Best Effective Ayurvedic Remedies for Dry Cough

Why Use Ayurveda Treatments and Home Remedies for Dry Cough

Many of us reach for OTC (Chemist Shop) medications to treat coughs and colds, including a dry cough. While some of these medications can help treat respiratory disorders, most are ineffective against a dry cough.

More importantly, it should be noted that the most commonly used OTC cough medications are expectorants. These medications are effective at treating wet coughs as they thin the mucus and phlegm in the airways. This is of course of not much help when dealing with a dry cough.

Another common medication used to treat coughs would be antitussives or cough suppressants. These medications work by blocking or reducing the cough reflex. While these medications are helpful, they are associated with a variety of side effects from increased daytime sleepiness and dizziness to nausea and vomiting. 

As home remedies and herbal cough medicines do not contain chemical or synthetic products, they do not pose any such side effect risk.

What does Ayurveda say about Dry Cough

The 5000-year-old Indian system of natural healing is famous all over the world. Originated from the Vedic culture of India, Ayurveda is more than just a method of treating illnesses. Ayurveda involves creating a balance between mind and body to achieve the true nature of the human living potential.

Cough is known as kasa in Ayurveda. Depending upon the involvement of the doshas and other factors, kasa has been defined to be of five types - Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Kshataj (traumatic) and Kshyaj (tubercular). The causative factors of all the types are different.

For example, excessive physical exercise gives rise to Vataja kasa. Hot and spicy food along with anger and heat exhaustion give rise to Pittaja kasa. Ingestion of excessive sweets, laziness and sleeping during the day induces Kaphaja kasa.

Being overweight and extreme involvement in sexual habits would induce Kshayata kasa. Excess of sex, non-assumable food and suppression of natural urges would result in Kshayaja kasa.

“Ayurveda emphasises on balance in doshas. Ayurveda home remedies control vata dosha that usually causes dry cough. Madhura rasa (sweet taste) balances vata and gives relief from its dryness. Adopting a few lifestyle changes and seasonal regimens helps you to improve your immunity and leads you to a healthy life.”

Quick Tips to Prevent Dry Cough

If you're suffering from a dry cough, there are a few things you can do to prevent it from getting worse.

• First, drink plenty of fluids. This will help thin the mucus in your lungs and make it easier to cough up. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they can dehydrate you and make your cough worse.

• Second, use a humidifier in your home to keep the air moist. This will help keep your throat and lungs from drying out.

• Third, stay away from irritants like smoke and dust. If you can't avoid them, wear a mask to protect yourself.

• Finally, get plenty of rest. A dry cough can be exhausting, so make sure you're getting enough sleep.

Here we have a few Ayurvedic remedies for dry cough that you can try and experience the effectiveness of Ayurveda by yourself.

1. Turmeric

Haldi or turmeric is popular in home remedies across the subcontinent, but it is especially helpful for cough relief, whether dealing with a wet or dry cough. Turmeric can be consumed along with hot milk or ghee, with 1-2 teaspoons of powder added to a glass of milk. 

This Ayurvedic cough medicine remedy has found renewed support in recent decades as the herb has been found to possess strong therapeutic effects. Its powerful anti-inflammatory effects can reduce throat soreness and inflammation to relieve coughing. 

These effects are linked to its main bioactive component curcumin, which may also help in the treatment of bronchial asthma.

2. Eucalyptus Steam Inhalation

Eucalyptus oil or nigiri taila, as its known in Ayurved, can also be a powerful natural remedy to fight a dry cough. Eucalyptus oil is another ingredient that has attracted widespread interest from researchers because of various therapeutic properties that can be applied in modern medicine. 

The herb’s oil is known to exhibit antimicrobial effects that can protect against infections, but it also has immune-stimulatory, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties that can help in the treatment of dry coughs. Studies have been supportive of its use in the management of conditions like asthma and bronchitis. 

Eucalyptus can be used in mouth wash or gargles, with just 2 drops added to a glass warm salt water. Steam inhalation is the most popular method of use and requires 2-3 drops of the oil in a bowl of boiling water.

