Advertisement
11 Natural Solutions To Help You Stop Coughing, At Any Time Of Day
Having a cough under any circumstances is certainly frustrating. After all, a cough can range from irritating to uncomfortable, and it can also alarm the people around you.
Why are you coughing in the first place? On a very basic level, coughing is a way to clear your airway. "It's a reflex and protective response to any irritant in those areas—either mucus, dust, saliva, or even food," says Nina L. Shapiro, M.D., an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) and professor of head and neck surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine.
If you have a cough that's lingering or develop a sudden severe cough with difficulty breathing, wheezing, or a sudden loss of voice, Shapiro says you need to see a doctor "right away."
But, if you're just dealing with a regular cough, you can try at-home solutions to try to get relief. It can also be helpful to work with your medical provider to determine if your cough is related to allergies, asthma, a cold, or something else.
Here's how to stop coughing with natural solutions.
Ways to stop a sudden coughing attack.
A sudden coughing attack can be alarming, and you often need help fast to make it stop. Experts say these natural solutions can help:
Drink fluids.
Reaching for clear liquids like water or broth is best to help stop a coughing fit. "They literally clear the upper airway—above the voice box and vocal cords—of an irritant," Shapiro says.
If you're near a microwave or have access to a warm drink, that's even better, says Margaret Quinn, DNP, a clinical associate professor in the Rutgers University School of Nursing. "Warm fluids can help soothe the throat and loosen mucus," she says.
Sip a drink that contains ginger.
Ginger has two things going for it, according to Shapiro: It "acts as a decongestant and can also relax the muscles2 around the airway." Ginger is also "a wonderful anti-inflammatory3 and is commonly used in home cough remedies," says Jess Henning, APRN-CNP, a family nurse practitioner at the Ohio State University's Department of Family & Community Medicine Center for Integrative Medicine.
Breathe through your nose.
If you feel like your cough is tied to a "tickle" in your throat, Shapiro recommends trying this hack: Sit down, try to stay calm, and breathe through your nose. "This opens up a different part of the airway and relaxes the muscles around the voice box," she explains.
Ways to stop a stubborn daytime cough.
If you have a daytime cough that won't quit, these solutions may help:
Suck on a cough drop.
Cough drops "release solidified sweeteners to coat the throat," Shapiro says. And, if you have a stuffy nose, you can reach for lozenges with menthol for a decongestant effect.
Sip a thyme-infused drink.
Research has suggested that thyme can help reduce coughing, including one study that found a thyme concoction lowered the number of coughing fits4 people with bronchitis had by nearly 69% compared with nearly 48% in people who took a placebo. Another study of 749 people with a cough found that those who took a thyme-infused syrup5 had a "significant reduction" in the severity of their cough.
To reap the benefits at home, Henning suggests mixing a tablespoon of dried thyme in a cup of boiling water, letting it steep for a bit, straining it, and then adding a little lemon juice and honey "for a throat-soothing tea you could sip on all day."
Try a steam treatment.
Exposing your airways to steam—which can be as simple as running hot water in your shower and breathing deeply—can help thin out some of the thicker mucus in your nose and moisten the back of your throat, Shapiro says. "This will help loosen any congestion so one can clear it," she adds.
Sip horehound tea.
Horehound is an herb in the mint family that's been successfully used as a cough remedy. One Molecules study6 notes that it's usually used in horehound candy, which can help relieve cough, minimize hoarseness, and even help with bronchitis.
Horehound usually appears in the form of a cough drop, but it can also be brewed as a tea, with honey and lemon.
Ways to stop a nighttime cough.
A nighttime cough can keep you awake. These solutions can help:
Have a teaspoon of honey.
Research suggests that taking a spoonful of honey before bed can be more effective at stopping a cough than actual cough medicine. A study of 105 children between the ages of 2 and 18 with upper respiratory tract infections found that those who took honey at bedtime had the most relief1 from their cough and slept better than those who were given cough syrup or no treatment. "It coats the back of the throat, easing some of the discomfort and irritation that triggers the cough," Shapiro says. (Note: This should not be used in children under the age of 12 months due to a rare but potential botulism risk.)
Tweak your diet.
It's possible that your cough could be linked to gastroesophageal reflux, a condition that can happen when stomach acid or bile irritates the lining of your esophagus. That irritation can then trigger coughing. "Certain foods are very reflux-inducing," Shapiro says, listing off those that are heavy on spices, caffeine, and grease as being particularly problematic, along with alcohol. Certain food allergies may also trigger this, such as dairy.
Shapiro recommends avoiding those foods and drinks close to bedtime to lessen your symptoms. "Ideally, the last meal should be at least two to even three hours prior to lying down," Shapiro says.
Use a neti pot or other nasal irrigation before bed.
Neti pots and other nasal saline irrigations are "fantastic" ways to clear out your nose and sinuses, Shapiro says—and that can also help your cough. "Congestion and sinusitis are common triggers for cough, due to postnasal drip to the back of the throat, especially during sleep," she explains. "Minimizing nasal and sinus issues, often the source of cough, can very successfully minimize coughing."
Use a humidifier in your bedroom.
Indoor heating will warm up your home, but it can also remove moisture from the air, Quinn says—and that can irritate your throat and lungs. A humidifier can help add that moisture back, she says. Extra moisture will cause less dryness and irritation "leading to less coughing," Shapiro says.
The takeaway.
If you've tried these natural solutions and you're still coughing after a few days, your cough is getting worse, you're having trouble breathing, or you've developed a fever, Shapiro says it's time to consult your care provider about the next steps.
6 Sources
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18056558/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3604064/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17063641/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03007995.2021.1960493
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7355696/
Watch Next
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
What Is Meditation?
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins
Box Breathing
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
What Breathwork Can Address
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
Nutrition | Rich Roll
What to Eat Before a Workout
Nutrition | Rich Roll
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Nutrition | Sahara Rose
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
Love Languages
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
What Is Meditation?
Box Breathing
What Breathwork Can Address
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
What to Eat Before a Workout
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love Languages
Advertisement
4 Tips To Manage Weight & Blood Sugar In Menopause, From An Integrative MD
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN
5 Self-Care Practices For Busy Professionals, From A Health Coach
Ximena Araya-Fischel, M.A
4 Tips To Manage Weight & Blood Sugar In Menopause, From An Integrative MD
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN
5 Self-Care Practices For Busy Professionals, From A Health Coach
Ximena Araya-Fischel, M.A