Home Remedies for Toothache

Information provided by Kevin Pederson - Published: 2009-02-20


Most toothaches occur at night when you are trying to sleep because of the increased blood pressure towards your head. Try keeping your head elevated to decrease some of the pressure.


Remedies for Toothache Pain

If you find your toothache still pains you after trying either Ibuprofen, Aleve, Codeine, Tylenol, Aspirin, or Acetaminophen, then give these home remedies a try to stop toothache pain.

1 - First try a pressure point remedy by rubbing an ice cube into the V-shaped area where the bones of the thumb and forefinger meet on one hand for 5 to 7 minutes.

2 - A clove of garlic with a little of rock salt, placed on the affected tooth will relieve the pain. Alternatively you can chew a garlic clove daily in the morning.

3 - A good home remedy for toothache is to Place 2 - 3 drops of vanilla extract on the tooth that is aching this will provide instant pain relief.

4 - Apply a dab of “Vicks vapor rub” on the side of the face where the pain is. Place a paper towel on top and lay down in bed. The heat from the vicks absorbs into the skin and brings you toothache relief.

5 - Cut off a piece of potato and put on your sore tooth for about 15 minutes.

6 - A hot tea bag pressed to the tooth will provide almost instant relief.

7 - Halls Cough Drops has a small amount of anestetic in it. Pop two in your mouth and let them disolve.

8 - The juice of wheat grass is an excellent mouthwash for dental decay and cures toothache. It draws out toxins from the gums and checks bacterial growth.

9 - Asafoetida grounded in lemon juice cures dental ache. Heat the solution, soak a cotton swab and place it in the cavity of the tooth to relieve pain quickly.

10 - Paste of the bark of bay berry mixed with vinegar applied on the affected area will alleviate the pain and strengthen the gums.

11 - Clove oil or oil of cloves is a mild anesthetic and applied to the cavity of the decayed tooth provides instant pain relief from the toothache. Oil of oregano on the paining tooth is also nearly as effective.

12 - Try gargling some Listerine antiseptic.

13 - Chewing leaves of the guava tree (if you have a backyard guava tree) will provide some relief from tooth pain.

14 - A pinch of pepper and ¼ tsp of common salt prevents dental cavities, foul breath, bleeding from the gums, painful gums, and toothaches.

15 - A pinch of pepper powder mixed with clove oil can be put on the cavities to alleviate the toothache.

16 - Put an ice cube on the aching tooth or on the nearest cheek for 15-20 minutes at least 3 or 4 times a day.

17 - Squeezing cotton wool soaked in brandy against the affected tooth helps numb the pain or try taking a swig of whiskey and holding it over the painful tooth.

18 - If the pain in the mouth is caused by trapped food, take a mouthful of water and rinse it vigorously. A thorough rinse may dislodge the food particles.

19 - Floss your teeth gently to remove tiny bits of hard food. Be soft on your gums as they are likely to be sore.

20 - Gargle a glassful of water mixed with 1 tsp of salt after each meal and at bedtime.

21 - Chewing raw onion for approx 3 minutes is sufficient to kill all the germs in the mouth and ensure protection from host of tooth disorders.

22 - Lime prevents decay, loosening of the teeth, dental cavities, toothache and bleeding of the gums.

A toothache is a soreness or pain within or around a tooth, signifying irritation, and swelling, reddening and possible infection with a possibility of tooth or gum abscess. Toothache is a very common problem that occurs to anyone without any warning.

Sharp, throbbing, shooting or constant pain is the first sign of upcoming toothache. If not treated the tooth will eventually be extracted.

The severity of a toothache can range from chronic, mild to sharp, and excruciating. The pain may worsen or get aggravated by eating and drinking hot and cold foods and beverage. The weather can also worsen the situation.

The main cause is tooth decay that results from diet comprising of excessive consumption of soft drinks, candy, pastries, refined carbohydrates and sugar in all forms. Bacteria in the mouth break down sugar in acids that combine with calcium in the enamel and also cause decay or erosion.

Proper cleaning of the teeth is essential to prevent tooth decay and consequent toothaches. Brushing in circular motion ensures that all the dental surfaces are cleaned. For gentle stimulation to improve blood circulation in the gums, brush the gums lightly.

