Remedies for coughing.

[surfergirl]

I was wanting to know any remedies for soothing coughing.

I am not able to drive to the Drs for a while.

Its for my son I ask this.

I Will call a Radio Dr later. But in the meantime.

I have tried cough medicine and Manuka honey.

Thanks for any ideas?

[pinkpopcorn]

Vicks Vapo Rub applied liberally to the soles of his feet and covered in socks (very greasy) overnight  It really works!

[surfergirl]

Thanks Chris I have a jar Will do that.

[feather]

also, gargle with 1 cup warm salt water is good for

  cough, sore throat, etc...

[carribbeangrl01]

2 TBsp apple cider vinegar, 1 TBsp raw in pasteurized honey and mix with warm water

[surfergirl]

Thanks Angela I have those & will also use it.

[LeslieDean]

Did anything help to silence the cough where your son could rest!

[Levo]

Cough syrup. You can get it at any local drug store. It works wonders. So do those little candy looking things that come in bags marked "cough drops." lol

[Greg Dent]

Cough syrup with codeine will work better. Also depending how old he is using a Neti Pot to wash out his sinuses would help reduce the phlegm going down the back of his throat. If its just a hard cough with no phlegm then the codeine will help the most. It stops the cough reflex. Having cough drops at night is bad for his teeth but would also help reduce the cough. 

 

If you have essential oil my wife has a mix that I can post but I have to get it from her. Put it on his back and chest. It will kill a cough instantly. 

 

Put these drops in a carrier oil.

 

5 drops lemon oil

5 drops clove bud oil

5 drops eucalyptus oil

3 drops oregano oil

Use 1 ounce of pure olive oil

 

This will work very well. 

kills a cough so fast its amazing.

[dubois]

When I have a "productive" cough, I stay away from all dairy products (ie: cheeses, milks, puddings, ice creams). That seems to decrease the phlegm.

[New World Explorer]

Olive leaf extract ... Boosts immune system ! Works well if taken on regular basis

[shali]

Stay away from dairy and sugary stuff and have a shot of scotch every couple of hours. When I cough, NOTHING stops it, no amount or kind of cough syrup, then a brother told me about scotch (it's disgusting but works!).

Edited June 28, 2014 by shali

[Txjw]

Yes the Vicks on the feet works great!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MizPeg]

Have a cough? Go to the kitchen, chop coarsely a half cup of yellow,or white onion. Place in glass container, never plastic!!! Sprinkle white sugar, about a tablespoon over the chopped onion. Let set in the refrigerator until some onion juice has seeped from the pieces of onion. A small spoonful will ease any cough, isn't needed as often as the store bought kind, and is most efficient on an allergy cough.

This is only lasts for about 3 days, then must be discarded, and new made up if necessary.

[Jewelz]

This does work and is easy to mix up

http://www.pitt.edu/~cjm6/sp99cough.html

[april]

Garlic

[Allabord4Jah]

All of the above work, including the prescription kind.  I always found (like coming down with a sore throat) 1/2 glass of water, with 1 cap full of peroxide, stirred and then gargle with.  If a tiny bit escapes and you swallow it, your not going to die!   And then I put some Vicks on my throat and go to bed for rest.  Rest does wonders for your body!  To get the after taste of Peroxide out of your mouth, just clean out the glass and refill with water, and swish around in your mouth and then SPIT! 

 

Works for me, may not work for others.  Just be cautious. 

[Sunnyside]

I use salt and warm water. Works great too but needs to be done at the onset of the cough

;)

[Allabord4Jah]

Here's a couple of remedies, but not for coughing, though maybe some of them can make you cough:

 

Which insect bite remedies actually work? (and which are just a bit of a sting)

By Cara Lee for the Daily Mail

Published: 17:54 EST, 18 August 2014 | Updated: 01:09 EST, 19 August 2014

 

You're more likely than ever to be bitten by an insect this year, with the wet spring and humid summer providing the perfect conditions for insects to breed. Last month experts warned this had created a 'perfect storm' for the horsefly, midge and mosquito population to thrive. And you might think you're immune to bites, but the truth is, you're being bitten as much as the next person, it's just that you don't notice.

