on 10/17/2007
★★★★★

I found cayenne a great cure for pretty much everything some time ago. It wasnt long ago that I came down with a bad sinus infection, cough, and fatigue. I decided to boil water on the stove, and add cayenne (open 3 capsules and pour them in), crushed garlic (4 cloves), half an onion, and grated ginger. THIS COMBINATION IS AMAZING. It is SO powerful. The most vital ingredients are the cayenne and garlic, but the onion and ginger are also very helpful. Make sure and boil everything until the onion is mushy and the garlic is too. Keep a lid on, but every so often inhale the steam from the boiling remedy.. very soothing! Pour it into a glass and drink the whole thing. It is very potent, so what I do is add honey to it and it really tastes like liquid food- like a soup base or something.

Another remedy that I use is cayenne tea- just put a tea bag of your favorite tea in boiling water, and add a capsule of cayenne & some honey. Since I have been using cayenne in tea, and orally, and drinking the onion ginger garlic tincture, I rarely get sick.. When I do, I can kick it within 3 days maximum. Cayenne is also extremely helpful for menstrual cramps.

Chocolate

Posted by Anonymous (USA) on 04/10/2006
★★★★★

Many researches pay attention on chocolate for curing coughs. An ingredient in chocolate could be used to stop persistent coughs and lead to more effective medicines. theobromine, found in cocoa, was nearly a third more effective in stopping persistent coughs than codeine, currently considered the best cough medicine. good try!

Honey, Butter

Posted by Tina (Miami) on 11/27/2023
★★★★★

Have had success every time me or my family have a cough. Warm up raw honey with a bit of butter. It soothes and cleans the throat; works so well!!

Ginger

Posted by Kathi (New Brunswick, Nj) on 01/06/2017
★★★★★

Patrice's suggestion really helped me. I'm at the tail end of some kind of cold/flu, and last night just started having the worst persistent cough. I bit off and chewed tiny pieces of raw ginger last night and was able to sleep through the night. At least for me a little bit of ginger goes a long way.

Flaxseed Tea

Posted by Uncle Richie (Chicago, Il, United States) on 09/29/2012
★★★★★

My wife caught a "flight cough", after flying for business.

Her cough was really nasty. Lasted about a week... I did a search and found this site. I had some golden flax seed. Boiled it up (you were right, it sure did take long, to thicken up).

I used: 2 cups of water, 1-1/2 Tablespoons of golden flax seed. After it thickened, I strained the liquid out with a colander. Put a Tablespoon of brown sugar in it.... Her cough has been pretty much silenced. She is finally sleeping. :)

I registered for the site... I will find it useful.

Ginger

Posted by Maypeacebewithall (Singapore) on 04/13/2012
★★★★★

I have tried "ginger tea" many times successfully to heal my coughs. The coughs range from mild to severe. I cut a few slices of ginger and add to water. Then I bring it to boil and drink it when warm. Do remember to take it in the day time as there's a saying that ginger when taken in the morning is as good as ginseng but it's not good to take it during the night. I find the ginger tea especially good for coughs due to "exposure to wind".

Also, I just heard from my mum yesterday after she paid a visit to her best friend that she had used peppermint tea to cure her daughter, grandson and neighbour's long standing cough. Not even doctors' medicine could cure their cough and they have been coughing for months. After just 1 to 2 cups of peppermint tea, they are completely cured! She said to take 7 peppermint leaves and make into tea. Hope this helps.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda

Posted by Robert (Manila, Luzon, Philippines) on 01/11/2012
★★★★★

I started ACV with Sodium Bicarbonate yesterday at ten am. I took a dose in the middle of the afternoon and then before I dined. I am happy to report that last night was the first night that I slept most of the night in years. Only woke one time with a minor cough, a shot of water and I was off to sleep again. I am glad I found this site. Thanks Ted.

I contionued this regime today and hopefully will sleep well tonight. Had a few coughing spells today but not as bad as before the ACV.

I did not have the courage to drop the other meds my doctor has me on. I will eventually drop them if I keep having this level of energy and the reduction in coughing. Thanks Ted for your write up.

Steam Inhalation

Posted by Annsmeal (Bailey, Colorado) on 09/21/2010
★★★★★

When anyone in my home, (including guests)have a cough, I get out my largest pot fill it with water Add 1 tablespoon of Oregano and 1 tablespoon of Thyme, turn to a simmer once it comes to a boil. Have a person stand over the steam and breath deep, this will make them cough up anything in the lungs. Breath in the steam until coughing is eased. Leaving the pot on simmer, adding water and more of the herbs if needed. I find that at least two days is the time frame to illuminate a bad cough. This combination takes care of both viral and bacterial causing coughs. Can be used with other remedies. I put this in a crock pot on low in sick rooms if the aroma doesn't reach from the kitchen.

Almonds

Posted by Adamo (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 01/30/2010
★★★★★

Here's something that works for me. For relief of dry coughs, take one teaspoon of organic almond paste or butter. You can add a half teaspoon of honey if you like. Have as often as needed but 3-4 times a day is usually sufficient.