Last few months northern India has witnessed unprecedented pollution episodes. It has put the public at large in trouble. People, who are not usually allergic, have also suffered. Majority of the patients visiting physicians are with pharyngitis, difficulty in breathing, chronic cough with or without expectoration. These symptoms are persistent even when most similar remedy is selected based on constitution or a symptom specific remedy is given. Obviously it is so, because of the nature of maintaining cause. We cannot expect or advice the person in these cases to avoid the maintaining cause for which he would have to leave this part of the country. Different approaches are needed to successfully manage these cases. This article discusses about some of the ways to approach and treat such cases.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology defines chronic cough as persisting cough for more than or equal to eight weeks. Chronic cough has various reasons behind from postnasal dripping/drainage, bronchial asthma, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, hyperacidity, thyroid disorder, congestive cardiac failure, etc. As per report around 25% of these cases are due to allergic asthma. Such cases may be worsened by colds, exercise, exposure to smoke, dust, strong smells and excessive laughter, among other things. A physician has to identify the appropriate cause and rule out the rest.
Homeopathic approach
As stated earlier, many a times these cases are persistent and stagnant. Different approaches are need for different cases. No two cases are same. The method adopted to a case do not work in other. At times multi-dimensional approach may be needed. The most indicated remedy should be given on regular interval with intercurrent anti-miasmatic/constitutional remedy supported by cough specific mother tinctures/low potencies. In many cases it has proven to be effective. Below are the frequently used remedies and mother tinctures.
Ways and means to avoid pollution related chronic cough
Using masks when going out, avoiding exercising outdoors when pollution levels are high, walking mostly indoors in a shopping mall or gym, limiting the amount of time spent outdoors, avoiding generators nearby and avoiding direct or indirect smoking are some of the ways avoid or reduce pollution effects like cough. To reduce air pollution in the environment, walking, bike or carpool, combined trips, using public transport and avoiding burning wood or trash will help.
Frequently used remedies in chronic cough
Aconitum napellus30CH, 200CH
Though it is more useful in acute stage, it can be used in allergic coughs with physical and mental restlessness with fever and great feeling of weakness, complaints and tension caused by exposure to dry, cold weather, draught of cold air, smell acutely sensitive, pain at the root of nose, mucous membrane dry, nose dry or with scanty watery coryza, throat is red, dry and constricted.
Antimoniumsulphuratumaureum 3x, 6x
It is useful for dry hard cough, winter cough, accumulation of tough mucus in bronchi and larynx, increased mucus sputum, mixed with blood and of sweetish taste, and congestion of upper lobe of the lung.
Antimoniumtartaricum 30CH, 200CH
It acts on hoarseness, burning sensations in the chest, rattling of mucus with little expectoration, short, rapid and difficult respiration, bronchial tubes overloaded with mucus, and emphysema of the aged.
BryoniaalbaØ, 30CH, 200CH
It acts on pharyngolaryngitis and dry bronchitis. It covers cough mostly dry, excited by a tickling in the throat, must sit up; stitches in chest and expectoration of rust – coloured sputa sometimes with vomiting; worse after eating or drinking. It covers difficult, quick respiration, worse every movement, must support chest.
Coccus cacti Ø, 6CH, 30CH
It is indicated for spasmodic and whooping cough, coryza, accumulation of thick viscid mucus which is difficult to expectorate, tickling in the larynx, suffocative cough and chronic bronchitis.
Droserarotundifolia Ø, 30CH, 200CH
It is a known remedy for whooping cough. It relieves paroxysms which follow each other rapidly, choking and retching, dry irritative cough aggravated on talking, hoarseness and roughness in the throat.
Ephedra vulgaris Ø, 30CH, 200CH
It acts on the mucous membranes of the bronchi. It has proved to be of value for decongestion, relaxation and expectoration and associated chronic cough.
Eucalyptus globules Ø, 30CH, 200CH
It is used in cases of chronic cough in bronchitis in old and feeble persons with anemia. Indicated for bronchorrhoea, irritative cough with thick, white, frothy, offensive mucus; whooping cough in rachitic children and bronchitis and emphysema.
Grindelia robustaØ, 30CH, 200CH
It is indicated for cough associated with bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. It is a remedy for wheezing, oppression of the chest with viscous mucus which is difficult to detach, dyspnoea.
