SLEEP HYGIENE FOR HEALTHY SLEEP- GENERAL AND HOMOEOPATHIC MEASURES

 Abstract 

 

Sleep is an opportunity for the brain and body to rest and be restored. In addition, many functions important to good health take place during sleep at night. In India, at least 10% of the people can’t sleep without the sleeping pills. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning.  This article review about causes, risk factors, different type, clinical presentation general management including some home remedies management and homoeopathic way of treatment of sleep disorder and healthy sleep. Homoeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homoeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition.

 

Introduction

 

The amount of sleep that people need can vary widely. Infants may need up to twenty hours; many children need from ten to fourteen per night. The average requirement for adults is estimated at six to eight hours, but many people need much more than that feeling chronically stressed and compromised, both physically and mentally, because of insufficient sleep. A sleep disorder, or somnipathy, is a medical disorder of the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning. Polysomnography is a test commonly ordered for some sleep disorders.

Disruptions in sleep can be caused by a variety of issues, from teeth grinding (bruxism) to night terrors. When a person suffers from difficulty in sleeping with no obvious cause, it is referred to as insomnia. In addition, sleep disorders may also cause sufferers to sleep excessively, a condition known as hypersomnia. Management of sleep disturbances that are secondary to mental, medical, or substance abuse disorders should focus on the underlying conditions.

 

 

 

'SLEEP HYGIENE' SOLUTIONS FOR BETTER SLEEP

From having occasional difficulty sleeping to insomnia, there is a lot can do to get a better night's sleep, feel refreshed when awake, and remain alert throughout the day. It's called "sleep hygiene".

There are four general areas important to sleep hygiene:

Our circadian rhythm, or 24-hour cycle

v Aging

v Psychological stressors -- those factors can cause difficulty falling asleep and disturb the quality of our sleep

v Common social or recreational drugs like nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol

Circadian Rhythm

We all have a day-night cycle of about 24 hours called the circadian rhythm. It greatly influences when we sleep and the quantity and the quality of our sleep. The more stable and consistent our circadian rhythm is, the better our sleep. This cycle may be altered by the timing of various factors, including naps, bedtime, exercise, and especially exposure to light (from traveling across time zones to staring at that laptop in bed at night).

Aging

Aging also plays a role in sleep and sleep hygiene. After the age of 40 our sleep patterns change, and we have many more nocturnal awakenings than in our younger years. These awakenings not only directly affect the quality of our sleep, but they also interact with any other condition that may cause arousals or awakenings, like the withdrawal syndrome that occurs after drinking alcohol close to bedtime. The more awakenings we have at night, the more likely we will awaken feeling unrefreshed and unrestored.

Psychological Stressors

Psychological stressors like deadlines, exams, marital conflict, and job crises may prevent us from falling asleep or wake us from sleep throughout the night. It takes time to "turn off" all the noise from the day. One must develop some kind of pre-sleep ritual to break the connection between all the stress and bedtime.

Social or Recreational Drugs

Social or recreational drugs like caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol may have a larger impact on our sleep than we realize. Caffeine, which can stay in our system as long as 14 hours, increases the number of times we awaken at night and decreases the total amount of sleep time. This may subsequently affect daytime anxiety and performance. The effects of nicotine are similar to those of caffeine, with a difference being that at low doses, nicotine tends to act as a sedative, while at high doses it causes arousals during sleep.

Alcohol may initially sedate us, making it easier to fall asleep; however, as it is metabolized and cleared from our system during sleep, it causes arousals that can last as long as two to three hours after it has been eliminated. These arousals disturb sleep, often causing intense dreaming, sweating, and headache. Smoking while drinking caffeine and alcohol can interact to affect our sleep dramatically. These sleep disturbances may be most apparent upon awakening, feeling unrefreshed, groggy, or hungover.

