Cough is a common health problem. You can take natural cough medicine as a first step in treatment. Besides being easy to find, some natural ingredients are also quite effective for treating coughs.

Coughing occurs as a natural reaction of the body to clear the respiratory tract that is disturbed due to irritation. However, coughing is often annoying. One of the most noticeable effects of coughing is reduced rest time, especially if it occurs continuously during sleep.

Although it is actually a normal thing, coughing that occurs for a long time cannot be underestimated. It could be that this condition is a symptom of certain health problems, such as allergies, viral or bacterial infections, or due to increased stomach acid.
Natural Remedies to Overcome Cough

You can buy some types of cough medicine for free at pharmacies. However, if you prefer natural cough remedies, you can try the following ingredients:

1. Honey
The health benefits of honey have been known for a long time. A study proves that honey can reduce coughing, so it can improve the quality of sleep at night. Honey is even considered to be as effective as cough medicine containing dextromethorphan.

To get the benefits of honey as a natural cough medicine, you can mix honey with tea or lemon juice with warm water. You can also drink it directly with a dose of two teaspoons before going to bed.

However, you should avoid giving honey as a cough treatment in children under one year old. Giving honey to children at that age is feared to cause botulism.

2. Onions
A study revealed that the steam from onions when sliced ​​can be useful as a natural cough remedy. To use it, all you have to do is cut an onion into quarters, then place it on a plate and place it next to or under the mattress before you go to sleep.

This diffused vapor you breathe in will help relieve coughing. Cough treatment with onion aroma is considered safe for all ages. However, this still requires further research.

3. Garlic
Not only as a natural food flavoring, garlic is also useful as a natural cough medicine. Garlic has antiseptic properties that are thought to be useful for helping relieve sore throats and coughs.

However, the effectiveness of garlic in overcoming coughs does not yet have strong scientific evidence.

4. Ginger
One of the natural cough remedies that is thought to be good for helping relieve breathing and respiratory tract irritation is ginger. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. The content in it can help reduce irritation and inflammation in the respiratory tract that causes coughing.

5. Mint leaves
Mint leaves have long been known as a natural cough remedy. The menthol contained in mint leaves works to treat coughs by soothing the throat and helping to thin mucus.

The benefits of mint leaves as a natural cough medicine can be obtained by drinking mint tea or inhaling the steam from mint aromatherapy oil. The trick, pour 3 or 4 drops of mint oil in 150 ml of hot water. Cover your head with a towel and inhale deeply just above the basin.

6. Salt solution
Gargling with salt water can help soothe an itchy throat. The trick, mix a teaspoon of salt with a glass of warm water, then use it to rinse your mouth.

Although classified as safe, you need to be careful if you want to give this natural cough medicine to children under 6 years. Because, they can not rinse properly.

Although these natural cough remedies are safe and easy to find, their effectiveness may vary from person to person. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if the cough does not subside, especially if it is accompanied by a high fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, or thick greenish yellow and bloody phlegm.