Cough Natural Ayurveda Remedies

Holistic Healing: Ayurvedic Approaches to Alleviate Cough Naturally

There are a lot of people who are looking for natural cough remedies. Cold and cough can be a very irritating problem as it makes it hard for people to concentrate on other tasks.

When people are suffering from cough, they may experience troubles in regular breathing.

Natural Ayurvedic Medicine for Dry Cough

It is easy to identify cough as the symptoms are externally observable. Often people who are suffering from cough have general irritability and they can experience overall body pain as well.

Sometimes, in cases of prolonged and excessive cough, people may find respiratory troubles and the cough can be both dry and wet. Ayurveda has treatment for both types of coughing disorders.

Ayurveda believes that the main cause of the cough is because there is an aggravation of kapha. There are also reports that those who suffer improper digestion are more likely to suffer from cough as partly undigested food called ama may reach the respiratory system and this can lead to cough.
 

How to stop coughing?

When the kapha balance is restored, it helps to cut down the cough and you should be able to breathe normally and the persistent cough will begin to fade away. 
 

How to treat or Manage a cough naturally?

In order to get the right dry cough remedies and cough remedies for kids, you can find ayurvedic herbs in form of veggies capsule or tinture and liquids. Here are the main herbs that have been used tradtionally to alleviate cough for centuries:

Sitopaldi Chrun

Sitopaldi Chrun is a powder of ayurvedic spices and herbs used tradtionally in ayurveda and is known to be an effective bronchodilator and also an expectorant. It consists of different components namely cardamom, cinnamon, bamboo shoots, long pepper and even powdered sugar. All these material together offer Sitopaldi Chrun the capability of treating different kinds of respiratory problems.

A study on the anti-tussive activity of sitopaladi churna by Priyabrata Pattanayak reveals its effectiveness in controlling cough. The percentage inhibition brought about by the standard drug codeine phosphate (93.60%) was compared to the in-house formulation of sitopaladi churna (94.28%) and the study justified the traditional claims of sitopaladi churna in the treatment of cough.

Vasa ( Adhatoda vasica)

Vasa  is a commonly used ayurvedic herb which is predominantly found as an effective herb for treating cough troubles. It helps in restoring the kapha or water imbalance in the body and thereby may improve the coughing trouble. It helps to bring relief to the lungs and helps in easy breathing.

The leaves, flowers, fruit and roots have been extensively used traditionally for treating cold cough, whooping cough, chronic bronchitis and asthma, expectorant and antispasmodic.

A research paper presented by Md Tofazzal Hossain et al highlights the uses of adhatoda vasica in the treatment of cough. A decoction of the leaves of Vasaka may be used to help with cough and other symptoms of colds. The soothing action helps irritation in the throat and the expectorant will help loosen phlegm deposits in the airway. In many of the cough syrups that are available, Vasaka has been used either as a base or as an ingredient. A liquid preparation of Vasaka known as Vasasav given in half ounce measures after the principal meals, reduces production of kapha (phlegm) and relieves excessive coughing. The leaves, flowers, fruit and roots are extensively used for treating cold cough, whooping cough, chronic bronchitis and asthma, as sedative, expectorant and antispasmodic.

Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa)

Pushkarmool is also an ayurvedic herb which has main action on pacifying kapha and helps restore lung fuction. It may help in a wide array of different respiratory problems. An apt use of this herb aims to nourish the lung tissue and may support the respiratory tract, smoothens the irritated bronchial tree and rejuvenate the lungs. The root of this herb are considered to have expectorant and bronchodilator properties.

A research by Pooja Khurana et al states the benefits of pushkarmool in treating cough. It supports the respiratory tract, smoothens the irritated bronchial tree and rejuvenates the lungs the lungs. The root of this herb has expectorant and bronchodilator properties.

Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Mulethi is an extremely versatile ayurvedic herb which can offer many health benefits in respiratory troubles like bronchitis and even asthma. Those who suffer from persistent chronic cough may consume mulethi on  regular basis and may shift those symptoms.

