When you have ... a hacking cough

Hydrate with teas

For Dr Ricardo José, consultant in respiratory medicine, hydration is key: “It’s about taking frequent sips throughout the day to keep the mucous membranes moist.” Immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi agrees, saying: “I often stir a spoonful of raw honey – nature’s soothing antimicrobial – into a cup of thyme tea (thyme steeped in water), which helps ease irritation and supports respiratory health. I also love marshmallow root tea, which is great for the mucous membranes.”

Try the carrot trick

Tailor your food-based remedy to the type of cough you have. “For a dry, tickly cough, honey in warm tea – lemon or peppermint – is very soothing,” says José. “Another remedy I’ve always liked is shredding carrots, covering them with sugar and leaving them overnight in the fridge. By morning they release a sweet syrup; a spoonful coats the throat and helps calm down an irritating cough.” For a chesty cough, “warm liquorice root tea and foods with bromelain such as fresh pineapple may help reduce mucus thickness”.

Get the juices flowing

Emeritus Prof Ron Eccles, former director of the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University, goes for warm foods. “Anything tasty such as tomato soup, chicken soup or a curry – I like chicken tikka bhuna – promotes salivation and mucus secretions in the airway and helps to soothe a cough. You could also suck a lozenge as this has a similar demulcent [irritation-relieving] effect and makes you swallow, which inhibits the cough reflex.” Macciochi takes a similar approach. She says: “I lean on warm broths with garlic, ginger and shiitake mushrooms, which are rich in immune-supportive compounds and easy to digest.”

Soups, stews and broths are popular for different ailments. Illustration: iStock

When you have ... a cold

Turn to turmeric

Asma Khan, chef and owner of Darjeeling Express in London, says: “My mother gave me haldi doodh, or turmeric milk, as a child and it’s still my go-to.