A cough is a reflex that your body uses to help clear your airways. Although coughing is common when you are sick, a cough can also be caused by other things, like allergies, asthma, and acid reflux.
Having a cough, especially when you are feeling under the weather, can be downright annoying. Plus, it can deplete you of any energy you have, leaving you feeling even weaker.
But there are steps you can take to soothe your airways and calm your cough. One of the best and simplest home remedies for easing a cough is to drink certain types of hot herbal teas. So, which types of teas should you try?
In this article, we will take a closer look at the seven varieties of tea that, according to research, may work best for soothing your cough.
Benefits Of Tea For A Cough
Drinking tea when you have a cough may provide several benefits that can help you feel better. This includes the ability to:
- Soothe a sore throat. The warmth of a cup of tea can help to soothe a throat that feels raw or sore from coughing.
- Loosen up mucus. Warm fluids like tea can help to loosen or break up mucus. This can make it easier to cough up mucus.
- Provide other health benefits. The natural components in tea may have their own specific health benefits. These can include things like anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial properties.
Based on scientific evidence, the following seven teas may be especially helpful for easing your cough and the symptoms that go along with it.
Honey Tea
You may have heard of using honey as a natural way to alleviate the symptoms of a cold. Along with helping to soothe a sore throat, honey can be equally effective at relieving the symptoms of a cough.
Studies in children have found honey to be very effective at relieving night-time coughs and improving sleep. In fact, a 2007 study even found that honey was more effective than dextromethorphan, a cough medication, in relieving cough symptoms.
Licorice Root Tea
Licorice root has been long been used in traditional medicine for a variety of conditions, including coughs, infections, and digestive problems.
Studies Source have indicated that licorice may be effective at stopping the growth of several species of bacteria, fungi, and even some viruses. It also appears to haveTrusted Source both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Ginger Tea
Not only is ginger a popular ingredient in many foods and drinks, but it has a wide variety of health benefits as well. It is often used as a remedy for several different health conditions, including asthma, nausea, and arthritis.
A wealth of evidence has shown that ginger has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This may help to soothe an irritated throat and airways caused by coughing.
Another reason that ginger may be helpful for a cough is because it has components that can cause relaxation of airway muscles.
Green Tea
Green tea has long been consumed as a beverage. However, it is also used for a wide variety of medicinal purposes, ranging from weight loss and headaches to improving alertness.
One study investigated gargling with green tea following a surgical procedure that required intubation. It was found that although green tea did not help with hoarseness, it did reduce coughing.
