What's your best "secret" remedy for a cough?

[Schmeck]

My oldest DD had a chronic cough in the winter. It would start after she had a cold, and just hang around for months. OTC cough medicine never helped, and albuterol would make her so hyper that sleeping was the last thing she'd be able to do!

Honey worked for a few hours each night, but the best thing were those throat sprays that numbed the tickle that made her cough. She'd still cough a little bit at night, but only when there was something to cough about, not just a tickle in her throat.

 

[Donna]

My oldest DD had a chronic cough in the winter. It would start after she had a cold, and just hang around for months. OTC cough medicine never helped, and albuterol would make her so hyper that sleeping was the last thing she'd be able to do!

Honey worked for a few hours each night, but the best thing were those throat sprays that numbed the tickle that made her cough. She'd still cough a little bit at night, but only when there was something to cough about, not just a tickle in her throat.

This will sound crazy, and i was extremely skepticle, but I had a cough from May to August. I had a chest Xray and it was clear. My doctor then told me to two take weeks of prilosec even though i did not have acid reflux or heartburn. That was the first thing that actually worked on me. I was at the point, i couldn't even drink a glass of milk or it'd make me up all night coughing. I haven't coughed since taking the prilosec!

 

[kim929]

I have a son who is asmatic, on top of very bad allergies. His allergist said not to rub vicks on him, it irritates them and makes it worse. When his cough gets bad, he gets a neb treatment or gets a prescription for a cough med with codene so he can sleep.

 

[Beehn]

My mom and grandma swear by a cold wet cloth on the chest. It really does work great...but I always hated it as a kid. I still do it now and my coughing stops almost instantly. I have a hard time getting my daughter to keep it on, but when she does it really works. It's just not fun to lay around with a cold cloth on you!

 

[JohnsonsRUs]

Another thing to try is nasal saline spray, but I am going to try the Vicks on the feet the next time also.

 

[yellowtink]

I have a routine for myself. I have asthma and algeries. My alergies are caused my pollen and I supposidly hade exercise enduced asthma, I think the doctor lies. I cough at everything.
Anyway, I take my inhaler, get a dose of kodene medicine(helps me stay asleep), take my pulmicort, tylenol or advil, and I get extra pillows to keep my head propped up. It works wonders but your neck hurts in the morning due to the pillows.

 

[Karlzmom]

My DD(5) gets a terrible cough whenever she gets a cold. She's gotten it since she was an infant. Dr's have said she might be slightly asthmatic...but maybe not.

Anyway, she has it now. It's keeping everyone up at night...including her. What can I do? I already have a humidifier going in her room and we rubbed Vicks on her chest and back. She has a prescription cough medicine that doesn't work so I quit making her take it. Last night a healthy dose of kids Benedryl stopped the sniffles and cough long enough for her to get SOME sleep, but there has to be a better way!

What do you do for your family?

A friend got me hooked on warm lemonade with honey when I have a cold. The warm feels good, the vitamin C is a bonus, keeps your fluids up and the honey quiets the cough...an all win situation. That little concoction has gotten me through a number of "must do" times when I was really feeling poorly. Just warm the lemonade to tea-drinking temp and add honey to taste...

 

[Donna]

A friend got me hooked on warm lemonade with honey when I have a cold. The warm feels good, the vitamin C is a bonus, keeps your fluids up and the honey quiets the cough...an all win situation. That little concoction has gotten me through a number of "must do" times when I was really feeling poorly. Just warm the lemonade to tea-drinking temp and add honey to taste...

oh my that sounds yummy! i will have to try that!

 

[nessz79]

Honey is still the best natural/home remedy for coughs. I think that it tends to coat the throat, so the post nasal dripping doesn't 'tickle' and trigger the coughing spasms as easily. Take by the spoonful, or mix it into hot tea. The tea or other warm beverages can also help reduce the irritation & keep sinus passages open. I have a lot of sinus issues, and a mild form of asthma... and find that the honey, hot tea, and sleeping propped up in a sitting position, all help to get me through when I have an annoying, lingering cough following a cold.

