What is an allergic cough and the reason behind it?
Allergic cough is the one caused by the hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to an allergen. Allergen is a substance that tends to trigger an allergic response specifically in those persons who are sensitive to it and doesn’t have any effect on any other person. In the case of allergies, the body reacts to the allergens by activating mast cells. These cells release histamine, which causes allergy symptoms, including cough. A cough caused by an allergy usually lasts from days to months. It begins as soon as the person gets exposed to allergens and remain till exposure to allergens continue. It can be attended with a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, itchy throat, and sore throat. Fever doesn’t appear in an allergic cough. The appearance of fever is indicative that cough is due to some infection and not allergies.
What are the trigger factors?
It can be triggered by many allergens, out of which main are dust, pollens, pet danders, and mold. Apart from this cigarette smoke, air pollution and chemical fumes also can trigger it. These allergens tend to cause irritation and swelling of the airways resulting in cough. People have suffered from this complaint during some specific seasons or in some environments. It tends to run in families.
Homeopathic Treatment for Allergic cough
Homeopathic medicines offer very safe and effective treatment for the cases of allergic cough. They treat it by moderating the overactive immune system and gives excellent results. Homeopathic medicines for this are of natural origin, thus treat it in a very safe manner without any side effects. Among various medicines to treat allergic cough, the top grade medicines are Arsenic Album, Belladonna, Natrum Mur, Drosera, Bryonia, Spongia, Rumex, and Ipecac.
Homeopathic Medicines for Allergic cough
1. Arsenic Album – Leading medicine
Arsenic Album is very beneficial for treating an allergic cough with runny nose and sneezing. The cough for using this medicine is usually deep, dry in nature. This is attended with difficulty in breathing. In many cases whistling sound from the chest is present. Sometimes expectoration of frothy mucus or yellow mucus is present. The symptoms most times get worse at night time. Along with the above symptoms, great anxiety and restlessness also appear.
2. Belladonna – When sore throat attends
Homeopathic medicine Belladonna is prepared from a plant named deadly nightshade. This plant belongs to natural order Solanaceae.
Belladonna is a well indicated when sore throat attends cough. A person needing it has pain, soreness, and rawness in the throat. Irritation, dryness, roughness, and scratching in the throat is also marked in them. They have a short, dry cough that continues day and night. There is sensation as if something is stuck inside the throat. A tickling and burning sensation is also felt in the throat. Along with the above headache also appears in them.
3. Natrum Mur – For nasal allergy with it
Natrum Mur is a very effective medicine when nasal allergy appears with the cough. Persons needing it have a watery discharge from nose that alternate with dryness. Along with this, they have intense sneezing. Watering from eyes is also present among them. With this, they have a cough arising from tickling in throat. They have white mucus expectoration. They may have pain in the throat and head while coughing.
4. Drosera – For dry, irritative cough
Homeopathic medicine Drosera is prepared from a plant named Drosera rotundifolia, commonly known as round-leaved sundew. This plant belongs to family Droseraceae. It is very useful when the cough is dry, irritative in nature. Along with this tickling, roughness and scraping sensation in the fauces is felt. The person also has difficulty in breathing with coughing. Most people needing Drosera has worsening of condition from warmth, lying down, and drinking.
5. Bryonia – for managing pain in chest and head
Homeopathic medicine Bryonia is prepared from the root of plant Bryonia Alba, commonly known as wild hops. This plant belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. Bryonia is very beneficial to relieve pain in chest and head appearing while coughing. The cough is dry and gets worse after eating and drinking. Sometimes vomiting appears with it. Scratching in the throat and difficulty in breathing is also present. While in some cases bloody, brick dust coloured expectoration arises.
6. Spongia – For absolutely dry cough
Spongia gives excellent results when the cough is absolutely dry. With this tickling in the throat is there. There is no expectoration at all. The whole of the respiratory tract feels dry. Warm drinks may offer relief. Along with this, wheezing in the chest is present. Chest feels heavy sometimes with pain. Burning sensation in the chest is also felt. Other than this, suffocation is experienced by the person.
7. Rumex – For cough arising from tickling in throat pit
Homeopathic medicine Rumex is prepared from the fresh root of a plant named Rumex Crispus, commonly known as yellow dock. This plant belongs to the family Polygonaceae. Rumex is given when cough arises from tickling sensation in the throat pit. It is severe and almost constant. It tends to worsen from talking and inhaling cold air. There appears a sensation of the feather in the throat. Along with this, scanty expectoration arises with difficulty.
8. Ipecac – When cough ends in vomiting
Ipecac is prepared from the dried root of a plant Ipecacuanha. This plant belongs to family Rubiaceae. A person needing it has a spasmodic cough that ends in vomiting. It mostly worsens from eating. Along with this, mucus rattling in the chest is there. The chest feels tight, along with suffocation.