Cough

Coughing is generally a reflex action to clear of the irritant body or mucus from the throat, but the repetitive bouts of cough should be considered as a clinical condition. The cough can be a result of lower or upper respiratory tract infection, flu or cold (Viral or Bacterial).

Generally cough is classified and treated depending upon the symptom – cough with mucus expectoration and without expectoration i.e. Dry cough.

Persistent dry cough can really be very irritating and troublesome. According to Ayurveda classification dry cough falls in vataj kaas category – meaning cough or kaas with dominance of Vata dosha.

Dry Cough

Ayurveda Medicines for Dry Cough

Frequent coughing usually indicates the presence of a disease. Many viruses and bacteria benefit evolutionary by causing the host to cough, which helps to spread the disease to new hosts. Most of the time, coughing is caused by a respiratory tract infection but can be triggered by choking, smoking, air pollution.

Causative Factors of the Dry Cough –

The causative factors explained vitiate the Prana Vayu and Udana Vayu (two of the 5 types of Vata which are held responsible for the respiration faculty of the body). This irritation is met with the forcible expulsion of air to remove the obstruction, but in turn inflames the respiratory tract and throat. That’s the reason for the thorny pricking sensation in the throat, and difficulty swallowing food. This hampers the immune system as well.

Dry cough or Vataj cough is aggravated by cold and dry air, cold, stale, processed and fried foods, excess travelling, and over exertion. Vata aggravating foods and activities like packaged food, fermented food, uncooked sprouts also worsen the dry cough. The cough worsens in the evening, early morning and/or at bedtime.

Herbal Remedies for Dry Cough –

A lehya (lictus) prepared from Gooseberries (Emblica officinalis), Malabar nut (Adhothoda Vasica), long pepper (Piper longum), along with the kashaya (decoction) prepared from the ‘Ten Roots’(Dashamool).

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) in the form of lozenges to reduce the vitiated Vata and heal the inflammation.

Chew dry grapes which also work as lozenges.

Drink tea from Tulsi leaves, ginger, and honey.

Cut a piece of ginger, sprinkle salt and chew on it for a few times.

Drink a glass of warm milk with honey just before going to bed to relieve night time coughs.

Turmeric powder mixed with honey taken 2 or 3 times per day is an effective remedy.

Avoid areas with irritants like dust or smoke.

Skip mosquito coils, incense, and other irritants.

Steer clear of junk food and spicy food.

Drink clean water.

Eat meals on a regular schedule and eat dinner before sunset.

Drink sweetened milk for instant relief.

Avoid sleeping in the day time and staying awake at night.

Use ghee, ginger, and milk regularly.

Exercise the lungs with Pranayama

Respiratory allegic

Management of Respiratory Disorders

There are many reasons why respiratory diseases are on a rapid rise, especially, in  urban areas – toxic levels of air pollution, low population of plants / trees, humidity, dust, pollen, inhaling of cigarette or beedi smoke etc.

These factors combined with high stress levels and poor nutrition lead to the destruction of lung tissues, constriction of airways and fluid retention in the lungs.

Respiratory diseases can be both short-term and chronic. The most common ones are:

Allergic Bronchitis

Seasonal allergies

Sinusitis

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (Asthma & Emphysema)

Post-nasal Drip

Tonsillitis & Adenoids

Recurrent infections

Chronic Cough

Laryngitis

Nasal Polyp

As per Ayurveda, the respiratory system is governed by Vata. However, an imbalance in the functioning of any of the Doshas (Kapha, Pitta or Vata) in the body can lead to accumulation of toxins(Ama) in the respiratory channels. These toxin deposits cause an inflammatory reaction resulting in the build-up of mucous and blockages in lung tissues. With the specialized Ayurvedic therapeutic procedure called Panchakarma, such toxins can be easily eliminated, and physical well-being of the Patient can be restored. This procedure is supplemented with dosha-balancing diet, stress relieving techniques and immunity boosting medications.

According to ayurveda, it is believed that the primary cause of allergies in the body is the accumulation of toxins and low immunity. The improperly digested food, called ama and other chemical additives travel inside the body via the circulatory system and get lodged in the respiratory tissue, skin and other sensitive tissues. Therefore, if you are seeking a way to cure allergies with ayurveda, you can do so by detoxifying, strengthening the immune system and by modifying your diet. ayurvedic treatment of chronic cold, nose allergies, allergic eyes, throat allergies, skin allergies.

#Respiratory Allergies

Types –

1) Upper Respiratory Allergies: Usually Diagnosed In The Term Of Sinus, Sinusitis ,Chronic Sinusitis, Nasal Polyps ,Chronic Rhinitis Allergic Rhinitis ,Allergic Sinusitis ,Frontal Sinusitis, Watery Nose Watery Eyes ,Allergic Tonsillitis, Maxillary Sinusitis, Chronic Cold, Hay Fever.

2) Lower Respiratory Allergies Like Bronchial Asthma, Allergic Bronchitis.

Firstly, our Ayurvedic doctors assess the patients’ history, their body type (Pitta, Vata or Kapha), lifestyle patterns, diet and test results (modern diagnostic tests) to ascertain the root cause of the disease and an appropriate treatment plan. Sometimes, blood tests are prescribed to rule out possibilities of infectious diseases like tuberculosis etc.

Then, we initiate our treatment program with the administration of simple herbs and internal detoxification therapy of Panchakarma. These procedures help in lowering allergens in the system, reducing inflammations and boosting the natural immunity of the patient’s body.

Treatment is supported by ayurvedic medications to help improve the digestive system and strengthen the overall immunity. Later, targeted herbs are given to act on the bronchioles for:

lowering inflammation

dilating bronchioles for better air passage

improving secretion of mucus

clearing out the lungs

Symptoms like Fever etc., are also counteracted using Ayurvedic preparations.

Diet management is given utmost importance in Ayurveda, simply for the fact that when food is not properly digested it creates toxins. When these toxins reach the chest or the lung area, they leave deposits in the lung and airway tissues. They not only irritate the epithelial linings (responsible for creating bronchoconstriction inhibiting chemicals) of the airways but also trigger inflammation. Regulating Vata in the body can fix this problem. So, for resolving dosha imbalances a strict diet regime is recommended to the patient.

Since unbalanced Vata leads to heightened stress in patients, our treatment plan includes therapies for stress management and mental strength. In this program, we include other aspects of healing like pranayama to strengthen the respiratory system and to remove toxins via breathing techniques.