A cough is actually a good thing. It’s your body’s way of clearing your airways in response to an irritant. But a cough can also keep you up all night and make you generally miserable — and sometimes it feels like it’s never going to go away.
If you’re struggling to figure out how to get rid of a cough, here’s the good news: Most coughs, if they’re not serious, clear up on their own without treatment. In the meantime, there are several natural and home remedies for cough that have proven benefits, says Stephen Russell, MD, a physician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham department of medicine and an expert in upper respiratory infections.
Some coughs can be cured by eliminating the source, such as avoiding smoke and other irritants, as well as allergens like mold or pet dander. If that doesn’t work, try Dr. Russell’s favorite home remedies for cough, many of which you probably already have in your kitchen or medicine cabinet.
1. Have Some Honey — It’s a Natural Cough Suppressant
If you enjoy the taste of honey, you’re in luck. “Hot liquids with honey can soothe and treat coughs for short-term periods,” says Russell. Use plain hot water or your favorite hot tea, and add honey and lemon to taste (the lemon is just for flavor).
Honey right from the spoon is another low-cost cough home remedy with proven benefits. It’s anti-inflammatory by nature, so it works to reduce the swelling in your throat and airways that causes coughing. Honey also helps thin out mucus, a contributing factor to a wet cough.
One review of 10 studies found that honey may be more effective than cough medication or a placebo in relieving symptoms and improving sleep in children with acute cough. However, this evidence is low quality, and more research is needed.
But never give honey to children under 12 months, Russell says. In rare cases, it can cause infant botulism.
2. Suck on Lozenges or Hard Candy to Help Stimulate Saliva
Lozenges and hard candy help stimulate saliva or increase secretions in the mouth, which can dampen any cough you may have, explains Russell. This works especially well as a dry cough remedy, he adds.
There is not a lot of scientific evidence to back up herbal lozenges like those containing zinc, vitamin C, and echinacea, notes Russell, but they may have modest benefits — even if it’s just a placebo effect — and none of them, if used moderately, is harmful.
3. Drink Fluids for Hydration and to Boost Your Immune System
Drinking fluids of all kinds is another good home remedy for a cough.
“Many people who have a cough tend to get dehydrated,” Russell explains.
In addition to hydration, fluids also help your immune system fight off the source of the infection or virus that may be causing your cough, and soothe the sore throat that is common with a cough, he adds.
4. Gargling May Make Your Cough Go Away Faster
Have some table salt at home? Go ahead and add some to warm water and gargle with it. In a small study, simply gargling water was found to relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (aka the common cold) and even prevent the infections from happening in the first place.
In another study including participants with severe COVID-19, those who regularly gargled warm salt water (and nasal rinsed) experienced significantly lower hospitalization rates than those who did not gargle or nasal rinse. For gargling, dissolve about a 1/2 teaspoon of salt per cup of warm water.
5. Use a Humidifier or Take a Steamy Shower to Ease Congestion
If you’ve ever noticed your cough or congestion easing up as you enjoy a hot bath or shower, then you know the value of humidity for easing cold symptoms. You can create this simple cough remedy at home by taking a steamy shower or by using a cool mist humidifier.
Humidifiers add moisture to the air, and cool-mist humidifiers may help ease coughing and congestion due to a cold. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s directions to keep your humidifier clean and prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.
6. Cut Up an Onion to Relieve Your Cough (or So People Say)
Many people start to cry the minute they begin chopping up an onion. But while there isn’t any science behind it, some people swear the strong vapor an onion emits when it’s cut helps relieve a cough, says Russell.
Before you go to bed, cut an onion into quarters and leave it on a plate on your bedside table or at the foot of the bed. Although using an onion for a cough may sound like nothing more than an old wives’ tale, Russell says it’s quite popular in Spain and France.
7. Use Over-the-Counter Cough Medicine if Nothing Else Works
If you’ve tried other cough remedies and you’re contemplating the stash of cough and cold products in your medicine cabinet, read the labels first.
Researchers have found that products containing dextromethorphan may be slightly better than placebo in helping to reduce cough, says Russell. Products that contain pseudoephedrine can help stop postnasal drip caused by a virus or allergies and may also reduce cough, he adds.
But these medications have their limitations: Dextromethorphan is not safe for children under age 5, says Russell, and pseudoephedrine tends to increase blood pressure and heart rate.
Nighttime cough medications like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) typically contain an antihistamine that makes you feel sleepy. Diphenhydramine may have side effects for people over age 65, such as reduced stability in the middle of the night, cognitive impairment or confusion, and urinary retention. Russell says you should try natural remedies before turning to cough medicines, and then proceed with caution.
The Takeaway
Most coughs clear on their own or after removing the source of the irritant or allergen, like mold or pet dander.
Natural home remedies, like a spoonful of honey or a saltwater gargle, can alleviate cold symptoms like coughing and may even shorten a cold’s duration. Lozenges and hard candy can also help stimulate saliva, which may be helpful for dry coughs.
If you’ve exhausted these natural remedies and your cough persists, talk to your healthcare provider.
Additional reporting by Andria Park Huynh.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Cough: Definition. Mayo Clinic. December 11, 2024.
Satomura K et al. Prevention of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections by Gargling: A Randomized Trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. November 29, 2005.
Espinoza SR et al. Double-Blind Randomised Trial of Saline Solution for Gargling and Nasal Rinsing in Sars-Cov-2 Infection. Journal of Global Health. December 30, 2024.
Warm-Mist Versus Cool-Mist Humidifier: Which Is Better for a Cold? Mayo Clinic. May 11, 2023.
Meeves SG et al. Objective and Self-Reported Evidence of Dextromethorphan Antitussive Efficacy in Children, Aged 6–11 Years, With Acute Cough Due to the Common Cold. Pediatric Pulmonology. May 26, 2023.
Allison Buttarazzi, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and lifestyle medicine, and is a certified health and well-being coach. In her primary care practice, Dr. Buttarazzi focuses on lifestyle medicine to help her patients improve their health and longevity, and her passion is helping patients prevent and reverse chronic diseases (like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes) by improving their lifestyle habits.
She is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine and completed a residency at Maine Medical Center. Diagnosed with celiac disease during medical school, she realized the power of improving one's health through diet and lifestyle habits, which she later incorporated into her practice.
Madeline Vann, MPH, LPC, is a freelance health and medical writer located in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has been writing for over 15 years and can present complicated health topics at any reading level. Her writing has appeared in HealthDay, the Huffington Post, Costco Connection, the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Huntsville Times, and numerous academic publications.
She received her bachelor's degree from Trinity University, and has a master of public health degree from Tulane University. Her areas of interest include diet, fitness, chronic and infectious diseases, oral health, biotechnology, cancer, positive psychology, caregiving, end-of-life issues, and the intersection between environmental health and individual health.
Outside of writing, Vann is a licensed professional counselor and specializes in treating military and first responders coping with grief, loss, trauma, and addiction/recovery. She is a trauma specialist at the Farley Center, where she provides workshops on trauma, grief, and distress tolerance coping skills. She regularly practices yoga, loves to cook, and can’t decide between a Mediterranean style diet and an Asian-fusion approach.
