9 Simple And Natural Cough Remedies For Dry Persistent Coughs

Having a cough is never fun, and it can run the gamut anywhere from mildly unpleasant to humiliating.

Most people have been stuck in a situation where they just can’t stop coughing, even though it’s really embarrassing to do so. Whether that’s during a test, in a meeting, or at dinner with people who can’t help but instinctively start shielding their plates, it’s never, ever fun.

Plus, persistent coughs can hurt. If you’re unable to stop coughing, eventually every cough feels like you’ve got a grater in your chest pressed up against your lungs.

That’s why in this article we’re going to cover the best natural remedies to get rid of a persistent cough as quickly as possible, so that you don’t have to be stuck in an unpleasant and potentially embarrassing coughing situation ever again.

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Before we get to the remedies, there’s a distinction that needs to be made:

There Are 2 Different Types Of Coughs

If you have a persistent cough, it fits into one of two categories.

The first category is a productive cough. That means that when you cough, you’re coughing up something from your chest – either mucus or phlegm.

A productive cough isn’t something you want to stop or get rid of – it’s your body doing its best to get the excess mucus and phlegm out of your lungs and chest where it doesn’t belong.

So if your cough is productive, don’t pursue these remedies to get rid of it. Your body needs to keep doing it in order for you to feel better.

The second category of cough is a dry cough. This is the kind of cough that’s really a pain in the behind, and the one that this article will explain how to get rid of.

It doesn’t produce any mucus or phlegm, so it’s not even as if your body is getting anything positive from the cough.

If you’ve ever had a tickle in your throat or a raspy cough that doesn’t bring anything up but might get triggered by things like dry air, allergies, dust, or getting over a cold, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

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In order to get rid of your dry cough, this article is going to cover remedies that will both give relief to the irritated mucous membranes in your body as well as get rid of whatever’s forcing your body to cough in the first place.

These home remedies have been proven effective, so don’t hesitate to try a few out and find the one that works for you and gets rid of that darn unproductive dry cough once and for all.

The Best Natural Cough Remedies To Get Rid Of Dry Persistent Coughs

1. Use Thyme To Get Rid Of Your Cough

Thyme is an herbal remedy that’s been used for hundreds if not thousands of years against many different ailments and conditions.

It has anti-microbial properties, which means that it will work against bacteria and other microbes that are messing up your system and causing your cough.

Plus, it’s a natural relaxant, which means that your trachea and bronchi will naturally relax, suppressing your urge to cough and resulting in less coughing and more recovering.

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What you need:

2 tablespoons dried thyme (if you have fresh thyme, a bunch of sprigs is great)

1 cup of water

What to do:

If you’re using fresh thyme sprigs, bruise the thyme by crushing it (if you have a mortar and pestle, that’s perfect).

Put your dried thyme or your bruised fresh thyme into a tea cup and boil your water, then pour the boiled water over the thyme.

Cover your mug and let it steep for at least 15 minutes, then if you want add lemon or honey so that it tastes good to you. Have up to 3 mugs in a day and enjoy the cough relief.

2. Make Some Peppermint Ginger Cough Syrup

So studies that were done in 2004 found that the active ingredients in cough syrup, diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan, actually don’t treat coughs any better than a placebo does.

So if over the counter medicinal cough syrups aren’t any more effective than a placebo, why not make one at home that at least tastes good (and might actually work better?)

Ginger is an amazing ingredient that will work overtime to rid you of your cough. It’s an expectorant, which means it’ll help you get the mucus out of your lungs more easily. It’s also soothing, which means that it will suppress the urge to cough and get your cough under control.

And peppermint, besides tasting great and giving you a minty fresh feeling, will also help to suppress a dry cough.

What you need:
4 cups of water

1 tablespoon of dried peppermint

3.5 tablespoons of chopped ginger

1 cup of honey

What to do:

First, add your chopped ginger and dried peppermint to your water. Boil the water and let it simmer until about half of it is gone, leaving 2 cups remaining.

Strain the liquid and then add your cup of honey into the strained liquid, stirring it until it’s completely dissolved into your syrup.

You can keep this bottled in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Have a tablespoon of your homemade cough syrup every 3 or 4 hours to help with your cough.

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3. Pineapple? Pineapple!

It’s surprising, but pineapple can actually reduce your coughing symptoms and get you feeling better faster.

The reason behind it is a special enzyme that’s only found in the stem and fruit of pineapples: bromelain.

Bromelain has been found to help loosen the mucus in your throat as well as suppress the dry coughs that cause so much discomfort.

Make sure to talk to your doctor before you try a bromelain supplement, as it should not be taken by people who are on blood thinners, and should be treated with caution if taking antibiotics like amoxicillin.

What you need:

4 ounces of pineapple juice, or 1 slice of fresh pineapple

What to do:

Eat your slice of pineapple or drink your pineapple juice 3 times a day and find the sweet relief you’re looking for!

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4. Marshmallow Tea Will Help Your Cough

Marshmallow is a plant (not a puffy white sweet treat!) that flowers in the summer and has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy for sore throats and coughs.

The reason it’s effective is because it contains mucilage, which will soothe your mucous membranes and coat your throat in a protective layer that will stop irritation.

Do not give marshmallow root tea to children. You can get marshmallow root in capsule or tea form.