 

Scroll down for video

 

 

+4

'Your immune system is more likely to over-react to bites if you have other allergies' explains Sultan Dajani

 

The red, itchy, swollen lump is the body's allergic reaction to the insect's saliva from a bite. Some of us have more sensitive immune systems which treat the bite as a threat; the body then releases histamine and other inflammatory chemicals which seal the area and stop the damage spreading.

However they lead to localised swelling and redness, too.

The inflammatory chemicals also send nerve signals to receptors in the skin that detect temperature and pain, causing them to feel alternately hot and cold. This confuses the receptors, resulting in a feeling of irritation that becomes an itch.

How to treat an insect bite or sting

 

 

 

Other people's immune systems don't react at all, so they'd never know they'd been bitten.

'Your immune system is more likely to over-react to bites if you have other allergies, eczema or hay fever,' explains Sultan Dajani, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. When it comes to treatment, ideally you need a remedy that provides relief from itching and pain and tackles the inflammation, he adds.

 

Here he looks at which remedies - shop-bought and DIY - are best for taking the sting out of a bite...

 

HC45 Hycrocortisone Cream

 

HC45 Hydrocortisone Cream

£3.79 for 15g, Boots

This is from the E45 brand of skin products, and contains 1 per cent hydrocortisone acetate, an anti-inflammatory steroid.

Expert verdict: Hydrocortisone cream inhibits inflammatory chemicals, reducing the immune system locally, stopping further inflammation and allowing you to heal.

This is expensive - generic brands cost as little as £1, but work in the same way and are the same strength.

This is enough for bites and stings - any stronger would be more likely to cause side-effects such as thinning the skin, irritation and bruising. In any event, do not use on the face or in children under 12, as they have thinner skin.

Apply sparingly twice a day, just on the bite. It works quickly, usually taking one or two days to reduce the swelling and redness if you have strong reactions to bites, depending how soon it's applied.
But avoid using on open wounds or scratching as it could increase the chance of infection because it affects the immune system in that area.

8/10

Boots Pharmaceuticals Bite & Sting Relief Antihistamine Cream

 

Boots Bite and Sting Relief Anti-histamine Cream

£3.39 for 20g, Boots

AN anti-histamine cream that is applied to bites and stings.

Expert verdict: Anti-histamine creams won't work as quickly as hydrocortisone creams. But they are better than tablets or liquid anti-histamines because the cream goes directly on the bite, and massaging it into the skin promotes healing by increasing blood flow to the area which takes toxins away from the bite.  Costs about the same as other branded anti-histamine creams, but there are cheaper alternatives available.

7/10

Vie Sting and Bite  Relief Patches

£4 for a pack of 30, vie-healthcare.com

THESE small, clear patches contain chamomile, a plant thought to have anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. Each lasts a day.

Expert verdict: Patches have their place, for instance, for people trying to give up smoking - but when it comes to bites and stings, the problem is that a patch can deliver its active ingredients too slowly to be effective - or too quickly to last as long as intended. For instance, if it's hot, the pores open, which means they absorb more within a shorter space of time, so the patch won't give relief for as long.

And there's no evidence chamomile administered through the  skin can soothe bites and stings.

1/10

 

You're more likely than ever to be bitten by an insect this year

 

Boots Insect Cooling Spray

£4.59 for 50ml

THIS spray contains ethanol, a form of alcohol, and Witch Hazel, a plant thought to reduce inflammation and itching.

Expert verdicT: This is based on the principle that when moisture evaporates on the skin, it takes the heat out of the skin. The heat is caused by the inflammation - the spray contains alcohol, which evaporates quickly from the skin.

It will provide fast relief, but you need to apply regularly because the skin will soon feel hot again.  In theory spraying water on it would work, although it wouldn't evaporate as quickly. Witch Hazel is a popular remedy but there's no clinical  proof it works for bites and stings.

5/10

Piriton Syrup

£4.49 for 150ml, Boots

A liquid anti-histamine, suitable for ages one and over.

Expert verdict: Possibly best used as advanced protection, as it needs to be taken for a few days before you know you will be outside.  It can also treat symptoms, but may take a few days to work because it needs to build up in the body. Liquids containing anti-histamine tend to work quicker than anti-histamine pills because the medicine is already  dissolved. However, anti-histamine creams are better for individual bites. Good option for a reaction covering the body and infants  who can't use anything stronger.

