Cough is a form of defensive mechanism of the body. It happens when a foreign object gets inside the respiratory system. For example, when you eat and some of the food you swallowed goes into the tube leading to your lungs, your body knows that this is dangerous. As a reflex mechanism, it will cause you to cough.

As with other diseases, cough can happen as either chronic or acute. These two largely depends on how long the cough has been present. If it has been going for less than 6 months, it is classified as acute. If the cough has been present for 6 months or more, it is classified as chronic.

There are a lot of ways in which cough can be remedied. Some of the heavily used, and still is popular, are home remedies. Below is a list of some of the chronic cough home remedies that are popularly used.

Honey and Pepper
The reason why this is one of the popular chronic cough home remedies is because it is effective. The honey and pepper mixture helps in loosening the mucus making it easier to expel. Because of its effect, this home remedy is very useful especially when one experiences dry cough, great difficulty in expelling phlegm and pressure on or in the abdomen, such as in coughing, is prohibited.

To make the natural herbal remedy for cough, a teaspoon of pure honey is mixed with a pinch of white or black pepper. This should be taken 2-3 times a day to help cure the cough.

Ginger Ale
This is by far the most heavily used home remedies for cough irregardless of whether it is chronic or not. It helps soothe the throat and subsides the coughing. It is recommended that this remedy be taken 3 to 4 times a day, but many say that drinking the ale more than 3-4 times is better. To make ginger ale, just follow these easy steps:

1. Mix 1,5 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger root, a cup of sure, lemon, and water
   
2. Boil for 5 minutes or estimate until the juices of the ginger is squeezed out.
   
3. Strain.
4. Drink the ale either warm or cold (according to preference).

Ginger
Ginger alone can be also be used to remedy cough. It produces the same effects as those by ginger ale and still as effective. This can be prepared in four very easy steps:

1. Slice a piece of ginger. Make sure it is in a size easy enough to put in the mouth but not as easy to swallow.
   
2. Wash the sliced piece.
   
3. Peel it.
   
4. Put it in the mouth.

The sliced piece of ginger should never be chewed or swallowed. It is just placed in the mouth much like the way any hard piece of candy is taken except for the swallowing and chewing part. Because of its effects, this is also one of the popularly used chronic cough home remedies.

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