What is the most effective home remedy for a chronic cough in an otherwise healthy adult?

Home Remedies for Chronic Cough

For an otherwise healthy adult with chronic cough, honey and lemon is the recommended first-line home remedy, providing safe, inexpensive symptomatic relief without side effects. 1, 2, 3

Critical First Step: Identify and Eliminate Irritants

The single most effective intervention for chronic cough is complete avoidance of respiratory irritants—this is more important than any medication or remedy. 1

• Smoking cessation is paramount: 94-100% of patients experience resolution or marked decrease in chronic cough after quitting, with approximately half improving within 1 month. 1
• Remove exposure to secondhand smoke, workplace irritants, and environmental pollutants. 1
• Without eliminating the underlying irritant, no home remedy will provide lasting benefit. 1

Evidence-Based Home Remedies

Honey and Lemon (First-Line)

• Honey and lemon mixtures provide meaningful symptom relief through central modulation of the cough reflex without adverse effects. 2, 3
• This is recommended by the British Thoracic Society as the initial approach before considering any medications. 1
• Patients consistently report benefit from honey-based remedies, making this the most practical starting point. 3

Supportive Measures

• Adequate hydration and humidified air may provide additional symptomatic benefit. 2
• Paracetamol (acetaminophen) can be used for any residual discomfort or associated symptoms. 2

Over-the-Counter Options (If Home Remedies Insufficient)

Dextromethorphan

• Dextromethorphan is the most effective OTC cough suppressant available. 1, 2
• Standard OTC doses provide modest benefit; higher doses (60 mg) may be more effective but require medical supervision. 2, 3

Menthol Products

• Menthol lozenges or vapor provide additional symptomatic relief by working through cold and menthol-sensitive receptors to suppress cough. 1, 2
• These can be used alongside other treatments for additive benefit. 2

What Does NOT Work

Avoid these ineffective interventions that waste time and money:

• Expectorants have no proven benefit for chronic cough. 1
• Postural drainage and chest physiotherapy are not recommended. 1
• Prophylactic antibiotics provide no benefit for chronic cough. 1

Red Flags Requiring Immediate Medical Evaluation

You must see a doctor if any of these occur:

• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) 1, 2
• Breathlessness or worsening shortness of breath 1, 2
• Prolonged fever or feeling systemically unwell 1, 2
• Symptoms persist for more than 3 weeks despite home remedies 1, 2, 3
• You have underlying chronic conditions (COPD, heart disease, diabetes, asthma) 1
• Recent hospitalization 1

Important Caveats

Chronic cough lasting beyond 8 weeks requires professional evaluation to identify treatable underlying causes such as upper airway cough syndrome, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or medication side effects (ACE inhibitors). 4, 5, 6

The evidence provided focuses heavily on chronic bronchitis from smoking or chronic cough with identifiable causes. 1 For truly "otherwise healthy" adults without these conditions, the approach emphasizes symptom management with home remedies while monitoring for concerning features that warrant further investigation. 2, 3

Post-viral cough (following respiratory infections) typically resolves within 2-3 weeks without specific treatment, and honey/lemon remains the appropriate first-line approach during this period. 2