Breathing & airways
Cough
A reflex clearing of the airways, either dry and tickly or productive with phlegm.
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Get help if
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Coughing up blood · Cough lasting more than 8 weeks · Cough with unexplained weight loss · Cough with breathlessness at rest · Cough with night sweats and fever
See a clinician for a cough lasting over three weeks, any blood, or a cough with weight loss or night sweats.
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The option members rated highest for Cough. Not for you? Pick another type below.
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Raw honey
What it is
A coating demulcent that calms cough and soothes sore throat.
Why it might help
Trials show honey outperforms placebo and matches some over-the-counter cough syrups for night-time cough in children over one.
Members-only detail
Plus members see the full protocol, amounts, sourcing, evidence notes and cautions for this approach.
See membership optionsOr choose from 28 ways to treat this
Tap a picture below to see those options. Everything is listed best-first, based on what members said actually worked.
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Your personalised pathway
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Reading the community data…
Evidence-based approaches
Lifestyle, mind-body, natural remedies, digital health and alternative medicine with real trial support.
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Structured hydration
What it is
Deliberate fluid and electrolyte intake rather than drinking only when thirsty.
Why it might help
Dehydration is a well-established trigger for headache, fatigue, constipation, dizziness and cramps.
Members-only detail
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Stopping smoking or vaping
What it is
Removing the single biggest reversible driver of cough, reflux, healing delay and vascular symptoms.
Why it might help
The best-evidenced single health intervention available for a huge range of symptoms.
Members-only detail
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Clinical review and testing
What it is
A proper medical work-up to rule out causes that self-care cannot address.
Why it might help
Essential where symptoms are new, persistent, worsening, or accompanied by any red flag.
Members-only detail
Plus members see the full protocol, amounts, sourcing, evidence notes and cautions for this approach.
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Massage and myofascial release
What it is
Hands-on manual therapy for tissue tension and referred symptoms.
Members-only detail
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Circadian reset: light, meals and wake time
What it is
Re-timing light, food and sleep so your body clock stops working against you.
Members-only detail
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Environment and ergonomics audit
What it is
Change the surroundings that keep triggering the symptom.
Members-only detail
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Functional nutrition workup and targeted repletion
What it is
Test first, then correct the specific deficiency instead of guessing at supplements.
Members-only detail
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Whole-person holistic plan
What it is
Stacking several small changes at once instead of testing one at a time.
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Mindfulness and body-scan practice
What it is
Attention training that lowers symptom intensity and reactivity.
Members-only detail
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Saline rinses and airway hydration
What it is
Simple natural inputs - light, food, minerals, movement - with real trial support.
Members-only detail
Plus members see the full protocol, amounts, sourcing, evidence notes and cautions for this approach.
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Over-the-counter decongestants, saline and lozenges
What it is
Pharmacy options you can buy today for fast, short-term relief while slower approaches build.
Members-only detail
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Physiotherapy-led rehab plan
What it is
A graded, assessed exercise programme rather than generic stretches.
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Clinical procedures and specialist options
What it is
What conventional medicine can offer when self-managed approaches have not worked.
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CBT-based self-help programme
What it is
Talking-therapy techniques that reduce symptom impact even when the cause stays.
Members-only detail
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Warm steam and chest warmth therapy
What it is
Heat, cold and water therapies that shift blood flow, pain signalling and recovery.
Members-only detail
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See membership optionsCommunity-proven solutions
Ranked by what members reported actually worked, weighted by how many people tried it.
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Raw honey
What it is
A coating demulcent that calms cough and soothes sore throat.
Why it might help
Trials show honey outperforms placebo and matches some over-the-counter cough syrups for night-time cough in children over one.
Members-only detail
Plus members see the full protocol, amounts, sourcing, evidence notes and cautions for this approach.
See membership optionsNo reports yet — be the first
Steam inhalation
What it is
Warm moist air that loosens mucus and soothes irritated airways.
Why it might help
Symptomatic relief is well reported, though it does not shorten infections.
Members-only detail
Plus members see the full protocol, amounts, sourcing, evidence notes and cautions for this approach.
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Room humidification
What it is
Adding moisture to dry indoor air that irritates airways, skin and eyes.
Why it might help
Helpful for dry cough, nosebleeds, dry eyes and eczema in dry or heated environments.
Members-only detail
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Saline nasal rinse
What it is
Flushing the nasal passages to clear irritants, allergens and thick mucus.
Why it might help
Good evidence for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and post-nasal drip.
Members-only detail
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Head-of-bed elevation
What it is
Using gravity overnight to keep stomach contents where they belong.
Why it might help
Consistently recommended in reflux guidelines and supported by trial data.
Members-only detail
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Turmeric milk and steam with eucalyptus
What it is
Ayurveda matches routine, food and oils to your constitution.
Members-only detail
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Slow breathing and vagal toning
What it is
Breathing patterns that calm the nervous system and change pain and stress signalling.
Members-only detail
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Thyme, ivy leaf or marshmallow root syrup
What it is
Plant medicines with active compounds that target the mechanism behind the symptom.
Members-only detail
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Honey, steam inhalation and hydration
What it is
Free kitchen-and-bathroom fixes people reach for first.
Members-only detail
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See membership optionsExperimental & emerging
Early, mixed or anecdotal only. Clearly labelled so you can judge for yourself.
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Humidifier and breathing trainer device
What it is
Digital health and hardware that measures or stimulates rather than medicates.
Members-only detail
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Reiki, sound therapy or aromatherapy
What it is
Sensory and energy practices. Evidence is thin, but many people report real relief.
Members-only detail
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Homeopathic Bryonia or Pulsatilla
What it is
Highly diluted preparations chosen by symptom picture. Evidence is weak - included for completeness and clearly labelled.
Members-only detail
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TCM lung-support acupuncture and formula
What it is
Traditional Chinese Medicine treats the pattern behind the symptom, not just the symptom.
Members-only detail
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Related entries
Sore throat
Pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat, usually worse when swallowing.
Nasal congestion
A blocked or stuffy nose that makes breathing through the nose difficult.
Shortness of breath
Feeling unable to get enough air, or having to work harder to breathe.
Sinus pressure and pain
Facial pressure, blocked nose and headache concentrated around the cheeks, eyes or forehead.
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