Chapter 3 50 MOST COMMON COUGH REMEDIES ACONITE Constant short dry cough with feeling of suffocation, which increases with every inspiration. Breathing fast. Cough hoarse, dry, loud, spasmodic, hard, ringing. Cough wakes him from sleep, dry, croupy, suffocating. Anxiety and fear. Restlessness. Worse at night, during fever, dry, cold air. Comes down suddenly after exposure to cold, dry winds. The whole chest has a sensation of dryness. All the air passages are irritated. No expectoration except a little watery muscus and blood, otherwise dry. ALLIUM CEPA Cough is hacking, irritating, painful. Tickling in larynx. Voice hoarse. Worse for cold air. The cough is generally better for being in a warm room. ANTIMONIUM TARTARICUM Cough is loud, rattling, whooping. Breathing is asthmatic, abdominal, difficult, fast, rattling. Difficult expectoration with sleepiness, vomiting. Ant. T. has a marked action on chest complaints. For it to work well in a chest complaint, the difficult expectoration and characteristic loud rattling in chest must be present. Bringing up phlegm only temporarily relieves the complaints. The cough is made worse in children by their getting angry. They may cough and yawn alternately. There may be tickling in the larynx which aggravates the cough. Vomiting is also difficult – the patient may retch ineffectually and may have to sit up to cough. ARNICA MONTANA Cough is whooping. Eyes bloodshot. Pain in chest, sore, bruised, must hold chest to cough. With nosebleeds. Worse for crying Children cry before coughing in anticipation of the pain, and the crying itself may set off the cough.
ARSENICUM ALBUM Wheezing respiration with cough and frothy expectoration. Air passages seem constricted, cannot breath fully. Asthma type of cough. Great prostration and debility. Very sensitive to cold. Catarrh keeps travelling down from nose to larynx, without hoarseness; down trachea with burning and smarting. Worst from coughing. Then constriction of chest, asthmatic dyspnoea, with prostration, restlessness, exhaustion, sweat. Then constriction, wheezing, suffocation. Expectorates great quantities of thin watery discharge. Expectoration is excoriating. Burning in chest. Patient is worse after midnight. 1pm. BARYTA CARBONICA Symptoms in elderly people. Worse at night. BELLADONNA Dry cough, from dryness in larynx. Cough with red injected throat. Violent scraping in larynx exciting dry cough. Tickling and burning in larynx with violent paroxysms of cough. As if head will burst. Child begins to cry immediately before cough comes on in anticipation of the pain. After midnight the cough usually comes in fits. Attacks of cough end with sneezing. The typical Belladonna patient is red, and burning hot, with dilated pupils. Cough begins with peculiar clutching in larynx as if a speck of something had got into larynx. Dry cough; spasmodic; barking; short; hollow. Worse at night; deep breathing. The Belladonna cough is peculiar. As soon as its great violence and effort have raised a little mucus, he gets peace, and stops coughing. Then air passages grow drier, and begin to tickle, then comes the spasm, as if all air passages were taking part in it, and the whoop, the gagging and, possibly, vomiting. (A great whooping cough remedy with spasms in larynx, causing whoop and difficulty of breathing.) BRYONIA ALBA Hard, dry cough, with soreness in chest. Dry spasmodic cough, worse at night, after eating and drinking, when entering a warm room, after taking a deep breath. Cough with stitches in chest; with headache, as if head would fly to pieces. When coughing, must press hand to sternum.
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Cough compels to spring up in bed. Cough shakes whole body. Wants to sigh, to breathe deeply, which hurts. Worse for cold; east wind; slightest movement of chest; right lung; deep breathing. Better for pressure; fresh air. Irritable, wants to be let alone, thirsty. The cough is accompanied with little or no expectoration. Eating or drinking can make the cough worse because of the movement involved. CALCAREA CARBONICA Cough is dry at night, loose in the morning. Tickling cough. Sputum/mucus, purulent; tough; yellow; sour; offensive; tastes sweetish. Worse cold; wet; wind. Worse playing the piano; morning; evening in bed; during fever. Head and neck apt to sweat at night. Cold damp feet. The person coughs up mucus with difficulty. Infants especially are prone to coughs during bouts of teething and the cough may then last all winter if not treated. CALCAREA PHOSPHORICA Yellow mucus. Worse when teething. Calc. Phos. may be useful in clearing obstinate coughs (or whooping cough) in children. These are coughs that tend to be worse in the cold-weather months. Teething may also make this cough worse. CALCAREA SULPHURICA Dry cough with copious mucus. Mucus is lumpy and yellow. CARBO VEGETABILIS Cough is racking, in fits, suffocative, violent, whooping. With hoarseness; itching throat. The tickling in the throat may be acute and the patient may not be able to sneeze at times in spite of wanting to. CAUSTICUM Dryness, rawness, hoarseness. Cough is contant; distressing; exhausting; hollow; racking; rattling; tormenting; violent; wakens from cough at night.
