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Hot beverages like tea are one natural way to relieve a nagging cough.
They hydrate the body, soothe an irritated throat, and loosen mucus.
Honey Tea
A natural way to treat a cough is to drinktea with honey.
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To make honey tea, mix a teaspoon or two of honey with your favorite hot tea.
Some people also like to add a lemon to the beverage.
It contains more than 300 flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Pregnant people should avoid consuming licorice root.
Too much of it can also affect your blood pressure levels.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is made fromginger root, which has various medicinal benefits.
Ginger can help thin mucus and clear it from your lungs.
In an animal study, ginger extract significantly reduced coughing fits.However, more research on humans is needed.
Marshmallow Root Tea
Marshmallow rootmay soothe a sore throat and lessen inflammation.
One study showed it can help loosen mucus and stop the growth of bacteria.
Unlike other teas, marshmallow root tea should be consumed at room temperature.
A gummy substance called mucilage forms when it’s steeped at room temperature.
Mucilage helps coat the throat and soothe irritated tissue.
Green Tea
Green teacontains many antioxidants, which provide an array of health benefits.
It can also be soothing when youre sick.
Green tea contains caffeine, so you might not want to drink it before bed.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is another pop in of tea people often drink toease a cough.
Thyme Tea
Thyme is a spice often used in cooking.
It can also be steeped in tea to relieve coughing.
One study found thatthyme extracttaken with ivy helped significantly reduce the severity of acute coughing in people with bronchitis.
Add 1 cup of boiling water and 2 teaspoons of crushed thyme leaves to make thyme tea.
Elderberry Tea
Elderberry is a common ingredient in cough syrups and can also be used in tea.
Thebenefits of elderberryinclude anti-inflammatory properties that can help quell coughing.
It may also provide immune support to fight off a cold faster.
Why Tea Helps Your Cough
Teas help your cough in several ways.
The warmth can soothe inflamed tissue in your throat.
Some may even offer pain relief.
Other Home Remedies for a Cough
There are other ways to ease a cough.
Drinking warm tea is one way to soothe your symptoms.
Other home remedies for a cough include using a humidifier, gargling saltwater, and taking OTC cough medications.
Most coughs go away on their own after some time.
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