Ayurvedic Treatment for Cough

[sherlyk]

What is Cough ?

Cough is also usually a Kapha (water) disorder. It is caused by accumulation of mucus, or by irritation to the mucus membranes of the respiratory tract.
The modern science do not regard cough as a disease but the rather consider it as only a symptom of an impending respiratory disease or disorder or a manifestation of some cardiopulmonary distress.

What are the symptoms ?

The common symptoms of colds and coughs are a running or blocked nose, sneezing repeatedly specially when exposed to cold air or when drinking ic cold drinks, a sore throat, cough, congestion, headache and sometimes a low fever with body pains. Anorexia, laziness and difficulty in sleeping are also seen when the symptoms become servere.


What are the causes ?

Colds and coughs are a very common problem and are caused by aggravation of Kapha Dosha. It may sometimes be caused by a weak digestion. When the food we eat is not fully digested it changes into mucus, which in Ayurvedic language is known as ama. This mucus or ama mixed with various circulation reaches the respiratory system and causes colds or coughs.
Other causes are exposure to cold or humid condition and cold air. Exposure to hot and cold condition alternatively within a short period and exposing the body to extreme temperature condition also aggravates the condition. The most common instance of this is drinking ice cold drinks when we are hot and perspiring. Eating hot and cold food at the same time e.g. ice cream with hot cofee is also not adviced.
It is also generally caused at the time of change of season. Eating foods that increase Kapha like milk products, foods heavily fried in oil or ghee (clarified butter) will accelerate the problem.

What is the treatment ?

Kapha cough involves expectorating thick or slimy mucus of clear or white color and an infrequent cough. A distaste for food, feeling of heaviness, and sweet taste in the mouth with excess saliva or feeling of nausea will be symptoms. The patient will complain of cold, and the lungs may be full of phlegm.
Treatment involves anti-Kapha diet, avoiding dairy and other mucus-forming foods. Ice, cold water and fruit juices should not be taken. Hot spicy herbs, particularly long pepper, dry ginger or chitrak as a milk decoction, are helpful as is Trikatu compound.
Pitta type cough involves expectorating yellow phlegm, sometimes streaked with blood. There will be a burning sensation in the throat and chest, along with fever, thirst and dryness of the mouth. The mouth will taste bitter or pungent.
Treatment is much like that for Pitta type colds. Ghee can be used to soothe the throat. Powdered lotus seed with honey is helpful. Licorice combination can be used.
Vata type cough is usually a dry cough with little expectoration. Cough will be frequent, painful and with a particular sound. Pain in the chest and heart, or a headache is typical. There will be dryness in the mouth, hoarseness and perhaps nervousness, anxiety or insomnia. .
Treatment involves anti-Vata diet. Anti-cough and demulcent herbs are prescribed, licorice, marshmallow, comfrey root, shatavari and ash-wagandha. Formulas include Cardamom combination and Draksha, plus formulas indicated under the common cold.

Diet and routine

1. Cold foods, cold drinks, ice cream, sweets, fried foods, milk products like cheese, creams, yoghurt etc. should not be taken.
   
2. Hot milk without fat can be taken if boiled with a pice of crushed ginger.
   
   
3. Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder mixed with the milk is effective.
   
4. Sweet fruit juice should also be avoided, Breads, meats, nuts and pastries are not advisable.
   
5. It is good to take a light warm diet like boiled or steamed vegetables; vegetable soups and fruits, which areok
   
6. not juicy, like papaya and apple.
   
7. Spiced teas, herbal teas and other hot drinks are beneficial.
   
8. Sleeping during the daytime should be avoided.
   
9. Taking cold showers, exposure to cold winds, fans, air conditioners etc. should be avoided
   
   
   
   
   
   Keywords:Cough , Kapha,accumulation of mucus,disease, respiratory disease, cardiopulmonary distress,colds, blocked nose, sneezing ,cold drinks, sore throat,congestion, headache , fever, body pains, Anorexia, laziness , Kapha Dosha, milk products, oil , ghee, lungs , phlegm,anti-Kapha diet, avoiding dairy , spicy herbs, pepper, dry ginger , chitrak , Trikatu compound,Pitta type cough,yellow phlegm, blood,pungent,nervousness, anxiety , insomnia, licorice, marshmallow, comfrey root, shatavari , ash-wagandha,Cold foods, cold drinks, ice cream, sweets, fried foods, milk products like cheese, creams, yoghurt,Breads, meats, nuts,pastries , vegetables; vegetable soups , fruits,juicy, like papaya , apple,Spiced teas, herbal teas .
   
   

[sherlyk]

Causes:

This is a very common problem and is caused by aggravation of Kapha. It is also caused by weak digestion. When the food we eat is not fully digested it changes into ama. This mucus or ama reaches the respiratory system and causes cold or cough. Other causes are exposure to cold or humid conditions or cold air.

Remedies:

body should be kept warm especially feet, chest, throat and head. Sweating is very helpful. The simplest way to do it is drink hot spice tea or some other hot drink and lie down on the bed .Take some warm cover like blanket and let the body sweat for 15 to 20 minutes.
a glass of warm water mixed with one tea spoon of lemon juice and one tea spoon of honey can be taken 2-3 times a day.
case of dry cough especially if it trouble is during the night, take cardamom, dry ginger, black pepper and cinnamon in equal quantity, say 10 gms. each. Take white sugar or rock candy equal to the total weight that is 40 gms. Grind them and make a fine powder. From this take half a tea spoon ( about 3 gms.) twice a day with honey or warm water after meals.
case of sore throat a clove or two cardamoms or rock candy or a few raisins can be chewed. Gargling with warm salty water is also beneficial. This can be done two to three times a day.
For hacking cough and Laryngitis : Equal parts of honey and juice of baked lemon,( i.e. sour citrusfruit) or 10 -15 drops of betel leaf juice with honey three times a day.

Diet and Regimen:

Cold drinks, ice cream, sweets, fried foods, milk products like cheese, creams, yogurt etc. should not be taken. Hot milk without fat can be taken if boiled with a piece of crushed ginger. Half tea spoon of turmeric powder is good to mix with the milk.
you should avoid tomatoes, eggplant and bananas.
Sweet fruit juices should also be avoided. Breads, meats, nuts and pastries are not good to take. It is good to take light and warm diet like boiled or steamed vegetables, vegetable soup and fruits which are not juicy like papaya and apple. Spice teas, herbal teas and some other hot drinks are good.
Keep your insides warm with warm spices -- cumin is considered the ace "ama" burner. Stack up your spice rack with "thermogenic" or heat- generating spices like black pepper, coriander, and cumin. Clove, boiled with milk, is excellent too.

Life style:

Follow the middle path: don't skip meals or overeat.
Eat fresh, well-cooked food.
Start your day with two glasses of warm water.
Do not fast during winter -- fasting weakens the body's defenses.
Eat a timely lunch and an early dinner for good digestion.
Sleep on time -- not later than 10 p.m. Restful sleep builds essential energy or "ojas", boosting immunity.


Keywords:Ayurveda Cold cough,Remedies, Sweating,take cardamom, dry ginger, black pepper , cinnamon ,Laryngitis ,Cold drinks, ice cream, sweets, fried foods, milk products like cheese, creams, yogurt , tomatoes, eggplant , bananas, Sweet fruit juices ,Breads, meats, nuts , pastries , papaya , apple, Spice teas, herbal teas , good digestion.

[sandrajohnson961]

Hi,
Boil some Butea leaves in water. Cool it and use this solution as an effective mouthwash for treating sore throats and coughs. This solution has excellent antibiotic properties which help curing coughs caused due to septic and throat infections.