Irritating cough

Introduction

Irritating cough generally, dry in nature which is caused by virus such as flu, allergic or throat affections. A dry cough is a cough in which no mucus is coming out from mouth due to which tickling and dryness is present in throat. Cough with a cold continuous for a week or two week and last for about 3 weeks.

Causes of Dry Cough

A dry cough is usually caused by-

• an infection of viral origin, such as a cold or the flu
• asthma
• smoking
• allergic rhinitis
• laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx)
• whooping cough
• snoring while sleeping
• a blood clot of blood in the lungs
• cancer of lung.
• After exposure to cold, dry air
• overuse of voice as in public speakers
• a change in atmospheric temperature.

General Management

Drink hot water mixed with lemon juice and honey
Rinse the mouth with warm water mixed with a half teaspoon of salt to avoid dryness
Avoid the causative factors which triggers irritating cough.

Homeopathic Medicines

There is a large list of medicines for the treatment of cough. The characteristic features of these remedies are given as below:

DROSERA ROTUNDFOLIA – It is used when dry cough is present. Spasmodic, dry irritating cough, in which the episode following each other very rapidly. Cough is very deep and hoarse, worse after midnight. Colour of the sputum is yellow associated with bleeding from nose and mouth.

ANTIMONIUM TART – It is suited to person suffering from cough which get aggravated by eating. Great rattling of mucus and try to expectorate but very little comes out. Cough associated with pain in chest and larynx. The cough usually remains constant for the whole day and night.

IPECACUANHA – Ipecac is a suitable medicine for a cough with difficult expectoration. Nausea and vomiting. Is keynote symptom of ipecac. Difficulty in respiration with constant constriction in chest. Continued sneezing is present with wheezing sound from chest. Episodes of suffocation may be present with the cough

SPONGIA TOSTA – Spongia Tosta is a medicine which is useful when great dryness of all air-passages is marked. Dry, barking, croupy cough with larynx is very sensitive to touch. During chill stage, a patient may have a complaint of the cough. Warm drinks gives slight relief in coughing. There may be difficulty in breathing along with forceful inspiration and expiration is also present.

CORALLIUM RUBRUM – this remedy is indicated in cases of cough which is dry, spasmodic, suffocative. Cough occurs for a short period but come suddenly and severely.
Profuse secretion of mucus dropping inside the mouth instead of nose because of dry coryza which makes the nose stop and ulcerated. There is great sensitiveness in throat, a patient feels cold on deep inspiration. The person feels suffocation and greatly exhausted with general weakness after cough.

MILLIFOLIUM – Millifolium has a hemorrhagic diathesis which acts especially in the complaints related with hemorrhage (loss of blood). It is basically used in a condition of cough with blood mixed with sputum. Other than bloody sputum, difficulty in breathing and oppression of chest appear. Haemoptysis (blood in sputum), especially after injury or after violent exertion also treated by Millifolium.

NATRUM MURIATICUM – A remedy of cough arises from a tickling (involuntary movement aftertouch) in the pit of stomach along with stitches in liver and involuntary urination while coughing. Along with this, there is stitching pains all over chest. Shortness of breath is also marked, especially ongoing. There is severe attack of cough due to which tears comes out from the eyes while coughing.

KALI SULPHURICUM – Kali Sulph is a valuable remedy for bronchial asthma, with thick yellow expectoration. Symptoms are worse in evening and in hot atmosphere. Other important symptoms which indicate Kali sulph are wheezing sound due to mucus in the chest, difficult expectoration, and rattling in the chest.

PULSATILLA NIGRICANS – It is used in cough with greenish sputum. Cough is dry in evening and at night, must sit up in bed to get relief, and loose (soft) in the morning, with profuse mucus expectoration. Cough worse a warm room and better in the open air. Pulsatilla patient is very emotional and weep easily after slight emotion with sympathy makes feel better.

PHOSPHORUS – Phosphorus is used in cough when hard, dry and tight sputum is present. Sputum is rusty, blood-colored, or pus-like. The sputum comes out taste salty or sweet. Burning pains over the chest and oppression of chest with tightness across chest, as if weight were lying on it. Cough, worse from warm to cold, from laughing, talking.

HEPAR SULPHUR– Hepar Sulph is a remedy used for asthma and bronchitis in older adults. The person suffered from cough when exposed to dry, cold wind with hoarseness and loss of voice. Cough increases when any part of the body is uncovered, or from eating anything cold and better by warm.

ARSENIC ALBUM – Arsenic Album is primarily used in cough which is asthmatic in nature. The person experience difficulty in breathing with suffocative feeling. Expectoration is scanty and frothy. Dryness is present and have great thirst for cold water, but drinks little at a time. The person must sit or bend forward.in order to breathe. Mainly, cough complaints aggravated at night which compel the patient to get up from bed, especially after 12’o clock. Restlessness is present and a person continuously changes place.

ANTIMONIUM ARSENICOSUM – Antimonium Arsenicosum is a remedy found useful in emphysema with excessive dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing) and cough. Expectoration is profuse, worse on eating and lying down. The person feel weakness, in addition to cough with loss of appetite.

BRYONIA ALBA – Bryonia alba is well-known medicine for cough. The most important symptoms for prescription of it is dry, spasmodic cough with headache as if head would fly to pieces which aggravated after eating, drinking and on entering warm room. A patient experiences a pain inside of chest of stitching type which increases on deep inspiration. All complaints relieved after lying on painful side, pressure and rest. Great thirst is present at long intervals.

SAMBUCUS NIGRA – Sambucus Nigra has special action on respiratory tract and treat cough, especially in children. Generally, cough always comes at night which makes the person to sit up at night and breathe. Usually a whistling sound from the chest along with the cough is also present in most cases.

COCCUS CACTI – Coccus Cacti is best remedy in cases of spasmodic cough is increases especially, in the morning. Great expectoration of ropy mucus also presents with the continuous and regular episode of cough.

NUX VOMICA – Nux Vomica is prescribed when cough is present with acidity. Coryza is dry at night and profuse at day, getting worse in warm room and better in cold air, from sitting in cold places. The symptoms which helps in selecting medicine are cough and difficulty in breathing associated with a collection of gas in the abdomen due to which sensation of fullness in the stomach is present.

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Conclusion

Irritating cough is common nowadays that may be due to many agents responsible for it. Homeopathy is a science which based on similia similibus curantur which means like cures like. So, every patient is new, maybe with the same complaints but treated with different drugs. Therefore, Homoeopathic medicines are more effective.