Cough Remedy Tips: Quick Relief When You Need It

To treat a cough, its underlying cause must be identified and the correct medication administered. But this will take some time. When you’re in a rush and have to give a speech or go to a job interview, all you want is quick cough relief. Although the results are temporary at best, quick reliefs should save you from dire situations. So to help you, here is a list of some quick cough remedies:

Saline solution

The cough is usually the result of a bacterial infection in the throat. The presence of bacteria causes inflammation that, in turn, causes itching. Your body will try to relieve the itch by coughing. Saline solution helps in this situation because salt has been known for years for its germicidal properties. For this to work most effectively, you need to gargle with saline for several seconds. You should also avoid swallowing and spitting for a while. This will expose your sore throat to the saline solution for a longer time.

Medicinal menthol candy

Medicated menthol candies like Strepsils can easily be purchased as an over-the-counter medication. Although they are not actually designed to cure some of the underlying causes of a cough, they can be used for quick relief. Regular menthol candies flavored with extra strong menthol can also provide temporary relief. However, in some conditions, such as a sore throat, the sugars in regular candies can aggravate the situation.

Regular mouthwash

Mouthwash can also be used to relieve sudden bouts of coughing. The menthol content of most mouthwashes is good for a sore throat. Additionally, mouthwash products commonly contain antibacterial ingredients. This is good for disinfecting bacteria buildup in the throat area. In most cases, gargling with a quick mouthwash will provide instant relief from a cough.

Lemon drops

Fresh lemon drops directly to the throat are also a good way to quickly relieve a cough. The natural ingredients found in lemon juice can disinfect the bacteria buildup in the throat. Also, the rich vitamin C content of lemon juice can remedy throat inflammation. Of course, you can also slowly sip a glass of lemon juice for a more pleasant way to treat your cough. However, you should avoid using sugar. Instead, use honey.

Vicks rub

Vicks steam massage and other similar menthol massage products can be rubbed on the chest, throat, neck, and back for instant cough relief. You can also put some Vicks in the nostrils to ease any obstruction along the nasal tract. And as ridiculous as it sounds, some people support that rubbing Vicks on the soles of your feet can help ease a cough.

Scotch and honey

The alcohol content of whiskey can act as a good germicide. Therefore, drinking whiskey can alleviate a cough caused by a bacterial infection. And you can double the effect by adding a little honey. Honey is known for its many medicinal properties. Also, honey is good for relieving inflammation.

Water therapy

Sometimes all that is needed is water. Just drink plenty of fluids to flush out the irritants that caused the cough in the first place. You may also want to drink water in large gulps. This will better wash the irritating throat.