7 NATURAL COUGH REMEDIES!

Before discovering how to cure cough with natural remedies, let's take a close look at this annoying problem, its types and causes. Cough is a protective reaction of the body, through which the lungs try to remove excessive bronchial secretions when they sense the presence of foreign bodies.

There are multiple causes of cough, which are divided into exogenous causes (tobacco smoke, smog) and mechanical ones (secretions, vocal efforts, foreign bodies, hypertrophy of the tonsils). Cough is also linked to asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema. The cough stimulus can then be generated by all laryngeal and tracheal infections, by diseases affecting the blood circulation or by taking certain drugs.

Cough can be of different types. Dry cough tends to occur in association with characteristic symptoms such as fever, general malaise, sore throat, nausea, hoarse voice, and joint pain. The fat cough, on the other hand, is the one that manifests the presence of catarrhal mucus and makes us feel a certain heaviness at the height of the bronchi. It is typical of the winter season, and the presence of phlegm indicates an infection of the airways.

Discover with us 7 effective natural remedies for cough and this annoyance will become only a distant memory, as long as it does not serve to entertain your child as in this sweet video ...

1. Medicinal plants!

Herbal medicine can prove to be a very valuable natural aid to calm coughs. The plants used generally have anti-inflammatory, mucolytic, expectorant and balsamic properties. They can be taken in tablets, capsules, syrups, mother tinctures, infusions and macerates.

Among the main plants that treat cough we find plantain, whose leaves are indicated for inflammation of the throat and respiratory tract in general, such as cough, presence of bronchial phlegm, chronic bronchitis, hay fever, sinusitis, and for inflammations of the mucous membranes of the mouth and of the urogenital apparatus; Icelandic lichen, which has mucolytic, decongestant and protective properties for the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and is used as an expectorant and thinner of bronchial secretions in case of cough, pertussis and asthma; the helichrysum, whose flowering tops are used in both allergic and infectious respiratory diseases.

Among the plants recommended to calm coughs we also find mallow, whose flowers and leaves have emollient and anti-inflammatory properties, and whose active ingredients protect soft tissues from irritating agents; marshmallow, from whose root emollient and soothing principles are extracted, suitable for treating all forms of inflammation; hyssop, capable of fluidifying and, in the case of a fat cough, eliminating phlegm; the "erisimo, not surprisingly called" singers' grass ", an excellent anti-inflammatory of the airways, recommended especially in cases where the sore throat is accompanied by aphonia and dysphonia; lungwort, whose leaves and flowers have many expectorant properties, emollient and soothing.

2. Bach flowers!

Diseases of the respiratory organs symbolize, from a psychosomatic point of view, our relationship with the surrounding environment, translating the need we have for "air", space and autonomy. For this reason, Bach flowers can be a natural remedy very useful for coughs, representing a valid help for the body and mind.

Here are the recommended bach flowers: Wild rose, the right remedy for those who have been disappointed by life and affections and do not want to run the risk of suffering again; l "Honeysuckle, indicated for respiratory disorders and bronchitis that arise in those who live with regrets, memories, nostalgia for an idealized time with which they have an unsolved bond.

For dry coughs, Willow is recommended, a flower that calms resentment, resentment and victimhood. For the fat cough instead, green light to Beech: it helps to overcome rejection, anger and stiffness, as well as helping in case of allergies.

If you suffer from a very strong cough you can focus on Holly, a flower that helps to revive the purest and most disinterested love in us, removing negative energies. For whooping cough, on the other hand, Cherry Pum is recommended, suitable for finding inner peace.

3. Essential oils!

Essential oils can also be a valuable aid against coughs. The essences used to dissolve and eliminate the excessive secretion produced in the bronchi and lungs have balsamic, mucolytic and antibiotic properties.

Thyme essential oil helps to thin and expectorate the phlegm from the bronchi and lungs, relieving congestion in the oral cavity, throat, lung and nasal mucous membranes. Myrtle essential oil, on the other hand, well tolerated even by children, has a mucolytic, expectorant and fluidifying effect of the phlegm.
The essential oil of niaouly is generally used to treat typical ailments of winter, such as cough, flu, cold, sore throat, while that of tea tree is used for its antibiotic action that fights a wide spectrum of bacteria and infections. .

