Introduction to cough
This is one of the common problem that is unfortunately tackled by pharmacists more than the doctors on the initial stages. It comes under the most common problem that everyone in his or her life must have faced this at least once. The cough troubles not only the human beings but some animals like dog, horses are also affected badly.
Ayurveda believes that the cough (known as kaasa) is considered to be most troublesome to throat and so to an individual. This can be with thick and thin mucus or phlegm. In some type of cough like smoker's cough, it is characterized by dry cough and the persistency is comparatively high. Cough troubles person in his or her daily routine like speaking, eating, sleeping and sometimes even breathing.
Definition of cough
To define cough, it is nothing but an action of the body to get rid of any foreign substance or own creation (like mucus) that irritates or impediments the airway or windpipe. When certain special cells along with the air pathway gets irritated and trigger the chain of events, the whole procedure is called as cough and the act of it is called as coughing.
There is expelling of an air from the lungs suddenly with noise from mouth. Ayurveda defines kaasa meaning the sound, which is produced when you crash two stones with each other.
Causes of cough
There are many causes from the small ones to danger ones. This can also be physiological event if something irritating goes into the windpipe including some food particles while swallowing. Some illness like pneumonia, heart failure or a clot in the blood vessels of the lung (called as pulmonary embolism) also produces the cough.
Smoking and asthma also give rise to coughing. Some condition like gastro-esophageal reflux where the stomach content comes back into the mouth may also produce the cough. Cough could be the side effect of some allopathic drug like angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors. Infections like bacteria, virus also produce the irritation to the lungs, bronchial tree or the windpipe itself and produce cough.
Environmental substances that irritate the lungs, air passage or the throat cause coughing. Cigarette smoking, pipe smoke, low environmental humidity, pollution, dist, dirt, grimes and congested place also create cough in an individual. The profession also plays an important role in producing the cough. Like a person working in woolen factory or chemical factory or pharmaceutical factory where there are particles of the materials irritating the respiratory tract is most common cause producing the cough.
Ayurveda believes that Kapha Dosha dominating disease. Those foods and other deeds that aggravate the Kapha Dosha also give rise to the cough. Ayurveda also favors some chronic disease as described above as a causative factor for producing the kaasa or cough.
Types and symptoms of cough
Signs and symptoms which revile the infections are fever, body aches, sore throats, sinus pressure, chills, post nasal drip, malaise, nausea, vomiting etc are there if the cough is infectious. There are many symptoms but broadly, it can be classified under two categories; productive and non-productive.
Non-productive cough
This is also called as dry-cough. There won't be any mucus or purulent discharge from the respiratory tract along with the cough. In this, whenever a person coughs, he or she finds difficult in breathing. The dry cough produces more noise as compare to the productive cough i.e. cough with discharge.
Productive cough
As the name suggests, the cough with some discharge whether purulent or non purulent or phlegm is considered to be productive cough. The color of the product may vary from person to person and condition to condition. It could be white, yellow or bloody, which is dangerous indicating some serious problem. All the time, a person feels that the throat is getting irritated and needs something expelling out, which will not give any good results though.
Ayurveda describes five types of cough i.e. kaasa. This includes Vataja kaasa (produced by Vata Dosha), Pittaja (by Pitta Dosha), kaphaja (by Kapha Dosha), kshayaja and kshataja. Vataja features pain in flanks, lungs and in chest. It has mainly dry cough. Pittaja has purulent discharge (generally foul smelling and having yellow color). There may be fever associated with the pittaja kaasa. Sour taste feeling in the mouth is very common.
The kaphaja kaasa is having white discharge and sweet taste all time in mouth. The tongue is quoted and heaviness in the chest is felt. The person with this type of kaasa may have headache. Kshayaja kaasa come from sever infections. If someone does excessive intercourse, suppression of natural urges like urine, feces etc invite this type of cough. All the bodily doshas are affected. Kshataja kaasa is developed by over exertion of anything. This may include excessive traveling in open air, carrying or lifting the load which is out of your capacity.
Prevention and treatment of cough
Diet control and control over the roaming is to be kept in mind. One should not go to the dusty place or out there in heavy pollution. As this could be an airborne infection, keep yourself away from public places especially dense areas. Avoid those places also where the cleaning is going on as on road or in house. Stay out of the allergens that trigger up the cough. Try to avoid the clothes, brooms and dustbins nearby you, which produce the cough.