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Cough hard, and racks the whole chest. Chest seems full of mucus, if he could only cough a little deeper he feels he could get it up. Struggles and coughs until exhausted or until he finds that a drink of ice-cold water will relieve it. With each cough escape of urine. Obliged to swallow the sputum raised. Inability to expectorate. Greasy-tasting expectoration. Better for sips of cold water. Worse for breathing in; for cold air; in bed; bending head forward; lying down. The hoarseness that accompanies this cough is worse in the mornings. Coughing up mucus is especially difficult as it comes up to the throat and then slips back again. Small sips of water are about the only thing that eases the cough and stops it, albeit temporary. CHAMOMILLA Cough dry during sleep; irritating; tickling. Mucus tastes bitter. Worse at night. The cough is often worse at night when the child is asleep but it does not waken him. CINA Coughs in fits, suffocative. With retching. Worse after getting up. The body goes stiff before a coughing fit, and there is a gurgling in the throat after coughing. There may be almost constant (involuntary) swallowing with the cough. COCCUS CACTI Cough is choking, in fits, irritating, violent, whooping, racking. Tickling in larynx. Muscus is copius after each coughing fit. The mucus is sticky. Throat dry. Better for fresh air. Worse in a stuffy room. Worse around 11.30pm. The mucus drips down the back of the throat and irritates the larynx, causing the person to hawk up which in turn causes coughing fits that end in retching and vomiting of mucus. The mucus hangs in strings from the mouth. CONIUM MACULATUM Cough is dry, irritating, tickling, violent, must sit up as soon as cough starts. Expectoration is difficult. Must swallow what comes up. Worse lying down in bed, in the evenings, for deep breathing, during fever.
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The cough is caused by a dry, tickling spot in the larynx, it starts on first lying down (day or night) and the person has to sit up to cough. He is unable to cough out the mucus; ti si swallowed, and then the person has to lie down to rest. The cough is exhausting and is often accompanies by a fever. CUPRUM METALLICUM Breathing is difficult and fast. Cough in long fits at irregular intervals; uninterrupted; suffocative; violent, whooping. Better for sips of cold water. Although drinking cold water helps the cough (Caust.) cold air can aggravate it. There may be a metallic taste in the mouth. During a coughing fit the child loses his breath and then goes stiff, and then may go into a convulsion with fingers and toes twitching. Between the coughing fits the breathing is hurried and panting. This is a very serious cough and is frightening for parents – professional help should always be sough immediately. Meanwhile Cuprum will give relief if prescribed at this time; the need for other medication may then be avoided. DROSERA Crawling in larynx which provokes coughing. Violent tickling in larynx brings on cough, and wakes him. Spasmodic cough until he retches and vomits. Cough coming from deep down in chest. Provokes pain in hypochondria, must hold it in coughing. Oppression of chest so that breath cough not be expelled. Cough, the impulses follow one another so violently that he can hardly get his breath. Hoarseness. Clutching, cramping, constricting and burning in larynx. Cough worse at night. Coughs of tuberculosis, asthma, whooping cough. N.B. Drosera is especially indicated when there is a history of tuberculosis. DULCAMARA Cough is rattling. Caused by damp weather. The cough may develop from a sore throat. The person has to cough for a long time before expelling mucus. EUPHRASIA Cough during the day only. Mucus copious. Better for lying down. Worse during the morning. The person hawks up a mouthful of mucus at a time and clears the throat frequently.
