Cough and cold are very daunting diseases for anyone out there. Especially for people who have a tendency of catching cold easily. Nobody likes to have a runny nose, vigorous cough and fever. But all these symptoms occur when anyone suffers from cough and cold. However, the symptoms get doubled when anyone suffers with whooping cough. Though any kind of chronic cough can be severe enough but whooping cough is the most panic striking among them all. 

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough begins with a little respiratory illness and includes runny nose, relentless cough. In later stages a development of vivid, copious mucus with the cough and the whoop sound while coughing develops. Whooping cough can be treated safely. If we look at the homeopathic treatment, there are various remedies for whooping cough. But first and foremost, it is very important to boost your immunity. Good immunity helps you to recover faster. Next you need to add nutrition to your diet, which are very important for your health. So intake green veggies and fruits as much as you can. Talking about the homeopathy treatment, yes there are some common homeopathic medicines available, which are prescribed for whooping cough. However, it depends upon individuals and their condition as to which one would be prescribed. 

Listed are homeopathic medicines for whooping cough:

 Antimonium tartaricum: this medicine is prescribed if anyone suffers with scanty and prolific cough along with difficulties in chest or lung. The patient may get mucus with cough, but it hardly comes out. As a result, the patient might end up vomiting in an effort to expel the mucus. The cough can be worse in this case, and the patient might feel breathless often. This medicine is prescribed in such a condition when the chest is filled with mucus, but it barely comes out. 
 Drosera: this medicine is prescribed when a person experiences convulsions of coughing and ends up having cyanosis and shortness of breathing. The cough will be worse, especially at night, and the patient may end up vomiting. There is a chance of getting cramps in feet and hands while coughing.
 Belladona: this is a very common medicine for whooping cough, which is usually prescribed in the early feverish stages of whooping cough. If taken properly, it can be effective in terms of curing the illness. 

Mostly in the coughing stage, patients may face violent cough with red nose and bulging out of eyes, there can be abdominal pain too. Severe irritation in larynx and headache too are noticed in this period. All the above mentioned homeopathic medicines are likely to be used in treating whooping cough infection. However, it is advised to consult a homeopathic doctor before starting any treatment.

Treating whooping cough with homeopathy

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection of the respiratory system that is known to affect children below five years of age. It affects the lungs and is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. In some cases, even adults can also be afflicted with this infection. The infection is characterized by coughing or bouts of coughing, which is followed by a whooping sound made by the patient as they gasp for breath. 

Also, symptoms of a whooping cough are similar to that of cold and include low-grade fever, sneezing, runny nose. mild coughing, sore throat, loss of appetite, weakness, tears, and inability to sleep. Allopathic medicines, mainly antibiotics and cough suppressants, are prescribed by doctors but they impact the body adversely and do not treat the disease completely either. On the other hand, Ayurveda remedies are gentle in nature. They do not carry any side effects and cure the infection completely. 

Here are some well-known and effective Ayurvedic remedies for whooping cough.

Basil (Tulsi): Basil or Tulsi is one of the oldest and most popular herbs that carry strong anti-bacterial properties. Being an anti-allergic as well, it boosts the immune system and helps the body fight various infections. It provides instant relief from cough, cold, and fever.
Calamus (Vacha): This proves to be very effective in curing coughing. It flushes out phlegm and clears congestion. It also provides relief from a sore throat and cures hoarseness of voice.
Honey (Shahad): It is a gentle antibiotic and mild cough suppressant. Since it is sweet in taste, it is perfect for children. It soothes the throat walls and calms the patient. It can be consumed with lukewarm water as well.
Ginger (Adrak): A natural cough suppressant, ginger gives relief in throat irritation. Analgesic in nature, it also reduces pain in the throat and body. Its anti-inflammatory action relaxes the irritated respiratory tract and eliminates mucus from the lungs. Since ginger is bitter, its juice can be mixed with honey before consumption.
Dashamuli Ghrita: Medicated clarified butter (ghee) is for external use and it gives quick relief from a sore throat when massaged on the chest. It is also effective in the case of coughing as ghee loosens the cough. It provides relief from congestion too.
Oil Massage: Massaging the chest and throat with ginger, cinnamon, or eucalyptus oil gives relief from nighttime congestion and cough. It soothes the throat and ensures sound sleep.
Black Pepper (Kaali Mirch): Black pepper is a natural decongestant and thus, clears the nasal passage, bringing relief in coughing. It also eases the respiratory tract and boosts the immune system, helping it to fight the bacterial infection. To dilute its bitter taste, a little honey can be added during consumption.
Ayurveda believes that a whooping cough is the result of vata and kapha imbalance in the body and hence, all these remedies focus on correcting this imbalance. Though all these remedies are safe and free from side effects, it is always advised to consult an Ayurveda doctor. If given on one s own, the dosage should be kept light.