Dental decay, destruction of the bone around the teeth and infection of the gums can be prevented with an appropriate diet. Restrict sugar intake, ensure that your diet includes plenty of raw veggies, whole wheat bread and whole foods.


Citation: Disabled World News (2009-02-20) - Home remedies for a toothache to ease the sharp throbbing shooting or constant pain that keeps you awake at night: http://www.disabled-world.com/medical/alternative/homeremedies/toothache-remedy.php#ixzz2DC0CRLs4

The Best Home Remedies for Eczema

From: www.naturalnews.com

Eczema is an irritating skin disease that ranges from chronic, itchy minor rashes to raging acute eczema flare-ups with open, oozing sores that require bandaging.


Eczema is often attributed to some sort of food or airborne allergy and can be minimized by determining the allergens and adjusting accordingly. Most eczema sufferers resort to using pharmaceuticals pills, creams, or steroids.

Of course, what many tend to ignore is that improving life style choices of diet and exercise does more to curb skin problems than topical or oral pharmaceuticals.

Eliminating chemically sprayed veggies and fruits, processed foods (even so-called "natural" cereals), junk foods, sugars, and artificial sweeteners goes a long way toward curing chronic, adverse health of any type, including skin conditions.

Minimizing stress and adding moderate exercise has also proven to be effective. Sweat can act as a trigger or exacerbate eczema. So avoid sweating whenever possible or shower immediately afterward sweating.

Increase your omega-3 intake with avocadoes, fresh salmon or tuna from unpolluted waters, eggs, organic raw nuts, and organic hemp, chia or flax seeds. Two tablespoons or more of flax seeds need to be ground with a coffee grinder just before consuming them.

While you're working on a permanent cure, there are natural, homemade applications that help relieve symptoms without the dangerous side effects of prescribed or over the counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals.

Ten home remedies for symptomatic relief

(1) Organic cold pressed virgin coconut oil is better than those pricey creams that a dermatologist offers.

(2) Apply vitamin E oil, especially natural D-alpha tocopherol with mixed natural tocopherols. You can break open gel capsules for the oils. Avoiding synthetic vitamin E oil is tricky. So read labels closely, research, or ask a reliable sales person. Avoid vitamin E acetate.

(3) Make a strong brew of chamomile tea from fresh dried herbs by steeping for 15 minutes minimally. Apply to the eczema area with gauze for 20 minutes. This can be done more than once daily to relieve acute symptoms.

(4) Aloe vera gel, especially when mixed with vitamin E oil, is a useful symptom remedy. Gels from freshly cut aloe vera leaves are optimum.

(5) Ten drops of gentian tincture before each meal helps the digestive system eliminate toxins that can irritate the skin. Take as often as needed.

(6) Cut thin slices of a whole organic cucumber and allow the slices to soak for at least two hours. Filter the liquid and apply it with a clean cloth or gauze where needed.

(7) Place 50 grams of ground horsetail plant or herbs in a quart or liter of water and boil for 10 minutes, allow some cooling, then filter the liquid into your bath water for a 10 minute bath.

(8) Flower power: Make a tea of calendula, a marigold flower, with five drops of lavender essential oil added, then apply to the affected area twice a day until the irritation is relieved.

(9) Skin three organic carrots and boil them till they're soft. Mash until you get a smooth paste, and then apply to affected areas for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water when finished.

(10) Mix a tablespoon of medical or food grade ground juniper berry (3), with a tablespoon of sage and a tablespoon of thyme into a cup of boiling water, cover and let stand for five or more minutes. Drink the whole cup after your main meal.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036292_eczema_home_remedies_skin_disease.html#ixzz2DBwHvLuX

Home Remedies For Diarrhea

www.homemademedicine.com

When stools are loose and without consistency is called diarrhea, is an effective way for the body to get rid of an undesirable substance, this may be followed with symptoms like vomiting, stomach pain, thirst, fever, nausea dehydration. In children this may be dangerous as in people 65 and older. 

Diarrhea and vomiting cause the loss of fluids which need to be replaced. In some cases diarrhea is the secondary symptom of another problem, but in most instances is cause by food poisoning; bacteria in food or water; food allergies; or a virus. Also, excess alcohol consumption; laxatives; caffeine are known to cause diarrhea. Some medicines can trigger diarrhea, such as antibiotics (tetracycline, clyndamycin, penicillin). If you find, blood or mucus in the stool is a sign of infection or parasites.