What you need:

Water

1 teabag of marshmallow root tea

What to do:

Boil your water and place your marshmallow tea bag into a mug, then pour the water over the teabag. Cover your tea and let it steep for at least 10-15 minutes, then uncover and enjoy.

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5. Try A Salt Water Gargle To Soothe A Sore Throat

Salt water gargles are effective against coughs and sore throats for the same exact reason. It ups the concentration of salt directly outside your mucous membranes, which draws water out of the cells and reduces swelling and irritation.

If you’re feeling a swollen and irritated throat along with your cough, it means that this is a perfect remedy to get rid of your most painful symptoms and help to tame your cough.

Plus, if you’ve got phlegm or mucus hanging out in your throat and gunking everything up, this gargle can help dislodge it and help you get it out of your body.

What you need:

8 ounces of water

1 teaspoon of salt

What to do:

Warm up your water so that it’s comfortably warm, then add your teaspoon of salt and stir it into the water completely.

Take some water into your mouth, gargle for at least 15-20 seconds, then spit it out and do it again until you’re out of water. Wash the taste of salt out of your mouth with cool water afterwards.

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6. Honey Will Bring Sweet Relief

Honey is actually an amazing remedy for coughs and has even been found by scientists to be more effective than many over the counter drugs.

The reason why is because honey is so thick and sticky that it will coat your throat, soothe the irritation, and help your stressed out mucous membranes relax.

Plus, honey is an antibacterial, which means it can kill off the bacteria making you sick in the first place and help you feel better faster.

Never give honey as a remedy to children under the age of 2, but everyone over 2 should be OK to enjoy this sweet delicious remedy.

What you need:

1 tablespoon of honey (preferably raw and organic)

What to do:

Take a tablespoonful of honey between 1 and 3 times per day to suppress your urge to cough and get your symptoms under control. Younger children can take anywhere between 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon depending on size.

If your coughing is keeping you up all night, try taking a tablespoon before you go to bed for more restful sleep.

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7. Steam Out Your Cough

Steam is an excellent home remedy to relieve the symptoms of all types of coughs, colds, and other ailments that leave you feeling yucky.

It’s so effective because as you breathe it in, it loosens up the phlegm and mucus lining your airway, making it much easier to get it out of your body and stop it from making you feel sicker.

Plus, you can add essential oils to your steam to help fight the bacteria and viruses that are making you sick in the first place. These pleasant smelling essential oils will also open up your airways to help you breathe easier.

What you need:

1 large bowl

Fresh water

3 drops of tea tree oil

A towel

What to do:

First, bring your water to a boil and then pour it into your large bowl (it shouldn’t fill more than halfway to avoid the risk of burning yourself).

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Let things cool off for a minute, then drop your tea tree oil into it and gently stir the water. Put the bowl in front of you and put your head over the bowl, then drape the towel over your head to trap the steam from the bowl inside.

You can stay in your steam tent for up to 10 minutes, but if you start to get light headed stop right away. Try this remedy up to 3 times a day for relief from your cough.

8. Make Some Honey And Black Pepper Tea To Get Rid Of A Cough

Ever catch a nose-full of freshly grated black pepper and suddenly get the urge to sneeze or cough? Now you know why it can be such an effective remedy!

The black pepper in this tea is great for creating a productive cough that will actually get rid of the stuff that’s making you sick, rather than a dry cough that’s just hurting you and creating discomfort.

more: 13 Natural Remedies For Coughs And Colds

The best way to make this remedy is with freshly ground black pepper. The honey is there to make your tea taste better and also soothe the irritation from the pepper, as well as lend its antibacterial powers to the fight.

What you need:

8 ounces of water

1 tablespoon of raw honey

1 teaspoon of black pepper (fresh ground is best)

What to do:

Put your pepper and honey into your teacup and then pour boiling water over it. Stir it a little bit to get things mixing together, then cover it and let it steep for at least 10 minutes, then drink the whole thing.

9. Try Licorice Root Tea To Calm Your Cough

Want to know why licorice root is so good for a cough? You’re in luck!

Licorice root is an expectorant, which means that it helps to thin out the mucus in your airway and loosen it up, making it easier for you to cough it up and get rid of it.

more: Best Home Remedies For Coughs For Instant Relief

Plus, it’s also a demulcent, which means that it soothes the irritated mucous membranes in your throat and lungs and helps you to feel less irritated and less urges to cough. It also cuts down in inflammation, which means that if you’re dealing with a painful swollen throat, it’s a great remedy.

People who are on steroids or have any conditions related to their kidneys should not take licorice root as a remedy. If you’re unsure, talk to your doctor before trying this tea.

What you need:

Water

2 tablespoons of dried licorice root

What to do:

Put your licorice root in your favorite tea mug and boil the water, then pour the boiling water over it. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes, then enjoy.

In summary…

The Best Natural Cough Remedies

1. Use thyme to get rid of your cough
2. Make some peppermint ginger cough syrup
3. Pineapple? Pineapple!
4. Marshmallow tea will help your cough
5. Try a salt water gargle to soothe a sore throat
6. Honey will bring sweet relief
7. Steam out your cough
8. Make some honey and black pepper tea to get rid of a cough
9. Try licorice root tea to calm your cough