Natural Cough Suppressant

Panchakarma detox for Chronic Cough

Panchkarma actually infers to an amalgamation of five different treatments, which aid in detoxification of your body. As cough is believed to be caused because of imbalance in the body, this ayurvedic treatment method helps in getting relief from pain and trouble and can also aid in efficient and regular breathing as well.

Depending on the specific cause of a respiratory disorder, the Ayurvedic doctor may recommend one of the following Panchkarma Detox therapies for cleansing of ama/toxins from the body. These therapies should only be prescribed by a qualified aurvedic doctor and should be performed under close supervision of same.
 

Vamana (vomiting): Therapeutic vomiting helps to get rid of the excess mucus in the respiratory tract that causes imbalance in kapha dosha. 

Virechana (purgation): This medicated purgation therapy helps to cleanse the toxins from the gall bladder and liver. 

Vasti (Herbal Enema): This medicated enema therapy is performed by the introduction of a medicated oil, milk, ghee or a herbal decoction preparation into the rectum. This enema allows the elimination of toxins through the feces.

Nasyam (Instillation of  Herbal nasal drops): Nasyam is a therapy in which a herbal juice or a medicated oil is administered through the nose. This helps to remove the excessive doshas that may have accumulated in the throat and the sinuses, giving relief from respiratory problems including cough.
 

Breathing Exercises or Pranayama for Cough and Respiratory Health

Breathing exercises, called pranayama, helps to improve the lung function and also helps to reduce the frequency of symptoms in patients with chronic respiratory problems. There are different types of breathing exercises that help in different conditions.
 

For example, Sukha Pranayama or anulom vilom or alternate nostril breathing helps patients with wheezing and hay fever. In this technique, the right nostril is first closed with the right thumb as the person inhales through the left nostril.Now the right nostril is released, the left nostril is closed with the right ring finger as the breath is exhaled through the right nostril.
 

Other types of breathing exercises may also be prescribed such as Bhastrika Pranayama, which works well for congestion, and Ujjayi Pranayama, which help to improve immunity so that respiratory health is maintained.
 

Yoga for Cough and other Respiratory Problems

Some yoga postures may be helpful in people who suffer from chronic respiratory disorders. When these are performed on a regular basis, they help to reduce the frequency as well as the severity of the symptoms. Some of the generally prescribed yogasanas include Surya Namaskara (Sun salutation), Sarvanagasana (Shoulder Pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) and Shalabhasana (Grasshopper Pose).
 

Lifestyle Changes for Cough

Along with medication, therapy, yogasana and breathing exercises, Ayurveda also recommends certain lifestyle and dietary changes such as:

• Dry foods that are difficult to digest, curds, chillies and fish should be avoided.
• Avoid using cold water and don’t reside in a cold place
• Get enough sleep; avoid staying awake till late at night
• smoking should be avoided
• Keep yourself mentally calm and avoid anxiety provoking situations​

References:

1. Priyabrata Pattanayak, Sangram Kesari Panda, Snehasis Dash, Manaswini Behera, Susanta Kumar Mishra, ‘STUDY OF ANTI-TUSSIVE ACTIVITY OF SITOPALADI CHURNA: A POLY-HERBAL FORMULATION’, Semantics Scholar, Volume 4, Issue 2, September – October 2010, https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4fa6/9964923c215c9d77e894e1a5f57f4d1cb7e3.pdf

2. Md Toffazal Hossain and Md Obydul Hoq ‘Therapeutic use of Adhatoda vasica’, Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, Research Gate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306020300_Therapeutic_use_of_Adhatoda_vasica

3.Pooja khurana, Amitabh Singh, Vikas Saroch, ‘Role of Pushkarmool in Asthma Management: A conceptual Study’, Research Gate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281366533_ROLE_OF_PUSHKARMOOL_IN_THE_ASTHMA_MANAGEMENT_A_CONCEPTUAL_STUDY_PG_scholar_2_HOD_Kayachikitsa_department