The intake of essential oils can be done for internal use, taking a couple of drops on a full stomach, perhaps with the addition of a teaspoon of honey. The oils can also be diluted in a neutral cream to be massaged around the congested area (nose or chest), or be diffused in the environment or, again, be used for inhalation in fumigations.

4. Natural food!

In the event that the cough is due to inflammatory phenomena, it is useful to follow a natural diet that includes the reduction of milk and dairy products, which contribute to the production of mucus and phlegm, as well as packaged foods, red meats, cured meats and finally sugars (refined sugar and sweets).

It is better to replace white flours with whole grains and to favor the consumption of rice, spelled and millet.Turnips and, in general, raw or cooked vegetables, legumes and dried fruit are also very effective for treating coughs.

Among the other foods recommended for coughing we find currants, to be consumed in cold-pressed juices, full of vitamin C and excellent for thinning mucus. The vinegar and honey syrup is also excellent: just mix half a teaspoon of honey and half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to prepare it.

A Finally, the onion with honey is a very useful natural remedy for expectoration: an onion is cut into horizontal slices to form several layers, sprinkle each layer with honey and let it rest for 24 hours. Then the honey that has dripped along the sides of the onion is collected and taken in teaspoons.

Here are other useful foods to strengthen the immune system and prevent coughs:

See also: Foods that strengthen the immune system: 10 super foods to face the winter

5. Gargle!

In case of cough due to pharyngitis and tonsillitis, gargles of water, salt and vinegar can be alternated with gargles of water and lemon. The former will have a decongestant and astringent action thanks to the salt, while the latter will have a natural antiseptic and bactericidal action.

To gargle with water and salt, simply mix a teaspoon of salt with 250 ml of warm water and wait until it dissolves completely. At that point, gargle for 15 seconds and repeat until the water is completely exhausted.

6. Breathing exercises!

If you have a sore throat, it would be better to temporarily suspend sporting activity (especially if you practice swimming), putting yourself at rest so that the body can resume training for good. A hasty or incorrect sporting practice can even worsen cases of cough , presence of phlegm, asthma, hiccups, head or eye pain and nerve irritation.

However, there are some breathing exercises that can help you to improve your sore throat and they come directly from yoga.

For example, try experimenting with the so-called "lying cobbler" position: sit cross-legged on the ground. Slowly stretch your thighs outward so that the soles of your feet touch. Place your hands on your knees with palms facing up and breathe deeply for 3 minutes.

Also the position called "uttanasana" could be very useful: standing, with your legs spread at the hips, bend your body forward until your head touches the pillow that you have placed on a chair in front of you. you succeed, put your hands on the chair and try to get as close as possible Maintain the position for 5 minutes.

Finally, try the bridge position, which helps circulation in the upper body. Place a pillow on the floor and lie down on it. Bend your knees with your feet flat on the floor. Leave your arms extended on your hips and hold the position by breathing deeply for 5 minutes.

7. Drink water and herbal teas!

Drinking plenty of fluids is a very useful natural remedy for coughing. The liquids, in fact, help to thin, to extract the mucus and expectorate the phlegm, keeping the cell membranes moist so that they will feel less need to cough. Remember to consume a lot of water (at least two liters a day), but you can also help yourself with infusions, teas and herbal teas, to drink more than once a day.

Recommended against fatty cough is an herbal tea prepared with black pepper and honey, very useful for stimulating circulation and eliminating mucus: put a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper and two teaspoons of honey in a cup of boiling water, let it cool and then drink !
Thyme tea is another useful panacea against cough: in fact, thyme helps fight upper respiratory infections and irritating cough, thanks to its soothing properties. Buy some fresh thyme and cut the leaves into small pieces: put two teaspoons in a cup of boiling water and then strain.
Ginger has been one of the best known remedies for inflammation since the dawn of time. Preparing an infusion is very easy: buy fresh ginger and cut thin slices to leave for about twenty minutes to infuse ... you will have excellent results!
Finally, also try to prepare a basil infusion: just pour a teaspoon of dried and shredded leaves of this plant into a cup, then pour boiling water over it and let it rest for 15 minutes. Strain and you're done!