COUGHS · Respiratory Relief

Homeopathic Guide · Coughs & Respiratory Relief

COUGHS · Respiratory Relief

homeopathic

Books on physiology and pathology typically refer to the body’s cough reflex as an important defensive function of the organism, yet many conventional cough medicines are known to suppress the cough. While such medicines provide temporary relief, they tend to prolong the ailment, and still worse, they tend to lead to various side effects that create their own problems. Homeopathic remedies are wonderfully effective in treating people with coughs; however, it is sometimes difficult to find the correct remedy if a person doesn’t have many differentiating symptoms. If this is the case, consider taking one of the homeopathic combination remedies for coughs that are available at health food stores or pharmacies. When available, find a product that more precisely describes your cough, as in “dry cough” or “congestive cough.”

6th · 12th · 30th potency

Give the 6th, 12th, or 30th potency every other hour in extreme cases for two doses, and every four hours after this. If relief isn’t noticeable after 48 hours, consider another remedy.
For persistent or severe coughs, professional homeopathic and medical care is recommended.

6c · 12c · 30c · 2nd hourly ×2 · then every 4h
Aconitum
first 24 hours, dry/croupy cough after cold or fright
Consider this remedy during the first 24 hours of a dry or croupy cough, especially if it starts after exposure to cold or after an experience of fright. The cough is often harsh and barking, and the person may be restless and anxious.
Mental / general
  • Mental: Anxious, fearful; restless; predicts the time of death; panic.
  • General: First 24 hours of dry/croupy cough; after cold exposure or fright; harsh barking cough.
  • Modalities: Worse from cold, evening, night; better from warmth and rest.
Spongia
dry, loud, croupy cough, sawing sound, worse before/after midnight
This remedy is indicated for dry, loud, frequent, croupy coughs, when the cough may even sound like a sawing of a log. The cough is aggravated by talking, cold drinks, or getting excited, and is usually worse before or after midnight.
Mental / general
  • Mental: Anxious, fearful; clinging to others; worse from being alone.
  • General: Dry loud croupy cough; sawing sound; worse talking, cold drinks, excitement.
  • Modalities: Worse from talking, cold drinks, before/after midnight; better from warm drinks and eating.
Bryonia
dry cough worse from any chest motion, holds chest, wants to be alone
When a person has a dry cough that is aggravated by motion of the chest of any kind (inspiration, especially deep breathing, talking, or eating), consider this remedy. Motion of the chest can be so painful that they may even place their hands over their chest to inhibit chest motion. They prefer to lie still, remain as motionless as possible, and be left alone due to their increasing irritability.
Mental / general
  • Mental: Irritable, grumpy; wants to be alone; averse to company; worse from being disturbed.
  • General: Dry cough worse from any chest motion; holds chest; painful; lies still.
  • Modalities: Worse from motion, deep breathing, talking, eating; better from rest and pressure.
Rumex
dry cough worse lying down, tickle in pit of throat, cold air
A dry cough that is aggravated when the person lies down to rest or sleep suggests the use of this medicine. Typically, this person experiences a tickle in the pit of the throat that aggravates the cough and may create a fit of coughing. The cough, which may become continual, is worse when breathing in cold air, lying on the left side, and when touching the throat.
Mental / general
  • Mental: Anxious, restless; worse from being disturbed; sensitive to cold air.
  • General: Dry cough worse lying down; tickle in pit of throat; fit of coughing; cold air.
  • Modalities: Worse from lying down, cold air, left side, touching throat; better from sitting up and warmth.
Phosphorus
chills with laryngitis/hoarseness, thirst for icy water, worse cold air/talking/odors
When chills and laryngitis or hoarseness accompany a cough, this remedy should be considered, especially when there is a great thirst for cold, icy water to drink. The cough is aggravated by cold air, talking, lying on the back or left side, or exposure to strong odors.
Mental / general
  • Mental: Anxious, fearful; sympathetic; easily startled; desire for company.
  • General: Chills with laryngitis/hoarseness; great thirst for icy water; cough.
  • Modalities: Worse from cold air, talking, lying on back/left side, strong odors; better from warmth and company.
Hepar sulph.
later stages of dry cough, rattling in chest, cannot expectorate, hypersensitive to cold
This medicine is for people during the later stages of a dry cough when there may be rattling in the chest but an inability to expectorate mucus. These people are hypersensitive to cold and cold air, to eating or drinking anything cold, and they are also emotionally hypersensitive and even hyper-irritable.
Mental / general
  • Mental: Irritable, quarrelsome, oversensitive; feels neglected or slighted.
  • General: Later stages of dry cough; rattling in chest; cannot expectorate; hypersensitive to cold.
  • Modalities: Worse from cold, cold air, cold food/drinks; better from warmth and moist heat.
Pulsatilla
weepy clingy, thick yellow/green expectoration, worse warm rooms and after eating
This is a common cough remedy for children and others who have the characteristic symptoms of being emotional, weepy, clingy, and desirous of sympathy. Typically, people who need this remedy have a thick yellow or yellow-green expectoration; and their cough is worse after eating, lying down at night, and being in a warm or stuffy room.
Mental / general
  • Mental: Emotional, weepy, clingy; desires sympathy; mild, yielding.
  • General: Thick yellow/green expectoration; cough worse after eating; lying down at night; warm/stuffy room.
  • Modalities: Worse from warm rooms, eating, lying down at night; better from open air, sympathy, gentle motion.
Antimonium tart.
loose rattling cough, cannot expectorate, children/elderly, sleepy
This is the premier remedy for a loose, rattling cough, although the person is not easily able to expectorate. It is commonly indicated for children and the elderly. Usually, the person wishes to be left alone and may experience great sleepiness during the illness.
Mental / general
  • Mental: Irritable, wants to be left alone; great sleepiness; apathetic.
  • General: Loose rattling cough; cannot expectorate; common in children/elderly; sleepiness.
  • Modalities: Worse from lying down, warm room, night; better from sitting up and open air.
Coccus cacti
thick stringy mucus in throat/nose, constant throat clearing, thirst for cold drinks
This remedy should be considered when there is an accumulation of thick, stringy mucus in the throat and nose that causes the person to constantly try to clear the throat. A fit of coughing may ensue. They experience a great thirst for cold drinks that provide short-term relief for them.
Mental / general
  • Mental: Anxious, restless; irritable from constant throat clearing; wants relief.
  • General: Thick stringy mucus in throat/nose; constant throat clearing; fit of coughing; thirst for cold drinks.
  • Modalities: Worse from warmth, lying down; better from cold drinks and expectoration.
Ipecacuanha
vomiting/nausea with cough, loose cough, nosebleed or blood in expectoration
When vomiting and/or nausea are concurrent with a cough, consider this remedy. Typically, the cough is loose, and the person may have a nosebleed or some other type of bleeding problem (blood in the expectoration).
Mental / general
  • Mental: Irritable, weepy; sensitive to noise; fear of suffocation.
  • General: Vomiting/nausea with cough; loose cough; nosebleed; blood in expectoration.
  • Modalities: Worse from motion, warmth, coughing; better from fresh air and rest.

