Cough may be symptom of a potentially dangerous condition like pneumonia, asthma or even cancer. On the other hand, cough may be a part of a curative reaction of a remedy and should not be treated. The practitioner should be able to evaluate the severity of each case and act accordingly. In the cases that cough needs to be treated, apart from the following remedies one should also consider the possibility of repeating the last remedy that acted for the chronic treatment
Main remedies:
SPONGIA TOSTA
Keywords: ROUGH DRY COUGH, > DRINKING WARM DRINKS.
DRY COUGH which is often described in books as if “a saw going through wood”.
Cough from tickling or irritation in throat or chest.
Laryngitis and croup (Acon., Hep.).
Asthma with dyspnea and cough. Cardiac asthma.
Wants to bend forward with head extended backwards.
Wakes from sensation of suffocation (Lach.).
Better by DRINKING something warm (tea or soup) or eating or sucking a hard candy. Worse from drinking something cold.
In cases of chronic cough, they often have a bottle of water or some sweets with them.
Modalities
Worse: before midnight, cold drinks, inspiration, talking.
Better: DRINKING something warm, eating or sucking candy.
BRYONIA ALBA
Keywords: PAINFUL COUGH, < MOTION, HOLDS THE CHESTS, INCREASED THIRST.
DRY HARD PAINFUL cough that compels the patient to HOLD THE CHEST or even the head while coughing. Pneumonia.
Dry cough continues after a fever that was treated with antipyretics and/or antibiotics.
Stitching pain in chest while coughing, while breathing deeply and at EVERY MOTION. Fears to take a deep breath.
Thirst for large quantities. Dry mouth and lips.
Modalities
Worse: MOTION, eating, entering a warm room.
Better: pressure, lying on the painful side to keep the part immovable.
DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA
Keywords: SPASMODIC PAROXYSMAL COUGH, < LYING.
Frequent PAROXYSM of cough so strong that the patient has the feeling as if he has no time to breathe. SPASMODIC, VIOLENT COUGH.
Tuberculosis. Suffocation, cyanosis from constant cough.
Most attacks are after midnight. Restless and wants to walk around between the attacks (Ars.).
A strange characteristic of Dros. is epistaxis with whooping cough or ordinary cough (Phos.).
Vomiting from coughing (Ip.).
While coughing, the patient must hold his abdomen or chest because of the pain (Bry.).
During the day the patient does not perspire and at night there is a warm perspiration on face, abdomen and stomach.
Modalities
Worse: LYING, after midnight, drinking or eating.
Better: sitting up, holding the pit of stomach, open air.
Other remedies:
ANTIMONIUM TARTARICUM
Keywords: RESPIRATORY AFFECTIONS WITH RATTLING, NO POWER TO EXPEL MUCOUS, SLEEPINESS.
Indicated in severe conditions with MUCH RATTLING in chest or larynx but with NO POWER TO EXPEL MUCOUS.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with cyanosis.
Overwhelming SLEEPINESS during cough or bronchitis.
Cough, bronchitis and emphysema in old people.
Babies and small children with cough and marked rattling after they fall asleep.
Modalities
Worse: winter.
Better: lying on right side and by eructations.
BELLADONNA
Keywords: SUDDEN ONSET, RED FACE WITH COLD EXTREMITIES.
Barking DRY COUGH (Hyos.) WITH SUDDEN ONSET that often accompanies high fever with warm RED FACE that radiates warmth with COLD EXTREMITIES.
Violent cough which is almost suffocating. As soon as its great violence and the great effort have raised a little mucus he gets peace for a little while and stops coughing. (Con.) (Kent)
Sometimes the cough is accompanied by photophobia.
Modalities
Worse: night, breathing deep, coughing (the more he coughs the more the irritation).
CAUSTICUM
Keywords: RAWNESS IN THROAT, INCONTINENCE, >WET WEATHER.
Dryness in throat or sore throat with the feeling that there is mucus in the trachea.
Feeling of RAWNESS in throat. Disposition to hawk (clear the throat).
LOSS OF URINE while coughing.
Dypnea and athma from grief.
Better in WET OR RAINY WEATHER.
Modalities
Worse: exertion (Calc.), talking, lying down.
