Cough happens when viruses, bacteria, dust, pollen and other substances attack the air passages and irritate them. Cough is often accompanied by a cold which is the blockage of the nose or the chest leading to trouble in breathing. Cough and cold often lead to fatigue and restlessness forcing one to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Sometimes, cold and cough may even lead to flu and prolonged cough and cold may lead to chronic illness.

During cough and cold, it is better to use natural remedies rather than overloading the body with medicines. Though, medicines help in getting rid of cough and cold these need to be taken for a prescribed duration for complete effectiveness. Moreover, some medicines may have adverse health effects on the body.

Best natural remedies for cold and cough

• Ginger tea is a well- known remedy for cough and cold. It helps to dry up a running and dripping nose. Ginger tea is also effective in removing mucus from the respiratory tract. Ginger tea has a soothing effect on the nasal tract and helps to bear cold and speed up the recovery process.

• Mixture of warm milk and turmeric is also an effective remedy for cough and cold. Turmeric has anti-bacterial as well as anti-vial properties and fights bacteria and viruses that cause cough and cold.

• Syrup of lemon, cinnamon and honey can be used to treat cough and cold. Lemon and honey are known for their anti-bacterial as well as anti-viral properties. These help to inhibit bacteria and virus that cause cough and cold. Cinnamon has a soothing effect on the nasal passage because of its aroma and helps to clear it.

• Salt water gargling is an effective way of fighting cold and cough. Salt water gargling soothes a sore throat and reduces inflammation in the throat. Gargling with salt water also helps to remove phlegm or mucus from the nasal tract during a cold. Thus, salt water gargling provides relief from cold as well as cough.
• Drinking luke- warm water is the best remedy for cough and cold. Water soothes the sore throat as it reduces inflammation in the throat. In addition, water ensures fluid balance in the body and washes out all the infection from the body.
• Amla in any form is a great remedy for cough and cold. Amla is considered to be an immune-modulator that boosts the immunity system and makes it strong to fight all types of infections, bacteria as well as viruses.

• Thyme tea is an effective remedy for cough. Thyme contains cough calming compounds that work on the tracheal muscles and reduce inflammation thus helping to relive cough as well as cold.
• Honey mixed in some brandy is a great cough and cold reliever. Brandy keeps the chest warm or increases the body heat thus helping to fight cold. Honey has anti-bacterial, anti-viral as well as anti-inflammatory properties that sooth a sore throat and also fights bacteria and viruses that cause cough and cold.

• Ginger has many cold and cough suppressing compounds. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties making it a perfect remedy to fight cold and cough. Ginger also clears the nasal passage of mucus making it easier for one to breath. It also has a soothing effect on a sore throat and reduces inflammation.

• Lemon has ever since been known as a useful remedy for cough and cold. The various healing properties that lemon is known for reduce inflammation and help to sooth the throat as well as the nasal passages. Lemon has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral as well as anti-bacterial properties that help to fight infections and reduce the chances of one catching a cold or a cough.
• Garlic with its aroma is a well-known remedy for cough and cold. Garlic also has many compounds that fight infections and cleanse the body of infections. With its anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, garlic helps to inhibit bacteria and virus that are the main causes of cough and cold.

• Jaggery is a lesser known remedy for cough and cold. Together with boiled water and cumin seeds, jaggery can effectively fight cold and cough. It helps to remove the phlegm or mucus from the nasal tract and helps to get relief from chest congestion. It also has a soothing effect on the throat.