Ayurvedic Medicine For Cough And Sore Throat

Cough is not a disease but is actually a symptom of some obstruction in the respiratory tract. Coughs can originate in the pharynx, bronchi, trachea, and the pleura lining of the lungs.

In Ayurveda, the cough is known as Kaasa roga. It is primarily a result of the disturbance of the Vata dosha. However, pitta and Kapha doshas can also cause coughing. Based on the causal factor, there are five types of cough – wattage, pittaja, kaphaja, and kshayaja kshataja.

Wattage cough is dry and rough in nature. There is little phlegm observed. Secondary symptoms are headache and chest pain. In pitta a cough, there is yellow sputum which may sometimes have traces of blood in it.

Other symptoms such as fever, excessive thirst, and burning sensation in the mouth and pharynx are also felt. In kaphaja cough, there is thick mucus that is sticky and white. This cough makes the body feel heavy.

Kshataja cough is vata service to the extreme limit. There are dyspnoea and blood in the sputum. Kshayaja Cough is a very severe cough seen in the pus in the sputum.

Useful Herbs in the treatment of cough

1. Bay Berry (Myrica Nagi): The bay berry is very effective in curing congestion of the throat that causes coughing. You can even cure coughs that are caused due to chronic bronchitis. Its bark is the effective part to be taken in the form of a powder.

2. Belleric Myrobalan (Terminalia belerica): The fruit of myrobalan belleric has excellent healing properties in treating coughs due to colds.

3. Betel (Piper betel): Betel leaves when crushed; made into a paste with water and applied externally on the chest have amazing effects in the treatment of cough.

4. Butea (Butea monosperma): Butea leaves can treat congested and inflamed throats. They are effective in treating coughs and sore throats. The leaves are boiled in water. This solution is used as a mouthwash to get the desired effects. Cough caused by the throat and septic sore throat is treated this way.

5. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): Cloves can reduce throat irritation. Cloves are more effective if the cough occurs due to inflammation of the pharynx.

6. Euphorbia (Euphorbia hirta): Euphorbia is a very powerful drug in the treatment of all types of cough. It enjoys a special position in Indian herbology treating coughs due to colds, asthma, and bronchitis.

7. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum): Fenugreek seeds are effective in the elimination of cough associated with a sore throat. The seeds are boiled in water for half an hour and this water is used to take gargles.

8. Garlic (Allium sativum): Garlic is an excellent remedy for whooping cough. The syrup of two or three cloves of garlic should be taken twice a day in the case of pertussis. If symptoms persist, or if a cough is severe, the dose should be increased.

9. Henna (Lawsonia inermis): Henna is a definite remedy for sore throat and cough-related problems.

Dietary Treatments for Cough

1. Cold foods should be avoided because they can aggravate the throat. The water that is drunk normally also must warm up before drinking.
2. Use old rice in the diet. Wheat can also be used positively.
3. Do not consume any fruit or vegetable that can cause excessive cooling of the body. Foods like cucumbers, green bananas, papayas, watermelons, and oranges must be strictly avoided.
4. Fennel seeds are effective in the treatment of cough. These should be taken along with figs for better results.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Cough

Ayurvedic doctors prescribe slightly different kinds of medicines depending on the type of cough observed.

• If the cough is wattage type, then kantakaryavaleha kanakasava or prescribed.
• If the cough is pitta type, then sitopaladi choorna is preferred, in connection with vasarishta chandansava. Matulungadi avaleha Vasavaleha and may also be prescribed.
• If the cough is kaphaja type, then trikatu, Triphala, Guggulu, and shilajit are the drugs of choice.

Home Medications

1. The pulp of the fruit myrobalan belleric mixed with long pepper, salt, and honey. This should be taken once a day.
2. Clove oil mixed with garlic and honey helps to eliminate spasmodic cough that occurs in tuberculosis, asthma, and bronchitis. This mixture should be taken every night before bed.
3. Preparation of an extract of ginger. Sweeten with honey in this. Take this in a quantity of one teaspoon three to four times a day. No positive results were confirmed.
4. Prepare a mixture of extract of tulsi (holy basil) leaves with ginger and honey. This is better than the previous method for the treatment of cough. This mixture should be taken if the cough is severe and is caused by a serious illness such as tuberculosis, bronchitis, etc.
5. Make a decoction of licorice in honey. The use of this decoction makes good contact with the lining of the throat. This relieves the cough and the feeling of irritation in the throat.
6. A simple way to stop coughing at night is to place three to four pieces of long pepper in the mouth. Chew a bit to extract what oozes into your mouth. While the peppers are in the mouth, the urge to cough will be deleted, and restful sleep at night.
7. Figs are known to remove the buildup of phlegm in the chest cavity. This causes the elimination of cough.
8. Make a powder of cardamom dissolved in water. Take this three times in one day. This will prevent all types of cough at bay.