Better: WET WEATHER, drinking or eating, cold water.
COCCUS CACTI
Keywords: TICKLING OF THE LARYNX, CHOCKING COUGH.
Cough comes in paroxysms (Dros.).
Cough begins from TICKLING or irritation of the larynx.
Tickling dry cough, CHOCKING COUGH.
The patient coughs and gags so violently that retched and vomits ropy mucus (Kali-bi). On the other hand the cough may be dry.
Barking rattling, whooping, acute laryngitis.
Cough from exposure to cold (Hep.).
Modalities
Worse: lying, before midnight (11.30), 6 – 11AM.
Better: from cold drinks (Cupr., Caust.), open air.
CUPRUM METALLICUM
Keywords: SPASTIC COUGH, CRAMPS, > COLD DRINKS.
SPASTIC COUGH often of nervous origin that stops when DRINKING SOMETHING COLD.
Cough comes up in fits. Face and lips may become blue from the spastic cough.
Cough may be accompanied by cramps.
Sudden onset (Bell.).
Modalities
Worse: 3 a.m.
Better: drinking something cold.
EUPHRASIA OFFICINALIS
Keywords: DAYTIME ONLY.
Cough in allergic conditions with lachrymation or conjunctivitis that OCCURS ONLY DURING THE DAY.
Tickling cough in paroxysms.
Better lying down and with lachrymation.
Mostly affects upper respiratory trach but allergic asthma may follow allergic rhinitis.
Modalities
Worse: daytime.
Better: lying down, with lachrymation, at night in bed.
HEPAR SULPHURIS CALCAREUM
Keywords: CHILLY, < COLD OR FROM THE LEAST UNCOVERING, > WARMTH.
Croupy cough (of larynx and trachea) worse from exposure to cold.
Deep dry cough like a barking dog (Hyos).
SORE THROAT, painful, which is ameliorated by warm drinks and warm applications. Their coughing makes them short of breath and they have a sensation of suffocation in the throat.
EXTREMELY CHILLY. They want a lot of blankets on themselves or they are dressed with several layers of clothes one on top of another.
Coughing or sneezing FROM THE LEAST UNCOVERING, even by uncovering one hand.
Polyps of larynx (Thuja, Arg-n.).
Modalities
Worse: from the LEAST UNCOVERING, cold, open air or a draft of air, cold drinks, talking, before midnight, lying down.
Better: WARM (food, drinks, applications, etc.).
HYOSCYAMUS NIGER
Keywords: BARKING COUGH.
BARKING DRY cough, worse during the night.
Constant and spasmodic cough.
Laryngitis in jealous children or children with behavioral problems.
Tickling throat.
Dry cough after jealousy or other emotional stress.
Modalities
Worse: lying.
Better: Sitting up.
IPECACUANHA
Keyword: COUGH WITH EASY VOMITING.
VOMITING while coughing.
For asthmatic conditions and cough of children especially if they are accompanied by nausea and vomiting (of whitish frothy mucous).
A peculiar sign is that, in spite of the vomiting, the tongue is clean.
Rattling cough worse form warm wet weather.
Asthma or bronchitis or bronchiolitis in children.
Hemoptysis, epistaxis.
KALI CARBONICUM
Keywords: < 2-4 AM, > LEANING FORWARD.
Bronchitis with dry hard or productive cough. Yellow purulent expectoration that has the taste of cheese.
The great guide to Kali-c. is the 2 to 4am aggravation which compels him to sit up.
Stitching chest pains.
Children sleep in knee elbow position (Med.).
There is a characteristic amelioration from sitting with head bent forward on knees.
Modalities
Worse: cold air, from the slightest draft, lying, exertion, deep inspiration.
Better: SITTING UPRIGHT OR EVEN BENT FORWARD.
KALI SULPHURICUM
Keywords: WHEEZING AND RATTLING, YELLOW EXPECTORATION.
RATTLING OF MUCUS and wheezing in chest during sleep, especially in children. Loose cough.
Wheezing worse in a warm room, better in open air.
Warm blooded and resemble Puls.
Bronchitis with loose sounding cough and thick yellow expectoration.
Snoring.