Yup! Honey works very well, surprisingly! Better than Tylenol Cold with Cough, I've found.

Edited to add: be careful about giving honey to very young children. I think you're not supposed to give honey under the age of 1, but it could be the age of 2. Allergy thing.

 

[goofyisinphilly]

For those of you who have commented about coughing for an extended amount of time, read up on reflex coughing. It is where coughing becomes a habit. You think you need to cough but really is just a reflex from having been sick and having coughed then.

My cousin had this for almost a year. The doctors tested for everything and it came back clear. Eventually they started a reward chart where he got stickers for every increasing amount of time he didn't cough.

This isn't to say there may not be allergies or asthma involved but don't just assume that you need to cough for weeks after a cold or flu.

 

[wildfan1473]

A friend got me hooked on warm lemonade with honey when I have a cold. The warm feels good, the vitamin C is a bonus, keeps your fluids up and the honey quiets the cough...an all win situation. That little concoction has gotten me through a number of "must do" times when I was really feeling poorly. Just warm the lemonade to tea-drinking temp and add honey to taste...

DH started me on something similar, heating up water then adding 2 teaspoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. It really helps quiet the cough. The only sympton DS6 has when he gets sick is a croupy cough and he likes his special "chai".

The last time he was in to see the ENT, he prescribed Ponaris to help open him up. This is a nasal drop, an oil with eucalyptus in it, I think. DS couldn't handle it, but I was going through a nasty bout of hay fever and tried it - I LOVED it! It is wonderful for the itchy throat and ears. It is available over the counter.

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

For the older crowd a hot toddie or a hot whiskey works wonders...lemon, sugar, whiskey and boiling water, only at bedtime though because you will go right to sleep!!
I have also used a eucalyptus spray, you can spay it on a tissue and just inhale it as necessary...it works great.

 

[tmarquez]

OP here...thanks for all the advice!

I just wanted to say we tried the Vicks on the feet thing...and it really worked pretty good. She did have 1 coughing spell that night so I went in and gave her water and redid the feet...she ended up sleeping later than usual.

The cold has mostly passed and so has most of the cough. Now it seems it's my turn.

 

[Denine]

I just told DH to give DD a spoonful of honey. I am desperate!

We were at an indoor water park Monday and Tuesday and by Thursday DD was coughing. Yesterday and today are the worst. It is practically non-stop. I am giving her cough medicine (plain) and Tylenol with codeine. I put vicks on her feet last night and at least she slept until 6:30 this morning before waking us up crying and coughing.

Poor thing has never had a cough like this. It almost sounds croupy. She has no fever and feels f ine except for the cough.

She has a doctor appointment on the 29th, but I may have to take her before then if she doesn't improve.

 

[HenDuck]

Robitussin or the generic version are great for coughs. If you have phlegm too, buy the one with "DM" on the name, again, you can buy generic.

It works for everyone in my household, from DS (8) to DH (50). We are all so amazed that an OTC drug actually works.

When DS had residual wheezing and coughing after a cold and cough, the doctor prescribed Asthmanex (or later, Advair), to be taken during the course of the cold, to prevent the residual wheezing and coughing. Luckily, he hasn't had a bad cold/cough in years, so we haven't needed the inhaled steroids...knock on wood...

 

[Denine]

I wish something would make DD's cough go away. She was at the dr on Monday and he gave her atb's for bronchitis. The cough is as bad as it was. I called this morning. Hopefully he will prescribe something else. Her 6th bday is today and her party is on Saturday.

The honey did nothing, but the vicks works great at night.

 

[bookgirl]

Okay my mom used to give me a teaspoon of whiskey mixed with a teaspoon of honey but I'm thinking that child services might get you for that one.


Other than that, warm water with honey and lemon will soothe her throat, but not treat the underlying cough, but it does help.

PS Robitussen DM is my go to cough meds for myself (allergy based asthma cough, prone to broncitis) it works a charm.