Natural Cough Remedies That Really Work

What is a cough?
A cough is a natural protective action by the body in healthy people. Coughing is an action the body takes to get rid of substances irritating the air passages, and a cough is usually started to clear a buildup of phlegm (mucus) in the trachea.

What are the main causes of a cough? Cold or flu, emotional stress (worry, anger, frustration upsets the bodies' natural rythyms), diet (foods that cause production of phlegm or mucus), long term sickness, smoking, allergies, and asthma.
Over the counter decongestants and antihistamines may cause side effects in many people. If you're tired of taking expectorants, cough suppressants, and everything else that advertises an artificial means to help your cough, then here are a few natural ways to treat a cough that have worked well with me and may help with you as well.
The first is a tonic that is very easy to make and, if you like the taste, is easy to drink as well.

10 ounces of boiling water
The juice of 1/2 lemon
About 1/2 inch of grated ginger
1 tablespoon of honey (honey is never recommended to a child under 12 months of age)
Place the lemon juice, grated ginger, and honey into a mug, then fill with the hot water and stir to dissolve the honey. If you like, you can also then pour the contents through a strainer into another mug, to strain out the bits of lemon and ginger. Drink in the evening after a meal.
The second method is a bit more general, but just as important. Since some foods can be the cause of your cough, you can start by avoiding the following:

Sweets
Dairy
Greasy Foods
Alcohol
Spicy Hot Foods
All of the above can either produce mucus, or cause dryness in your lungs.
By using natural cough remedies, you can help to eliminate the cost of purchasing over the counter cough suppressants, antihistamines and decongestants that sometimes sit in your medicine cabinet for months without being used.
One last tip: always include moderate exercise in your weekly routine and drink plenty of water. If your cough persists, consult your doctor. Also consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program.


About the Author
Will Todd is a part time martial arts instructor and full time family man. He's always looking for natural ways to improve the quality of his family's health and fitness.
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