Some well known drugs will stop diarrhea but they interfere with the natural process of cleansing that the body desperately needs. With natural remedies we may help ourselves feel better without stopping the immune system from doing its job.

Your body uses diarrhea to flush bacteria or viruses you might have ingested by eating bad food.  Therefore, it might be a bad idea to stop diarrhea too quickly.  However, diarrhea does not work sometimes and if goes on for several days, dehydration and loss of important nutrients may occur which can be dangerous specially in children. That's why we recommend the use of home remedies for diarrhea instead of over the counter drugs, using herbs you can stop diarrhea and target the cause of it at the same time. 


Home Remedies for Diarrhea we recommend:

Home Remedies for diarrhea #1: Take homeopathic Arsenicum if you feel you have eaten spoiled food. This will help control the discharge without interfere with the elimination of toxins.

Home Remedies for diarrhea #2: If you feel weak and have a burning pain in mid-section take cuprum arsenicosum . 
Take 4 charcoal tablets every hour this will absorb the toxins from the body.

Home Remedies for diarrhea #3: Drink blackberry tea for mild diarrhea.

Home Remedies for diarrhea #4: Take cayenne in capsules.

Home Remedies for diarrhea #5:Wild oregano oil is an antibacterial, anti parasitic and anti viral.

Home Remedies for diarrhea #6: Ginger tea can stop cramps and pain. Or take Ginger in capsules. 

Home Remedies for diarrhea #7: Drink plenty of fluids, but stay away from caffeine and alcohol. Drinks like ginger ale or carrot juice is good for making the stools less watery.

Home Remedies for diarrhea #8: For decades charcoal has been used for absorbing and expelling intestinal gas. Charcoal may also be used for relieving a variety of ailments, such as indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, high cholesterol and intestinal bloating. Charcoal's ability to absorb and prevent substances from dislodging or reabsorbing into the body make it a popular choice for detoxifying the liver and kidneys.

Home Remedies for diarrhea #9: Boil brown rice and water for 45 minutes eat the rice (it contains Vitamin B) and drink the water.

How to Lighten Dark Underarms

From: www.dailyglow.com

The skin under your arms may turn dark for a variety of reasons. Find out how to lighten the skin in this delicate area.


Underarm and armpit skin can darken for many reasons. Excessive sweat is the most common reason, since our armpits are constantly perspiring and cooling our body whether we feel sweaty or not. The sweat never completely dries out in the folds of armpit skin, and it secretes uric acid, which will darken anything over time. Age, hormonal changes, pregnancy, excessive shaving, poor-quality deodorants, and genetics may also be the culprit. Dark underarms may cause embarrassment and even cause you to avoid wearing tank tops, sleeveless dresses, or bathing suits. But you can lighten dark underarms in various ways. Here are some tips and tricks that will help to lighten them.

• Avoid using hair dissolving/removal agents and depilatory creams and you may notice your dark armpits getting lighter. These products contain strong acids and other substances to remove hair, but they can also darken the skin beneath.
• Shaving may also cause your armpits to darken, so shaving less often may help lighten the skin. Since shaving removes the top layer of skin along with the hair, the newly exposed layer can darken instantly when exposed to sweat. Try waxing underarms instead, or use a sugar-waxing procedure to remove unwanted hair. It’s best to have your underarms waxed by a professional, as your skin is very sensitive in that area and can burn or bleed.
• Tight blouses rub against armpit skin and can make matters worse. Wear loose, breathable clothes instead.
• Poor hygiene can cause dirt and oil to accumulate in your armpits, which may darken them. Wash well with soap and rinse with warm water.
• Mix lime juice, milk powder, and honey into a paste and apply to underarm skin. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. After several weeks of this treatment, your skin will become lighter.
• Stir a paste of white vinegar and baking soda and apply to your underarms twice a day. Baking soda, a natural cleanser, combined with vinegar, a natural stain remover, can help lighten the skin.
• Spread lime juice on the area twice daily. Use real lime, not reconstituted juice.
• Alternatively, rub lemons under your arms after you shower.
• Apply apple cider vinegar to dark underarm skin and do not rinse off. Repeat daily for a few weeks and your underarm skin may get lighter.
• Consider using a skin lightening cream on occasion to lighten skin under arms. Be sure to purchase a safe one. Talk to your pharmacist, doctor, or aesthetician for guidance.