3. Honey

Referred to as ‘madhu’ in Ayurvedic texts, honey has been an important ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine and folk remedies around the world for millennia. In addition to serving as a flavoring agent for common Ayurvedic churnas, honey can be used as a dry cough home remedy itself. 

This traditional use of honey is supported by modern clinical research, with one study even finding honey to be more effective than dextromethorphan – a common ingredient in OTC cough syrups. 

Honey’s anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties can also help reduce throat inflammation and irritation, improving recovery. You can add honey to other ingredients or use it as a healthy sweetener in warm water or herbal tea.

4. Ginger

Ginger is another herbal ingredient that is highly valued in Ayurvedic medicines for cough and cold as it helps not just with phlegm reduction, but also with fighting infections and reducing inflammation. 

These anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects are linked to gingerols, the active components in ginger. Research shows that ginger and ginger extracts can work like a bronchodilator, relaxing the airway smooth muscle to reduce irritation, coughing, and breathlessness. 

Ginger can be used to prepare herbal teas along with honey or you can even drink the freshly extracted juice or chew on some ginger.

5. Pudina

Pudina or peppermint has been widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for cough and cold. Today, it is also used in conventional medications to treat these conditions because of the proven benefits of menthol – pudina’s main bioactive compound. 

A scientific review of antitussives also highlighted the role of menthol in dry cough treatments, especially through inhalation. Other research has also shown the herb to exhibit antispasmodic effects, reducing dry or hacking cough spasms. To use a pudina dry cough remedy, you can use the fresh leaves as garnishing in foods or steep them in boiling water along with other herbs used to make herbal tea. 

Lozenges containing pudina or menthol can also provide relief, but opt for purely natural choices. Additionally, you can use peppermint oil for steam inhalation, adding just a few drops of the oil to a bowl of boiling water.

7. Cardamom

Cardamom is an effective ayurvedic remedy for dry cough. It helps to soothe the throat and clear the respiratory tract. Cardamom is also helpful in reducing the inflammation of the respiratory tract.

8. Thyme

Thyme is thought to be beneficial for dry cough due to its expectorant properties. This means that it can help to loosen and expel mucus from the lungs. 

It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to reduce infection and inflammation in the respiratory tract.

9. Tulsi

Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, is an Ayurvedic herb that has been used for centuries in India for its vast array of health benefits. Tulsi is an expectorant, meaning it helps to expel mucus from the respiratory tract, making it an effective remedy for dry cough. 

In addition, tulsi is a natural antibacterial agent, helping to fight off infection and speed up the healing process.

You can try below combination as well for Fast Relief from Cough.

1. Almonds and Butter

Almonds are a good remedy for cough. Soak about 5-8 kernels in water overnight. After removing the brown skin, grind the softened kernels into a fine paste. Add 20 grams of butter and sugar to this paste. 

Eating this paste in the morning and evening gets rid of cough. This paste is an effective home remedy for dry cough.

2. Black Pepper and Milk

On a pastry board grind 4-6 black pepper seeds. Add a teaspoon of honey and mix it thoroughly. Taking this home remedy for cough several times a day relieves cough.

3. Long Pepper, Ginger & Tulsi

To prepare this home remedy for cough, take about 10 grams of each of long pepper, dried ginger,holy basil leaves. Add 4-6 small cardamoms and grind to yield a fine powder. Consuming this powder with equal amount of honey relieves cough.

4. Beleric Myrobalans, Black Pepper and Honey

To prepare this natural remedy for cough, take 10 grams of dried rind of Beleric Myrobalans and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Grind them to a fine powder. Add a pinch of salt and 2 teaspoons honey to this blend. Mix them well to form a paste. Administered twice daily, this paste relieves cough.

5. Black Pepper, Turmeric, Milk & Honey

For this cough remedy, you will need the following ingredients.

Milk, pepper power, turmeric powder, and honey. Take one glass of hot milk. Add 1/2 teaspoon of pepper powder, turmeric powder and honey to it. Mix it well and drink it twice a day for the best result.