GENERAL TIPS TO GET HEALTHY SLEEP

In India, at least 10% of the people can’t sleep without the sleeping pills. In Mumbai the percentage of people suffering from insomnia is high. We believe that if this condition prevails for the next hundred years, not a single person will be able to sleep without medication.  Our whole being is totally connected to the sleep we have. Depression, heaviness, acidity, hypertension, tension all are related to the sleep problems.

 

A common concern of those who sleep poorly is that lost sleep will damage their health. Recent research demonstrated that the nightly loss of four hours of sleep over 10 days in healthy young adults reduced a number of measures of immune function. Two research papers described how sleeping less than five hours per night lowered the life span.

 

We all have trouble sleeping from time to time. But we can make it easier to get a good night's sleep every night with these simple steps.

v Cut caffeine. Simply put, caffeine can keep you awake. It can stay in our body longer than we might think – the effects of caffeine can take as long as eight hours to wear off. So if we drink a cup of coffee in the afternoon and are still tossing at night, caffeine might be the reason. Cutting out caffeine at least four to six hours before bedtime can help you fall asleep easier.

v Avoid alcohol as a sleep aid. Alcohol may initially help fall asleep, but it also causes disturbances in sleep resulting in less restful sleep. An alcohol drink before bedtime may make it more likely that we will wake up during the night.

v Relax before bedtime. Stress not only makes us miserable, it wreaks havoc on our sleep. Develop some kind of pre-sleep ritual to break the connection between all the day's stress and bedtime. These rituals can be as short as 10 minutes or as long as an hour. Some people find relief in making a list of all the stressors of the day, along with a plan to deal with them this can act as "closure" to the day. Combining this with a period of relaxation perhaps by reading something light, meditating, aromatherapy, light stretching, or taking a hot bath can also help us to get better sleep. And don't look at the clock! That "tick-tock" will just tick you off.

v Exercise at the right time. Regular exercise can help us to get a good night's sleep. The timing and intensity of exercise seems to play a key role in its effects on sleep. If we are the type of person who gets energized or becomes more alert after exercise, it may be best not to exercise in the evening. Regular exercise in the morning even can help relieve insomnia, according to a study.

v Keep bedroom quiet, dark, and comfortable. For many people, even the slightest noise or light can disturb sleep like the purring of a cat or the light from laptop or TV. Use earplugs, window blinds or curtains, and an electric blanket or air conditioner everything possible to create an ideal sleep environment. And don't use the overhead light if need to get up at night; use a small night-light instead. Ideal room temperatures for sleeping are between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures above 75 or below about 54 can disrupt sleep.

v Eat right, sleep tight. Try not to go to bed hungry, but avoid heavy meals before bedtime. An over-full belly can keep us up. Some foods can help, though. Milk contains tryptophan, which is a sleep-promoting substance. Other foods that may help promote sleep include tuna, halibut, pumpkin, artichokes, avocados, almonds, eggs, bok choy, peaches, walnuts, apricots, oats, asparagus, potatoes, buckwheat, and bananas. Also, try not to drink fluids after 8 p.m. This can keep us from having to get up to use the bathroom during the night.

v Restrict nicotine. Having a smoke before bed -- although it feels relaxing actually puts a stimulant into your bloodstream. The effects of nicotine are similar to those of caffeine. Nicotine can keep us up and awaken at night. It should be avoided particularly near bedtime and if wake up in the middle of the night.

v Avoid napping. Napping can only make matters worse if we usually have problems falling asleep. If we do nap, keep it short. A brief 15-20-minute snooze about eight hours after we get up in the morning can actually be rejuvenating.

v Keep pets off the bed. Pet sleep with us may cause us to awaken during the night, either from allergies or pet movements.

v Avoid watching TV, eating, and discussing emotional issues in bed.The bed should be used for sleep and sex only. If not, we can end up associating the bed with distracting activities that could make it difficult for us to fall asleep.

