Say Bye to Cough the Naturopathic Way

What Is a Cough?

Coughing is a vital body defense mechanism. Coughing is the reaction of the body in which excess mucus is driven out. The air passage of the lungs is lined by cells secreting mucus, which traps dust particles. When the cough is associated with sputum then it is called a wet cough. When the cough is without sputum then it is a dry cough. Coughing expels all the particles and foreign bodies from the windpipe and lungs. If left untreated, a cough can get serious and result in pneumonia. When the cell lining of the lungs gets infected, inflammation occurs which leads to an increase in mucus secretion, irritation, and a dry hacking sound as well. It affects all age groups.

What Are the Causes of a Cough?

The causes of a cough include:

• The real cause is the clogging of the bronchial tube with waste matter.

• Inflammation of the larynx or pharynx may be because of digestive disturbance.

• Due to weather or seasonal changes.

• Wrong feeding habits, such as overeating bread, meat, sugar, porridge, puddings, and pies in winter.

What Are the Symptoms of a Cough?

The symptoms of a cough are:

• A person who is going to cough first draws a deep breath in, then closes the glottis and contracts muscles that build up pressure in the chest. Afterward, the glottis will be opened abruptly. As a result, there is an explosive discharge of air, which sweeps through the air passage and carries away excess secretions. In some cases, foreign matter has irritated the larynx, trachea, or bronchi.

• Production of rattling sound.

• The patient feels pain in the chest during extensive coughing.

• A feeling of tiredness and weakness.

• Other constitutional symptoms like fever, headache, cold, sore throat, body aches, malaise, and loss of appetite may be associated.

What Are the Best Natural Cough Remedies?

When one notices any of the above symptoms of cough, then efforts should be made to avoid extensive cold items. A hot bath and chest pack are useful in the treatment of coughs. Heavy and cough-producing diets like milk and milk products, sweets, etc., should be avoided. A light diet is preferred. Drink warm water. For a dry cough, a chest pack is beneficial.

• Chemotherapy: A half cup of water filled in a green bottle charged with sun rays should be consumed on an empty stomach. A half cup of water filled in a yellow bottle should be consumed after taking food daily in the morning and evening. To overcome a cough with sputum (wet cough), a half cup of water filled in a yellow bottle, duly charged with sun rays, must be consumed immediately after food.

• Severe Cough: Fasting on orange juice along with water till the severity gets reduced. Orange juice in warm water every two hours from morning eight o'clock to evening eight o'clock. After the juice fast, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for two to three days. In cases of mild cough, the patient should start the all-fruit diet for five to seven days. Such a patient should take three meals a day of fresh fruit juice such as apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit, oranges, pineapples, peaches, and melon. After the all-fruit diet, the patient should follow a well-balanced diet with emphasis on whole-grain cereals, and raw or lightly cooked vegetables.

• Warm Water Enema: Warm water enema daily to cleanse the bowel is beneficial for tackling persistent and lingering cough.

Home Remedies:

• Grapes tone up the lungs and act as an expectorant. Simple colds and coughs are relieved through its use in a couple of days. A combination of honey with grape juice is very useful for cough.

• Ginger juice mixed with honey is beneficial and can be consumed several times a day.

• Almonds should be soaked in water for an hour then the skin of the almond should be peeled off. These almonds along with butter and sugar should be ground well and then that paste should be given to the patient in the morning and evening.

• The onion should be finely chopped, and juice should be extracted from it. This juice is then mixed with honey and kept for four to five hours. This makes an excellent cough syrup. Also, onion juice, lemon, and a cup of boiling water can be used. Some honey should be added for taste. This remedy should be taken two to three times a day.

• The root of turmeric is very useful in dry cough. Turmeric root is roasted and then powdered. This powder is taken twice daily, once in the morning and the evening.

• Belleric Myrobalan: A mixture of this fruit, long pepper, and honey should be administered as a treatment for cough. This fruit, when dried, is then covered with wheat flour and roasted. This is a useful remedy for cough.

• Raisins: Sauce prepared from raisins is useful in cough. This sauce is prepared by grinding 100 grams of raisins with water. To this, 100 grams (g) of sugar is added and then this mixture should be heated and preserved when the bulk has turned saucy. This sauce is then taken 20 g at bedtime daily.

