Some coughs can be cured by eliminating the source, such as avoiding smoke and other irritants, as well as allergens like mold or pet dander. If that doesn’t work, try Dr. Russell’s favorite home remedies for cough, many of which you probably already have in your kitchen or medicine cabinet.
1. Have Some Honey — It’s a Natural Cough Suppressant
If you enjoy the taste of honey, you’re in luck. “Hot liquids with honey can soothe and treat coughs for short-term periods,” says Russell. Use plain hot water or your favorite hot tea, and add honey and lemon to taste (the lemon is just for flavor).
But never give honey to children under 12 months, Russell says. In rare cases, it can cause infant botulism.
2. Suck on Lozenges or Hard Candy to Help Stimulate Saliva
Lozenges and hard candy help stimulate saliva or increase secretions in the mouth, which can dampen any cough you may have, explains Russell. This works especially well as a dry cough remedy, he adds.
There is not a lot of scientific evidence to back up herbal lozenges like those containing zinc, vitamin C, and echinacea, notes Russell, but they may have modest benefits — even if it’s just a placebo effect — and none of them, if used moderately, is harmful.
3. Drink Fluids for Hydration and to Boost Your Immune System
“Many people who have a cough tend to get dehydrated,” Russell explains.
In addition to hydration, fluids also help your immune system fight off the source of the infection or virus that may be causing your cough, and soothe the sore throat that is common with a cough, he adds.
4. Gargling May Make Your Cough Go Away Faster
5. Use a Humidifier or Take a Steamy Shower to Ease Congestion
If you’ve ever noticed your cough or congestion easing up as you enjoy a hot bath or shower, then you know the value of humidity for easing cold symptoms. You can create this simple cough remedy at home by taking a steamy shower or by using a cool mist humidifier.
6. Cut Up an Onion to Relieve Your Cough (or So People Say)
Many people start to cry the minute they begin chopping up an onion. But while there isn’t any science behind it, some people swear the strong vapor an onion emits when it’s cut helps relieve a cough, says Russell.
Before you go to bed, cut an onion into quarters and leave it on a plate on your bedside table or at the foot of the bed. Although using an onion for a cough may sound like nothing more than an old wives’ tale, Russell says it’s quite popular in Spain and France.
7. Use Over-the-Counter Cough Medicine if Nothing Else Works
If you’ve tried other cough remedies and you’re contemplating the stash of cough and cold products in your medicine cabinet, read the labels first.
But these medications have their limitations: Dextromethorphan is not safe for children under age 5, says Russell, and pseudoephedrine tends to increase blood pressure and heart rate.
The Takeaway
- Most coughs clear on their own or after removing the source of the irritant or allergen, like mold or pet dander.
- Natural home remedies, like a spoonful of honey or a saltwater gargle, can alleviate cold symptoms like coughing and may even shorten a cold’s duration. Lozenges and hard candy can also help stimulate saliva, which may be helpful for dry coughs.
- If you’ve exhausted these natural remedies and your cough persists, talk to your healthcare provider.
Additional reporting by Andria Park Huynh.