How can I stop dry cough at night fast?

A spoon of honey, sips of warm water, a short steam and raising your head on a pillow give quick relief for many people.

Why does dry cough get worse at night?

Lying down lets mucus drip into the throat, room air is drier, and reflux can worsen when you are flat.

Is honey better than cough syrup for night cough?

Studies suggest honey may ease night cough in children over one and adults as well as some over-the-counter syrups.

Cold & cough10 min

Home remedies for dry cough at night: honey, steam and a raised pillow

A tickly, dry cough that seems to start the moment your head touches the pillow is exhausting. These home remedies for dry cough at night — a spoon of honey in warm water, a short steam before bed, keeping the room air moist and sleeping with the head slightly raised — calm the throat so you and your family can rest.

Home remedies for dry cough at night: why it gets worse

When you lie down, mucus from the nose can drip down the back of the throat and irritate it. The air at night is often drier (especially with fans, ACs or heaters), and acid reflux can also trigger coughing. A dry cough commonly lingers for two to three weeks after a cold.

Ayurveda views a dry, tickly cough as vata-type cough (vataja kasa) and uses moist, soothing, warming remedies — honey, ghee, mulethi, warm milk with turmeric — especially in the evening.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon raw honey
A cup of warm (not hot) water or herbal tea
A bowl of hot water for steam
An extra pillow

How to prepare

Stir honey into warm water or tulsi tea just before drinking.

How to use

Take 1 teaspoon of honey (alone or in warm water) 30 minutes before bed.
Take a 5-minute steam with a towel over your head before sleeping.
Keep a bowl of water in the room or use a humidifier; point fans away from your face.
Sleep with your head and shoulders slightly raised; keep warm water by the bed for sips.

Helpful habits

Finish dinner early to avoid reflux-triggered cough.
Avoid cold drinks, ice cream and fried snacks in the evening.
Suck on a clove or a piece of mulethi (adults) when the tickle starts.

Precautions

Never give honey to babies under one year. For children, use half a teaspoon and see a paediatrician for cough lasting more than a week or with fast breathing.
Pregnant women can use honey and steam; check before herbal cough syrups. People with diabetes should count honey in their sugar intake.
Keep steam at a safe distance to avoid burns, and supervise children.
See a doctor for cough lasting more than 3 weeks, wheezing, breathlessness, blood in phlegm, fever, weight loss, or if you take BP medicines (ACE inhibitors can cause dry cough — don't stop them yourself).

Frequently asked questions

How can I stop dry cough at night fast?: A spoon of honey, sips of warm water, a short steam and raising your head on a pillow give quick relief for many people.
Why does dry cough get worse at night?: Lying down lets mucus drip into the throat, room air is drier, and reflux can worsen when you are flat.
Is honey better than cough syrup for night cough?: Studies suggest honey may ease night cough in children over one and adults as well as some over-the-counter syrups.