Quick quiz · match the remedy

1. Which remedy is indicated during the first 24 hours of a dry or croupy cough, especially if it starts after exposure to cold or after fright?

Aconitum — first 24 hours, dry/croupy cough after cold or fright.

2. Which remedy is indicated for dry, loud, frequent, croupy coughs that sound like sawing of a log, worse before or after midnight?

Spongia — dry, loud, croupy cough, sawing sound, worse before/after midnight.

3. Which remedy is indicated for a dry cough aggravated by any motion of the chest, where the person holds their chest and wants to be left alone?

Bryonia — dry cough worse from any chest motion, holds chest, wants to be alone.

4. Which remedy is indicated for a dry cough that is aggravated when the person lies down, with a tickle in the pit of the throat?

Rumex — dry cough worse lying down, tickle in pit of throat, cold air.

5. Which remedy is indicated when chills and laryngitis or hoarseness accompany a cough, with great thirst for icy water?

Phosphorus — chills with laryngitis/hoarseness, thirst for icy water, worse cold air/talking/odors.

6. Which remedy is indicated during the later stages of a dry cough with rattling in the chest but inability to expectorate, with hypersensitivity to cold?

Hepar sulphuris — later stages of dry cough, rattling in chest, cannot expectorate, hypersensitive to cold.

7. Which remedy is a common cough remedy for children who are weepy, clingy, and desirous of sympathy, with thick yellow or yellow-green expectoration?

Pulsatilla — weepy clingy, thick yellow/green expectoration, worse warm rooms and after eating.

8. Which remedy is the premier remedy for a loose, rattling cough, common in children and the elderly, where the person cannot easily expectorate?

Antimonium tartaricum — loose rattling cough, cannot expectorate, children/elderly, sleepy.

9. Which remedy is indicated for thick, stringy mucus in the throat and nose causing constant throat clearing, with thirst for cold drinks?

Coccus cacti — thick stringy mucus in throat/nose, constant throat clearing, thirst for cold drinks.

10. Which remedy is indicated when vomiting and/or nausea are concurrent with a cough, possibly with nosebleed or blood in the expectoration?

Ipecacuanha — vomiting/nausea with cough, loose cough, nosebleed or blood in expectoration.
Aconitum · Spongia · Bryonia · Rumex · Phosphorus · Hepar sulph. · Pulsatilla · Antimonium tart. · Coccus cacti · Ipecacuanha — each remedy matches distinct cough patterns. choose by cough character + modalities + mental state. For persistent coughs, seek professional homeopathic care.
Compiled for study purposes
Not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
For educational use only · Professional care recommended
Dr. Anwar Jameel Siddique
+91 98912 01972
Queries · Feedback · Consultation
Comprehensive homeopathic reference · Coughs guide + quiz For queries, feedback, or consultation

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