Coughing is the body’s way of removing irritants from the respiratory system to breathe better. There are several types of coughs, one of which is a dry cough, which does not produce mucus or phlegm. The condition is also called an unproductive cough because when a person coughs, nothing comes out since there isn’t mucus obstructing the lungs or airways.
A dry cough may persist for weeks after having certain conditions, such as colds or flu. The illness could also be a chronic side effect of exposure to pollutants in the environment, such as cigarette smoke. People may experience a tickling feeling in their throats when they have a dry cough. The throat becomes dry and irritated as they forcibly expel air, causing problems like a sore throat.
Dry cough can affect both adults and children. The condition can be treated clinically in a variety of ways, but there are home remedies that work just as well. However, it’s crucial to remember that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate natural treatments or dietary supplements. Therefore, those who are interested in using natural remedies must do some research on certain products.
Below are home remedies for a dry cough.
Honey
Honey can be used to treat daytime and overnight dry coughing in adults and children one year of age and older. Honey contains antimicrobial qualities and helps coat the throat to soothe discomfort.
An analysis of studies conducted in 2021 analyzed the effect of honey on alleviating coughs brought on by upper respiratory infection. Based on the finding, using honey to suppress a cough and lessen the need to take antibiotics was more successful than traditional treatments.
In addition, dextromethorphan and honey were compared in a study that was also carried out in 2021 by researchers. The findings showed that both honey and dextromethorphan effectively reduced coughing.
While it worked similarly in two trials, honey did slightly better than dextromethorphan in one. Similarly, a 2007 study discovered that honey was more effective than dextromethorphan at reducing irritating episodes of overnight coughing in kids.
Honey can be consumed straight from the spoon or mixed with hot beverages like herbal teas. However, do not offer honey to a child under one to prevent infant botulism, a rare food poisoning in newborns.