Ayurveda And Whooping Cough!

If there is one disease which most people would definitely be affected by, it has to be the common cough and cold. It is not without reason that it is called  common cold.  When we look back though, common cold and cough was not so common. It is evident that it has become common due to the lifestyle and environmental changes and can be managed again by looking at how it used to be managed earlier.

Ayurveda believes that health is determined by the balance between the tridoshas in the body, namely vata, pitta, and kapha. Common cough and cold are caused by an imbalance between all 3 components. The type of cough, phlegm, congestion, etc., will vary depending on which dosha is predominant. People who repeatedly have attacks of common cold would be delighted to know there are remedies which are commonly available and can keep these attacks at bay. Read on to know more.

Garlgling with salted lukewarm water soothes the throat and helps in relieving cough.
Taking a combination of honey, lemon, and lukewarm water 3 times a day is very effective in preventing common cold.
Drinking warm liquids like herbal teas and clear vegetable soups with garlic added soothes the throat and also provides antioxidant benefits against cold and cough.
Boil some handful of tulsi leaves in a litre of water, strain and drink it through the day to get rid of cough and cold.
Eating onion dipped in honey also can prevent chronic cough and cold.
Boiling tulsi seeds and ginger in water and drinking this after straining also helps the throat.
Drinking juice of betel leaves is another natural remedy.
Add some salt to mustard oil and rub it on the nose and throat to get immediate relief.
Similarly, a mixture of curd, sugar, and black pepper powder provides relief from cough and congestion.
A mixture of cinnamon, honey, and pepper also helps people with cough and cold.
Add a small quantity of asafetida (hing) to a glass of warm water and feel the relief in the lungs and throat.
Boil water with jaggery and coriander seeds, strain and drink twice a day.
A mixture of ginger and milk can be used in concentrated form to be instilled in the nose.
A mixture of fennel seeds and clove powder mixed with honey provides great relief.
Inhale the vapour of ladies finger from water in which it was boiled. This relieves throat infections and dry cough.
In addition, Ayurveda has specific yogasanas like jal neti, sutra neti, kapalbhati and setubandha, which are aimed at clearing out nasal and airway passages.

Common Cough & Cold - Ayurvedic Remedies For It!

A cough is probably one of the most common respiratory diseases that people suffer from. In most cases, it is nothing to worry about and can be cured with cough suppressants and salt water gargles. However, coughing of blood is a serious problem. The coughing up of blood that originates from below the level of the larynx is known as hemoptysis. This can vary in terms of severity depending on the amount of blood being expelled. This disease is a common condition, but on an average, less than 5% of hemoptysis cases are life threatening.

Hemoptysis rarely affects children. The symptoms of this condition include:
Sudden onset of a cough with bloody phlegm

Fever
Anorexia and weight loss
Dyspnoea
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
Fatigue
Chest pain: Medical attention should be sought in cases where this condition recurs often, if it lasts for longer than a fortnight or if the volume of blood expectorated is more than 30ml per day. The various tools that help in the diagnosis of this condition are:
Chest radiography: This imaging modality helps lateralize bleeding and understand the amount of lung involvement. It is quick, inexpensive and can also help detect other underlying abnormalities.
Bronchoscopy: This involves the insertions of a rigid or flexible endoscope into the bronchial passages to check the airways and determine active bleeding sites.
MDCT: A multidetector CT is a non-invasive imaging tool that provides a comprehensive evaluation of airways, lung parenchyma, and thoracic vessels. It can also be used to uncover potential causes of bleeding such as bronchiectasis, pulmonary infections and lung cancer. In some cases, a multidetector CT angiography may also be used.

