TREATMENT OF DRY COUGH AT HOME

Today we are going to discuss some of the very common treatments for dry cough but before that let us understand what is dry cough? 

A cough is nothing but a reflex action that clears your airway of irritants and mucus. There are two types of cough productive and non-productive. A productive cough produces phlegm or mucus clearing it from the lungs whereas a non-productive cough doesn't produce phlegm or mucus. This non-productive cough is commonly known as dry cough.

 Causes:

Dry curve airway hyper responsiveness is one of the most common causes of dry cough,and other than that there are grd post nasal drip and viral infection which can also cause dry cough. There are many other less common causes like environmental irritants, AC inhibitors, whooping cough, collapsed lung, lung cancer and heart failure.

Treatment:

First thing you should try for dry cough is; 

Honey 

Honey has antibacterial and wound healing properties it can also help to coat the throat which reduces the irritation pain and inflammation. So it is very useful for both day and night time cough you can try taking honey by the teaspoon several times a day or add it in a tea or warm water to drink. But here you should remember one thing never give honey to a child under one year old as honey can cause rare complication called infant botalism or floppy baby syndrome. It is due to ingestion of bacterial toxin which can be present in honey. Honey is harmless to the other kids and adults. 

Gargling

Next thing you should consider is warm salt water goggle. Gargling with warm salt water is one of the simplest and most effective home remedy. The salt here helps to pull out the mucus from your swollen and inflamed tissue. Salt water gargling helps to relieve the discomfort and scratchy throat. Add about 1 4 teaspoon of salt in lukewarm water. Do the salt water gargling for several times each day. Turn on the coal mist humidifier to increase the moisture in your room and if you don't have a humidifier you can still get a relief by taking a hot shower steam from warm shower. Loses the mucus and can moisturize and soothe your sore throat you can also take steam from hot water in any container. 

Ginger

Ginger is very beneficial for dry cough. It can suppress the cough reflex by relaxing the smooth muscles of the airways. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which relieve pain and discomfort. Studies have reported that gingerol a chemical compound in fresh ginger is able to suppress airway that can trigger symptoms of asthma including cough. Ginger can be found in many teas as an ingredient. You can also make ginger tea from ginger root by steeping the peel or cut root in warm water. Adding honey may make it even more beneficial for dry cough. However you should remember that consuming too much ginger may cause stomach upset heartburn or diarrhea.

Thyme 

It contains a compound called thymol that is believed to have antispasmodic effects. It can help, relax the smooth muscles of the throat. Thyme is safe for occasional use only you can make a thyme tea by infusing three to four teaspoons of the dried herb in 250 ml of boiling water. You can add honey for an added cough relieving benefit but here one thing I would like to mention is that don't consume thyme essential oil. It can cause a potential serious drop in blood pressure. 

Marshmallow:

It is a type of herb it's used in cough syrup and in lozenges to soothe dry cough. A study found that it's an effective treatment for soothing the throat and reducing the irritation caused by dry cough. Marshmallow roots also have antibacterial properties.

Peppermint: 

It contains menthol which helps to numb nerve endings in the throat that become irritated by coughing. This may provide pain relief and reduce the urge to cough. Peppermint also helps to reduce congestion you can take peppermint lozenges or peppermint tea if you are dealing with nighttime cough then drinking peppermint tea right before the bedtime would be very helpful. Do consult your doctor to figure out the best course of treatment. In the meantime a combination of home remedies and otc medications can provide some relief.