Dark underarms can be lightened with a few hygiene changes and some common ingredients from your kitchen. All it takes is a little time and patience to lighten dark underarms.

This material is written by members and has not been medically reviewed. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The use of this information is solely at your own risk.

Natural home remedies: Fatigue

From: www.besthealthmag.ca

People complain of feeling drained and exhausted so often that doctors call fatigue the number one health complaint. Find out how to feel better, naturally.


Feeling bone-tired, as so many people do, is disheartening, demoralizing, and frustrating. You want to race like a thoroughbred, but you feel stuck in the mud. Half the time you’re struggling just to stay awake. Life is passing by, and you can’t keep up with it. Willpower doesn’t work, so what does?

Sometimes your best bet is a total energy makeover—changes in the way you eat, drink, and exercise. Certain supplements can also help. Or maybe your solution is simple: sleep, beautiful sleep. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to have your doctor test your blood for hypothyroidism, anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, and other conditions that can cause fatigue.

Often fatigue is accompanied by lack of motivation and low sex drive. A long list of medical conditions and lifestyle issues can contribute to fatigue, including lack of sleep, inadequate nutrition, flu, obesity, allergies, infections, anemia, alcohol abuse, hypothyroidism, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and AIDS.


Quick cures for fatigue
• For a quick pick-me-up, put two drops of peppermint oil on a tissue or handkerchief, hold it to your nose, and breathe deeply. If you have more time, try adding two drops of the oil to bathwater along with four drops of rosemary oil for an invigorating soak.

• Lie on your back and use pillows to prop your feet at a level higher than your head or, better yet, lie on an adjustable exercise bench or other surface that slants. In India, yogis fight fatigue through such practices by encouraging blood flow to the brain, which is thought to boost alertness.

Eat to beat fatigue
• Eat a good breakfast along with several small meals and healthy snacks throughout the day. That’s better than eating two or three large meals. Try to limit the size of your meals to 300 calories. This will keep your blood sugar levels steady and help prevent your energy from plunging.

• Go easy on foods high in refined carbohydrates—that is, lots of white sugar or white flour. These foods make your blood sugar rise rapidly, then crash quickly. French bread, spaghetti, and cake are not your best choices. You’ll end up feeling weak and tired.

• Eat more high-fibre foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain cereals, whole-wheat bread, and vegetables. These help stabilize blood sugar.

• Cut down on your intake of fatty foods. To improve the function of your adrenal glands—which influence the way you metabolize nutrients—you should have no more than 10 percent saturated fat in your diet.

• Cut an unpeeled potato into slices and let the pieces soak in water overnight. In the morning, drink the juice for a natural tonic brimming with potassium. Your body needs this mineral for transmitting nerve impulses and making muscles move, along with other vital functions, and some natural healers say deficiencies are common in people with fatigue.

• Eating spinach once a day is an old-time remedy for relieving fatigue, and we all know what it did for Popeye. You can’t go wrong. Spinach contains potassium as well as many B vitamins, all of which are important to energy metabolism.


Supplement your energy stores
• Ginseng is an age-old cure for that run-down feeling. Look for a supplement containing at least 4 percent ginsenosides, and take two 100-milligram capsules daily. This herbal remedy stimulates your nervous system and will help to protect your body from the ravages of stress. (Off-limits if you have high blood pressure.)

• Try taking 400 milligrams of magnesium every day. This mineral is involved in hundreds of chemical reactions in the body. It plays a role in changing protein, fat, and carbohydrates into energy sources. A mild deficiency may be the cause of fatigue in some people.

• Ginkgo improves blood flow to the brain, which can make you feel more alert and less fatigued. Take 15 drops of ginkgo tincture in the mornings.

• Consider supplements of the amino acid carnitine (available for sale on the Internet). This amino acid helps fuel the activity of mitochondria, cell components that produce energy. It’s found in some foods, but most people don’t get enough in their diets. Follow the dosage directions on the label.

• Coenzyme Q10, a substance produced by the body, also helps your mitochondria make energy. Take 30 milligrams twice a day, at breakfast and lunch. (It’s best absorbed when taken with food.) Coenzyme Q10 is also found in certain foods, including nuts and oils.

