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Remedy for Tickle In Throat due to Cough
By
Patricia | August 6, 2009
Tickle in Throat
If you seem to be clearing your throat all day long, without getting rid of that itchy sensation, you are probably suffering from a common problem known as a tickle in the throat.
An irritating tickle in the throat, though mostly harmless, can be quite annoying for anybody. It usually leads to a dry cough, which worsens at night, depriving you of a good night’s sleep. A dry, ticklish and itchy throat may also interfere with your day to day activities at home, school or work. Left unchecked this problem may also cause you to lose your voice and therefore, it is best to get it treated as soon as possible. In order to treat the tickle in throat and dry cough, you may first need to know what the causes are.
Causes:
There are several factors due to which you may experience a tickling sensation in your throat. Some of the most common causes of a tickle in the throat include –
- Cold: You may feel the ticklish sensation in your throat, just before you notice the other symptoms of a cold like sneezing and a runny nose. When you catch a cold, your nose usually gets blocked, due to which you may need to breathe through your mouth. This causes your throat to dry out and leads to irritation.
- Sore throat: Pharyngytis, an inflammation in the throat, is usually characterized by dryness, itchiness and a sore throat tickle. You may get a sore throat because of a cold, the flu or a fever.
- Allergies: A tickle in the throat is often the result of an allergic reaction to certain foods and food additives, pollen, smoke, mold, dust mites and other airborne substances. An allergy leads to a stuffy and itchy nose, followed by breathing problems and a dry throat.
- Post nasal drip: The excess amount of mucus that drips down the back of your throat from the sinuses is known as post nasal drip. This happens to be one of the most common causes of irritation and ticklishness in the throat.
- Tonsillitis: Though not very common, an inflammation in the tonsils could also cause you to experience dryness and a ticklish sensation in your throat. In case of tonsillitis, your throat may also become red on the inside.
Changes in the weather or minor throat infections could also cause you to experience a tickle in your throat. In case you are a singer or a crooner, you may also notice the throat tickle and a dry cough when singing.
Home Remedies:
Fortunately, a tickle in the throat is not a serious problem and can be treated quite easily with over-the-counter medication. However, most people prefer using home remedies to treat a throat tickle, probably because there are fewer side effects associated with them. Some of the most common home and natural remedies for dryness, itching and a tickle in the throat include –
- Honey: Because of its medicinal qualities, honey makes an excellent home remedy for several minor ailments, including irritation in the throat. Add about 3 to 4 tablespoons of organic honey to a glass of warm water and sip the liquid slowly. You could also add a dash of lime to this drink, to enhance its taste and effectiveness. For best results, have honey in warm water 3 times a day.
- Apple cider vinegar: There are several chemical and medicinal properties present in this ingredient, which makes it a very useful remedy for many ailments, including a sore throat. Add some apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and drink it slowly. To make this mixture more palatable, you could add a dash of honey to it. Alternately, use apple cider vinegar as a gargle when you suffer from throat problems.
- Milk: The thickness of milk is excellent for hydrating the back of your throat, which in turn helps to get rid of the dryness, irritation and tickling sensation. To increase its effectiveness, add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of warm milk. Have one glass of warm milk with honey before bed time to reduce coughing at night.
- Salt: This is one of the most commonly used remedies for most throat problems. Add a pinch of salt to a glass of warm water and gargle with the solution. This remedy should be used up to three or four times each day. Make sure that the water is warm and not hot, so that it does not scald your throat.
- Orange juice: Since it is high in Vitamin C, orange juice boosts your body’s immunity and enables it to fight off the infection-causing germs. However, orange juice should be mixed with warm water, or else it will worsen the irritation.
While these remedies are quite effective and relatively safe if used correctly, it is important to check with a doctor before trying any of them. In case you are diabetic, or are suffering from any other preexisting medical condition, these remedies may not be recommended for you.
Also bear in mind that these remedies only help relieve a throat tickle; they do not cure the underlying condition that has caused the discomfort. Therefore, if the tickle in your throat lasts for more than two or three days, it is important that you speak with your healthcare provider.