Dry cough is a common symptom, especially in the winter months. A dry cough causes the throat to feel scratchy and raw. It can be annoying, but it usually goes away on its own within a few weeks.

Coughing clears the throat of mucus or other foreign material that may have entered it, such as when you have a cold or allergies.

Home Remedies for Dry Cough

• Drink lots of fluids. Dehydration can make you feel worse when you have a cold or the flu. Avoid caffeinated beverages because they can make your symptoms worse. You can try mint tea or ginger tea to get relief from dry coughs and sore throats quickly.
• Use humidifiers and vaporizers to moisten the air in your home or office. Dry air makes coughing worse because it irritates the lining of your nose and throat; it also makes it harder for mucus to flow out through your nose and mouth naturally.
• Get plenty of rest so that your body has time to recover from whatever bug has made you sick in the first place (or from the stress caused by being sick).

Consider taking over-the-counter sleep aids if there’s no other way for you to get some shut-eye during the day.

Dry cough should go away on its own within two to three weeks. But if it lasts longer than that, talk to your doctor about getting treatment.