HOMEOPATHY FOR COUGH
what causes a cough?
Coughs are caused by an irritation in the respiratory tract somewhere anywhere between the larynx and the deep parts of the lungs.
Your body’s response Is to use the coughing mechanism to clear your airways of mucus, bugs and foreign particles.
Causes for Cough
• Viruses – Colds and Flus are the most common causes
• Allergies, Asthma – triggers causes the lungs to over react, and hence the airway tries to cough out what’s bothering them.
Inhalation of foreign bodies like dust, irritant gases or chemical fumes and tobacco smoking, all of which causes mechanical irritation in the respiratory tract
• Compression of air passages by aortic aneurysm, neoplasms or adenomas
• Pressure or tension on air passages – due to pulmonary oedema, interstitial fibrosis, or pericardial effusion
Reflex irritation of vagus usually caused by wax in the ears or distention of stomach
• Thermal stimulus Inhalation of cold air especially in asthmatics
• Infections – like pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis or bronchiectasis
• Post-nasal drip (PND) – here, the mucus drips down from the nose into the throat, driving you to cough.
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GERD) – here, the stomach acids back up into the throat causing an irritation of the windpipe, vocal
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
– It is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that weakens the airway tubes and causes cough as one of its symptoms
• iatrogenic – caused by medications like ACE inhibitors or steroid aerosols
• Habit cough – when a patient has suffered from some prolonged illness in which cough has been a prominent feature, the cough may at times persist as a habit long after the cause has ceased to operate
Signs and Symptoms of Cough
WHEN is it worrisome and WHEN to consult the Doctor?
Most lingering coughs are harmless. But if your cough isn’t getting better after a week’s time, it’s time for you to see a doctor.
Consult them if your cough interferes with your daily life and your ability to work, or if it comes with breathing difficulty, chest pain, blood in your cough, fever or night sweats.
Homeopathy works by matching the symptoms you are experiencing including their unique ‘character’ – with the most suitable homeopathic medicine.
The right remedy match will stimulate a healing response quickly in an acute condition.
Thus regarding coughs, each remedy has the ability to produce – and also resolve a cough of a particular character.
It is the peculiar, individual and distinctive aspects of your cough that are of greatest use in determining the correct remedy match.
BRYONIA- Cough with extreme dryness
It is a well known cough remedy and will help in cases where main characteristic are matched dry cough worse on movement. Cough is also associated with headache cough is so severe that the patient sits up to avoid suffocation.The cough is aggravated by deep breathing eating or talking
ACONITE-FROM COLD EXPOSURE, DRY WIND
It is one of the main remedies for barking type of cough of children that is accompanied by breathing difficulties and is typically needed in the early stage a cough that responds to Aconite it is violent dry in character with a dry mouth and thirst and shortness of breath.
Patient affected feel anxious and restlessness acute complaints such as cough cold and ear ache often because of exposure to dry cold wind and will be sudden and violent in nature
DROSERA-
It is often suited to patient with whopping cough which is horse barking and laryngeal in character. Throughout the day there is no cough at all but it starts as soon as the head touches the pillow at night construction of abdomen and chest is present the patient hold them with hands
Bouts of cough make difficult to breathe the cough may be deep chesty and painful it is better for fresh air and during the day
PHOSPHURUS–
The cough is typically a dry persistent tickling cough which is often worse in the evening or at night. Persistent cough from strong odour is cured by this remedy the cough is dry horse and barking type which is provoked by strong odors
The key symptom of phosphorus cough is aggravation from change of temperature or weather. Pain and hoarseness in the larynx and throat which is worse from coughing and the mucus may be bloody
PULSATILLA
The typically pulsatilla cough is one which becomes dry in the evening and at night and loose in the morning With copious mucus expectoration the curve is dry hard with great weakness in the chest cough is so severe at night the patient must sit up in bed to get relief
The key symptom is urine is emitted on coughing and patient may be weepy or moody and changeable with the symptoms
RUMEX
The person who need rumex will be very sensitive to cold air caused by deep inspiration accompanied with great fatigue involuntary urination , cough is dry teasing preventing sleep of person touching the throat pit brings on cough
Spongia
Spongia is a well known homeopathic cough remedy and like Aconite you see it is one of the main remedies for group the Spongia curve is dry barking sounding like “a sawing of wood” Hoarseness due to cough is also typical the patient has tickling in the throat the cough is generally erased by eating or drinking especially warm drinks
Some self help measures for day and night
Day time:
• Get plenty to drink to stay hydrated but avoid acidic drinks like fruit juice or sugary drinks as they may irritate the throat.
• One fruit juice that can help however is pineapple juice which is high in Bromelain, an anti- inflammatory enzyme, great for chasing infections away. Some people say it’s better than cough syrup.
• Ginger tea is one of the best home remedies for cough in adults. Slice fresh ginger and boil it in some water. Drink this water at least 3-4 times a day.
• Add Manuka honey to warm water (or your ginger tea) and sip throughout the day.
• Avoid smoke, strong air fresheners and other airborne irritants.
Night time:
• At night use a steamer, humidifier or relax in a steaming bath or shower to bathe your airways in mist and loosen the mucus.
• For a dry cough, at night try keeping some salt by the bed. Every time your cough wakes you, take a pinch of salt and put it on the tongue – this encourages salivation which can ease the cough.
• If the cough is caused by a cold or flu then place a few drops of your favourite essential oil onto your pillow at night to help you breathe more easily. Rosemary, lavender or sage work well