DIET AND SLEEP

How much of a direct effect diet has on sleep is still unclear. Adjusting our eating routine may also help us to get a better night's sleep. Most people in our country eat a light breakfast, a moderate lunch, and a large meal in the evening. Yet leaving the largest meal to the end of the day may not be the best choice, since it can result in uncomfortable distention and possibly heartburn when we retire for the night.  

Pattern for a more sleep-friendly meal plan: 

v Eat a substantial breakfast. Because we are breaking our nighttime fast and consuming the nutrients will need for energy throughout the morning, breakfast should be our largest meal of the day. Whole-grain breads and cereals, yogurt, and fruit are just a few examples of good breakfast choices. 

v Opt for a moderate lunch. Choose brown rice, pasta, or whole-grain bread and a serving of protein -- fish, eggs, chicken, meat or beans. 

v Finish with a light dinner. It is particularly important to eat lightly for our evening meal in order to prepare for a good night's sleep. Plan to finish our meal at least two hours before going to bed, preferably longer.

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT FOR SLEEP DISORDERS

Professional homoeopaths do not generally prescribe remedies to treat symptoms individually, as the symptoms are considered to be only the outward sign that your vital force is struggling to overcome disease. Instead a remedy is prescribed for the whole person. Accurate prescribing is essential to the success of homoeopathy. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each medicine may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy.

Reportorial rubric

[Kent] Sleep, Sleeplessness

Acon., Argen. Nit, Arsenicum album, Belladona, Bryonia, Cactus, Calcerea, Chamomilla, China, Cicuta v, Coffea, Cyclamen,Hepar sulp, Hyosyamus,Kali ars, Kali Carb, Lachesis, Mercurius, Merc. Cor, Nux.vom, Opium, Phosphorus, Plumbum, Pulsatilla, Rhus.tox, Sepia, Stannum met, Silicea, Staphy, Sulphur, Thuja

[Complete] Sleep, Sleeplessness, night

Arsenicum album, Causticum, China, Cina, Coffea, Conium, Ferrem met, Graphites, Hyosyamus, Mag.carb, Moschus, Nat.mur, Nit.ac, Nux.vom, Olendar, Opium, Phosphorus, Plumbum, Rhus.tox, Silicea, Spigelia, Squilla, Thuja

[Boericke] Nervous system, Sleep, Insomnia (Sleeplessness)

Absin, Acon., Anacardium, Arsen album, Avena, Belladona, Calcerea, Camph, Camph – monobrom, Cann ind, Chammomilla, Cimcifuga, Cinchona, Coca, Cocaine, Cocculus, Coffea, Cypripedium pubescens, Gelsimium, Hyoscyamus, Hyoscyaminum hydrobromatum, Ignasia, Kali brom, Lupulus hum, Nux.vom, Opium, Passiflora, Pulsatilla, Scutellaria  lateriflora, Sulphur, Sumbulus ferula

[Boenninghausen’s] Sleep, Sleeplessness

Aconite, Arsenicum album, Bryonia, Calcerea, Chamomilla, Coffea, Hepar sulp, Kali Carb,  Mercurius, Nux.vom, Pulsatilla, Sepia, Silicea

