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How To Treat A Dry Cough Naturally And Medicinally
Dry coughs can be uncomfortable. However, there are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications available at your local drugstore that may help ease your cough.
DecongestantsDecongestants are OTC medications that treat congestion in the nose and sinuses.
When you contract a virus, such as the common cold, decongestants will constrict the blood vessels in your nose. This can reduce swelling and make it easier to breathe. They may also lessen postnasal drip.
Several types of decongestants are available, but the most common brand-name decongestants in the United States include:
Important
It's recommended that children under age 12 don't take decongestants. The risk of dangerous side effects is too high. Decongestants should never be given to children under 2 because of serious side effects such as seizures and rapid heart rate.
If you're looking for a cold medication for your child, never give them one meant for adults. Instead, choose an OTC medication specifically formulated for children and follow the manufacturer's instructions or talk with a doctor.
Cough suppressants and expectorantsThere are really two types of OTC cough medications: cough suppressants and cough expectorants.
Cough suppressants (antitussives): These medications quiet your cough by blocking your cough reflex. This is helpful for dry coughs that are painful or that keep you up at night. The primary OTC cough suppressant medication is dextromethorphan (Robitussin, Delsym, Theraflu Thin Strips Cough).
Expectorants: These are better for wet coughs and work by thinning the mucus in your airway so you can more easily cough it up. The most commonly used OTC expectorant is guaifenesin (Mucinex, Robitussin Cough Congestion, Vicks DayQuil).
Prescription medicationsIf OTC treatments don't help relieve your cough, contact a doctor. Depending on the underlying condition that's causing the cough, a doctor may prescribe:
Some of these home remedies haven't been extensively studied or proven effective. Instead, most of the support is anecdotal. Not all of these home remedies for dry cough are appropriate for babies and children.
Menthol cough dropsMenthol cough drops are available at most drugstores. These medicated lozenges contain compounds from the mint family. They have a powerful cooling effect that soothes irritated tissue and relaxes the cough reflex.
That said, it's a good idea to use these sparingly. There is research suggesting that using too many menthol cough drops can actually worsen your cough.
HumidifierA humidifier is a machine that adds moisture to the air. Dry air, which is common in heated homes, can aggravate inflamed throat tissue.
Using a humidifier in your bedroom at night can help loosen mucus, ease breathing, and make you more comfortable while you're sleeping.
For young children, use a cool-mist vaporizer. Humidifiers that use heating elements and hot water could burn a child if they tip it over.
Soup, broth, tea, or another hot beverageWarm liquids like soup and tea help add moisture while providing immediate relief for sore and scratchy throats.
Warm liquids also help keep you hydrated, which is essential to the healing process.
In general, if you have a dry cough, then fluids are your friend. Staying hydrated helps ensure your throat stays moist so it can heal properly. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day, but more is better.
HoneyHoney has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the throat. It can also help break down mucus and soothe sore throats.
Try adding honey to a cup of warm tea or warm water with lemon. Or just eat a spoonful every time the coughing returns.
A 2018 review found that honey was as effective as diphenhydramine, which is used in Benadryl, for children with a cough. However, it wasn't as effective as dextromethorphan, which is used in Delsym and Robitussin.
Important
Babies under the age of 12 months should not be given honey due to the risk of botulism. For older children, honey can be used to soothe a dry cough.
Saltwater gargleSalt water soothes inflamed tissue and promotes healing. The salt can also kill bacteria in the mouth and throat.
A 2019 study found that gargling with salt water three times per day reduced the duration of a cough by 2.4 days. It also reduced the duration of vocal hoarseness, sneezing, and a blocked nose.
To make a saltwater gargle, mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt into an 8-ounce glass of warm water and take a sip. Tilt your head back and gargle gently for 30 seconds, then spit. Never swallow the salt water.
HerbsMany herbs have anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the swelling in your throat.
Herbs are also chock-full of antioxidants, which can help boost your immune system.
Herbs used to treat dry cough include:
You can add herbs to your diet by brewing them into teas or adding them to your favorite recipes. You can also look for supplements and extracts at your local health food store.
Steam inhalationLike warm or hot water from drinks, steam from hot water can help moisturize the dry and irritated tissues in your nasal passages and throat. It can also ease irritation in sore throats and reduce coughs.
Heat water in the microwave, a kettle, or on the stove. Then, pour the water into a bowl. Place a towel over your head and the bowl, and slowly inhale the warm, moist air for 2 to 3 minutes.
You can also take a hot shower and breathe in the steam while you bathe. If you don't need the shower but want the steam, close the door to the bathroom, turn on a hot shower, and let the steam build. Take in deep breaths of the moist air.
Important
Don't breathe in steam directly over a pot of boiling water. You can severely burn your skin.
BromelainBromelain is an enzyme found in pineapples. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce swollen and irritated throat tissue.
Bromelain may also help break down mucus. You can get a small dose of bromelain in a glass of pineapple juice, but many people prefer to take supplements, which have a much higher concentration.
VitaminsVitamins are organic compounds that your body needs to function properly. Different vitamins serve different purposes. For example, vitamin C plays an important role in your immune system.
To get the most bang for your buck, look for a multivitamin at your local drugstore.
ProbioticsProbiotics are healthy bacteria taken in supplement form that can improve your gut bacteria. They don't help relieve a cough directly, but a healthy balance of bacteria keeps your gut healthy and strengthens your immune system so you can fight off infection.
DietYou might think that food only irritates your stomach or gastrointestinal system, but some foods could be responsible for a dry cough.
A cough can be a symptom of food allergies. If you experience a dry cough after eating a certain type of food, avoid the food for a while to see if the coughing stops.