For allergies (rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis)
Modalities:
Worse: warm room, evening, night.
Better: open air.
LACHESIS
Keywords: < ON GOING TO SLEEP, < ON WAKING.
Feeling of suffocation on falling asleep and/or on waking or after sleep.
Sleep apnea.
Palpitations worse lying on left side. Sleeps on the right side, impossible on the left.
Warm blooded patients.
Hoarseness with cough.
Does not tolerate tight collars or touching the throat.
Modalities
Worse: during and after sleep, lying on left side, tight cloths, heat.
Better: cold.
NATRIUM SULPHURICUM
Keywords: < 4AM- 6AM, < WARM WET WEATHER.
Asthma worse 4 AM (Sulph., Nux-v., Samb.) or worse after 5AM and worse from warm wet weather.
Rattling of mucus (The first remedy for rattling is Kali-s.).
Asthma in children.
Asthma in diabetic patients.
Modalities
Worse: WARM WET WEATHER.
Better: after stool, open air.
PHOSPHORUS
Keywords: COUGH WITH GREAT THIRST FOR COLD WATER.
Cough in open, communicative persons, which is accompanied by MUCH THIRST FOR COLD WATER.
Hemoptysis.
Recurrent cough. Cough on going from warm to cold.
Cough with perspiration during sleep (also in cervical region like Calc. The main remedies for perspiration during sleep and cough are Tub. and Samb.).
No or scanty expectoration in the morning after rising.
Pain in chest while coughing like Bry., but only behind the sternum; holds the sternum.
For even severe pathology e.g. pneumonia.
Cough from talking (Caust.).
Chilly. Child wants company (Puls.).
Modalities
Worse: cold drinks, cold air, lying, laughing
Better: from expectoration, on turning from left to right, on sitting up.
PULSATILLA NIGRICANS
Keywords: < HEAT, <LYING DOWN, > OPEN AIR, THIRSTLESS, WEEPY.
Dry cough worse lying down, worse evening.
Nocturnal cough in children that interrupts sleep.
Greenish expectoration. Tickling in larynx.
Difficult respiration. Deep respiration causes cough.
In adult patients dry cough in night but loose cough with much expectoration (greenish) in the morning.
The patient is often thirstless, emotional with especially TEARFUL mood.
Cough with difficult expectoration but which is ameliorated as soon as little mucus (like a lentil) is expelled (Caust., Con.).
Modalities
Worse: warmth, lying on the back, night.
Better: fresh air, sitting up.
RUMEX CRISPUS
Keywords: COUGH< FROM CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE OR COLD, TALKING.
EVERY CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE aggravates the cough.
WORSE UNCOVERING OR UNDRESSING (Hep.).
Allergic cough and allergic rhinitis.
Marked aggravation with inspiration, talking or laughing.
Cold air causes tickling in the throat and cough.
The patient has to cover the head with the bedclothes and breathe warm air to stop the cough.
Does not like touch to the throat (Lach.).
Modalities
Worse: CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE, TALKING, cold (air, becoming, food) in the morning or at 11 p.m., inspiring.
Better: warm bed.
SAMBUCUS NIGRA
Keywords: PROFUSE PERSPIRATION DURING NIGHT.
Cough with PROFUSE PERSPIRATION. Dry heat during sleep, profuse perspiration on waking.
Consider this remedy when Tub. (which is the main remedy for heavy perspiration) fails to act.
Wakes up at 3am with fear and perspiration.
Nose obstruction that leads to dyspnea and the child jumps up in the night with heavy perspiration.
Cyanosis. Pertussis.
Modalities
Worse: lying, uncovering, after midnight, change of position, beginning of motion.
Better: continued motion, walking, perspiration.
STANNUM METALLICUM
Keyword: EXTREME WEAKNESS.
Marked WEAKNESS. Weakness felt mainly in chest. Too weak to even to talk. Exhaustion.
Dyspnea with even slight exertion.
Has to hold chest during cough.
During or at the end of serious respiratory infections.
Night sweats. (Like Tub. but weakness is less in Tub.).
Easy copious expectoration with sweet or salty taste with a bad smell.
Feels hopeless.
Modalities
Worse: motion, talking, exertion.
Better: lying.
