Cough
Cough is a voluntary or involuntary act that clears the throat and respiratory airway of unwanted discharge, foreign particles, microbes or irritants. Cough can be the presenting symptoms of respiratory as well as non-respiratory illness. The causes vary from infective diseases of the respiratory tract (viral, bacterial or fungal infections), to allergies and asthma, or auto-immune diseases, lung tumors etc. Other non-respiratory causes include gastric reflux, cardiac failure, and use of certain medicines, thyroid tumors, and psychogenic cough.
Cough which persists for more than 3 weeks is considered as chronic and should not be neglected. Severe cough may lead to complications such as eye bleeding, involuntary urination, prolapse of uterus, hernia, and rarely rib fracture or rupture of lungs. It is extremely important to determine the cause of cough and treat it.
Homoeopathic medicines are selected based on symptomatology of cough, its causation, factors that increase or decrease the cough and hence two patients with cough might receive different medicines and not just one generic anti-tussive.
Homoeopathic medicines cures by treating the primary cause, thereby automatically relieving the cough, and not by suppressing the cough reflex. In cases with incurable pathology, homeopathic medicines may also help bring about palliative relief of the symptoms.
Homoeopathic treatment is safe in children and old age as well as in terminally ill patients as it does not have any side effects. Homoeopathy is the best treatment in pregnant women with severe cough threatening abortion. It is best to consult an expert homeopathic physician before taking homoeopathic medications.
