Are you a bit under the weather? Have you been hacking and coughing, trying to rid your throat of phlegm, but you can’t seek to stop? Wondering how to reduce cough? Often, this problem occurs towards the tail-end of a cold or other similar ailments, and it can not only be embarrassing, but it can also keep you from getting a decent night’s rest. You might be considering an over-the-counter medication to give you some relief, but you may also be understandably hesitant because of the possible side-effects of certain popular cough remedies. Luckily, these remedies are not the only option, and you may be able to find relief in some unexpected places.
Did you know that one of the best natural remedies for curing that tenacious cough is probably lying in your pantry at home? Don’t bother heading to the pharmacy just yet, when you can treat both dry and wet coughs that are causing you congestion with spices that you normally use to cook with. Maybe you still don’t know that the spices are a treasure of nature with many health benefits. You might be wondering how to reduce cough with these spices, and really it can be as simple as drinking the right mixture.
Let’s take a look at some methods for how to reduce cough below:
How to reduce cough with spices
Ginger (Zingiber officinale): works as an expectorant, helping loosen and expel mucous from the lungs. Soothes the throat, and has antitussive effects.
Use 1 tablespoon of dried or fresh ginger per 1 cup of water. Drink 2 cups daily.
Licorice Root Tea (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Acts as a powerful expectorant and demulcent, simultaneously soothing your airways while loosening and thinning mucus, easing congestion. It can also ease any inflammation that may be irritating your throat. Its main constituent, glycyrrhizin, is responsible for most of its effects. Increases the effect of cortisol, reducing inflammation. Has antibacterial properties.
Drink 3 cups a day of infused Licorice root. Use 1 tablespoon of dried root per 1 cup of water. Do not use if you have high blood pressure.
Anise (Pimpinella anisum): Acts both as an expectorant and as antispasmodic. Anise tea is effective in treating bronchial ailments, coughs with mucus and respiratory congestion.
One tablespoon of dried seeds per cup of water. Drink 2 cups a day.
Turmeric (curcuma longa):contains curcumin an anti-inflammatory agent and also has antibacterial and antiviral action.
Add pure turmeric powder to boiling water and inhale the vapors. This relieves a cough as well as sinus congestion. Covering you with a blanket while inhaling vapors aids in easy inhalation of the vapors.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum): with honey has antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, that makes it one of the best spices to cure cough. Honey and cinnamon are powerful immune boosters.
Add 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder to a tablespoon of honey. Take 3 times a day.
Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum annuum): Decogestant that contains capsaicin that thin mucus. It is an analgesic and relieves irritation, pain and inflammation.
Drink cayenne tea or sprinkling cayenne on your food. Stir 1/4 teaspoon of dried cayenne pepper into a cup of water. Take a couple of swallows when you need.
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum): contains cineole a powerful expectorant. Heats up the body internally, helping in the expulsion of phlegm and relieving chest congestion. Has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Add few drops of cardamom essential oil to boiling water and use this for steam inhalation.