• Take a daily multivitamin to ensure you’re getting the minimum amount of nutrients your body needs. Deficiencies can pull the plug on your energy stores.



Fatigue-fighting beverages
• Sip water all day long, at least eight glasses. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty, because your “thirst alarm” isn’t always accurate. Even a little dehydration can make you fatigued.

• Keep caffeinated drinks to a minimum. The caffeine in coffee and some sodas can give you a short-term burst of energy, but following that “rush,” there’s typically a “crash.”

• Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol depresses your central nervous system. It also reduces your blood sugar level.

How exercise can help
• Most days of the week, try to get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise. Not only does exercise help you shed pounds (carrying extra weight is tiring), it gives you an energy boost. People who exercise regularly also tend to sleep better.

• Consider taking up yoga or tai chi. These ancient forms of exercise allow you to get physical activity, but they also include relaxation components that can be reinvigorating.

• Slip in 10 minutes of low-level exercise when you feel sluggish. Usually people with fatigue have a decreased supply of adenosine diphosphate (ADP), an intracellular “messenger” involved in energy metabolism. Translation: There’s not enough “spark” in the engine. Almost any kind of activity will help—singing, taking deep breaths, walking, or stretching.


Get enough sleep
• Always get up at the same time, even on weekends. Your body will eventually get the hang of the steady sleep schedule.

• Go to bed earlier than normal if you need extra sleep. As long as you’re getting up at the same time every morning, it’s fine to have a flexible getting-to-bed schedule.

• Keep naps short. If you snooze more than half an hour during the day, your body will want more, and you’ll be groggy when you wake up.

When to see your doctor
If you feel tired “all the time” even after you’ve taken steps to treat fatigue, make an appointment to see your doctor. If you have fatigue along with sudden onset of abdominal pain, shortness of breath, or severe headache, seek immediate medical attention. Other chronic symptoms that might require a doctor’s attention are muscle aches, nausea, depression, fever, or difficulty seeing.

Home Remedies for Hair Fall

From: health.sify.com

Hair loss is caused due to many reasons such as lack of vitamins, minerals or iron in the body, age, pollution, heredity, stress, lack of sleep, hormonal imbalance and illness.

It is said that losing about 100 hairs a day is normal. If you lose more hair then it’s an alarming sign.

One needs to eat healthy food, clean hair regularly, drink plenty of water and sleep properly for healthy and shining hair.

Follow these routine tips at home to prevent hair from damage:

· Keep your hair clean. It will prevent dandruff, itching and hair lice, which ultimately result in hair fall.

· Use a shampoo and conditioner depending on your hair type.

Tackling dandruff with Ayurveda

· Massage your scalp regularly with lukewarm oil at least twice a month. You can choose coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil for your hair.

· Never comb your hair when it is wet. The roots of the hair are weakest when they are wet. Keep the hair wrapped in a towel for a while then let it dry naturally as excess usage of hair dryer damages the texture of hair and makes it weak resulting in hair fall.

· Make a mixture at home of amla, shikakai and dry neem leaves, apply on scalp and leave it on for an hour before washing.

· Eat a healthy diet including green vegetables, dairy products and fruits.

· Drink coconut water to prevent hair fall.

· Include at least 2 nuts in your daily diet to help strengthen hair.

Greying? Try Ayurveda

· Avoid using harsh clips or bands and do not tie your hair up tightly.

· Protect the hair from dust and sun. Cover your head while going out in direct sunlight.

· Eat iron-rich fruits and food helps in preventing hair fall. Include apples, beetroot and jaggery in your diet. They are rich in iron and so help prevent hair fall.

How to treat dry cough?

from: http://www.steadyhealth.com

Dry cough often occurs at the end of infections such as a cold, flu or sinus infection, or after a person has been exposed to irritants such as smoke, dust or chemical fumes. Smoking cigarettes, allergies and asthma are also categorized as common causes.

Cough can be categorized into dry (non-productive) or chesty (productive) cough.  A dry cough occurs when the throat and upper airways become inflamed. Patients cough without producing any mucus or phlegm in a dry cough. They often experience an uncomfortable tickling in the throat which begins the actual attacks of cough.