Give up dry food items like grams etc. Cold drinks, ice creams, cold water, smoking, stimulant beverages etc are harmful and produce the cough. Hot spicy and oily foods are best to be avoided.
There are many Ayurvedic herbs that can give relief in cough. They are either available in combination or available as single drug. These include vaasa, aardraka, tulasi, yashtimadhu, kaasani, kantakari, pushkarmool etc. There are lot many herbal cough syrups available in the market. One can go for the combination having above mentioned drugs. Some of the formulas like Eladi vati, Sitopaladi Churnam, Haridra Khanda, Vyoshadi vati, Chyavanprashavleha etc are also practiced in treating the cough since centuries.
Until recently whooping cough was one of the most prevalent and alarming of childhood illnesses, not only because of its immediate and unpleasant effects but because of the far-reaching consequences it could have upon children's health if they were not nursed and convalesced with care. It was not uncommon for youngsters to be left with damaged lungs and permanent vulnerability to infection. Small babies were and still are terribly at risk and if you have a child of school age in the same house as a baby and you know that whooping cough has been diagnosed in the area do your best to keep them separated. The first signs are a feverish cold and an unpleasant cough although the horrible whoop as they fight for air after a bout of violent coughing does not become apparent for about a week. Always seek professional advice.
It is apparent, by all the wise saws and saying which abound, that before the advent of antibiotics and immunization a great many children contracted whooping cough. One which appears the most truthful even in our enlightened age is that if whooping cough starts in the bud of the year it will last "til the leaves fall" or in other words if it has not gone before May it will stay throughout the summer and leave a child very vulnerable to infection for many years to come.
Because whooping cough is an illness which runs its course the wise women devised expedient methods of passing the buck. For example one remedy suggested that the child should be passed several times through a blackberry bush and no sound must be uttered by any of the parties present. The lack of success was then blamed on any cries that the victim made when impaled upon the brambles. The same expediency applied to using the hairs from the head of a child who had never seen its father or from the back of a donkey with singular markings which when tied into a bag and carried around the neck would effect an instant cure. Other hairy nostrums carried about the throat were live spiders and caterpillars which, as they died a lingering death, took the disease away with them. Two further sovereign remedies were a powder of fried mice and onions, dried and nicely ground, or a syrup of molasses and rose gall - larva it al! The thought of taking either must have speedily sorted out any malingerers.
One particular old - fashioned remedy which I can just remember from my own childhood was to take the patient to breathe the fumes exuded from the local gas works. These arose from the lime used in the purifying process in the days of coal gas and were particularly noxious although we were all assured that to live in the environs was very healthy. The smell of tar - which I like - also appeared to do the trick and some people even went so far as to tie a tarry rope necklace about the patient's throat. Country children however fared far better than townies for they were placed in a byre with cattle or sheep in order that they might inhale their moist, sweet breath or maybe it was just that the calming presence of the contented beasts released them from fear and tension.
One of the worst aspects of whooping cough is the terrible panic that a small child can get into and which exacerbates the cough and makes it even more difficult for them to get their breath. All that you can do at this particular juncture is to sit them on your lap, leaving them plenty of space to breathe, holding a bowl in case they are sick and wiping the face with a cool, fragrant cloth whilst giving them calm, constant reassurance. A mildly sedative herbal tea taken with plenty of honey three or four times a day will help to keep them calm.
Chamomile is most helpful as it is anti - spasmodic and can be given to very small children. So can lemon balm and catnip - 1 teaspoon for very small children graduating to 1 tablespoon or 1 small cup for older children. Make sure that they take plenty of liquids to drink but not milk which can make them sick, although goat's milk is recommended during convalescence. Mare's milk was also thought to be very nourishing but is a little difficult to acquire nowadays! Do not give them dry food to eat as this will irritate the throat but make sure that they have a regular daily intake of vitamin C to combat infection.
Any of the cough syrups given under Chest infections. Catarrhal Infections and Bronchitis, Particularly garlic and honey cabbage syrup or radish and honey, will help to ease the cough, whilst 'rubs' for the chest such as eucalyptus, essential oil of pine or cypress in almond oil, Olbas oil of garlic oil, together with many or the suggestions also to be found under Chest Infections, will case the respiratory passages and make the child feel more comfortable.