Remedy	Individualizing  Symptoms
Aconite	Sleeplessness related to anxiety, shock, fright or grief. The sufferer is frequently troubled by nightmares and insomnia accompanied by physical and mental restlessness. Symptoms are worse from pressure of bedding, during menses and in a warm room. Better in open air.
Arnica	Sleeplessness associated with jet lag and overwork, the sufferer’s bed feels too hard and uncomfortable, and they may be overtired. Also useful for insomnia related to recent injury. Worse from least touch or wine. Better for lying with the head low or lying outstretched.
Arsenicum Album	Feel sleepy during the day but anxious at night. Restless in bed with anxious dreams and nightmares. Also for warmth, warm drinks, moving about, and sleeping propped up in bed.
Chamomilla	Sleeplessness related to restlessness, irritability, anger or the overuse of coffee. This is a well-used remedy for children suffering from insomnia who refuse to be calmed. Also handy for insomnia and restlessness during the first part of the night and insomnia related to nightmares. Worse for being covered but better for sweating.
Cocculus	Difficulty sleeping due to being overtired or exhausted. People needing this remedy are often emotionally sensitive, suffer from motion sickness and/ or depression. Symptoms are worse for touch, noise or cold, worse during menses and better for lying on the side.
Coffea c.	This is an excellent remedy for insomnia, particularly where the person is troubled by unwanted thoughts and the nervous system is over-excited, causing an over activity of the mind and body. Worse for cold and noise and better for warmth. Also useful for insomnia during pregnancy.
Gelsemium	Sleeplessness associated with anxiety related to impending events such as stage fright in people who tend to be dull and drowsy, who cannot get fully to sleep, or have a restless or overly heavy sleep. Worse in damp, humid weather or in spring and better for reclining with the head held high.
Ignatia	Sleepless from grief or sadness. Those who’ll benefit from this remedy are very light sleepers who often whimper while sleeping and have re-occurring bad dreams. Worse for cold open air and touch and better from pressure and warmth.
Kali phos	Sleeplessness related to anxiety, mental strain, muscular fatigue, night terrors, restlessness or sleepwalking. Worse for touch, cold or fatigue and better for leaning against something.
Nux vom	Sleeplessness associated with irritability, anger and gastrointestinal complaints in people who are impatient, fastidious and competitive. The person who’ll benefit from this remedy often wakes at around 3am, is worse for cold, dry weather, worse from eating and better for strong pressure and damp, wet weather.
Opium	If the person is feeling sleepy but unable to get to sleep, if the bed is too hot, or else sleep comes but it is so heavy that the person snores and cannot be roused.
Pulsatilla	The Pulsatilla type is restless in the first part of sleep and can’t decide if they’re too hot or too cold and they may wake up too early.  Insomnia may be related to sadness, fear or irritability. Symptoms are worse from eating bread, fatty or rich food before sleep, and symptoms are worse before or during menses. Better in the open air or cool weather.

 

MOTHER TINCTURES

Absinthium

Sleeplessness due to nervous excitement

Avena sativa

Insomnia with despondency

Passiflora Incarnata

Restless and wakeful, resulting from exhaustion. Especially in the feeble, infants and the aged. Insomnia of infants and the aged, and the mentally worried, and overworked, with tendency to convulsions. Nocturnal cough60 drops in a ounce of hot water at 8pm induces sleep

Thea

For nervous sleeplessness with history of tea abuse

Piscidia

Here cause of sleeplessness is mental worries

Hypericum

The key actions are antidepressant, antispasmodic, analgestic, astringent, antiviral, sedative and it stimulates bile flow

Conclusion

 

The main outcome of Homoeopathic approach is to regains the body's natural healing and immune the body cells to treat the conditions that affect the body, prevent it and restore the good level of health and well-being. Along with Homoeopathic medicines, the lifestyle, personal habits & food habits modification may be useful for treatment of patients with sleep disorders. 

COUGH – WHAT THEY MEAN, RESEARCH BASED HOMOEOPATHIC INTERVENTION

 ABSTRACT

Cough is one of most common symptom encounters in clinical practice, cough is a rapid expulsion of air from the lungs typically in order to clear the lung airways of fluids, mucus, or material. This article provides an overview of the aetiology, diagnosis, and appropriate general & homoeopathic management for different types of cough.

 

INTRODUCTION

Cough is also called tussis. A cough is a protective reflex in healthy individuals which is influenced by psychological factors. Cough can be categorized as acute (less than three weeks) or chronic (greater than three weeks). There are many different types of cough and can hear them all during winter – tickly coughs, chesty coughs, croupy coughs – but they all have one thing in common; they cause distress and discomfort to the sufferer (not to mention the listener!) They lead to irritability, sore muscles, and lack of sleep.