• Aniseed (Anise): It is an effective remedy for hard-dry cough, that is, dry cough with difficult expectoration. It helps to break mucus. Tea with this spice should be consumed regularly to treat this condition. In cough, kunjal kriya may be performed regularly in the morning for a few days. Thereafter, Vastra Dhauti and Jal Neti should be performed to eliminate or remove phlegm accumulated in the respiratory tract.

• Yoga and Pranayama: The practice of Bhastrika, Kapalbhati, and Ujjayi Pranayam is advantageous in getting a wet cough. Shitali and Sitkari Pranayama are especially useful for dry cough. The practice of Ghrit Neti before Pranayama gives benefits.

A few other remedies are as follows

1. Honey: The researchers discovered that honey worked better than standard treatment to reduce coughing and lessen the need for antibiotics.

2. Ginger: Due to its anti-inflammatory qualities, ginger may help with a dry or asthmatic cough. It might also ease pain and nausea.

3. Hot fluids: It might help those who are experiencing more cold or flu symptoms to warm up their drinks. According to the same study, hot drinks relieve even more symptoms, such as weariness, chills, and sore throat. Once the hot beverage was consumed, the symptoms subsided immediately and continued to do so for some time.

4. Steam: Taking steam can help with a wet cough or one that produces mucus or phlegm.

5. Marshmallow Roots: Herbs like marshmallow roots have long been used to soothe sore throats and coughs. Due to its high mucilage content, the herb might relieve irritation caused by coughing. Mucilage is a viscous, thick coating for the throat. An herbal cough syrup including marshmallow root, thyme, and ivy was proven in earlier small research to be an effective treatment for coughs brought on by respiratory tract infections and common colds.

6. Saltwater Gargle: For a very long time, people have been gargling with salt water for coughs to help relieve sore throats and cold symptoms. It might ease some discomfort and aid the release of mucus.

7. Bromelain: Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain. It is especially abundant in the fruit's center. In addition to its potential mucolytic qualities, which allow it to dissolve and expel mucus from the body, it possesses anti-inflammatory qualities. Some people use pineapple juice daily to help clear their throats of mucus and stop coughing. The juice might not contain enough bromelain, though, to alleviate symptoms. There are supplements containing bromelain that may be more useful in treating coughs. An individual should consult a physician before attempting any new supplements, though. In addition to being a possible allergy, bromelain can have negative effects and interfere with some drugs. Bromelain should not be taken by anyone on certain antibiotics or blood thinners.

8. Thyme: Thyme is a popular cure for cough, sore throat, bronchitis, and stomach problems. It is also used in cooking.

9. Change in Diet for Gastric Reflux:

The following are the foods and drinks that most frequently cause acid reflux:

• Chocolate, coffee, wine, and citrus-based meals.

• Greasy and fried dishes.

• Onions and garlic.

• Spicy meals and mint spices.

• Tomatoes and goods made using tomatoes.

1. Slippery Elm: Comparable to marshmallow root, slippery elm has a high mucilage content that relieves coughing and sore throats. One teaspoon of dried slippery elm herb should be added to a cup of boiling water, and the mixture should soak for at least ten minutes before drinking. It is noteworthy that slippery elm may disrupt the way that prescription drugs are absorbed, therefore before brewing a tea or using any other supplements, a person should consult a physician.

2. N-acetylcysteine (NAC): L-cysteine is an amino acid that is used to make the supplement NAC. By decreasing mucus in the airways, taking a daily dosage may decrease the frequency and intensity of a wet cough.

3. Probiotics: Probiotics balance the bacteria in the gut, which may strengthen the immune system, but they do not directly cure a cough. An effective immune system can aid in the defense against infections that might be the source of the cough. A particular kind of probiotic known as Lactobacillus has a negligible advantage in warding off colds.

Conclusion:

Cough is often a troublesome condition that may affect one’s quality of life. Tackling the cough most naturally is considered to be the safest alternative to intensive medicinal therapy. In addition to various natural remedial measures, there are effective yoga and pranayama postures that can contribute immensely to providing relief from cough. A chest pack is another natural way to calm down a dry cough.