A great home remedy for cough relief is guaco and carrot juice, which, due to its bronchodilator properties, can relieve coughs with phlegm and promote a quick recovery. Ginger tea with lemon is also a good option, and is recommended for dry coughs due to its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

To complement these home remedies, you can also drink a glass of water at room temperature with 1 spoon of honey, as this can hydrate the vocal cords, soothe the throat and reduce coughing.

However, you are advised to see a doctor for assessment to identify the cause of the cough, especially when it is constant, so that the most appropriate treatment is initiated.

Home remedies for coughs

Some home remedies for coughs to achieve relief quickly include:

1. Ginger tea with lemon

A great home remedy for a dry cough is ginger and lemon tea, as both ginger and lemon have anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce irritation in the throat and lungs. These teas can also clear the airways to relieve a dry cough.

This natural remedy can also be used for children who have a cough, as it has no side effects.

Ingredients

5 g ginger root
Juice of 2 lemons
1 teaspoon of honey
500 mL of water (about 2 cups)

How to prepare

To prepare the tea, boil the ginger in water on low heat until the liquid reduces by half. Then remove from the stove, strain and add the lemon juice. If you wish, you can add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten, keeping in mind that honey should not be used in babies under 1 year.

Take 1 tablespoon of this tea every four hours, while the cough persists. See other ways your can get rid of a dry cough.

2. Lemon tea with lemon

Lemon tea with honey is a great way to treat a baby’s cough at home, but this should only be given to babies over one year old. Younger babies do not have a fully developed immune system and honey has Clostridium botulinum spores, which can put the baby at risk of getting botulism.

Honey and lemon tea helps to relieve a cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion, and it is also improves digestion.

Ingredients

500 mL of water (about 2 cups)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey

How to prepare

Boil the water in a covered pan for about 10 minutes and then add the lemon juice and honey. When it has cooled down, you can offer it to the baby in small quantities.

Another tip for relieving your baby’s cough is to put a few drops of a saline solution in your baby’s nose before feeding and then clean any discharge with a baby-safe cotton swab.

3. Carrot and guaco juice

Carrot and guaco juice are excellent home remedies for productive or wet coughs, as these contain bronchodilating and expectorant properties, which helps to eliminate excess phlegm and breathe better. Additionally, if you add mint, the juice also becomes anti-inflammatory, which reduces coughing fits, especially when you have the flu, bronchitis, or asthma.

Ingredients

5 guaco leaves
1 carrot
2 sprigs of mint
1 teaspoon of honey

How to prepare

To make the juice, mix the guaco leaves in a blender with the carrot and mint sprigs. Then strain and add a teaspoon of honey. Drink 20 ml of this juice several times a day.

Another great home remedy for a productive cough is thyme tea as this herb has expectorant properties, which means that it helps in releasing phlegm and strengthening the immune system. Learn more about how you can also treat a cough during pregnancy.

4. Nettle leaves

While there are medications you can use to treat your allergy-related cough, you can also treat it naturally with medicinal plants such as nettle, Drosera rotundifolia and broadleaf plantain. These plants contain calming properties, which relieve coughing and throat discomfort.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon nettle leaves
200 ml water (about 1 cup)

How to prepare

To make the tea, place the nettle leaves in a pot with the water and let the mixture boil for 5 minutes. Then strain the tea and let it cool. Drink two cups of this tea a day. If you wish, you can add 1 spoon of honey to sweeten it.

5. Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is rich in menthol, an essential oil that has natural decongestant properties that help relieve coughs caused by a runny nose or stuffy nose.

In addition, this tea has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce inflammation in the airways and irritation in the sinuses that are contributing to nasal congestion, especially in cases of sinusitis or allergic rhinitis.

Ingredients

6 chopped peppermint leaves;
150 mL of boiling water.

How to prepare

In a cup, add the water over the chopped mint leaves and let it steep for 5 to 7 minutes. Strain, sweeten with honey if desired and drink 3 to 4 cups a day.

