Cough and Throat home or simple OTC remedies?

My dad always had this thing about clearing his throat all the freaking time with like a shrill for as long as I can remember. It freaking drove me nuts as a teen. Now when I go to visit, he still insists on clearing his throat, and spitting with like a dry and hollow cough. Lately I noticed its getting pretty bad, and more consistant, but he insists on doing it all the time. He's never smoked, drank and plays golf regularly. Is it out of habit he does it, or is there really something wrong with the guy, and are there any home remedies that can help him out?

Thanks so much

BatMan@Alt/Med2012-03-21T20:03:13Z

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Note: Shortness of breath associated with coughing could be a sign of asthma or other serious illnesses. See your doctor to be sure that you're okay.

A Very Cherry Cure:

Wild cherry bark provides sweet relief for a scratchy throat and nagging cough. The syrup can be purchased at health food stores. Or look for herbal cough remedies containing wild cherry bark syrup. Naturopaths and others say taking a tablespoonful every few hours may help persistent coughs.

Weed Out Dry Coughs:

Is a severe cough rattling your bones? Gum weed will work to get rid of the choking and painful spasms of a dry cough-and acts as an expectorant. The prescription: 10 drops of the tincture, or one to three capsules, three times a day until symptoms improve. Look for gum weed tincture in most health food stores

Gum weed can be sipped in water or taken as an elixir blended with honey.

Horehound for Hoarse Throats:

Hoarse? Hacking? It's horehound to the rescue. This herbal expectorant thins mucus in the lungs. Make a tea from 10 to 15 drops of horehound tincture in a cup of hot water. Drink up to three cups a day during an illness. Horehound lozenges are also available in health food stores.

A Slippery Lozenge:

Slippery elm bark is the herbal prescription for taking a tickle out of your throat. Known for its smoothing qualities, the herb, taken as a tea or lozenge, coats the throat and quiets coughing. Look for the lozenges at your local health food store. Or stir one teaspoon of powdered bark into ho water for cough relief.

Molly2012-03-22T01:16:16Z

It could be a sign of infection, asthma or other medical problem so I would recommend a trip to the doctor just to make sure nothing is wrong. If it truly is just a cough, my family and I use a natural remedy for it:

1 cup warm water
2 drops lemon essential oil
1 tsp honey
Mix and drink

I buy local raw unfiltered honey and my essential oils come from here: www.doterraessentialoilsgirl.com They are 100% certified pure therapeutic grade so nothing like the oils you see for sale anywhere else. Because the oils are so pure, the doterra lemon oil is safe to take internally. Please note that other brands are not!

Hope this helps!