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FERRUM METALLICUM Cough in fits. Better for walking slowly. Worse after getting up. Worse for movement. HEPAR SULPHURIS CALCAREA Worse from cold, dry weather. Better in warm, moist weather. Cough when any part of the body becomes uncovered. (Rhus. Tox., Rumex) Worse breathing cold air. (Rumex); worse putting a hand out of bed. Suffocative coughing spells. Croup from cold, dry wind, or cold air. In croup, give Hepar Sulph after Aconite and Spongia. (See page ?) IGNATIA AMARA Cough is dry, irritating, racking, short, violent. Pain in chest; stitching. Throat tickling. Worse for coughing. Worse during the evening in bed. With this cough it feels as if a feather or dust were in the pit of the throat causing the cough. But suppressing the cough helps. The more the patient coughs the worse it becomes. It may be useful in croup or whooping cough is the symptoms above fit. IPECACUANHA Spasmodic or asthmatic cough. Suffocative cough. Child becomes blue and stiff. Respiration wheezing, rattling. Violent dyspnoea with wheezing and great weight and anxiety in chest. Loss of breath with cough, with inclination to vomit without nausea. Or, more often, Ipecacuanha has intense nausea unrelieved by vomiting; with clean tongue. KALICUM BICHROMICUM Cough with white mucus, tough, ropy, can be drawn out in strings. Membranous shreds with cough. KALIUM CARBONICUM Cough at 3am or the cough is worse at 3am. Cough asthmatic, must lean forward, head on knees. Cough with cutting or stitching in chest with respiration (Bry.); or between breaths.
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Sputum, of small round lumps, of blood-streaked mucus, of pus. KALI MURIATICUM Cough is barking hard, short. Phlegm is white. KALI SULPHURICUM Cough is rattling, whooping. Mucus is difficult to cough up. Has to swallow what comes up. Worse at night. Worse in a warm room. The person coughs up yellow phlegm in the throat but often has difficulty spitting it out so will swallow it. LACHESIS Cough is choking as soon as person falls into a deep sleep. It’s dry, hacking, suffocative, violent, from tickling in larynx. Worse for touch. Worse at night. The larynx is irritated and feels as if a crumb were logded in it. This sets off a desire to cough, as does touching the neck. Patients may wake with a choking cough as soon as they have fallen into a deep sleep. LYCOPODIUM Constant dry cough, irritating, painful, disturbs sleep. Breathing is difficult, fast. Mucus can be yellow, white or green. It is copious and tastes salty. Better for hot drinks. Worse on going to sleep; at night; in the evening in bed. This cough is aggravated by an overpowering tickling in the larynx, as if the larynx were being tickled by a feather. It is worse from falling asleep. The chest infection is accompanied by a feeling of constriction or tightness in the chest. The sputum is yellow or white. MERCURIUS SOLUBILIS Cough is racking. Mucus is green. Worse during the evening in bed; at night; for lying on right side. NATRUM MURIATICUM Cough is dry; hacking; irritating; tickling. Mucus like egg white; transparent; white. Worse during fever; evening in bed; from tickling in larynx.
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The cough is excited by a tickling in the larynx and air passages. The eyes water when coughing (or laughing). NATRUM SULPHURICUM Cough during the day only. Mucus green. Worse for damp, wet weather. NUX VOMICA Dry, teasing cough with great soreness of chest. Coryza travels down to chest. Feverishness, when patient cannot move or uncover without feeling chilly. Spasmodic cough with retching. (Dros., Rumex) Worst cold, dry, windy weather. Cough causes headache as if skull would burst. (Bell., Phos.) Bruised pain about umbilicus, as if lacerated. Tickling and pain in larynx with cough. Acute catarrhal laryngitis, asthma, whooping cough. Feels as if something is torn loose in chest. The person is generally hypersensitive, mentally and physically; easily offended. OPIUM Breathing is difficult; slow; snoring. Worse during sleep; on falling asleep; on waking. The breathing slows down during sleep and when fever is strong; it becomes irregular and laboured, like a waking snoring. This aspect is very marked in this remedy picture and needs to be present for it to work successfully. PHOSPHORIC ACID Cough is dry; tickling; violent. Better after sleep. Worse for cold; for sweating; during the evening; during the morning. PHOSPHORUS Dry, tickling cough; irritation in larynx and below sternum. Violent, hard, dry, tight cough, which racks the patient and is very exhausting. With pain in head as if it would burst. (Bell., Nux V.) Violent pain in chest with coughing, obliged to hold chest with hand. (Bry.) Cough with pain in chest and abdomen, obliged to hold abdomen with hand. (Dros.) There may be involuntary stool when coughing. Oppression and constriction, as if a great weight lying on chest.