Soothing Solutions for Cough Relief and Home Remedies for Cough
* Thyme Infuse 25g (1oz) of thyme in 600 ml (1 pint) of boiling water strain and take with honey; 1 tablespoon four times daily for older children and 1 teaspoon for babies. The same tea can be made with marjoram, mouse ear hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella which will reduce a fever), dried red clover flowers, lavender, honeysuckle flowers or elecampane which are all very mild and can be given as above to children of three years and upwards. One of the best home remedies for cough.
* Lettuce Simmer 1 cleaned head of lettuce in 600 ml (1 pint) of water for 20 minutes. Drink the liquid three times a day.
* Fizzy lemonade This is helpful if drunk warm
Onion and Honey Syrup
450 g (11b) onions
225g (80z) garlic
600 ml (1 pint) sunflower oil
150 ml (1/4 pint) honey
Peel and finely slice the onions and garlic and put them in a covered dish with the oil. Cook slowly in a low oven until very soft. Strain well and add the remaining ingredients. Bottle and cork. Shake, before using. For children over two years old and up to four give 1 teaspoon three times daily. Increase the dose according to age. At one time 15g (1/2oz) of paregoric (a medicine consisting of opium, benzoic acid, camphor and anise oil) would have been added.
* Prickly pear syrup Cut the leaves of 3 prickly pears into pieces (a feat in itself) and boil gently for half an hour. Strain and sweeten with unrefined sugar. Boil again until syrupy. One of the good home remedies for Cough.
* Grape juice This is an excellent drink for sick children and it can also be used to great effect to cleanse the nose, throat and mouth.
* Slippery elm The powdered bark mixed with water and honey is both a food and a tonic.
* Garlic Try and get the child to inhale the volatile vapours of slices of garlic trapped in boiling water. Do not cover the heads of very small children as it may frighten them.
* Camphor and naptha crystals To hang these around the neck in a small, thick cotton bag is an age - old remedy.
* Rum Rub the back of the patient with oil dark rum. Presumably the fumes alone are enough to induce sleep.
This is one of the common problem that is unfortunately tackled by pharmacists more than the doctors on the initial stages. It comes under the most common problem that everyone in his or her life must have faced this at least once. The cough troubles not only the human beings but some animals like dog, horses are also affected badly.
Ayurveda believes that the cough (known as kaasa) is considered to be most troublesome to throat and so to an individual. This can be with thick and thin mucus or phlegm. In some type of cough like smoker's cough, it is characterized by dry cough and the persistency is comparatively high. Cough troubles person in his or her daily routine like speaking, eating, sleeping and sometimes even breathing.
Definition of cough
To define cough, it is nothing but an action of the body to get rid of any foreign substance or own creation (like mucus) that irritates or impediments the airway or windpipe. When certain special cells along with the air pathway gets irritated and trigger the chain of events, the whole procedure is called as cough and the act of it is called as coughing.
There is expelling of an air from the lungs suddenly with noise from mouth. Ayurveda defines kaasa meaning the sound, which is produced when you crash two stones with each other.
Causes of cough
There are many causes from the small ones to danger ones. This can also be physiological event if something irritating goes into the windpipe including some food particles while swallowing. Some illness like pneumonia, heart failure or a clot in the blood vessels of the lung (called as pulmonary embolism) also produces the cough.
Smoking and asthma also give rise to coughing. Some condition like gastro-esophageal reflux where the stomach content comes back into the mouth may also produce the cough. Cough could be the side effect of some allopathic drug like angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors. Infections like bacteria, virus also produce the irritation to the lungs, bronchial tree or the windpipe itself and produce cough.
Environmental substances that irritate the lungs, air passage or the throat cause coughing. Cigarette smoking, pipe smoke, low environmental humidity, pollution, dist, dirt, grimes and congested place also create cough in an individual. The profession also plays an important role in producing the cough. Like a person working in woolen factory or chemical factory or pharmaceutical factory where there are particles of the materials irritating the respiratory tract is most common cause producing the cough.
Ayurveda believes that Kapha Dosha dominating disease. Those foods and other deeds that aggravate the Kapha Dosha also give rise to the cough. Ayurveda also favors some chronic disease as described above as a causative factor for producing the kaasa or cough.
