{"id":441416,"date":"2025-12-12T02:18:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T02:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/441416\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T02:18:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T02:18:16","slug":"8-best-natural-remedies-for-a-cough-according-to-doctors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/441416\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Best Natural Remedies For A Cough, According To Doctors"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re entering peak cold and flu season<\/a>, so even if you haven\u2019t yet experienced the first sniffle, sore throat<\/a>, and cough of winter, now\u2019s a good time to become acquainted with the best natural cough remedies.<\/p>\n

Coughs are notoriously difficult to get rid of, and unfortunately, no magic pill can make them disappear overnight. That\u2019s why most doctors will suggest you try natural home remedies for your cough first, says Cindy Uypitching, MD, a family medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente Canyon Country Medical Offices in Santa Clarita, California.<\/p>\n

A cough could come about for a number of reasons, but some common culprits are bacterial and viral illnesses (think: pneumonia, influenza, or a cold), allergies<\/a>, a runny nose, heartburn<\/a>, and asthma, Dr. Uypitching says. However, coughing isn\u2019t just from issues in your lungs. Having a sore, irritated, and inflamed throat could also cause coughing, Dr. Uypitching says. <\/p>\n

No matter the cause, we\u2019ve compiled a few of the easiest and most effective doctor-approved natural remedies (and a few over-the-counter treatments) that can help nip that pesky cough in the bud.<\/p>\n

Meet the experts: <\/strong>Cindy Uypitching<\/strong><\/a>, MD, a family medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente Canyon Country Medical Offices in Santa Clarita, California. Evelyn Figueroa<\/strong><\/a>, a professor and director of Community Engagement in the department of Family and Community Medicine at University of Illinois College of Medicine. Lidya Bal<\/strong><\/a>, MD, a family medicine physician with Stamford Health. May Loo<\/strong><\/a>, MD, integrative medicine specialist, emeritus clinical professor at Stanford University Medical Center, and founder of Dr. Loo\u2019s Natural Remedies. Roxann Engle<\/strong><\/a>, DO, a UCI Health physician specializing in family medicine.<\/p>\n

1. Honey<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most effective at-home remedies for a cough is also one of the simplest: a spoonful of honey<\/a>, Dr. Uypitching says. Honey has shown to be just as effective in suppressing coughs, particularly those caused by respiratory tract infections, as some over-the-counter cough medicines, according to a 2023 review published in Springer Nature Link<\/a>. <\/p>\n

For some extra oomph, try sprinkling a pinch of cinnamon on top of the honey, says Lidya Bal, MD, a family medicine physician with Stamford Health. Cinnamon could help tackle the root source of congestion by loosening the mucus in your throat to help open up your airways, according to a 2024 study published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Tea<\/strong><\/p>\n

The key to managing any cough is to make sure you are drinking lots of fluids, says May Loo, MD, integrative medicine specialist, emeritus clinical professor at Stanford University Medical Center, and founder of Dr. Loo\u2019s Natural Remedies. \u201cLungs need to be well hydrated in order to minimize formation of mucus,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

In addition to helping you stay hydrated<\/a>, sipping on tea or other warm fluids can act as a cough suppressant and may help alleviate a sore throat, says Dr. Bal. <\/p>\n

3. Neti Pot<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Neti pot is a small kettle that can be filled with a warm water solution to help flush out the sinuses. The salt water lowers the swelling in the mucous membranes of your nose and helps pull it out. In turn, this may provide short-term relief of symptoms, says Roxann Engle, DO, a UCI Health physician specializing in family medicine. Think clearing out those sinuses won\u2019t help your cough? Think again. While it may sound a little strange, it can be an effective remedy for coughs caused by sinusitis or sinus congestion, Dr. Uypitching says. <\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

To try it out, gently pour the solution into one nostril, allowing it to travel through your sinus cavities and out your other nostril. Just make sure to use purified water so you don\u2019t introduce other germs into your sinuses.<\/p>\n

4. Ginger<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEating pungent spices, including ginger, cinnamon, and anise, can help strengthen your respiratory system,\u201d Dr. Loo says. Grated raw ginger, in particular, can be brewed into an herbal tea to relieve a sore throat, open your airways, and help you breathe easier, says Evelyn Figueroa, MD, a professor and director of community engagement in the department of family and community medicine at University of Illinois College of Medicine. <\/p>\n

As for what the science says: it\u2019s possible that warm ginger may provide relief for the symptoms of upper respiratory infections (including a cough and sore throat), though more large-scale clinical studies are necessary, researchers concluded in a 2025 study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. Salt Water Gargle<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the best ways to soothe a sore throat and bring relief to a dry cough (which is often a reaction to a sore, scratchy throat) is to mix warm water with salt<\/a> and gargle it for 30 seconds. Repeat this twice a day\u2014once in the morning when you wake up, and once before bed time, Dr. Bal says.<\/p>\n

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Marshmallow root has been used for centuries to help deal with cold symptoms, including coughs, according to a 2020 study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology<\/a>. The marshmallow herb contains a compound called mucilage, which coats the throat and soothes irritation. <\/p>\n

Marshmallow root can be taken as a tea or supplement, but if you go the supplement route, make sure to do your research and choose a reputable brand, says Dr. Figueroa. (You can look for bottles that are third-party tested, for example.) And before trying any herbal remedy or supplement, be sure to have a conversation with your doctor first, she says. You\u2019re going to want to make sure it won\u2019t interact with any medications you\u2019re on.<\/p>\n

7. Chicken Soup<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chicken soup is a time-honored cold remedy in many cultures\u2014and for good reason, Dr. Uypitching says. Chicken soup combines several beneficial cough remedies (warm fluids, steam, and herbs) and may have cough-fighting properties of its own, according to a small 2025 study published in Nutrients<\/a>. <\/p>\n

If anything, chicken soup is great for hydrating the body and getting some nutrients, especially if a virus has stifled your appetite, Dr. Bal says.<\/p>\n

8. Steam Shower<\/strong><\/p>\n

From an anecdotal standpoint, many people find breathing in the steam from a hot shower to be very soothing, Dr. Engle says. The research on steam as a cough remedy is a bit mixed, though. While some studies show positive results, others have concluded there is no benefit. Regardless, a steam shower is considered to be a safe, natural remedy, so it\u2019s worth a shot. To enhance the potential benefits, you can combine it with menthol, Dr. Figueroa says.
<\/p>\n

Cough just won\u2019t go away?<\/strong> If your cough doesn\u2019t clear up after three to four weeks, or if you\u2019re experiencing symptoms like fever, chest pain, or shortness of breath it\u2019s time to head back into the doctor\u2019s office, Dr. Bal says. A persistent cough could indicate a more serious infection, acid reflux, allergies, or asthma\u2014all of which should be treated in-office. <\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Caroline is a lifestyle writer based in New York who covers beauty, wellness and culture. She regularly writes for USA TODAY’s Health and Wellness section, and contributed to a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation\u00a0at The Washington Post.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We\u2019re entering peak cold and flu season, so even if you haven\u2019t yet experienced the first sniffle, sore…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":441417,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[2874,203643,1201,3181,210,2875,1060,203642,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-441416","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-content-type-how-to-service","9":"tag-contentid-d04018e9-cac3-4fa9-95f9-325c3fbaa2e4","10":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","11":"tag-hasproduct-true","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-locale-us","14":"tag-medication","15":"tag-shorttitle-8-natural-remedies-for-a-cough-that-wont-go-away","16":"tag-united-states","17":"tag-unitedstates","18":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115704203485426949","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/441417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=441416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=441416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}