Recently in the SERMO community, doctors swapped their best home remedies to help tame a cough. There might be a few items to stock up on now that cold and flu season is here.
- Cloves, just keep a few by the bedside and slowly suck on one without biting or chewing into it to avoid the very strong taste. It has a refreshing smell and is also an antiseptic that keeps the mouth clean.
- Hot tea with a few drops of lemon if it’s a scratchy throat.
- Honey to help suppress a cough. Studies found it to be as effective as dextromethorphan, a common OTC cough suppressant. Take on its own or in tea.
- Simple saline. Most cough due to postnasal drip, all of the spray must enter the throat, use frequently 5 to 10 times a day. It’s great for patients with chronic postnasal drip due to underlying sinus inflammations, colds, etc.
The flu vaccine can help keep coughs at bay. We recently ran an article from columnist, Linda M. Girgis, MD, family practitioner, debunking anti-vaccine myths.
As an M.D. or D.O., what natural home remedies do you use to fight a cold or cough? What are some out-there remedies that some of your patients have tried? If you’re a physician, please join us inside Sermo for great discussions on vaccination efficacies, novel patient treatment plans, and more.
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