Coughs can occur as accompaniment to cold or flu symptoms or as a chronic state, persistent over a long period of time. There are many remedies that may help a cough depending upon the symptoms eg. dry, spasmodic or loose. Close attention is needed to differentiate the presenting symptoms for a remedy choice. A 6c potency is usually sufficient for home prescribing.
The following information may be helpful and relates to homoeopathic remedy pictures and information available in traditional homoeopathic texts. Homoeopathic principles should be applied when using any homoeopathic remedy. Always read the product label. If symptoms persist consult your health care practitioner promptly.
Dry Cough
Aconite: for a dry cough with a sudden onset after exposure to dry, cold wind. Ant Tart: noisy, rattling, wheezy cough with copious mucus that cannot be expectorated.Belladonna: dry, barking, repetitive, flushed face, dislikes being uncovered. Bryonia: difficult breathing, dry throat, worse moving. Chamomilla: chronic, irritable, dry, tickling cough in children especially. Coughs in sleep but does not awaken. Ferrum Phos: short, acute, painful cough with no expectoration Nux Vomica: dry, fatiguing cough, always worse in the morning. Spongia: dry rasping cough like a seal, wheezing, suffocative.
The Croupy Cough
Three remedies come to mind as the most commonly used in order for croup. Aconite: sudden onset around 11 pm; Spongia: dry barking cough around midnight and Hepar sulph: loose noisy ‘rattling’ cough.
Spasmodic Cough
Sambucus: sudden, suffocating, inability to exhale. Blocked nose prevents baby feeding. Drosera: dry, barking, tickling, wheezing, worse lying down, holds chest while coughing, worse after midnight. Mercurius: wracking cough at night, sore throat, sweat greasy.
Mucus Clear – Nat Mur: mucus clear, watery & salty to taste. Excessive discharge.
Mucus White – Kali Mur: hoarse, rattly cough. Mucus thick, white & difficult to expectorate
Mucus Yellow-Green – Hepar Sulph: Raucous, noisy, rattly cough. Splinter like feeling in the throat. Pulsatilla: loose cough with thick bland yellow mucus by day. Cough dry at night. Calc Sulph: loose cough, mucus streaked with blood. Silica: cough with chronic thick mucus. Worse – cold drinks, morning on rising & when lying down at night.
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