Frequent coughing usually indicates the presence of a disease.  Many viruses and bacteria benefit evolutionarily by causing the host to cough, which helps to spread the disease to new hosts. Most of the time, irregular coughing is caused by a respiratory tract infection but can also be triggered by choking, smoking, air pollution, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, post-nasal drip, chronic bronchitis, lung tumors, heart failure and medications such as ACE inhibitors.

 

Classification of Cough:

A cough can be classified by its duration, character, quality, and timing. The duration can be either acute (of sudden onset) if it is present less than three weeks, subacute if it is present between three and eight weeks, and chronic when lasting longer than eight weeks. A cough can be dry or productive, depending on whether sputum is coughed up. It may occur only at night, during both night and day, or just during the day.

Acute Cough:  The cause of the acute cough is usually determined by the person’s history and physical exam.

· If cough is present less than three weeks.

· Most commonly relates to

o Viral – induced lower respiratory tract infections.

o Post-nasal drip resulting from rhinitis or sinusitis.

o Throat - clearing secondary to laryngitis or pharyngitis.

Post-nasal drip: Mucous accumulation in the back of the nose and throat leading to or giving the sensation of mucus dripping downward from the back of the nose.

Subacute Cough: if it is present between three and eight weeks.  The most common causes are: Post infectious Cough, Acute Sinusitis, Asthma.

Chronic Cough:

· When cough lasting longer than eight weeks.

· Patients with chronic cough often represent more of a diagnostic challenge like individuals with a normal examination, chest radiograph and lung function tests.

· Most cough can be explained by Post-nasal drip secondary to nasal or sinus disease. Asthma , where cough may be the principal or exclusive clinical manifestation   Or Gastro-oesophageal reflux (may require ambulatory pH monitoring or a prolonged trial of antireflux therapy to diagnose.

Dry Cough:

Cough is dry i.e. there is no phlegm when a person coughs. The throat feels itchy and scratchy due to the dryness. The throat pains due to excessive coughing. It is difficult to eat due to excessive coughing. Fever may accompany the cough but it is not a necessary symptom.

The dry, hacking cough is caused by: a virus infection, cold or dry air, or Air pollutants such as cigarette smoke, smog and dust. This sometimes feels like a tickle at the back of your throat.

Productive Cough:

Productive cough are coughs that produce phlegm, in contrast to dry coughs. Productive cough may be associated with tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia, and bronchitis . The loose productive cough is a sign of chest congestion or infection due to colds or flu. It clears the lungs and air passages of excess mucus.

Phlegm is a sticky material from your mucous membranes in our respiratory system. When have a cold it might be yellowish brown. If there's an infection, it might be greenish brown. Normal phlegm is usually clear.

 

Conditions that cause coughs

 

Colds and Flu - Almost all coughs due to the common cold come and go without trouble; still they can be a big hassle if they keep you up all night or doubled over during the day.

Post-nasal drip - Most types of coughs are caused by postnasal drip, triggered by allergies, fumes or an upper respiratory infection. The sinuses produce fluid that drips down the throat and that produces a cough, because your body won’t let you drown in your own secretions,” she says. The cough can be dry or wet, accompanied by a tickling or sore throat.

Sinusitis/Rhinitis - Sinusitis, an inflammation of the sinuses, causes that tickling, dripping sensation down the back of the throat that triggers various types of coughs.

Rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal passages, which also leads to postnasal drip.

Allergies - Coughs related to rhinitis, sinusitis and post-nasal drip all can be triggered by allergies.

Asthma - The second most common cause of coughs is asthma, some people, instead of loud wheezing, get only a cough.

Smoker’s cough - Many smokers think of it as a morning cough.  But a cough can be a sign of a more serious disease like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or lung cancer.

Acute bronchitis/Pneumonia, Acute – sudden, but short – bronchitis is essentially a cold or a viral infection. It can also be bacterial. Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, also can be viral or bacterial.