Another option to enjoy the decongestant benefits of peppermint is to use the essential oil to make inhalations. See how to make inhalations with peppermint essential oil.

6. Eucalyptus inhalation

Inhaling eucalyptus steam can help relieve coughs and nasal congestion caused by respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, flu, colds and sinusitis.

However, some people may be more sensitive to the essential oil released by eucalyptus and, in these cases, symptoms may acutally worsen. If you experience worsening, discontinue this inhalation immediately.

Ingredients

5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil or 1 handful of fresh eucalyptus leaves
1 liter of boiling water

How to prepare

Add the drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the boiling water. Then, cover your head and the bowl with a open towel to contain the steam.

Lean your head over the container and inhale the steam as deeply as possible for up to 10 minutes, repeating 2 to 3 times a day.

When finished, be sure to wipe your face with a towel soaked in cold water. Eucalyptus should not be inhaled by children under 12 years of age, as it can cause allergies and shortness of breath.

7. Basil tea

Basil tea helps to relax and dilate the bronchial tubes, which can help combat respiratory problems and improve coughs caused by the flu, a cold, asthma, bronchitis or respiratory infections.

Read more about the benefits of basil and how it can be used.

Ingredients

10 fresh or dried basil leaves
1 cup of water

How to prepare

Bring the water to a boil and when it is boiling, remove from heat. Pour the boiling water into a cup with the basil leaves. Cover and infuse for 5 to 10 minutes. Then strain, wait for it to cool and drink 1 cup, up to 3 times a day.

Basil tea should not be consumed by pregnant or breastfeeding women, as it can interfere with fetal development.

8. Pomegranate infusion

A pomegranate infusion can help to combat coughs caused by sore throats, as it is rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids and triterpenes. These are substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.

Ingredients

10 grams of pomegranate peel
1 cup of water

How to prepare

Add the pomegranate peels to a pot with with water. When it starts to boil, leave it for another 5 minutes and then remove from heat. Then cover the it and let the tea steep for another 5 minutes. Wait for it to cool and then drink 2 to 3 times a day.

Pomegranate infusions should not be consumed by children under 2 years old, pregnant or breastfeeding women or by people who have gastritis or stomach ulcers, as it can cause stomach irritation.

9. Watercress and pineapple syrup

Watercress and pineapple syrup is an excellent natural expectorant because it contains bromelain and flavonoids, which have expectorant and decongestant properties that loosen phlegm and relieve coughs.

In addition, this syrup is rich in vitamins C and A, which help to strengthen the immune system and fight infections like bronchitis, sinusitis and flu.

Ingredients

200 g of turnip
1/3 of the chopped watercress bunch
1/2 pineapple cut into slices
2 chopped beets
600 mL of water
1/2 cup of honey

How to prepare

Mix all the ingredients except for the honey in a blender, and then cook the mixture over low heat for 40 minutes. Wait for it to cool, strain, add 1/2 cup of honey and mix well. Take 1 tablespoon of this syrup, three times a day. For children, the dosage should be 1 teaspoon, three times a day.

This syrup should not be used by pregnant women or by people who are allergic to honey, propolis or pollen.

10. Garlic tea

Garlic tea has expectorant properties, which help to combat coughing. It can make phlegm thinner, making it easier to eliminate.

In addition, honey helps to lubricate the throat and reduce tissue irritation to relieve coughing.

Ingredients

1 crushed or chopped garlic clove
1 tablespoon of honey
1 cup of water

How to prepare

Boil the water, remove from heat, and pour into the cup with the crushed garlic. Let it soak for about 5 minutes, then strain and wait for it to cool. Add the honey and drink 1 cup of the tea per day.

Garlic tea should not be consumed by children under 2 years old or by people who have gastritis, ulcers, low blood pressure or hemorrhages.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should only consume garlic tea if approved by their doctor, as excessive intake can have an abortive effect, affect the menstrual cycle or change the smell or taste of breast milk.

People who are allergic to honey, propolis or pollen should not add honey to this recipe.