A cough is a reflex action which clears the throat of foreign irritants and mucus. It is usually an infrequent action, even though a wide range of conditions can cause sessions of coughing.
A cough generally lasts for less than 3 weeks, and it is known as acute cough. If it lasts between 3 and 8 weeks, it is a subacute cough. The third type is the chronic cough, which lasts more than 8 weeks.
The treatment depends on the cause, and it might involve self-care or medical treatment.
Self-treatment typically involves the use of cough drops to soothe the throat, use of decongestant sprays to ease breathing, use of ginger and hot tea to clear the airway, gargling hot salt water to remove mucus, and so on.
As for medical care, doctors prescribe cough suppressants like codeine, pholcodine, dextromethorphan, noscapine, and butamirate. The problem with these medications that they are associated with certain side effects, from nausea and vomiting to dizziness and drowsiness.
The good news is that there are natural remedies available, such as the one presented in this article. It is 2-ingredient homemade syrup which is very effective at clearing phlegm from lungs and reversing cough.
Carrots are extremely healthy veggies and are an amazing source of beta-carotene and vitamins like A and B6. They provide a wide plethora of health benefits, from improving eye health and lowering cholesterol levels to reducing the risk of cancer. But, did you know that they are effective at suppressing cough as well?
In addition to improving the vision and fighting off cancer, the vitamin A content in carrots has been shown to boost immunity. Carrots have been also proven to reduce the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory problems.
In a 2006 study, each group of participants were given an abundance of fruits and veggies. The group that consumed carrots had the lowest prevalence of asthma. Furthermore, both choline and beta-carotene might help keep asthma in check, per study from the University of Maryland Medical Center. As a matter of fact, the nutrients in carrots help prevent bouts of cough in the first place. According to a study published in “Respiratory Research” in 2005, a deficiency in vitamin A led to higher risk of bronchial infections in rats.
These properties make carrots a great ingredient in any cough-suppressing remedy. The fact that they are capable of boosting the immune system makes them ideal for fighting off cold or other condition that affects the respiratory tract.
Honey is yet another great cough-remedy, capable of reducing cough in people affected by respiratory illnesses.
Here is an amazing all-natural remedy that will keep you healthy this winter.
Homemade cough syrup- Recipe:
Ingredients:
1/2 kg of carrot
3-4 spoons of honey
Instructions:
Dice the carrots and put them in a pot
Pour water in the pit, making sure the carrots are fully submerged
Boil until the carrots soften
Remove them from the pot and mash them with a spoon
Mix the water with honey
Mix the water with the mashed carrots
Store in cold temperature
Use:
Take 3-4 spoons of the syrup daily.