22 home-remedies for cough and throat infections

Did you know that your kitchen is a storehouse of spices that can cure a bundle of throat infections? Find out how!

The next time you catch a cold or struggle with a throat infection, instead of running to the nearest pharmacist, get to your kitchen.

Some of the commonly used spices like honey, pepper, garlic and ginger can help you a great deal to relieve your cough naturally.

Try these super effective home remedies and you'll realise why your grandma was right all along.

After reading this, don't forget to share them with your loved ones too:

1. Pepper

Finely ground six peppercorns and mix it with a glass of warm water. Add six pieces of Batasha type of sugar candy. Drink it consistently for a few nights to get relief from cold.

2. Milk

3. Garlic

Add three cloves garlic and boil it in milk. Drink this every night for relief from asthma and cough.

To reduce the severity of asthmatic attacks, peel 1 pod of garlic, macerate and boil in 120 ml of pure malt-vinegar.

Cool, strain and add equal amount of honey. Store in a sterile bottle.

Take 1 to 2 tsps of this syrup with a decoction of Fenugreek every evening and before bedtime.

4. Holy basil

Make a decoction of the tulsi leaves boiled in 1/2 litre of water, till only half the water remains.

Add honey and ginger and drink it when you have a tough cold.

A decoction of tulsi leaves with cloves and salt also gives immediate relief. 

5. Clove

Chew a clove with a crystal of salt; it relieves throat irritation and cough.

Chewing a burnt clove is good for those suffering from a congested throat and recurrent cough.

6. Honey

Take 2 to 4 tbsp of 1-year old honey every day.

Gargling with hot water along with 1 tsp honey helps relieve you from irritant coughs.

7. Sour lime

The juice of 1 lime in a glass of warm water along with 1 teaspoon of honey is ideal for dry hacking coughs.

You must sip this while it's warm.

8. Oranges

If you have difficulty ejecting your cough, prepare a mixture of orange juice with a pinch of salt and 1 tbsp honey.

This also protects against secondary infection.

9. Bitter Gourd

Take 1 tsp bitter gourd root paste with 1 tsp honey or juice of holy basil and have it every night for a month to relieve chronic respiratory disorders like asthma, bronchitis, pharyngitis and rhinitis.

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10. Ginger

In 1 tsp of honey add fresh ginger juice and consume 3 to 4 times daily, to relieve cough.

A mixture of 1 tsp fresh ginger juice with 1 cup Fenugreek decoction and honey, acts as a good expectorant.

11. Onion

Mix equal amounts of onion juice and honey. Consume 3 to 4 tsps of this mixture daily.

It liquefies phlegm and prevents further congestion.

12. Spinach

Prepare an infusion of fresh spinach leaves and 2 tsp fenugreek seeds with a pinch of ammonium chloride and honey.

30 ml of this mixture should be taken three times a day. It is an effective expectorant tonic.

13. Coconut

Mix coconut milk with 1 tbsp poppy seeds and 1 tbsp honey and consume it every night before bed as a remedy for dry cough caused due to throat irritation or smoking.

14. Turmeric

Boil slowly over a fire ½ tsp turmeric powder mixed in 30ml milk; this is very effective in cough and throat irritations.

For colds in infants or young children, give 30ml of this decoction, sweetened with honey.

Alternately, you may add 1 tsp turmeric powder to boiling milk and add 1/4 tsp Bishop's weed  or ajwain seeds.

Cool this mixture and feed them this thrice a day.

15. Sage

Take a handful of sage leaves, pour 1/2 litre of boiling water.

When slightly cooled, add a little vinegar and honey.

Drink 1 teaspoon of this mixture or use it to gargle whenever you have a throat infection!

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16. Sweet apple

In case of dry hacking coughs eat about 250 gms of sweet apples daily, for a week

17. Sunflower

Swallow 1 to 2 tsp powder of dry sunflower seeds or a decoction made from crushed seeds to get relief from cough.

18. Betel leaves

Soak betel leaves in mustard oil and warm them on a dry fry-pan .

Apply them on the chest to relieve coughs and congested breathing.

19. Cardamom

Gargling with an infusion of cardamom and cinnamon cures sore throat, pharyngitis and hoarseness.

For best results, gargle daily or twice a day.

20. Fenugreek

Fenugreek (seeds) tea helps shorten periods of fever during respiratory infections.

Drink up to four cups of this tea a day, and lessen as the condition improves.

Add a few drops of lemon to make it palatable.

21. Liquorice

If you have a sore throat or a throat inflammation, suck or chew a smalll piece of liquorice for relief.

22. Fennel

Juice of fennel leaves can be given to those suffering from asthma and bronchitis.

Fennel seeds with figs help fight coughs and other lung problems.