Acid reflux can cause a dry cough, too. High fat foods and acidic foods, like tomatoes, are frequently responsible for acid reflux. Chocolate, caffeine, and spicy foods can also worsen acid reflux symptoms like a dry cough.
Avoid irritants in the environmentWhen irritants enter your respiratory system, they can trigger the cough reflex and slow down the healing process. Common irritants include smoke, pollen, or perfumes.
Consider taking these measures to help make your environment less triggering:
Baby Coughs
Baby coughs often sound worse than they actually are. You'll come to recognise signs of normal coughs and sniffles over time but some symptoms suggest the problem could be more serious.
Common causes for baby coughs A hot roomLike all of us, occasionally a baby will just get a 'frog in the throat', and usually a little cough will remedy this. If the air feels very dry (if you are in a warm room, the central heating is on, or you are staying somewhere in a hot dry climate) make sure you keep milk feeds up regularly, and offer cool boiled water in a sterile bottle or a suitably-aged baby feeding-cup if you want to, for relief between feeds.
Try to keep the room your child is in well-aired and make sure the air does not dry out. If the heating is on you can place a bowl of water on a radiator as the warmth will cause water droplets to moisten the air, or boil an electric kettle in the room and let the steam waft around for a few minutes. You can open the window to let in some fresh air but check the air coming in is fresh.
TeethingWhen your child is teething, he will produce more saliva. This might cause coughing bouts that last a few hours, days or even a couple of weeks, while the teething phase continues. Discover how to ease the pain and the cough.
HabitCoughing can become a bit of a habit. All babies love a cuddle and we instinctively go to pick up our children when they cough and splutter. This is not a concern and will pass so don't worry that it will develop into an annoying habit, but make sure your baby does get lots of loving attention through every day anyway!
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CroupOther possibilities include croup cough, which sounds particularly alarming but is not usually serious. Or bronchiolitis, a viral infection that causes inflammation of the respiratory passages, usually affecting babies between two and 24 months. A runny nose sometimes precedes a dry wheezy cough, and your baby may have difficulty feedingand breathing. If you suspect your baby's got bronchiolitis but she's otherwise well, you don't need to do anything. Most babies stay at home,get wheezy and have a fast respiratory rate, but are otherwise fine. If your baby's not feeding, not having wet nappies and breathing very fast,see your GP.
AsthmaA persistent dry cough can sometimes signal that your child may have childhood asthma. This is on the rise, but still not hugely common. It will usually be accompanied by wheezy episodes after your child has been moving about (crawling or toddling, for example).
If you think this is a possibility then do raise it with your GP. But also try to keep your child's bedroom free from too many dust-trapping items like shelves over their bed or cot, too many soft furnishings and so on. Make sure bedding, cuddly toys and clothes are clean, try to use non-bio products for washing, and choose hypo-allergenic materials when buying pillows and duvets, etc. Possibly think about having polished floorboards rather than carpet in your child's room if a problem is diagnosed.
When a cough is a concernUsually a cough is not a major worry but if a cough is accompanied by these other signs of illness then do consult your GP
Read more:
Can You Give Your Baby Cold Medicine?
When your baby is sick, you want to make them feel better, but over-the-counter cold remedies are not safe for babies. The FDA has approved these medicines only for children over 2 years old.
There is little more distressing than to see your baby feeling sick. While most of the colds your little one gets will actually build their immunity, it can be difficult to see your baby feeling less than 100 percent.
When your child is showing signs of a cold, you want to make them feel better and quickly. You may even be tempted to rush right out to pick up some medicine from the store. Is this the right answer though? Are cold medicines safe for babies?
In short, you shouldn't. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests avoiding any over-the-counter cold medications until your child is at least 4 years old. (Prescription cough medications with codeine aren't recommended by the FDA for anyone under 18 years old.)
Cold medicines can have serious side effects, like slowed breathing, which can be especially dangerous for young children and infants.
Many cold medicines also include more than one ingredient. This combination of ingredients can interfere with or prevent the use of other medications in young children.
Even if you could give your little one cold medicine, there are no medications that will cure a cold. Medications — like decongestants — available over the counter will only treat cold symptoms, and for children under 6 they have not even been shown to do that.
Thankfully there are some non-medication remedies you can try at home to alleviate symptoms — and below we've got a list if you're in need of a few ideas!
While over-the-counter cold medicines may not be appropriate, if your little one has a bacterial infection and not just a cold virus, they may need prescribed antibiotics.
These should not be prescribed in all cases as it's important not to use antibiotics for a viral cold infection. The antibiotics won't kill the virus, and their body may build up an immunity to antibiotics which will make antibiotics less effective in the future.
If you're worried because it seems like cold symptoms are lingering longer than expected or getting worse, a trip to the doctor to rule out the need for antibiotics is definitely appropriate, though!
Your little one might have a cold if you are seeing these symptoms:
Symptoms of a cold can look a lot like less intense flu symptoms. They are generally the same symptoms as ones you would see in an adult.
In addition to wondering whether or not you can give their child cold medicine, you may wonder when your child might need to go to the doctor for a cold. Make an appointment with your pediatrician if:
It's important to keep close records of certain facts to share with your child's doctor. (This info will also help you to determine if you should take your child to the doctor.) You should track:
While there isn't a lot you can do to solve a cold besides treat your baby's symptoms, there are lots of ways to help reduce the symptoms you are seeing with home remedies.
It can be difficult to see your child under the weather and struggling to eat with a runny nose. As a parent, it's natural to want to make your child feel healthy again as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, when it comes to colds, you may have to be patient for a few days and just focus on easing the symptoms as much as possible while the cold runs its course.
As always though, if you're worried about your child's health, don't hesitate to consult with their doctor. Even in situations where medicines are not appropriate, your child's healthcare provider will be able to provide ideas for things to do that may minimize the length or severity of the symptoms.
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