It’s that time of year when homeopaths are asked about remedies for coughs. Coughs can often form part of or follow a seasonal cold or flu, but unfortunately, they can tend to linger. Reach for one of these remedies to try at home if a winter cough is getting the better of you.
Antimonium tart.
A useful remedy for later-stage coughs, especially where the chest sounds full and rattly, but the person does not have the strength to bring the mucus up. It is often suited to babies, older people, or anyone who is very tired and worn out by the cough.
Breathing may sound loose, rattly, short or laboured, and the person may need to sit upright to breathe or cough more easily. Coughing may end in vomiting, or the person may fall asleep afterwards. They may look pale, exhausted or slightly bluish, and are usually not thirsty. Symptoms may feel better lying on the right side or after burping.
Drosera
A key remedy to consider for whooping cough, or for any cough that comes from a tickling, crawling sensation in the throat or larynx. The cough tends to come in rapid spasms, one after another, leaving the person struggling to catch their breath.
The coughing may continue until they retch or vomit. It is often worse at night, when lying down, after eating, and especially after drinking.
Ipecacuahna
A remedy to consider for sudden, spasmodic or asthmatic coughs where there is wheezing, rattling breathing, and tight, suffocative coughing fits. The cough may be violent and persistent, often with nausea, retching or vomiting.
In children, the coughing may be intense enough for the face to go red or bluish, or for the body to stiffen during the episode. The chest may feel heavy, with difficult breathing. Mucus may sound loose and wet but still be hard to bring up. Symptoms may improve with open air, rest, warmth, and sometimes cold drinks. Ipecacuanha may also be considered in whooping cough where nosebleeds occur.
Phosphorus
A remedy for dry, hard, tight, tickling or wheezing coughs that leave the person feeling depleted. The cough may be violent enough to cause retching, and there may be burning soreness in the larynx or behind the breastbone.
Coughing may bring on a bursting headache, and the chest may feel hot, dry or tight. Sputum, when present, may be yellow, sour or salty. Symptoms may be worse in open air, from moving between warm and cold rooms, and in the morning or evening. The person is often thirsty for cold drinks, although these may aggravate the cough.
Rumex
A useful remedy when the cough is very sensitive to cold air or changes in temperature. Moving between rooms, breathing cold air, or even a slight chill around the throat may trigger a tickle in the throat pit and set off continuous coughing.
Covering the mouth often helps, and the person may breathe shallowly to avoid triggering the cough. The cough is often worse after lying down. It may be barking, with tough, stringy mucus, or sometimes with thin, profuse expectoration. There may be rawness under the clavicle or breastbone, and slight urinary leakage may occur with coughing.
Spongia
A remedy to consider for dry, hollow, barking, crowing or croupy coughs. There is usually little or no rattling mucus, and any phlegm is difficult to bring up.
The person may wake before midnight feeling as though they cannot breathe, with anxious, laboured breathing or gasping for air. The cough is often worse from talking, swallowing and cold drinks. Warm drinks usually help, and the person may feel more comfortable with the head tilted back.
