HomeIf you have a nagging scratchy throat or sudden bouts of coughing that won't stop — signs of a persistent winter cough, which is often the last symptom of a winter cold that's fading — you may feel better overall, but still have a bad cough.
While there's no one-size-fits-all remedy, Womans World has rounded up three expert-recommended natural cough remedies that just might work.
Try eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil, obtained from eucalyptus trees that originally grow in Australia, has long been used as a natural remedy to relieve productive coughs (with mucus or phlegm).
Eucalyptus oil is an active ingredient in various over-the-counter cold remedies.
It can also be used in essential oil form to thin phlegm.
To try this potential remedy for yourself, cover a bowl with hot water and 12 drops of eucalyptus oil.
Keep your face under the towel at a distance of about 30 cm from the bowl and breathe deeply for 10 minutes.
Steam can help calm coughs by clearing nasal passages.
Importantly
Although eucalyptus has long been used to treat coughs, additional research has shown that it is not the most effective remedy.
Try nasal irrigation
If you constantly need to clear your throat, the cause may be postnasal sinus syndrome.
Dry air provokes the flow of mucus down the back of the throat, irritating the tissues and causing a tickling cough that continuously rolls.
Therefore, rinse the sinuses with salted water.
A review published in the American Family Physician found that saline sinus irrigation is an effective treatment strategy for many sinonasal conditions.
Try pouring one cup of distilled water and half a teaspoon of sea salt into a neti pot or nasal spray bottle and rinse your sinuses twice a day.
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Try altea root tea
Althea root tea may sound strange, but it can actually help with a nagging dry cough.
A small study published in the Journal of Complementary Medicine Research found that an herbal cough syrup containing valerian root can relieve coughs.
When swallowed, this ingredient coats the throat with mucus that can soothe upper respiratory tract irritation that causes a dry cough.
Try a cup of this tea sweetened with a teaspoon of honey, another cough-soothing ingredient.
But before trying any of these remedies on yourself, you need to consult your doctor and get his approval.
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