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Suggest Home Remedies For Severe Cough

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Posted on Fri, 9 Dec 2016
Question: I have a horrible cough. What can I take for it? Contac and robitussin isnt working
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Answered by Dr. Shuba hariprasad (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Home remedies. If any other medical issues, see doctor asap

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your query.
I'm Dr. Shuba Hariprasad and will be answering your query today.

Would you clarify a few things for me, please?
*do you smoke?
*do you have underlying lung condition? Any other medical issues or medications?
*any recent respiratory tract infections?
*do you have any allergies?
*how long have you had the cough? Is it associated with sputum /phlegm? If so, what colour is it?
*do you have any fever, running nose, sneezing, chest pain, breathing difficulty?
*when is the cough worst? At night? When you lay down? After physical activity? While outdoors?
*do you use air conditioning at nights?

I recommend :
-stop the medications if it isn't helping. Some can make it worse if not taken for the right kind of cough.

-steam inhalationd with tincture benzoin (10drops) or Vicks vapor rub (a pea sized portion) thrice a day

-make a concoction of ginger-1 tablespoon(fresh or dry), fennel seeds- 1 Tablespoon , a pinch of turmeric (if available) and pepper corns(3 corns) in 2 cups of water.
Boil till it halves in volume (1 cup). Store in thermos flash and take 2 tablespoon full with a little honey every 3 hours.
-apply Vicks over chest, back (between shoulder blades), neck and under feet(soles). Cover with a warm sweater, socks.

-cover your ears, nose a mouth loosely with a thin cloth to prevent breathing it dry air (worsens cough). This is if you use air-conditioning olnor air is dry or too cold.

-Have 3cloves of garlic (lightly sautéed in a little oil/butter) twice a day. Helps loosen secretions and fights off infection.

-sip on warm water throughout the day. Hydration is ket

These measures should help in 3 days for most coughs.
If however, it doesn't get better, or you develop a fever, please see your doctor right away.
If you have any other medical issues like diabetes or heart diseases, see a doctor as soon as possible now itself.

Hope you recover soon. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Wish you good health

Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Shuba hariprasad

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 1087 Questions

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Suggest Home Remedies For Severe Cough

Brief Answer: Home remedies. If any other medical issues, see doctor asap Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for your query. I'm Dr. Shuba Hariprasad and will be answering your query today. Would you clarify a few things for me, please? *do you smoke? *do you have underlying lung condition? Any other medical issues or medications? *any recent respiratory tract infections? *do you have any allergies? *how long have you had the cough? Is it associated with sputum /phlegm? If so, what colour is it? *do you have any fever, running nose, sneezing, chest pain, breathing difficulty? *when is the cough worst? At night? When you lay down? After physical activity? While outdoors? *do you use air conditioning at nights? I recommend : -stop the medications if it isn't helping. Some can make it worse if not taken for the right kind of cough. -steam inhalationd with tincture benzoin (10drops) or Vicks vapor rub (a pea sized portion) thrice a day -make a concoction of ginger-1 tablespoon(fresh or dry), fennel seeds- 1 Tablespoon , a pinch of turmeric (if available) and pepper corns(3 corns) in 2 cups of water. Boil till it halves in volume (1 cup). Store in thermos flash and take 2 tablespoon full with a little honey every 3 hours. -apply Vicks over chest, back (between shoulder blades), neck and under feet(soles). Cover with a warm sweater, socks. -cover your ears, nose a mouth loosely with a thin cloth to prevent breathing it dry air (worsens cough). This is if you use air-conditioning olnor air is dry or too cold. -Have 3cloves of garlic (lightly sautéed in a little oil/butter) twice a day. Helps loosen secretions and fights off infection. -sip on warm water throughout the day. Hydration is ket These measures should help in 3 days for most coughs. If however, it doesn't get better, or you develop a fever, please see your doctor right away. If you have any other medical issues like diabetes or heart diseases, see a doctor as soon as possible now itself. Hope you recover soon. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with. Wish you good health Regards, Dr. Shuba Hariprasad