Reflux (GERD) - Surprisingly, if you have acid or non-acid reflux – the back-up of stomach fluids into your esophagus – your only symptom may be a cough, not heartburn. More than half of people with reflux disease have only a cough.

 

Types of Cough by Sound

"One of the best ways to diagnose a cough, and the way we do it, is by listening,"

· A sharp gasp for breath at the end of a long coughing spell characterizes whooping cough, it puts infants at risk and kills one to three babies a year

· Infamous for its "barking" cough, croup is a viral infection that results in swollen vocal chords and throat. It commonly affects children and worsens at night,

· A dry cough is so called because it doesn’t produce phlegm. It can result from a wide variety of problems, from mild environmental irritants,such as smoke, to disorders or infectious diseases, such as asthma, the flu or pneumonia.

· Productive/Wet Cough - Just a regular old cold gives you wetness in the cough because again all that junk in your nasal passages it goes back into your throat into your airways, you’re coughing it up, Besides a cold or influenza, bronchitis and pneumonia can also cause wet coughs.

 

Characteristics of cough originating at various levels of Respiratory Tract:

Origin	Causes	Characteristics
Pharynx	Post nasal drip	Usually Persistent.
Larynx	Laryngitis, tumor, whooping cough, croup	Harsh, barking, painful, persistent, often associated with strider.
Trachea	Tracheitis	Painful
Bronchi	Acute Bronchitis and COPD	Dry or Productive, , worse in mornings
	Asthma.	Dry or productive, worse at night.
	Bronchial Carcinoma	Persistent often with haemoptysis.
Lung Parenchyma	Tuberculosis	Productive, often with haemoptysis.
	Pneumonia	Initially Dry, Productive later.
	Bronchiectasis	Productive
	Pulmonary edema	Often at night ( may be productive)
	Interstitial Fibrosis	Dry, irritant and distressing.

 

General Management

v Eat healthy food and avoid sugar or sugary foods which suppress the immune system for up to 5 hours after being eaten.

v Get plenty of rest so your body can recover

v Maintain hydration and keep your mucus membranes moist with frequent drinks of water or soothing teas.

v Soothe inflamed airways and loosen mucus with steam inhalations and warm showers.

v Avoid cigarettes and tobacco smoke which paralyse and eventually destroy the microscopic hairs that line your airways.These fine hairs, called cilia, normally sweep the mucus upwards in waves, away from your lungs.

Natural Home remedies

A specific tip for coughs involves black pepper. Pepper has an antimicrobial effect but in truth, its ability to soothe coughs probably has more to do with the homeopathic effect of ‘like treats like’; pepper can induce coughing in a healthy person and so will relieve it in someone suffering from a cough. Pepper is best added to raw honey and taken by the spoonful several times a day.

Cinnamon is another natural antibiotic. It is rich in compounds that inhibit bacterial growth and strengthen resistance. Add it to your food or drinks to boost your immune system. Turmeric contains an anti-inflammatory compound called curcumin, which has strong cold and flu fighting properties. Stir a teaspoon into a glass of water or use it in your cooking

Honey and lemon soothe the mucous membranes of the throat and have an antibacterial effect – raw honey is best. Research shows that children who take a spoonful of honey before bed cough less and sleep better than those who take over-the-counter products for coughs and colds. Adding a little lemon to the honey will increase its anti-microbial effect. Honey and lemon can also be combined with hot water to make a soothing tea.

Chocolate and cough - Chocolate can help a cough! Theobromine, a compound found in the cocoa bean, will suppress coughs just as effectively as many cough medicines but without their side effects. Milk chocolate contains very little theobromine compared to dark chocolate. To obtain an effective dose, need to eat 50 – 100g of dark chocolate. Enjoy!

Allopathic treatment uses suppression or palliation to relieve symptoms for short periods of time. The drawback is that in the long run, continual suppression leads to worsening

health. Depending on whether the cough is wet or dry, conventional medicine will offer a suppressant or an expectorant.

