Weather Changes and Cough

Some patients are found to have their symptoms aggravated during peak days of winter season when dry cold winds blow, some suffer during rainy season or when the wind is pregnant with moisture, whereas, in some, summer days, especially dust raising winds cause cough. Such cases develop acute symptoms and when the weather changes, they improve but if the disease persists beyond 10-15 days or even after the congenial weather conditions have set, then the disease assumes a chronic form. Such types of cough have almost identical symptoms on each weather condition. Chnage of venue and environs often show encouraging results. Self-management is another option when it is not possible to change­over to more congenial environs.



Treatment of cough (Homeopathic)


This mostly is caused during rainy season. Phlegm is yellow, stickly, abundant and difficult to cough up. Try following medicines according to specific symptoms noted against each remedy.

Nat.Suplh 6: Is the leading remedy. Take 4 hourly doses a day. Avoid curd, whey, milk etc.
Aconite 6: Cough abates on lying down but aggravates on lying down on a side. Headache, constipation, chilliness, anxiety, fear of death, chest excited by cold blast, cough dry.

Calc.Carb 6: Dry cough, especially worse at bed-time.
Ipecac-30: Suffocating/spasmodic cough, difficult breathing wheezing sound with sore throat or rattling noise due to accumulation of phlegm, pain in navel while cough, nausea or vomiting.

Antim Tart-30: Voice hoarse, dry cough, vomiting of food due to cough following food, mucus is liquid but difficult to expel, there is rattling of throat, between intervals of cough yawning takes place. Useful for young infants whose chest remains filled up with phlegm and there is a gurgling sound as the chest is filled up with phlegm. Nostrils are also blocked.

Bryonia-30: Pain in chest, tearing / sucking pain in head, on sides, cough convulses whole body, cough aggravated from exposure to cold draughts-worse in the morning or evening. At times cough is blood-tinged, with ihin expectortion, cough aggravated while entering a cold room from a warm place/room, cough excited after drinking or eating. Cough abates while lying on the affected side.

Belladonna-200: Inflammation of larynx, dry cough at night; flushed face; pulse is quick and hard; face flushed, eyes bright; dry cough with choking or spasm, cold helps to moisten the cough and helps to bring up shreds of mucus; relief in cold air; cough more at night than during the day.

Nitric Acid 6

More useful in chronic cough; cough dry with melancholy, headache, debility, loss of appetite, heaviness at pit of stomach after eating; pain in stomach; sweating, insomnia, constipation, pain behind breast-bone; is said to be more useful when infection is acute and severe.

Ignatia-6: It is a specific remedy when anxiety, sudden shock or worry be the cause. More useful in nervous cough, caused by sudden bad news. Disturbed mental condition is the keynote: Also useful for cough of hysterics, spasm of wind-pipe, night's rest is disturbed by cough, tickling in throat aggravates cough.

Rumex-6: Aggravation in the morning or at night or exposure to cold wind, patient feels relieved when whole body is fully covered from head to feet. Cough is dry and constant which convulses the whole body.

Drosera-6: Cough is dry and rises from throat, there is constant pain and tickling sensation; there is often loss of voice; cough closely resembles whooping cough bouts; throat is scraped and, at times, sputum could be even blood-tinged, patient belches and vomits; there are occasional spasms of cough which are exhausting and tiring, aggravation of cough at time.

Causticum-6: Hoarse voice, dry, brazen cough-often leading to unconscious evacuations; aggravation while entering a warm room but abates after taking some cold drink; patient can bring the sputum upto throat but is unable to cough it out.

Spongia-6: Cough is dry, scraping, irritating and painful;
suffocation; pain in chest, voice hoarse, due to spasm of windpipe, the patient finds it difficult to breathe. Cough ameliorates after drinking/eating.

Kali Bichrome-6: This is specific remedy when throat or chest is filled up with mucus but cannot be expelled due to its being sticky, tough, adhesive and tenacious; the patient exerts a lot more to bring up cough and if it comes up, at all, it would get stuck in the throat or adhere to lips; there is dizziness and vertigo due to constant coughing which brings up even blood Aggravation after getting in the morning from bed and after meals. Asthmatics may try this remedy when windpipe and throat are filled up with phlegm (sticky and tenacious).

Phosphorus-30: Pain in chest, hoarse voice, dry cough with tickling in throat; sputum is frothy, rusty, saltish, purulent; cough aggravates due to laughing; talking or on reading—that is when utmost pressure is exerted on larynx and throat; voice is hoarse, throat painful, chest is also painful. Cough is dry.

Pulsatilla-30: Sputum is yellow or greenish, bitter in taste; accumulation of phlegm in chest causes suffocation; there is rattling noise in throat; sputum during day, but is bitter at night or when lying down; worse in closed room but better when coming in the open air.


In emergent situations, give Passiflora Incarnata-Q (15-30 drops in tepid water, preferably at bed time or at anytime during crisis period). It will soothe the agitated nerves, calm down cough spells and also induce sound sleep. Lobelia-Q or Senega-Q (5 drops mixed with water) may also meet demands of crisis stage.
When the situation is not possible to manage at home, at once
seek medical help. .

General

In my opinion steam inhalation is an excellent method to allay even emrgent situations. Steam will loosen cough and help sputum to expectorate, sooth and comfort throat, wind-pipe and lungs and remove congestion, if any. It will also remove nasal blood and, thus, facilitate respiration. After steam inhalation, there should be no exposure to cold winds or else the malady would assume more complex appearance. To make steam inhalation more effective, add 1A tsp of Vicks Vaporub so as to derive quicker relief. No Homeo medicine should be served an hour before or after the process. After inhalation, whole mouth may be gently patted and nibbed with a small towel so as to improve blood circulation on/ around face.