Effective Home Remedies to Cure Cough in Children
Cold and cough are a common illness among children. Here are the effective and easy home remedies to cure cough in children.
Cold accompanied by a cough and sneezing is very common in children. Generally, coughing is caused due to irritation in the lining of the trachea (windpipe), and it happens when the child’s body is fighting off an ailment. Coughing is the body’s defense mechanism to push out the excess mucus blocking the breathing passage of trachea.
Although it is a common happening, continuous coughing is not a healthy sign, as it can be irritating and cause uneasiness in the throat, particularly for children. The continuous coughing can lead to sleepless nights for children and even for the parents while taking care of them. Despite the fact that there are a lot of medicines available in the market for curing cough, but it is best to try out some home remedies when it comes to controlling and curbing cough in children.
A cough is generally of different types, and it is essential to recognize the type of cough before taking remedial action. A cough can be classified into five distinct types which are as follows:
- Wet Cough
- Dry Cough
- Wheezing Cough
- Croup Cough
- Whooping Cough
Here are the effective home remedies to cure cough in children
- Make them gargle
It is the most common and simple home remedy to provide relief from cough by gargling with warm water. You will get better relief by doing gargle at least three times a day. To get relief from a sore throat, add a teaspoon of salt to warm water.
- Give Honey
Honey is an anti-microbial agent that helps the body to fight against cold. The sweet taste of honey heightens saliva production in the mouth, which in turn helps in thinning the mucus. The perfect way to take honey while chough, is to mix one tablespoon of it in hot water and squeeze the fresh lemon juice into it.
Also Read - Best home remedies to treat fever in children
- Give Ginger
Ginger is a perfect home remedy for curing cough as it is known to have anti-viral properties. There are many lozenges and cough syrup available in the market which are ginger-based, but it is best to take ginger directly. Mix honey to decrease the strong taste of ginger before giving it to your child.
To get relief from cough give your child two tablespoons of the following mixture:
- Mix ¼ teaspoon of crushed or grated ginger with the same quantity of cayenne pepper.
- Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and honey to this and add two tablespoons of water to make a syrup
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Known for its antibacterial properties which can kill pathogens in the body, apple cider vinegar is an effective home remedy for dry cough in children. Apple cider vinegar can be mixed with crushed ginger to cure cough. Also, you can make your child take in the smell of vinegar as it is known to soothe a sore throat.
- Give Herbal Cough Syrup
You can make herbal cough syrup at home by heating chamomile and marshmallow syrup with ginger in about 500ml of water.
Also Read - How to take care of your infant in the rainy season
- Give Turmeric Milk
An age-old home remedy for instant relief from sore throat and cough, turmeric mixed in milk is good for whooping cough. Turmeric has antiseptic properties which are effective in treating viral infections. Just add a teaspoon of turmeric to warm milk and give it to your child every night before bed until the coughing subsides.
While most of these home remedies do not have side effects, it is significant to understand what suits your child and what does not. If a cough continues, it is advisable to visit a doctor to identify and address the prime cause of cough.
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