Making a tea out of thyme is apparently a popular home remedy for coughs in Europe. The herb is even used in Ricola’s cough drops. Thyme supposedly relaxes your throat muscles to prevent coughing fits, and it has anti-inflammatory properties as well to reduce soreness and pain.

Use a diffuser to infuse the air with menthol or eucalyptus oils or take in a good whiff of a cup of hot mint tea. The fresh smell is known to clear airways and can also stop those itchy tingles from developing into hacking coughs.

Drinking lots of water helps to soothe your throat and keeps your body working well so you can fight pesky coughs. Water could also help to loosen any mucus so you don’t feel as congested.

If you wake up feeling terrible and congested, try sleeping with an extra pillow propped under your head. It’ll help drain away the yucky stuff as you sleep so you wake up feeling more rested and refreshed.

Ginger has a warming effect that can be very soothing for your throat. It also has a mild painkiller effect that can be great for calming an irritated throat.

You may not have much of an appetite when you’re down with a cough. Warm soups will keep you full and keep up your nutrition levels while giving your throat some welcome relief. Go for something light as dairy sometimes causes mucus to get thicker.

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You may have caught that cough from someone else, or it may be caused by your own home. Cleaning your space regularly will get rid of allergens such as dust and mould that could cause itchiness and give you a scratchy throat.

Rich, sticky, sweet and… good for your throat? If your persistent cough is due to a dry, scratchy throat, consider sucking on a square of plain chocolate. Known for its demulcent properties, chocolate acts as a soothing “blanket” to coat your throat, much like syrup. It sounds wack, but there could be some truth to this, according to a UK study.

READ MORE: Your Guide To The Best Chocolate Cakes In Singapore

Besides helping to loosen thick mucus, salt water can also kill bacteria and allergens, and even relieve a sore throat. The trick is to use warm water – stir in half a teaspoon of salt, gargle, then spit out.

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