How to treat dry cough: medicamentous and folk treatment

What is cough
Coughing is a very common attack among humans and animals. It manifests itself as a protective reaction of our body to various external stimuli. The natural purpose of the cough is to extract the pathological contents of the respiratory tract. In fact, the process itself is akin to an exhalation, only abrupt and rapid, in which the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm contract. During this process, the lungs are squeezed, and the air in them, along with harmful substances, is directed upward along the bronchial tree.

Causes of a cough
There are a great many causes of its occurrence, such as inflammatory processes in the lungs, larynx and trachea. This also includes various mechanical, chemical and thermal stimuli. In order to cure this symptom, it is very important to know what it is caused by. There is a division of cough into two types: productive and unproductive.
The first type
In the first case, we mean a moist cough . Its main feature is the presence of sputum in the lungs. Such a cough can be manifested by attacks, especially if the sputum is dense and viscous, which significantly complicates the cough. The causes include mechanical irritations of the receptors on the respiratory mucosa. A strong moist cough occurs with inflammation and swelling of the lungs, acute and chronic bronchitis. In addition, he appears at the so-called "smoker's bronchitis".
The second type
Unproductive cough is otherwise called dry . It usually occurs in the early stages of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the trachea, bronchi and larynx, with irritation of the lung membrane. There are two types of dry cough:
- Paroxysmal. He is also a "barking" cough, which is characterized by exhaustion and an inability to clear his throat. Diseases in which such a symptom is observed, these are the early stages of acute bronchitis, inflammation or pulmonary infarction. Also, paroxysmal cough is observed at the onset of bronchial asthma, pulmonary embolism and dry pleurisy. The inhalation of chemicals and the trapping of foreign bodies in the respiratory tract can also cause attacks of dry cough.
"Unconfident." This is the least disturbing symptom that appears with pulmonary fibrosis, certain types of heart failure, compression of the trachea or bronchi, the appearance of a tumor, and polyps in the bronchi themselves.

How to treat dry cough in adults
Both species are very dangerous and, in the absence of proper therapy, are capable of causing complications, for example pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum. It is very important to know how to treat dry cough. It requires a completely different approach and, accordingly, preparations, rather than its wet variety. After all, there is no sputum in this case, which means that there is nothing to dilute in the lungs. It requires drugs that can suppress the cough reflex. Such drugs differ in the type of effect on two types: central and peripheral. In the first case, the result is based on the effect of the medication on the medulla oblongata, namely, on the suppression of the human respiratory center. These are Codeine, Glaucine, Ethylmorphine, Dextromethorphan and other combination preparations based on them. In the second case, we mean the suppression of the cough reflex by direct action on the receptors of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. This includes drugs based on acetylaminonitropropoxybenzene.
Often doctors prescribe to their patients drugs with the following commercial names:
"Bronchicum" syrup, tablets from dry cough "Falimint", "Broncholitin", "Kodelak", "Panathus forte", "Neo-Kodion", "Ferveks" syrups from dry cough, "Stoptussin", tablets for cough "Terpinkod" .

How to treat dry cough folk remedies
In addition to drug treatment, there are also folk recipes. Often they are no less effective, especially since most of them can be combined with the adoption of prescribed medicines. This will help get rid of the disease as soon as possible. Many simply do not like to go to doctors and drink extra pills. How to treat dry cough, if you do not want to load the body with "chemistry"?
There are several folk ways:
- Inhalation. Here is a solution of honey in warm water (40 degrees) in a ratio of 1 to 5, infusion of sage or baking soda (1-2 spoons for a glass of water). The latter is suitable even for asthmatics, because it does not cause an allergic reaction.
- Rinse. A good effect is the infusion of sage, eucalyptus and marigold, which need to be mixed in equal parts. The mixture is poured with boiling water for ten minutes, after which it remains usable for another three hours. You can also use a solution of soda in the same ratio as for inhalation. Gargle is recommended as often as possible during the day, it does not allow pathogens to accumulate on the mucous membrane.
- Reception of herbal infusions. An effective means is a meadow clover brewed with boiling water (2 tablespoons per teapot). To improve the taste of the drink, it can be mixed with honey. There is a more complex folk prescription: plantain leaves, rose hips and chamomile flowers, mixed in equal parts, it is necessary to hold for twenty minutes in boiling water. Then the resulting mixture is filtered and drunk several times a day. It is enough to use half a cup of this infusion in one single step to feel the healing effect.

There are many other recipes, but for all their diversity, it should be remembered that folk remedies have a slower effect compared to traditional treatment. It is impossible to get rid of a cough in one day. It usually takes about two weeks with enhanced therapy, but without the necessary treatment, coughing can take a long time and lead to dangerous consequences.