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Tightness across chest, better external pressure. Violent, shaking cough. Trembles with cough. Cough worse for laughing, talking, reading aloud, eating, lying on left side. Sputum saltish, yellow, sour, salt or sweet. Worst open air. Going from warm to cold room (Rumex) or vice versa. The typical Phosphorus patient is chilly, with thirst for cold drinks. Thirst for ice-cold water. Craves salt Sensitive to thunder. Nervous alone – in the dark. Suspicious. Anxious. Indifferent. PULSATILLA Cough on inspiration. Worse in warm room or coming into a warm room. Cough in the evening, when lying, prevents sleep. Dry in the evening, loose in the morning. Cough from tickling or scraping in larynx. Paroxymal. Gagging and choking. Dry, teasing cough, wants windows and doors thrown open. (Sulph.) Discharges thick, bland, yellowish-green. The Pulsatilla type is tearful, intolerant of heat and of close places, better in cool, fresh air. Not hungry or thirsty. RHUS TOXICODENDRON Dry teasing cough, from tickling in bronchi; from uncovering even a hand. Nocturnal dry cough. Cough with taste of blood, though no blood to be seen. Cough during sleep. Worse cold, wet weather. Worse uncovering. Restlessness, must move. RUMEX CRISPUS Cough on changing rooms, from breathing cold air. (Phos.) Cough provoked by change from warm to cold. Covers mouth. Every fit of coughing produces the passage of a few drops of urine. (Caust.) Tough, stringy, tenacious mucus. (Symptoms very like Dros.) Much tough mucus in larynx with constant desire to hawk it up but without relief. Hoarseness. Dry spasmodic cough like early stage of whooping cough. (Dros.) Dry at first. In paroxysms, preceded by tickling in throat pit with congestion and slight pain in head and wrenching pains right chest. The most violent paroxysm were a few
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minutes after lying down at night (11pm) after which slept all night. Paroxysms also on waking and through day. Later, expectoration of adhesive mucus in small quantities, detached with difficulty. Breathlessness, especially out of doors. SCILLA Gush of tears with coughing. Cough causes sneezing, flow of tears, spurting of uring, even involuntary stools. Cough with expectoration in the morning and none in the evening. SEPIA Violent cough with retching and gagging. Thick, tenacious, yellow expectoration. No expectoration in the evening. Or expectoration by night, none by day. The Sepia patient is tired, indifferent, wants to get away. Offensive axillary sweat. SILICEA Cough irritating. Mucus is lumpy; thick; yellow. Better for hot drinks. Worse in the morning on waking; for getting cold; for uncovering feet or head. Silicea is especially useful for lingering winter coughs that start after getting chilled, or wet and chilled, and that do not clear up easily with the indicated or constitutional remedy. SPONGIA TOSTA Chest dry. No wheezing or rattling with respiration or cough. Croupy cough, sounds like a saw driven through a board. Wakes out of sleep with suffocation, with loud violent cough, great alarm, anxiety and difficult breathing. (Acon.) Cough worse talking, reading, singing, swallowing, lying with head low. Later tough mucus, difficult to expectorate, has to be swallowed. (Caust.) STANNUM METALLICUM Loose cough, with heavy, green, sweet or salty sputum. Sensation of great weakness in chest. Chest feels empty.
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STAPHISAGRIA Tickling cough. Cough is brought about by suppressed anger. The larynx and air passages feel irritated with this cough. SULPHUR Suffocated. Wants doors and windows open (Puls.) at night. Cough at night. Congestion of blood to chest, to head. Burning chest, head, face, in soles of feet at night. Red lips, red eye lids, red orifices. Worse for bath. TUBERCULINUM Hard, dry cough. Craves air (Puls.) Better in cold wind. Suffocative in warm room. To clear up coughs or pneumonias that hang fire; where there is a history of T.B. Night sweats. VERATRUM ALBUM Cough is deep; hollow. Breathing is difficult and may be louder than usual. There is a feeling of tightness in the chest, and the cough is accompanied by a cold sweat that can be clammy; profuse; sour.
SPASMODIC CROUP There is a celebrated group of homoeopathic remedies for spasmodic croup. The sequence is as follows: Aconitum, Hepar Sulph, Spongia, Hepar Sulph, Spongia, in that order, and should so many be required. Give at 2-4 hourly intervals, according to the urgency of the case.
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