Top five home remedies for dry cough

Zee Media Bureau/Salome Phelamei

Having a cough can be so annoying – whether it's a dry cough or a wet one.

A dry cough is a type of cough that doesn't produce any sputum or phlegm. It can be caused by allergies and dusty environments. A random tickle at the back of your throat can also result in dry dough.

A dry cough is like - you feel as if something's got stuck in the throat but you can't get it out even with continuous coughing.

On the other hand, a wet cough is one in which you produce phlegm or mucous. It can be due to viral infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc.

Below are a few home remedies to get rid of that irritating dry cough:

Gargle - One of the most common remedies is to gargle with warm salt water. Salt water can help ease the discomfort cause by a cough. It will also help treat sore throat through osmosis.

Honey – An excellent alternative remedy to treat cough and can be used by both adults and children alike. However, children below 2 years of age shouldn't be given due to the risk of botulism.

Honey has analgesic properties that eliminate the mucus and soothes your throat. Honey also has strong anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties, which are effective for relieving sore throat.

Honey can be taken by mixing it in warm milk or water.

Ginger – It is one of the best natural cures for a cough. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and helps soothe irritation caused by sore throat.

Cut fresh ginger into small pieces, crush it if you like. Add it to a cup of water and bring to a boil. Drink it once it's cooled. Try drinking this herbal solution for at least thrice a day for relief from non-stop coughing, sore throat and even congestion.

Turmeric - Turmeric has a therapeutic effect on coughs. Due to its high curcumin content, turmeric is quite effective in treating viral infections like cough and cold.

Curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

Add one teaspoon each of fine turmeric powder and black pepper to a cup of boiling water. Boil this for about two to three minutes or until it comes down to half. You can add a little honey to this solution and take it thrice a day for a quick relief from dry cough.

Garlic - Garlic can be on eof the best herbal cures for coughs. The active compound allicin in garlic has anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. Allicin, which is responsible for the pungent odor of garlic, has a number of health benefits. It also boosts the immunity system.

Put 2-3 cloves of garlic in a glass of water and boil it. Add a teaspoon of oregano to the mixture. Add some honey once cooled off and drink it.