Natural Cough Relief

Why Natural Cough Relief?

Have you struggled with unproductive coughs that eventually irritate your chest and throat because you can’t bring any phlegm up? Typically, the first thing most folks will reach for is a cough syrup to help soothe the cough. Still, there are plenty of reasons and occasions why taking cough syrup to help relieve a cough is not ideal, such as pregnancy or simply wanting to avoid troubling side effects.

One of my absolute favorite natural ways to relieve a persistent and irritating cough is to make a home remedy my grandmother used to recommend our mother make for us growing up when we had come down with a cough. Ginger-Milk Tea aids in more productive coughs (expectorant) and is recommended to be taken right before bed. The warm milk can be comforting and help promote more restful sleep.

Natural remedies have been handed down to each generation in my family. This one has truly stood the test of time because it typically works well! It may seem unusual due to one of the main ingredients (butter), but bear with me. It’s mildly flavored and one of the remedies I look forward to in my home, unlike sticky and typically very strong-flavored alcohol cough syrups.

Here is the recipe below!

Ginger Milk Tea Recipe:

• A ½ inch of freshly sliced and scored ginger root (or 1 teaspoon of ground ginger)
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 teaspoon of butter
• Sugar or Honey (or your favorite sweetener) to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine the milk, sugar, and ginger in a saucepan.
2. Over medium heat, cook until the milk becomes foamy, about 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and strain the mixture into a mug (if you prefer)
4. Add your choice of sweetener to taste.
5. Add 1 teaspoon of butter and stir, sipping slowly.

This tea is best before bed, so you are less likely to follow up with water as it may make you thirsty. The benefit of this tea before bed is that the ginger will help soothe the coughing overnight. At the same time, the milk will help thicken the phlegm in your airway passages and help you expel it more effectively by morning.