7/10

 

Vinegar for wasp stings

 

 

Applying vinegar to wasp stings is said to provide relief (l) and Mr Men Bite and Sting Plasters ®

 

Applying vinegar to wasp stings is said to provide relief because it is acidic and wasp stings are alkaline, neutralising the sting.

Expert verdict: This won't help as the inflammation is under the skin and vinegar won't seep through to the lower levels where the reaction has happened. There would be some soothing effect due to the evaporation of liquid, but that's it. It may sting on an open wound.       

1/10

Mr Men Bite and Sting Plasters

£2.86 for a pack of 20, welbury.co.uk

These plasters contain aloe vera and cooling hydrogel.

Expert verdict: The last thing you want kids to do is scratch a bite and cause infection by allowing bacteria into the skin,  especially as children may have dirty hands.

Covering a bite with a plaster will prevent this. Applying a cooling gel or spray containing alcohol on the bite or sting and covering it with a breathable plaster so heat can escape is cheaper and will have the same effect.

Some people like aloe vera as it seems natural, gentle and safe, but there is no conclusive clinical evidence it can remove inflammatory substances.

6/10

Go Travel Bite Relief

£9, millets.co.uk

THIS 'zapper' claims to relieve bites by releasing a low current of electricity into the skin with each click. It can be clicked approximately 3,000 times.

Expert verdict: This will stop itching by temporarily paralysing skin receptors, but you have to keep using it as receptors will kick in again in 15 minutes to an hour, unlike a counter-irritant cream which blocks them.  I wouldn't recommend zappers as putting an electrical current through receptors is bound to cause some degree of damage. You won't find zappers  in pharmacies.  

3/10

Savlon Antispetic Cream

£2.18 for 30g, Boots

POPULAR in medicine cabinets, the cream contains antiseptic cetrimide and claims to soothe and prevent infection.

Expert verdict: It's not essential to use an antiseptic on a bite or sting because washing it with soap and water - and avoiding scratching - will keep it clean to prevent infection, and if it is already infected Savlon won't work. It doesn't treat the bite, but people still use it for bites and stings as Savlon is a trusted brand. It may have a slight soothing effect because it's a cream and adds moisture.                

3/10

Eurax Hydrocortisone Cream

 

BEST BUY Eurax Hydocortisone Cream

£3.49 for 15g, Boots

dual-action cream containing crotamiton which numbs skin receptors  to reduce irritation and a steroid to reduce inflammation.

Expert verdict: The crotamiton works as a 'counter irritant', irritating the skin receptors to the point where they stop working, so no longer relay the alternating temperature signals to the brain, so ending the itching straight away.

Unlike soothing treatments that evaporate, this lasts longer. The steroid takes the inflammation away and works brilliantly - it treats and soothes as effectively as the separate products that give relief and as the higher dose steroids in steroid creams. It's a small tube, but you're getting what you pay for. I always carry it with me, as I get bitten terribly.             

10/10

Boots Calamine Lotion B.P.

£1.09 for 200ml, Boots

Traditionally used to relieve itching and minor skin irritations.

Expert verdict: Twenty years ago this was the gold standard treatment for bites and stings - the liquid part evaporates, giving a cooling effect. But as it dries, it can cause itching and irritation because it absorbs a lot of moisture from the skin, so then you could need to use more.  It is chalky so can stain clothes.

4/10

Lanacane Anaesthetic Cooling Cream Medication

£5.59 for 60g, Boots

A cream containing the anaesthetic benzocaine to soothe itching and irritating by numbing skin.

Expert verdict: Works immediately, numbing the receptors for much longer than many products because it doesn't just confuse them, it stops them detecting  any messages. Don't use for more than a few days as it could desensitise skin. It's in my first aid box.

[Luezette]

You want to break up the mucus so use...

Just a little lemon juice and honey mixed in a cup, stir, and swallow. The lemon will break the mucus, the honey will help bring it up. Or,

Mullein tea. This herbal tea is excellent for colds, bronchitis, asthma, etc. You can even add the lemon juice and honey to it.