6. Ginger, Betel Leaves & Honey

To prepare this home remedy for cough, you will need 1 tsp ginger juice. Add 1 tsp honey to it. Third ingredient required is betel leaves. Pound and take out juice of betel leaves. 

Add 1 tsp betel leaves juice to the previous mixture and mix well. A powerful home remedy for cough is ready to use. You should add 1 tsp lukewarm water to it and drink it. You should take it 3 times a day. Don’t consume anything till half an hour.

7. Ginger and Honey

Take a piece of fresh ginger, grate it and extract juice from it. Take about 2 teaspoons of ginger juice and add about 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of honey. Mix it well. Warm the mixture slightly. 

Let it warm for less than a minute, and then you can have it about three to four times a day for your wet cough. Home remedies for cough with ginger honey might take some time to take effect.

8. Pomegranate 

Pomegranate as the fruit is a godsend and is beneficial to our health in many ways. It cleanses the impurities in our blood and is a very good source of iron. It also helps with dry cough. 

Here is what you need to do to cure your dry cough with pomegranate.

Take pomegranate peels and let them dry in the sun for 2-3 days
When all the moisture from these peels has gone, put them in a jar filled with honey

Now, whenever you have an attack of uncontrollable dry cough keep one of the honey-dipped peels in your mouth

Do not swallow it, just chew it like a candy and you will see immediate relief

For Dry Cough at Night

If you experience a dry cough while you are trying to sleep and it keeps you from getting your night’s rest, then here is what you should do:

• A mix of mulethi, saunf (fennel seeds) and mishri is good for dry cough.

• Take mulethi, saunf (fennel seeds) and mishri in equal measure and grind it to form a very fine powder

• Take this powder with pure honey every night before going to bed

• Alternatively, you can also take it with warm water, but make sure you drink it slowly Keeping mint leaves in mouth can provide immediate short term relief from cough.

If  you experience short term cough with no pain in your throat but still can’t stop coughing? Here is what you need to do:

• Take a few mint leaves and keep them in your mouth

• Do not swallow or chew, you will experience relief in 2-5 minutes

Cough Relief Candies

• Take some ginger, saunf, fresh mint leaves and grind them together in a fine paste

• Now take some mishri and grind it into a powder

• Take the paste you made earlier (make sure it is thick and not watery) and roll them into small balls, using 1 tablespoon at a time

• Coat these balls with the dry mishri powder and let them dry properly. Store them in a jar.

These organic, Ayurvedic cough relief candies are known to provide relief, and you can make them at home.

Take one of these above remedies whenever you think you need cough drops, and see how they provide immediate relief

To Heal Your Throat Overnight

Drink this Ayurvedic concoction at night for healing of throat overnight.

If you experience dry cough which makes it hard for you to talk then here is an Ayurvedic concoction that you can take before going to bed and you will wake up feeling much better. Here is what you need to do:

You will need 2 tablespoon besan (roasted gram flour), 2 tablespoons organic ghee, 1 cup milk, 1 tablespoon mishri powder

Add desi ghee to a thick bottomed pan and place the pan on a medium flame, add 2 tablespoons of besan to it and keep stirring it till its nicely roasted and you can smell the aroma of besan

Now add a cup of milk and keep stirring till the milk thickens a bit and everything is nicely incorporated. Now pour this into a mug and add mishri.

Drink this slowly while it’s still warm. Do not drink water or anything right after this, it is recommended that you go to bed after drinking this to experience its healing properties

Use these Ayurvedic remedies to experience relief from dry cough in the most organic and natural way. While these traditional Ayurvedic dry cough remedies are highly effective, you shouldn’t ignore a persistent cough. If you find no relief even after consistent usage of home remedies and Ayurvedic medicine, make it a point to consult your health care provider.

When to Consult a Doctor?

If your cough is accompanied by a fever, shortness of breath, or chest pain, you should see a doctor right away. These may be signs of a more serious condition, such as pneumonia.

If your cough is dry and persistent, it might be caused by postnasal drip or asthma. See your doctor if it interferes with your daily activities or sleep, or if you have any other concerns like nose bleeds while coughing, extreme weakness, and low-blood oxygen levels.