Cough is not exactly termed to be a disease, but a symptom of obstructions faced within the respiratory tract. It might originate within the pleura linings in the lungs region, trachea, bronchial tubes, or the pharynx.
Know the types of cough in Ayurveda
Coughing according to Ayurveda is termed as Kaasa roga and is predominantly considered to be a vitiation effect of Vata dosha. But coughs may also occur due to kapha and pitta doshas. There are categorized five cough types, based upon causative factors, namely, kshavaja, kshataja, kaphaja, pittaja and vataja.
- Vataja cough is termed to be hacking and dry in nature and little phlegm is observed. Pain in the chest region and headache are some side symptoms experienced.
- Yellow sputum is noticed in pittaja cough, which at times can have blood streaks in it. The other symptoms are excessive thirst, burning sensation in the pharynx and mouth, fever, etc.
- Thick mucus discharge that is white and slimy in color is noticed in kaphala cough. There is also a heavy feeling by the body.
- Kshataja is vata vitiation to the extreme limit. Sputum releases blood and dyspnoea. This type can be serious if pus is noticed in the sputum.
There are available Ayurvedic herbal cough syrup products like Torex Herbal that assures to provide relief from cough.
Some useful herbs to treat cough
- Terminalia belerica (Belleric Myrobalan): This fruit is known to have amazing curative powers to treat a cough that is caused by catarrh.
- Myrica nagi (BayBerry): It is found to be quite effective to cure throat congestions causing coughs. Chronic bronchitis can also be cured with it. The effective part is the bark of this plant when taken in powder form.
- Butea Monosperma (Butea): The leaves of Butea can be used to treat inflamed and congested throats. It is also effective to treat sore throats and coughs. Firstly, the leaves are to be boiled in clean water, and the solution is used as a mouth for deriving the desired effects. It also treats coughs caused due to sore septic throats.
- Piper betle (Betel): The leaves of betel is to be crushed and mixed with water to make a paste and applied on the chest externally to offer amazing effects and treat cough.
- Euphorbia hirta (Euphorbia): This potent medicine can treat coughs of different types. Indian herbology does have a special place for this herbal medicine to treat coughs caused by bronchitis, asthma, and cold.
- Syzygium aromaticum (Clove): It can help reduce throat irritation and be effective if pharynx inflammation leads to cough.
- Lawsonia inermis (Henna): It is indeed a wonderful remedy to treat cough problems and sore throat.
- Allium sativum (Garlic): Whooping cough is better treated with this remedy. This syrup has 2-3 garlic pieces and is to be taken 2-3 times in a day if there is experienced extreme whooping cough. The dosage is to be increased if there is noticed severe cough or symptoms still persist.
- Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek): The seeds of fenugreek are quite effective to eliminate coughs that are caused by sore throats. It is necessary to boil the seeds for about 30 minutes in water and the solution is to be gargled repeatedly.
Torex Herbal is perhaps the best herbal cough syrup available in the market.
Dietary treatments to cure cough naturally
- Old rice is to be part of the diet. Also, wheat can be used.
- It is necessary to avoid cold foods as it only aggravates further the throat region. Even water for consumption purposes is to be warmed.
- Fennel seeds can be effective to treat cough and is to be taken with figs to enjoy quick and better results.
- Vegetables or fruits are not to be consumed which might cool the body excessively. The ones to be avoided strictly are oranges, watermelons, papayas, green bananas, and cucumbers.
Ayurvedic remedies to treat cough
Different types of medicines are prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors, which again depend upon the type of cough experienced by the patients.
- If the cough noticed is pittaja type, sitopaladi churna is prescribed with vasarishta or chandanasava. Even are prescribed matulungadi avaleha and vasavaleha.
- If cough is vataja type, kantakaryavaleha or kanakasaya is prescribed.
- If cough is kaphaja type, triphala, trikatu, shilajit and guggulu are prescribed.
Home remedies
- Clove oil is to be mixed with honey and garlic and taken every night prior to hitting the bed. When taken, it is useful to do away with spasmodic coughs that occur in bronchitis, asthma, and tuberculosis.
- Belleric myrobalan fruit pulp is mixed along with honey, salt, and long pepper and this mixture is to be available once a day.
- Take a few holy basil (tulsi) leaves and combine with honey and ginger to prepare the mixture. If the cough is experienced very severely and caused because of serious ailments like bronchitis, tuberculosis, etc., then this mixture is sure to help eliminate the problem.
- Ginger extract is to be prepared and mixed with honey. It should be taken in 3-4 tsp quantity a day. It is sure to offer positive results.
- Coughs if experienced at night can be stopped by placing 3-4 long pepper pieces in the mouth. It needs to be chewed slowly and slightly to enable its extract to go down the throat. With the peppers in the mouth region, the urge to cough actually gets suppressed and the person is sure to sleep peacefully at night.
- Licorice decoration is to be prepared in honey. This decoction is to be consumed and it is to be in contact with the throat’s inner lining. It will help provide relief to cough, irritation and pain felt in the throat region.
- Cardamom powder is to be prepared and mixed in water. This mixture is to be consumed thrice a day and be rest assured of keeping all cough types at bay.
- Figs can help eliminate phlegm build-up within the chest cavity and eliminate cough.
Torex Herbal cough syrup is a wonderful remedy for those who want to get rid of their cough problems quickly and without much hassle or side effects.