 

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

 

Homoeopathic Remedies

Homoeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homoeopathy is not only to treat cough but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. The unique physical, emotional and mental expression of illness is characteristic and is used to channel the course of Homoeopathic treatment. The remedies work by stimulating body’s natural ability to heal itself, acting as a catalyst for healing. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several well-proved remedies are available for cough which can be selected on the basis of cause, location, sensation, modalities and extension of the complaints. Homoeopathic medicines are often effective in treating the acute symptoms of coughs, though professional constitutional care is usually necessary to achieve a deeper level of cure of chronic respiratory problems.

Some important cough remedies are given below which are much helpful in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis:

 

Indicated Remedies	Indications
Aconite	Sudden onset often after exposure to cold air. Dry croupy cough with runny nose and sneezing. Irritation of respiratory tract, hoarseness/dryness of throat. Worse: cold dry winds, talking and deep breathing. Better: lying on back.
Anti Tart	Noisy, rattling, loose cough as if chest full of mucus. Young children or elderly with cough too weak to expel the mucus. Worse: night, especially from 10 pm until after midnight, lying flat, eating. Better sitting up and after expectoration
Bryonia	Dry hacking cough in the evening and night without sputum. Spasmodic cough shaking the whole body, pain in the head an abdomen from coughing, better for holding the painful part. Dryness of all air passages with thirst. Worse: movement, deep breathing, lying in bed. Better: fresh air and for pressure of painful part.
Causticum	Cough with raw, sore feeling in chest. Hollow, hard, dry cough from tickling in throat pit. Expectoration not easy to cough up and slips back down the throat. Worse: lying down, talking and bending head forward. Better: cold drinks
Coccus Cacti	Paroxysmal, hard, short hacking cough ending in copious thick, ropes of mucus. Worse: 6-7 am or after 11.00 pm, becoming heated, warm rooms. Better: cold, open air, cold drinks.
Drosera	Spasmodic, dry irritating coughs like whooping cough. Barking cough which is dry in the evening and loose in the morning. Sputum is yellow/green, bitter or offensive, bloody or pus like. Retching after spasmodic cough. Worse: after midnight, lying down, singing, laughing and drinking. Better: holding chest.
Phosphorous	Cough may be dry or loose, (useful in the early stages of bronchitis/pneumonia) Every cold descends to the chest. Burning in the chest with raw larynx and feeling of tightness. Scratchy sensation in the throat, tickling cough. Worse: change from warm air to cold air, talking, laughing. Better: heat, sleep and lying on right side
Pulsatilla	Catarrhal cough with copious yellow/green lumpy mucus. Dry cough at night, loose in the morning. Worse: warm stuffy rooms, lying down, becoming warm in bed. Better: fresh air, gentle walking, sitting up in bed.

 

 

HOMOEOPATHIC RESEARCH

 

One interesting study with seriously ill patients on respirators in an intensive care unit showed that homoeopathy not only effectively reduced their respiratory secretions but also helped them come off their respirators more quickly. The length of time they spent in the unit was also shorter and without respiratory complications. In contrast, those in the control group who had not received homoeopathic treatment took considerably longer to recover. Some also had to be returned to the respirator after extubation because they were struggling to breath from excessive secretions in their airways – something that was not a problem for the homeopathic group. As excess respiratory secretions are a major trigger for coughs, the homeopathic treatment would also have reduced the incidence of coughs – something that is also substantiated clinically.

Another study of children with upper respiratory tract infections, including coughs, showed that those who received homeopathic treatment recovered much more quickly than those who were treated conventionally in the control group.

A third study showed that those children whose colds (and accompanying coughs) were treated with homoeopathy were more likely to feel and do better than those children whose colds had been treated conventionally. The homeopathically treated children had fewer complications, and their parents took significantly less sick-leave than the parents of those children treated with antibiotics.