Every one of us has suffered from cough sometime or other. It is a common condition in cold weather.
In this article, we highlight what basically is a cough and how turmeric can be used to treat it (home remedies / ayurvedic remedies).
Table of Contents
Benefits of Turmeric in Cough
Turmeric is a go-to medicinal herb used in India for centuries. To maintain body health in general, our ancestors formulated ways to take turmeric as a part of our daily life. Turmeric with milk is the first treatment for cough and throat infection in Indian households, and even scientific evidence proves the same. It helps in reducing inflammation, throat infection, and in managing allergies. Turmeric acts as an immunomodulatory agent and helps in maintaining lung health.
Helps in treating cough
Turmeric is used to treat cough and other bronchial inflammation.
In a study published by the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 77 patients with bronchial asthma with severe cough were randomized into two groups.
One received standard treatment and other with added curcumin capsules. The result showed that curcumin helped in clearing airway obstruction with no adverse effects.
What it means: Turmeric helps in reducing infection and also in managing common issues such as cough.
Helps in reducing inflammation
The Journal Mediators of Inflammation published a study involving mice.
Ovalbumin-induced chronic asthma is treated with turmeric, and it found to reduce airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion.
What it means: Scientific studies proved the efficacy of curcumin as an anti-inflammatory compound. It can help in reducing airway inflammation.
Benefits in lung health
Scientific studies have concluded that K-ras mutation causes intrinsic and extrinsic inflammation in the lungs.
It is suspected that bacteria also cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease besides cigarette smoking.
In a mouse model, the inclusion of curcumin in the diet inhibits intrinsic and extrinsic inflammation in the lungs.
What it means: Turmeric helps in maintaining the overall health of the lungs by lowering inflammation and controlling signal pathways.
Helps in managing allergies
Allergy induced airway problems include sneeze, cough, inflammation, and airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR).
In an invitro mice model study, induced airway problems were treated with the administration of curcumin.
It is found that turmeric helps in reducing AHR, and it may help in attenuating asthma.
What it means: Turmeric helps in controlling the symptoms of allergies, such as sneeze, cough, and mucus secretion.
Immunomodulatory agent
Curcumin helps in up-regulating the immune system and maintains the general health of the body.
It is also found that in low doses, it enhances antibody action.
It exhibits strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, and inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines.
What it means: Curcumin contains many healing properties that help in maintaining various aspects of bodily health, and it helps in increasing immunity.
Using Turmeric for Cough
There is no specific dosage of turmeric prescribed for cough. However taking turmeric in the form of Golden Paste can be a helpful home remedy for cough.
Golden Paste combines heat, black pepper and healthy fats to increase the absorption of turmeric.
It is highly recommended to take this paste after/with meals and to avoid taking it close to other medications. (Read Does Turmeric cause acid reflux? Black pepper in GP: Does it cause drug interaction?) Here is the recipe.
When making Golden paste, use good quality turmeric powder prepared by reputed manufacturers to avoid adulterated products. Here are some good brands.
If you have an option of buying raw turmeric, you can do that as well. You can also make Golden Paste from fresh roots.
Start with small doses such as 1/4-1/2 tsp and if you see no side effects then increase the dose by ¼ teaspoon every week. Continue till reach a dose of 1-2 tsp 2-3 times a day (precisely 1 tsp 3 times a day).
Also consuming Turmeric Milk or Turmeric Tea can help relieve cough gradually.
If you plan to take turmeric supplements, please consult your health practitioner about the same. The general recommended dosage is 300-500mg 1-2 times a day for 95% curcuminoids supplements. The dosage can differ based on the formulation.
You can check our post on Best Turmeric/Curcumin Supplement Brands for more details.
Supplements should not be taken on an empty stomach and close to the time of taking other medicines. Consult a health practitioner prior to taking turmeric supplements.
Precautions
Turmeric in diet is absolutely safe. Turmeric supplements should be taken with care. (Read Side effects of Turmeric)
If you are taking blood thinners, turmeric supplements should be avoided. Turmeric can be included in diet in small doses. If suffering from a bleeding disorder consult a doctor and herbalist or naturopath before taking turmeric. (Read Is turmeric a Blood Thinner? Will it increase Bleeding Risk?)
Turmeric supplements should be avoided in case of pregnancy and lactation. Discontinue use of turmeric supplements 2 weeks prior to surgery.
Turmeric supplements should be avoided in case of gall bladder obstructions. (Should you take turmeric if you have gallstones?)
Turmeric may interact with certain medications like stomach acid reducing drugs, diabetes medications, blood thinners. Avoid taking turmeric supplements at the same time as medicines.
If suffering from gout or kidney stones, limit intake of turmeric as a spice. (Read Does turmeric cause kidney stones? Is turmeric safe in gout?)
Consult a health practitioner before taking turmeric supplements.
If harrowed by turmeric stains here is how you can take care of them.
Conclusion
Turmeric provides several benefits if you have a cough – both directly and indirectly. It is easy to consume and is very safe to use.
