How To Get Prescribed Cough Syrup

Science Photo Library Getty Images

Coughs are a totally normal thing to get from time to time, but that doesn't make them any less annoying. Like when you're fine one moment and then hacking away at your desk, getting stares from your coworkers. Uh, gross. Whether you're hesitant to head to the drug store because you like to go au naturale when it comes to illness, or if you feel too sick to go outside, there are home remedies you can whip up with supplies in your own home.

Note: Not every cough is one you should handle on your own. If you've only been coughing for about a week, and the cough isn't severe, it's likely due to a cold and it's perfectly acceptable to try to calm it on your own, says Keith Roach, M.D., associate professor in clinical medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

On the other hand, if you've been coughing for more than two weeks, or you've got a severe or painful cough, it's worth talking to your doctor. Either way, here's a look at some remedies you can try to ease your symptoms.

1 Tea with honey and lemon

If your mom's been brewing you a cup of tea with honey and lemon since you were a kid, tell her science backs her up. People seem to find the drink calming for a cough, says Dr. Roach.

Honey itself may actually be a decent cough suppressant, according to the Mayo Clinic. One 2007 study of 100 children published in the Archives of Pediatric Medicine found honey to be more effective than the common cough suppressant dextromethorphan (which didn't prove to be any more effective than no treatment.)

2 Cough drops... or candy

Yep, it's a good idea to have a few cough drops on hand in case of a cold. But even candy can work in a pinch, says Dr. Roach. "[They're] helpful because they have a constant flow of stuff down the back of the throat," he explains. That helps to relieve irritation for many people.

On the other hand, a recent study in Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine raised questions about whether menthol drops could actually be making coughs last longer. The verdict is still out. While researchers figure it out for sure, follow the recommended dosage or opt for menthol-free drops when possible. Or hey, there's always hard candies! Doctor's orders.

3 Steam

You know how showers always feel amazing when you're sick? Beyond getting all of the germy sweat off your body, they help because steam is great for alleviating a cough. It's not clear exactly what the steam does — it could help loosen mucus in the nasal passages, it could just feel soothing — but folks with a cold clearly find relief. Dr. Roach recommends people stand in the shower for at least ten minutes with water as hot as they can stand.

4 Neti pots

They're not just for hippies. Neti pots, which are essentially tea pots that you use to pour saline water through your nasal cavities, can be a real butt-saver when it comes to cough. "Basically, they wash away all the nasty stuff that's there," Dr. Roach says. That could be allergens (and the histamines they trigger), viruses, bacteria, or even just the mucus-y post-nasal drip that can really trigger a cough.

It's not a one and done situation — you'll want to use the neti regularly to keep your symptoms at bay.

Make sure you use water that is boiled (and then cooled) or distilled in order to keep yourself from introducing any additional bacteria to your nasal cavities, Dr. Roach says. Recently, one woman in Seattle contracted a fatal brain eating amoeba after using tap water to do a saline rinse.

5 Salt water gargle

Most often used for sore throats, a salt water gargle can sometimes be effective for coughs, too. The salt in the water helps to reduce swelling and inflammation in the throat, which can sometimes trigger a cough. "I tell people to take a teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of warm water, stir it up real well, and gargle with that," Dr. Roach says.

6 Powerful, Natural Remedies that Work!

Discover how to feel better fast and treat over 120 common health conditions naturally! 200 natural medicine experts give you their go-to health hacks and remedies for diabetes, hot flashes, high cholesterol, insomnia, chronic pain and more! This is one of the most comprehensive and essential collections of natural solutions around.

7 Placebo anything (yes, really)

If you've got a favorite home remedy that isn't causing any harm and makes your cough feel better, by all means, try it. Even over-the-counter cough medicine, for example, seem to mostly have a placebo effect — although these cough medicines do have active ingredients that can be harmful if not taken appropriately, like NSAIDs.

Which is why, if you've got a beloved at-home treatment that works for you, like rubbing menthol or camphor on the chest or taking a shot of whiskey, go for it. "Placebo works about a third of the time, so I'm a big fan of placebo," Dr. Roach says.

Feel better soon!

Colleen Stinchcombe Freelance Health Writer Colleen is a health and travel writer in Seattle, Washington.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io