Heparsulphuris 30CH, 200CH
Cough started from sore throat, continuing with shooting pain in the throat and even into the ears, as from splinters on swallowing, coughing, breathing and turning the head. Difficulty in speaking and in swallowing are lowered. Hawking up of mucus and dryness in the throat are alleviated.
IpecacuanhaØ, 30CH, 200CH
It reduces spasmodic irritation of the chest. It acts on dyspnoea, chest pain, incessant and violent cough, rattling and attacks of spasmodic and suffocative cough with nausea.
Justiciaadhatoda Ø
It is a highly efficacious remedy for acute catarrhal conditions of the respiratory tract. Coryza with cough, hoarseness, paroxysmal cough with suffocating obstruction of respiration, dyspnoea, symptoms of asthma and whooping cough are also covered by this ingredient.
Kali bichromicum 30CH, 200CH
It covers erythema of soft palate, bright or dark red, uvula relaxed, edematous – bladder like, with sensation of a plug in throat which is not better by swallowing. It helps lower the discharge from mouth and throat which tends to be tough and stringy.
Kali phosphoricum 3x, 6x, 30CH, 200CH
Least exertion gives the feeling of obstructed chest and breathlessness (dyspnoea). Headache, malaise catarrhal conditions are also covered by this medicine. It has a tendency to impart a feeling of well being, and calming the patient.
Mercuriusbiniodatus6x, 30CH, 200CH
Throat dark red, swallowing painful, hawks mucous from posterior nares with sensation of a lump in throat, hawks up a hard, green lump. Stiffness of muscles of throat and neck are also relieved.
Lobelia inflate Ø, 30CH, 200CH
It is indicated for asthma with spasmodic cough and dyspnoea from constriction of the chest exacerbated by any exertion. It is useful during acute attacks of bronchial asthma accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sweating.
Naphthalinum 6x, 30CH, 200CH
It is reported to be useful in chronic cough from coryza, hay-fever, phthisis pulmonalis, whooping cough, acute laryngo-tracheitis and bronchitis when the spasmodic element is associated with tenacious expectoration and oppression, and spasmodic asthma which is improved in the open air.
Nux vomica 30CH, 200CH
Cigarettes, smoke, dust, toxic stimulants have adverse effect on the delicate tissues of respiratory organs. These result in catarrhal hoarseness, spasmodic contractions, breathlessness, (shallow respiration and oppressed breathing), hacking cough and headache. These symptoms respond well by this ingredient.
Phosphorus30CH, 200CH
It is indicated where the picture is of destructive metabolism, great lowness of spirit, neuralgia, parts must be kept warm, chronic catarrh with small haemorrhages, larynx very painful, sore throat, cannot talk on account of pain in larynx, cough from tickling in throat, worse in cold air.
Rumexcrispus Ø, 30CH, 200CH
It is indicated for coughs caused by incessant tickling in the back of the throat. It acts on dry coughs aggravated by inspiring cold air, which cause stringy and tough expectoration. Rumex is known to diminish the secretion of mucous membranes.
SenegaØ, 30CH, 200CH
It acts on catarrhal symptoms of the respiratory tract. Hoarseness leading to temporary loss of voice, backache on coughing, hacking cough, oppression in the chest, bronchitis, rattling, difficult raising of tough, profuse mucus and chronic emphysema are covered.
Silicea 6x, 30CH, 200CH
It covers accumulation of mucus in the throat, pain as from excoriation and pricking, swelling of palate and uvula with difficult deglutition. Expectoration of little granules like shot, which when broken smell very offensive, is also covered by this medicine. It stimulates healing process in general.
SpongiatostaØ, 30CH, 200CH
It acts on respiratory organs. Hoarseness, dryness of larynx leading to dry barking cough, croup, short and difficult respiration are covered. The cough is relieved while drinking or eating.
Stannumiodatum30CH, 200CH
It has a main action centred upon the respiratory organs, especially chronic bronchial and pulmonary conditions, characterised by profuse mucopuruient discharges. The chest feels sore and weak. It acts on persistent tickling dry cough, tracheal and bronchial irritation of smokers, where the cough is loud, hollow, ending with expectoration, and purulent infiltration.
StictapulmonariaØ, 30CH, 200CH
It is indicated for coryza, bronchial catarrh and influenza. Raw throat, dropping of mucus posteriorly, dry hacking cough at night, and tracheitis are covered. In cases of loose cough it facilitates expectoration.