Just make sure you buy good quality turmeric! 🙂
Hi,
Hi,
Hi, how many oz of water for 3g of per serving or half of tea spoon.
Its not stated on recommended daily oral intake.
Thank you
Please tellme i suffer with diabates which is controlled with diet and i take medicine for my blood presser,can i take turmeric for cough and other sympoms.thank you
Yes, you can take turmeric milk for cough and cold symptoms. Please read https://www.turmericforhealth.com/turmeric-recipes/benefits-of-turmeric-milk
In case of supplements, please consult your health practitioner before taking them.
Hi thank you for such a good blog. Turmeric does help a lot with cough and cold but most of the time turmeric alone doesn’t work for me so I would usually drink it with pepper which helps with the cough as well. I recently came across a turmeric blend called Lakadong Ker from Zizira which tases very good as well as smells good. You guys can try it too!
What is Javakhar (Potassii carbons)? Is it Potassium carbonate? I have a dry chronic cough. If I don’t have Potassii carbons but only turmeric powder will it work? Is betel leaf only used to store turmeric powder?
Is turmeric oil good for fatty liver?
Turmeric is beneficial in fatty liver disease. There is no specific study that suggests that turmeric oil is effective in fatty liver disease but turmeric as whole comprising of curcumin can help. You can take Golden Paste.
https://www.turmericforhealth.com/turmeric-recipes/how-to-make-turmeric-paste-or-golden-paste
https://www.turmericforhealth.com/turmeric-recipes/how-to-make-golden-paste-from-raw-fresh-turmeric
Is turmeric an expectorant? I seem to be producing more phlegm after taking it. Or perhaps it was something wrong I ate during the day?
I too seen to be coughing more and a little phlem as well. Can anyone advise if this is how Turmeric works? I am hoping this is a good sign, as I have had this cough fior months.
Hi. How long have you been taking turmeric and what dose? Turmeric may help your body in eliminating the mucus and work as an expectorant but if it is highly unbearable then its advised that you reduce the dosage or discontinue its use.
I use pure capsules containing ginger and black pepper. Taken 1 in the mornings and 1 about 5pm daily as I also take a antacid capsule fit night time.
Only Started this 6 weeks ago, but struggling with this chronic cough and not sleeping. : (
Turmeric, ginger and black pepper are good for cough and may work as expectorants but neither of these would trigger chronic cough. You can try reducing the dose or we would suggest going off the capsules and switching to turmeric tea. Turmeric tea is extremely beneficial for cough and flu.
https://www.turmericforhealth.com/turmeric-benefits/brew-a-cup-of-turmeric-tea
Thanks for the best advice. I will follow the advice for my wife. Let’s hope for the best.
I’ve been taking tumeric for menopausal arthrirus. Hip and knee pain is gone. In doing so, I have also eliminated sinus pressure and headaches associated with it. I am reading today about it’s benefits for a cold virus. I simply take it with water.
Janis, thank you for sharing your experience with turmeric. Curcumin found in turmeric is not soluble in water so take reap more benefits of turmeric please take it with black pepper and/or oil
Dear Janis I t.oo suffer with sinus pressure & headaches bad, some times I am in the bed for a week at a time. The arthrisus is also bad in my hips, neck, & back. I would like to know how much curcumn & how many times a day do you take it & how do I mix it? Thank you so very much for your post.
Tricks to improve curcumin absorption: What about adding black pepper to improve absorbability?
Hi Lyria, how to prepare the concoction?
Can Ijust take turmeric pills?
My Mum has a chronic chest complaint with cough, the antibiotics appear to have got rid of the phlegm with turmeric, but cough persists, shall I keep giving her turmeric in milk and honey?
works best for me too. I have 4 and 2 years old children both were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis which will eventually become a chronic cough and then asthma, taking too much antibiotics and antihistamines, which could only last for 2 weeks and the runny nose is back once again , over and over again for like over a year, until I’ve decided to have an alternative herbal option. I made this concoction at home 1 tsp pure turmeric powder, 8 pcs calamansi as we are living in the philippines and we don’t grow lemons here, 8 tsp of wild pure honey and 2 tsp of virgin coconut oil. I let them take this 3 times a day after meals for a week and It really works for my family, my little boy and girl’s cough is been like almost 3 months visiting the doctor every month and this is the only thing that cures them, now I’d let them take it once a day and when a runny nose comes in Id let them take it 3 times a day..the next day they are fine..It works for me too as I have allergic rhinitis myself ever since. I’d take it every time I have this runny nose every morning and it really works for me and the family
Hi Lyra, thanks for sharing this! turmeric is indeed a miracle herb! Honey and coconut oil are awesome for health too.
I use turmeric powder and drink it daily with acv, ginger, honey and black pepper
there are different brands of tumeric which one do you use and can u give me the measurements for this natural remedy
thanks for the advice. will try it tonight for my daughters cough !
Thanks for the advice. will try it tonight for my daughter’s cough ! What’s calamansi ? I’m using lemons instead is it ok??
I have lemons available how much do I use to make this concoction
what is javakhar?