Types and symptoms of cough
Signs and symptoms which revile the infections are fever, body aches, sore throats, sinus pressure, chills, post nasal drip, malaise, nausea, vomiting etc are there if the cough is infectious. There are many symptoms but broadly, it can be classified under two categories; productive and non-productive.
Non-productive cough
This is also called as dry-cough. There won't be any mucus or purulent discharge from the respiratory tract along with the cough. In this, whenever a person coughs, he or she finds difficult in breathing. The dry cough produces more noise as compare to the productive cough i.e. cough with discharge.
Productive cough
As the name suggests, the cough with some discharge whether purulent or non purulent or phlegm is considered to be productive cough. The color of the product may vary from person to person and condition to condition. It could be white, yellow or bloody, which is dangerous indicating some serious problem. All the time, a person feels that the throat is getting irritated and needs something expelling out, which will not give any good results though.
Ayurveda describes five types of cough i.e. kaasa. This includes Vataja kaasa (produced by Vata Dosha), Pittaja (by Pitta Dosha), kaphaja (by Kapha Dosha), kshayaja and kshataja. Vataja features pain in flanks, lungs and in chest. It has mainly dry cough. Pittaja has purulent discharge (generally foul smelling and having yellow color). There may be fever associated with the pittaja kaasa. Sour taste feeling in the mouth is very common.
The kaphaja kaasa is having white discharge and sweet taste all time in mouth. The tongue is quoted and heaviness in the chest is felt. The person with this type of kaasa may have headache. Kshayaja kaasa come from sever infections. If someone does excessive intercourse, suppression of natural urges like urine, feces etc invite this type of cough. All the bodily doshas are affected. Kshataja kaasa is developed by over exertion of anything. This may include excessive traveling in open air, carrying or lifting the load which is out of your capacity.
Prevention and treatment of cough
Diet control and control over the roaming is to be kept in mind. One should not go to the dusty place or out there in heavy pollution. As this could be an airborne infection, keep yourself away from public places especially dense areas. Avoid those places also where the cleaning is going on as on road or in house. Stay out of the allergens that trigger up the cough. Try to avoid the clothes, brooms and dustbins nearby you, which produce the cough.
Give up dry food items like grams etc. Cold drinks, ice creams, cold water, smoking, stimulant beverages etc are harmful and produce the cough. Hot spicy and oily foods are best to be avoided.
There are many Ayurvedic herbs that can give relief in cough. They are either available in combination or available as single drug. These include vaasa, aardraka, tulasi, yashtimadhu, kaasani, kantakari, pushkarmool etc. There are lot many herbal cough syrups available in the market. One can go for the combination having above mentioned drugs. Some of the formulas like Eladi vati, Sitopaladi Churnam, Haridra Khanda, Vyoshadi vati, Chyavanprashavleha etc are also practiced in treating the cough since centuries.
Until recently whooping cough was one of the most prevalent and alarming of childhood illnesses, not only because of its immediate and unpleasant effects but because of the far-reaching consequences it could have upon children's health if they were not nursed and convalesced with care. It was not uncommon for youngsters to be left with damaged lungs and permanent vulnerability to infection. Small babies were and still are terribly at risk and if you have a child of school age in the same house as a baby and you know that whooping cough has been diagnosed in the area do your best to keep them separated. The first signs are a feverish cold and an unpleasant cough although the horrible whoop as they fight for air after a bout of violent coughing does not become apparent for about a week. Always seek professional advice.
It is apparent, by all the wise saws and saying which abound, that before the advent of antibiotics and immunization a great many children contracted whooping cough. One which appears the most truthful even in our enlightened age is that if whooping cough starts in the bud of the year it will last "til the leaves fall" or in other words if it has not gone before May it will stay throughout the summer and leave a child very vulnerable to infection for many years to come.
Because whooping cough is an illness which runs its course the wise women devised expedient methods of passing the buck. For example one remedy suggested that the child should be passed several times through a blackberry bush and no sound must be uttered by any of the parties present. The lack of success was then blamed on any cries that the victim made when impaled upon the brambles. The same expediency applied to using the hairs from the head of a child who had never seen its father or from the back of a donkey with singular markings which when tied into a bag and carried around the neck would effect an instant cure. Other hairy nostrums carried about the throat were live spiders and caterpillars which, as they died a lingering death, took the disease away with them. Two further sovereign remedies were a powder of fried mice and onions, dried and nicely ground, or a syrup of molasses and rose gall - larva it al! The thought of taking either must have speedily sorted out any malingerers.
