While there are still plenty of commercials about taking an Over-the-Counter drug when you have a cough, the reality is most of them don’t work.
In 2006, the American College of Chest Physicians said that there is no convincing evidence for the effectiveness of the vast majority of OTC cough medications. In 2012, a Cochrane review of 29 clinical trials involving nearly 5,000 people reached the same conclusion.
So…what to do? And the answer is for you to look to the natural side. I’m going to tell you about a number of natural options you can select from.
1. Saline nasal spray. Even though you have a cough, the spray tends to alleviate the stuffiness that can trigger constant hacking with the cough. Good versions to try are Ocean Nasal Spray, Ayr Saline Nasal Mist and Little Remedies Saline Spray/Drops.
2. Lemon in warm water with manukah honey for a tea. The lemon calms the cough while cutting mucus. The manukah honey has anti-microbial properties which fights the cold virus.
It’s best to have it before bedtime and in the morning.
3. Dark chocolate (hurrah!). The theobromine in dark chocolate is a natural cough suppressant. You want it to contain at least 65% cocoa and for you to eat one-half to one ounce 2 to 3 times a day (Yummy!).
4. Beet and/or pineapple juice. Both open bronchial passages and helps you to expel excess mucus. You want to drink four ounces of either beet or pineapple juice two to three times a day.
5. Elderberry syrup. It acts as an expectorant and has anti-viral and anti-flu properties. Follow the package directions and take it up to 3 times per day. You can dilute it in water if the taste is too strong for you.
So…next time you feel a cough coming on, reach for the natural way. You’ll be glad you did!
(Reported Live Young to Age 100)
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