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Coughs

Cough

Home Medications and Cures for Cough

Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. However, excessive coughing may mean you have an underlying disease or disorder. Coughing is the action by which excess mucus is driven out. Coughs can be either acute or chronic:

Acute coughs usually begin suddenly. They are often due to a cold, flu, or sinus infection. They usually go away after 2 to 3 weeks.
Chronic coughs last longer than 2 to 3 weeks.

Jump to - Symptoms, Causes , Treatment, Other suggestions

Symptoms of Cough

Although the signs of a cough are self-explanatory, what differentiates the cause of a cough are the associated signs and symptoms. Another important factor in determining the cause of the cough is whether it is acute or chronic. * Acute coughs have been divided into infectious and noninfectious causes. o Signs and symptoms that point to an infection include fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, headache, sinus pressure, runny nose, night sweats, and postnasal drip. Sputum, or phlegm, sometimes indicates an infection is present, but it is also seen in noninfectious causes. o Signs and symptoms that point to a noninfectious cause include coughs that occur when you are exposed to certain chemicals or irritants in the environment, coughs with wheezing, coughs that routinely worsen when you go to certain locations or do certain activities, or coughs that improve with inhalers or allergy medications.

Causes of Cough

The list of possible causes of cough is long and highly varied. Doctors classify coughs into 2 categories, acute and chronic. Many doctors define an acute cough as one that been present for less than 3 weeks. Chronic coughs are those present for more than 3 weeks. * Acute coughs can be divided into infectious (caused by an infection) and noninfectious causes. * Infectious causes of acute cough include viral upper respiratory infections (the common cold), sinus infections, pneumonia, and whooping cough. * Noninfectious causes of cough include flare-ups of the following chronic conditions: chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and environmental allergies.

Treatment Of Cough

Grapes: Grapes are one of the most effective home remedies for the treatment of a cough. Grapes tone up the lungs and act as an expectorant, relieving a simple cold and cough in a couple of days. A cup of grape juice mixed with a teaspoon of honey is advised for cough relief.

Almonds: Almonds are useful for dry coughs. Seven kernels should be soaked in water overnight and the brown skin removed. They should then be ground well to form a fine paste. A quantity of twenty grams each of butter and sugar should then be added to the paste. This paste should be taken in the morning and evening.

Onions: The use of raw onion is valuable in a cough. This vegetable should be chopped fine and the juice extracted from it. One teaspoon of the juice should then be mixed with one teaspoon of honey and kept for four or five hours - it will make an excellent cough syrup and should be taken twice daily. Onions are also useful in removing phelgm. A medium-sized onion should be crushed, the juice of one lemon added to it, and then one cup of boiling water poured on it. A teaspoon of honey can be added for taste. This remedy should be taken two or three times a day.

Turmeric: The root of the turmeric plant is useful in a dry cough. The root should be roasted and powdered. This powder should be taken in three-gram does twice daily, in the morning and evening.

Belleric Myroblan: The herb belleric myroblan is a household remedy for a cough. A mixture comprising two grams of the pulp of the fruit, ¼ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of long pepper, and 2 teaspoons of honey should be administered for the treatment of this condition twice daily. The dried fruit covered with wheat flour and roasted, is another popular remedy for cough condition.

Raisins: A sauce prepared from raisins is also useful in a cough. This sauce is prepared by grinding 100 gm of raisins with water. About 100 gm of sugar should be mixed with it and the mixture heated. When the mixture acquires a sauce-like consistency, it should be preserved. Twenty grams should be taken at bedtime daily.

Aniseed: Aniseed is another effective remedy for a hard dry cough with difficult expectoration. It breaks up the mucus. A tea made from this spice should be taken regularly for treating this condition.

Dietary Considerations

Milk does not need to be eliminated with a cough or cold, unless milk allergy is suspected. Fluids do need to be encouraged, solid foods are not as important. Make sure the patient stays well-hydrated

The patient should avoid meats, sugar, tea, coffee, condiments, pickles, and refined and processed foods. He should also avoid soft drinks; candies, ice cream, and all products made from sugar and white flour.