Most coughs are acute in nature; they appear suddenly and normally do not last longer than 2-3 weeks.

What causes dry cough?

It often occurs at the end of infections such as a cold, flu or sinus infection, or after a person has been exposed to irritants such as smoke, dust or chemical fumes. Smoking cigarettes, allergies and asthma are also common causes of coughs. The infections cause inflammation of the throat and upper airways. A dry cough is an attempt to remove this inflammation but it is usually of no benefit and rather can be uncomfortable.

In certain cases, a cough can be a symptom of a more serious condition such as lung infections like pneumonia or acute bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sinusitis. It is therefore very important to see your doctor if a cough persists for any longer than 2-3 weeks.


Homemade remedies

Drink a lot of warm water during the day to ease cough.  You can also drink a mix of lemon juice, honey and warm water at least thrice during the day. Gargles are always effective for easing dry cough. Add some salt to lukewarm water and gargle. Gargling with warm spinach juice is also very helpful in providing relief from dry cough. Alternatively, you also can prepare a decoction of henna leaves for treating dry cough.

Also, chewing a piece fresh ginger with some salt sprinkled on it can bring relief from dry cough.  If you find it troublesome to chew raw ginger, then it can be helpful to chop it into fine pieces and to add it to a cup of water. Boil this water till only half a cup remains in the pot. Strain this before you drink it. You can add a spoonful of honey to improve the taste.  Also, ginger and honey work by coating the throat, reducing irritation and the tickling sensation common to dry coughs.

Eat 3-4 balls of black pepper with caraway seeds and a pinch of common salt. Suck on it for some time to get instant relief from a dry cough. Before going to bed, you can drink hot milk with some honey. It can provide instant relief from dry cough and help you get a relaxed sleep.

Grape juice with honey can be a useful remedy for treating dry cough. Another effective remedy is to mix half spoon of Cuscus grass in 3-4 teaspoons of coconut milk. Add one teaspoon of honey to it and drink at night before going to bed.

Turmeric, with its natural antiseptic properties, can also be of great help in treating dry cough. Add a pinch of turmeric to a spoonful of honey and drink it at bedtime. Almonds can be an excellent remedy too. Soak three or four almonds overnight. In the morning, peel the almonds and grind them to a fine paste. Add a few grains of sugar or a spoon of honey to this and eat this mixture. It can help you feel better in 2-3 days.


OTC and prescription drugs

Relief can be obtained from dry, tickling coughs by sucking on cough lozenges or hard candy (However, it is advised to not to give a lozenge or hard candy to a child under 3 years old because of the associated choking hazard.). Rest and sleep allow the body's natural defences to concentrate on fighting the infection. A non-productive or dry cough, in which no mucus is coughed up, can be treated with a cough suppressant to reduce the cough reflex. Common antitussives or cough suppressants include codeine, pholcodine and dextromethorphan. They act by blocking the cough reflex. Other cough suppressants include simple linctus, glycerin and lemon and honey, which coat the throat and provide relief from dry cough.

Dextromethorphan is a very effective cough suppressant and is one of the most common ingredients in OTC cough remedies. It rarely causes side effects, although an upset stomach or drowsiness may occasionally occur. Codeine, also a very effective cough suppressant, is available only by prescription in many states of the US. Because codeine is a narcotic drug, some people fear that it may be addicting.

Cough suppressants are constituents of many cough remedies that combine many active ingredients to alleviate distinct symptoms.

• Pholcodine Linctus BP 10 mL (10 mg) three to four times a day.
• Codeine Linctus BP 5 mL to 10 mL (15 mg to 30 mg) three to four times a day.
• Codeine phosphate tablets 30 mg to 60 mg every 4 hours.

Some cough remedies also contain substances known as sympathomimetics such as pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is the only decongestant used in OTC products. These relax the airways and produce decongestant effects. They are also useful in patients suffering from both blocked nose as well as a cough.


In some cases, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine are advised, which may aid sleep if taken at bedtime. Because these cause drowsiness, they should not be taken while driving or performing skilled tasks.  They are known to reduce the cough reflex.

It is important to note that patients should not treat themselves with cough mixture for any longer than two weeks. If the cough persists, it is advised to see a doctor as informed medical assessment can help in identifying the underlying cause and therefore help in appropriate treatment.