One particular old - fashioned remedy which I can just remember from my own childhood was to take the patient to breathe the fumes exuded from the local gas works. These arose from the lime used in the purifying process in the days of coal gas and were particularly noxious although we were all assured that to live in the environs was very healthy. The smell of tar - which I like - also appeared to do the trick and some people even went so far as to tie a tarry rope necklace about the patient's throat. Country children however fared far better than townies for they were placed in a byre with cattle or sheep in order that they might inhale their moist, sweet breath or maybe it was just that the calming presence of the contented beasts released them from fear and tension.
One of the worst aspects of whooping cough is the terrible panic that a small child can get into and which exacerbates the cough and makes it even more difficult for them to get their breath. All that you can do at this particular juncture is to sit them on your lap, leaving them plenty of space to breathe, holding a bowl in case they are sick and wiping the face with a cool, fragrant cloth whilst giving them calm, constant reassurance. A mildly sedative herbal tea taken with plenty of honey three or four times a day will help to keep them calm.
Chamomile is most helpful as it is anti - spasmodic and can be given to very small children. So can lemon balm and catnip - 1 teaspoon for very small children graduating to 1 tablespoon or 1 small cup for older children. Make sure that they take plenty of liquids to drink but not milk which can make them sick, although goat's milk is recommended during convalescence. Mare's milk was also thought to be very nourishing but is a little difficult to acquire nowadays! Do not give them dry food to eat as this will irritate the throat but make sure that they have a regular daily intake of vitamin C to combat infection.
Any of the cough syrups given under Chest infections. Catarrhal Infections and Bronchitis, Particularly garlic and honey cabbage syrup or radish and honey, will help to ease the cough, whilst 'rubs' for the chest such as eucalyptus, essential oil of pine or cypress in almond oil, Olbas oil of garlic oil, together with many or the suggestions also to be found under Chest Infections, will case the respiratory passages and make the child feel more comfortable.
Soothing Solutions for Cough Relief and Home Remedies for Cough
* Thyme Infuse 25g (1oz) of thyme in 600 ml (1 pint) of boiling water strain and take with honey; 1 tablespoon four times daily for older children and 1 teaspoon for babies. The same tea can be made with marjoram, mouse ear hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella which will reduce a fever), dried red clover flowers, lavender, honeysuckle flowers or elecampane which are all very mild and can be given as above to children of three years and upwards. One of the best home remedies for cough.
* Lettuce Simmer 1 cleaned head of lettuce in 600 ml (1 pint) of water for 20 minutes. Drink the liquid three times a day.
* Fizzy lemonade This is helpful if drunk warm
Onion and Honey Syrup
450 g (11b) onions
225g (80z) garlic
600 ml (1 pint) sunflower oil
150 ml (1/4 pint) honey
Peel and finely slice the onions and garlic and put them in a covered dish with the oil. Cook slowly in a low oven until very soft. Strain well and add the remaining ingredients. Bottle and cork. Shake, before using. For children over two years old and up to four give 1 teaspoon three times daily. Increase the dose according to age. At one time 15g (1/2oz) of paregoric (a medicine consisting of opium, benzoic acid, camphor and anise oil) would have been added.
* Prickly pear syrup Cut the leaves of 3 prickly pears into pieces (a feat in itself) and boil gently for half an hour. Strain and sweeten with unrefined sugar. Boil again until syrupy. One of the good home remedies for Cough.
* Grape juice This is an excellent drink for sick children and it can also be used to great effect to cleanse the nose, throat and mouth.
* Slippery elm The powdered bark mixed with water and honey is both a food and a tonic.
* Garlic Try and get the child to inhale the volatile vapours of slices of garlic trapped in boiling water. Do not cover the heads of very small children as it may frighten them.
* Camphor and naptha crystals To hang these around the neck in a small, thick cotton bag is an age - old remedy.
* Rum Rub the back of the patient with oil dark rum. Presumably the fumes alone are enough to induce sleep.
Source...