With the cold and flu season now upon us, you are going to have to deal with mucus cough at some point in time. Coughing up mucus can be painful and uncomfortable, especially if you have a persistent cough that won’t go away on its own. Thankfully, there are several natural ways to treat a mucus cough at home. Including some that are good not only for your cough but also beneficial to your overall health and wellness as well.
5 Natural Ways to Treat a Mucus Cough at Home
If you are suffering from a mucus cough that won’t go away, there are natural ways to treat it at home without having to go to the doctor’s office every time you need some relief. The following 5 ways will help you get rid of your mucus cough and keep it from coming back again. You will be able to sleep better, breathe more easily, and return to your daily activities feeling healthy again with just these simple remedies.
1. Hot Water with Lemon Juice
This is a really simple trick that you can use to treat mucus cough at home. All you need is hot water and lemon juice.
- Just boil some water in a saucepan
- Then squeeze in half of the lemon juice
- Breathe into your cup through cupped hands until your face turns red
Hot water with lemon juice will help relieve mucus cough and its symptoms like dry throat. It is also useful for relieving sore throats caused by other infections, such as strep throat or colds due to sinusitis.
It is also useful for relieving sore throats caused by other infections, such as strep throat or colds due to sinusitis. If you have a sore throat, try gargling with warm salt water instead.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
One natural way to treat mucus cough is with apple cider vinegar. Mix it into warm water and drink it twice a day. You can also eat one or two small pieces of organic red apple each day, as they contain malic acid, which acts as an expectorant and loosens up mucus in your lungs so you can cough it out easier.
The combination of apple cider vinegar and apples makes an especially potent cocktail for coughs caused by post-nasal drip due to allergies. If you don’t like to drink straight vinegar then simply:
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon into 8 ounces of hot water with honey
- Gargle with it several times throughout the day
Remember: Be sure not to exceed more than 2 tablespoons per day if you have low blood pressure, as too much can lead to low blood pressure and dizziness.
3. Ginger Tea
We have all heard of an old wives’ tale of drinking ginger tea with honey when we are sick. But there is some truth to that adage: Ginger contains natural compounds called gingerols and shogaols. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that can help relieve symptoms of colds, coughs, and other respiratory ailments.
Though it might not seem like it in your stuffy nose state, you may already have all you need for making homemade ginger tea.
- Just try steeping chopped-up ginger root in boiling water for ten minutes (or longer). The longer you let it sit, well…the spicier things are going to get.
- Mix it with hot water (and plenty of lemon or honey) and enjoy.
If you want to make a little extra, just keep a few pieces of fresh ginger on hand. You can even freeze them and grate them over ice cream later if they don’t get used right away. And while you are waiting for your tea to steep, go ahead and take a nap; it is probably what grandma would recommend anyway.
4. Honey and Cinnamon
Honey has been used for years as an all-natural remedy for coughs, and studies have shown that it does help provide relief. To make it into a syrup:
- Simply warm up some honey in hot water
- Then add ground cinnamon (or cardamom if you’re feeling fancy)
Honey has antimicrobial properties and will soothe your throat while reducing inflammation. It also contains glucose and fructose that can help rehydrate your body. This is important when you are dealing with mucus coughs. It is best if you use raw, local honey. Otherwise, opt for organic varieties like these or ones sourced from apiaries run by beekeepers like these.
And if you don’t like honey, try taking a spoonful of manuka honey instead. The darker-coloured manuka variety is even more effective than regular honey because of its higher concentration of medicinal compounds called methylglyoxal.
According to one study published in Phytotherapy Research, ingesting just one gram of manuka honey per day can treat respiratory tract infections within 24 hours. You should take it straight or mix it with juice and drink it three times daily until the symptoms subside.
5. Almonds and Honey
According to a study published in Chest Journal, honey and almond extracts helped fight mucus. These natural remedies also increased their tolerance to chemicals that produced mucus.
Experts suggest eating half an ounce of dried almonds and drinking 4 tablespoons of pure honey as natural ways to treat mucus cough at home.
Honey is especially effective if it’s mixed with lemon juice. To prevent coughing, sip herbal tea brewed from ginger root or peppermint leaves before going to bed. Chamomile tea made using two tea bags helps soothe your throat, too.
Should we use cough syrup for quick relief?
If you find yourself waking up several times throughout your night with a mucus cough, reach for some cough syrup. Doctors recommend using Asthakind syrup or Benadryl syrup or other over-the-counter cough medicines that are flavoured or offer a soothing feeling when you inhale them.
If over-the-counter cough medicine doesn’t work well for you, ask your doctor about prescription medications. Whatever you choose, remember to always follow dosage instructions exactly and use caution when driving or operating machinery if you take it.