Oral antibiotics are usually the first stage of treatment for this condition. Smokers will also be urged to quit cigarettes as this can worsen their condition. Treatment for minor hemoptysis may also include:

Oral hemostatics
Cough suppressants
Anticoagulants
Radiation of laser treatment
Therapeutic bronchoscopy
In its later stages, hemoptysis can be treated with a minimally invasive procedure known as endovascular embolization or with surgery. In some cases, endovascular embolization may also be sued to stabilise the patient before surgery. This procedure reduces the pressure in the hypertrophic arterial blood vessels and decreases the risk of perioperative bleeding.

Hemoptysis is also one of the most common complaints of lung cancer patients. Depending on the stage of cancer and the amount of blood expectorated, treatment in some cases may not be possible. In such cases, a parenteral opioid and fast-acting benzodiazepine may be administered. 

How to Treat Coughing Blood (Hemoptysis) Problem

Coughs and colds are the commonest health issues that can occur to anybody and everybody at any point of time. Nasopharynx is one of the leading causes of common cold. Cold symptoms highly affect your body's immunity power. It is always better to rely on natural products rather than medicated drugs so that speedy results can be gained and on the other hand, side-effects can also be prevented.

Common cold is the most common dosha disorder affecting human beings. Everyone has suffered from common cold at some point or other in their lives. Its symptoms are too well-known. In ayurveda, this very ordinary ailment is called as pratishyaya.

All the three doshas are responsible for the occurrence of common cold. Vata dosha common colds have dry coughs, little mucus discharge, hoarse voice, headache and a runny nose. People with pitta dosha who have common colds will have fever, sore throat, yellowish nasal discharge and continuous blockage of the nose. People with kapha dosha common colds have thick mucus discharges with dull headaches and heaviness of the head.

Major ayurvedic products for treating cold:

Ayurveda is the ultimate solution for all kinds of health issues. There are few ayurvedic products that can efficiently deal with cold symptoms, and they are as follows:

 Karpooradi thailam: it is for direct application over face and chest. Few drops need to be put in water and then the solution should be boiled so that you can take the steam. The solution not only reduces inflammation, but chest congestion can also be well treated.
 Thaleesapathradi choornam: excess cough can be easily released if you take it along with honey.
 Agasthya rasayanam: it is equipped with potential anti-histaminic properties, and thus it acts as a valuable decongestant.
 Fluvin capsules: these capsules are now treated as one of the excellent ayurvedic solutions that can efficiently treat all kinds of cold symptoms. These capsules are enriched with anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties as a result of which cold symptoms can be easily cured, and you can get utmost relief. You also get increased immunity by having these capsules.

5 homemade solutions for dealing with cold symptoms:

 Drinking ginger tea: it improves taste buds and digestion can be stimulated as this tea is a decongestant.
 Having lemon juice: both honey and water can be mixed with this juice in order to soothe the sore throat. Excess cough can be driven out and vitamin c intake is also boosted.
 Taking garlic: this ingredient is highly enriched with antiseptic properties and thus infectious elements can be eliminated. Garlic can be used both in supplements and soup and thus you can choose any of these forms.
 Drinking ginger juice: water, amla juice and honey can be mixed with ginger juice in order to create a magical solution that can treat all signs of cold. It not only plays the role of decongestant, but your immunity can also be improved by the same.
 Make tulsi preparation: pepper and tulsi together create the most powerful combination, which drives away both toxins and infectious elements as a result of which suffering due to cold symptoms can be reduced, and you can get instant relief.

Top 5 Ways to Treat a Cold Using Ayurveda and Home Remedies

Season is changing and kids are very susceptible to cold and flu these days. Here are 5 ways you can keep your kids safe -

1. Blow their Noses: Frequently and Right: Blow their noses often and don't let them gulp the mucus. Don't ask them to exert too much pressure as it might hurt their ears.
2. Gargle Daily: Make your kids gargle with lukewarm water everyday. It moistens the sore throat and gives relief.
3. Give them a Steamy Bath: Make sure they always take bath with warm water. It relieves nasal congestion and makes them feel good
4. Hygiene is a must: Inculcate good personal hygiene.
5. Hand Wash: Ensure frequent Hand Wash with antiseptic lotion and lukewarm water.

Click on consult privately to ask me any questions regarding your kid's health.

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