There are many viral and bacterial infections during winters and these cause cough and cold in most of the people. If you get a mild cough in this season then you must start taking precautions to make sure that it does not get worse. A nasty cough will keep you awake all night and give you severe chest pain as well. Therefore, you must know how to control a cough. For controlling the conditions of your cough, you will have to treat it externally as well as internally. Here are some simple steps on how to control cough.
Things Required:
- Water and soap
- Vicks vaporub
- Cotton socks
- Warm slipper socks
Steps:
- First, you can start with shallow bath of moderately warm water. You need to soak your feet in this bath and then wash it off with mild soap. Toddlers will enjoy this method, as they will get to play in the water. For adults, play some soothing music and enjoy the warm water.
- Once you are done with this, then you will have to clot your feet with a soft and dry towel. If you want then you can dry your feet with a dryer as well. Try air-drying your feet, but it will take a longer time as compared to others. Try stepping on a paper towel without leaving a damp print of feet and your feet will be sufficiently dry.
- The next thing you will have to do is slather a gob of Vicks Vaporub on the bottom of your feet. Make sure that you apply it on your entire feet from the side of the toes to the soles. Now wear a pair of clean and dry socks. This method will help you in controlling cough.
Home remedies
- Method 1: Take an onion and crush it. Once you crush the onion, take the one-tablespoon juice of the onion and one tablespoon of honey. Mix these two things and allow it to rest for nearly five to six hours. The patient must take this mixture at least twice a day. Onion is a good antibiotic and has anti-inflammatory actions, which will clear the congestion and will loosen the cough as well.
- Method 2: Start chewing three black pepper seeds. You can also put these seeds in a glass of milk and drink it. This mixture will help in loosening the mucous membrane and will clear the chest congestion.
- Method 3: Take one inch of ginger and crush it. Add half teaspoon of pepper powder in the crushed ginger. Add one tablespoon of honey and vinegar as well. Later add water in this mixture, mix it well and start having it at least thrice a day.
- Method 4: Take two tablespoon of glycerin, two tablespoon of honey and add it in lemon juice. You will have to take one tablespoon of this syrup everyday.
- Method 5: Take one heaped teaspoon of eucalyptus, mint leave, and bring it boil. Once the water starts boiling, inhale the water vapor before it gets cool. This is a very effective method for curing cough.
- Method 6: Take one cup of water and bring it to boil. Add 2-3 cloves of garlic in the water, one spoon of oregano and allow it to boil for the next five minutes. Let this mixture cool and drink it.
- Method 7: Start boiling one gallon of water or more. Pour this water in a big bowl, cover your head with a towel and start taking vapors of this water. Take deep breaths for the next ten minutes. This will give you relief from the phlegm. A hot shower will have the same effect.
- Method 8: You can drink warm water for soothing irritation. Try drinking lemonade, tea or apple cider to get some relief from cough. Add one tablespoon of honey in this drink to increase its effectiveness.
- Method 9: You can gargle with warm water as well. Use this home remedy throughout the day and it will give you instant relief from cough.
Tips and Warnings:
- Coughing will help you in clearing the mucus from the respiratory tract. Therefore, you must leave the cough alone unless you are having disturbances in sleep.
- Always remember that you must never aggravate the cough with irritants like chemicals and smoking.
- Honey will cause botulism, which is a kind of food poisoning, in kids that are less than a year old. Therefore, don’t use the home remedies that have honey in them for infants.
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