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November 1st, 2007
Treating Coughs with Homeopathy
Kinds of Coughs
Different coughs need different homeopathic remedies. There are coughs that are dry, tickling, mucus producing, croupy, burning, etc. Causes can range from lung infections, allergies, sinus infections, pulmonary obstruction, pollutants, smoking and so on. Acute coughs can be treated using remedies listed below and also in the Ailments section. Chronic coughs should be treated by a homeopathic practitioner.
- Anacardium Orientale - This cough is excited by talking. There is pressure in chest; also, cough after eating with vomiting.
- Bromium - There is a dry cough with hoarseness and also burning pain behind sternum. Cough can be spasmodic with rattling of mucus. Also used for whooping cough.
- Chamomilla - This remedy has a dry, tickling cough; rattling of mucus in chest. Person is whining and restless. Child asks for things then refuses them when offered. Very irritable, thirsty and hot.
- Coccus Cacti - This remedy can be used for whooping cough and spasmodic cough. There is accumulation of thick viscid mucus with difficult expectoration. Tickling in larynx, must swallow continually. Whooping cough attacks end with vomiting.
- Pertussinum - This remedy is one of just a very few nosodes which can be sold at a specific potency. A nosode is a remedy made from the disease and are almost always on prescription status. We sell it at a 30c and higher. This remedy is used for whooping cough and other spasmodic coughs.
Spongatos Cough Syrup is a pleasant tasting cough syrup that can be safely used for children of all ages.
Ingredients Include:
Kennel Cough in Dogs
Kennel cough is very contagious. It is contracted from exposure to other dogs, such as in kennels, dog shows, dog parks, groomers, even veterinary clinics. Symptoms include a dry, hacking cough ending in gagging or retching. Can also have a clear watery discharge from the eyes and nose. Remedies listed in the Ailment section as well as those listed above can be used.
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR)
FVR affects the eyes and upper respiratory tracts in cats. Sneezing, coughing, drooling thick saliva, watery discharge from eyes and fever are symtoms of FVR.
Remedies which can be used are:
- Aconite - Sudden onset, fever, first stages when you notice that Cat is not feeling well.
- Natrum Muriaticum - Starts with sneezing, may have white nasal discharge and may be thirsty.
- Nux Vomica - Cat will be irritable and does not want to be touched or held. Will go to another room to be alone.
- Pulsatilla - Greenish discharge from nose or eyes; wants attention, i.e., being held. Cat may be sleepy or sluggish.
Have you heard of the remedy........
Rumex Crispus
 Rumex is made from the herb Yellow Dock. The fresh root is used to make the tincture. A primary indication for Rumex is worse in evening from inhaling cold air. All coughing stops when covering entire body, including the head, with the bed covers. Respiratory symptoms include tickling in throat pit which causes coughing. There is mucosal discharge from nose and throat. Cough is dry and teasing which prevents sleep. Pressure aggravates.
Some of the conditions treated by this remedy are: Arthritis/Rheumatism, Bronchitis, Asthma, Diarrhea, and Coughs
Photo Courtesy of: Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln.
Homeopathic Stories
Note: All stories are reprinted "as is". No editing has been done.
I had this blisters in the soft tissues of mouth after using tooth paste containing fluoride. I had to avoid such paste. My homoeopath suggested Cal.Fluo 200 for some other ailment. Fortunately, the painful reaction to fluoridated paste has stopped since then... -- S. from India
I was fortunate enough to become acquainted with homeopathic remedies when my favorite cat, Smoki, got a bladder infection about 10 years ago. She had already completed one round of antibiotics from the vet for this infection but it recurred about a month later. I did not want to do antibiotics again, so I searched around for anyone who knew about natural remedies. I was put in touch with a lady who told me about Cantharis. I went out right away to get some, even though I had to drive 45 miles to a health food store that carries a large stock of homeopathic remedies. (Our local stores only carry the flu remedy and just a few combination remedies.) I gave my sick kitty one Boiron pellet (Cantharis 30C) twice the first day and once the second day. That's all it took to clear up her infection completely and she has never had another bladder infection. True story! Needless to say, I was hooked. I bought a couple of books on homeopathy and a few miscellaneous first aid remedies to keep on hand.
Over the years, I have treated:
- A friend at work for poison ivy with one dose of Apis.
- Another co-worker with one dose of Kali Bichromium for a sinus headache.
- Another co-worker/friend whose dog was injured when she had backed into him with her car in her driveway. She was sure that he was just bruised but he was hiding under the house and she was concerned. I gave her a tube of Arnica and one of Ruta Graveoleons (each 30C) with instructions on how to give them. In 3 or 4 days she very happily returned my remedies and told me that she had great success with them. The dog was back to his normal self and she was saved the price of a vet bill. This was a woman who had no clue what homeopathics were but her desperate situation blessed her with an open mind and she was willing to try anything.
- I have chronic acid reflux and I use Nux Vomita 30C or Nat Phos 30C with prompt relief.
- I have treated "limping" tomcats with Ruta Graveoleons 30C (for sprains).
- I have treated kittens and cats and myself with Mercurius Vivus, as well as Pulsatilla for eye problems.
- I have used Rhus Tox and Oscillicocinum for early flu symptoms but only a couple of times over the years. I think my immune system has strengthened with the use of these remedies.
What I consider to be a major personal healing occurred about 7 years ago when I got strep throat. I have never had such a painful sore throat. My sister happened to have a liquid homeopathic remedy for strep throat that she had gotten from a visit with a homeopath out of state. I took just a few dropperfuls of this and the next morning my sore throat was completely gone. I was delirious with joy!
It is truly a privilege and an honor to know about homeopathy. - GH
I had just begun teaching 1st grade. You can imaging all the germs I was coming in contact with daily! One day I came down with a high fever and very sore throat, the classic case of strep. I called my homeopath, who I thought was too far of a drive to actually visit. She told me to go to the doctor to get a strep test, just to be sure, but don't take the antibiotic. Strep was confirmed, and my homeopath said to take Apis and Belladonna. I was a new to homeopathy and did not have them on hand. I sent a friend out to find them, but he could not find them in a pure form. After 3 days of a high fever, my homeopath said I had better just get the antibiotic, so I did. I recovered, but a few weeks later came down with the same symptoms (the antibiotic sure didn't help my body to know how to fight it!). This time I was able to have someone drive me out to my homeopath. She gave me a high dose of belladonna at her office and I immediately felt the fever dissipate. I took the Apis and Belladonna for a few days and recovered. After about a month the symptoms mildly came back and I took the same remedies. I recovered and have not had strep since! That was 11 years ago. I haven't been on antibiotics since then either. Now I know what really works! - ME
I have a few stories to share with you.
My sister is law has been a firm believer in homeopathic remedies for the past ten years or more. She has suffered the giggles and rolling eyes and sighs of her family, including my husband for this time. She doesn't push the remedies on anyone but offers them if the opportunity presents itself. One such opportunity presented itself one autumn afternoon almost two years ago when I was visiting her with my three children. My then 6 year old son was climbing a tree and a piece of bark dropped into his eye causing him a great deal of pain which was evident from the screaming and his lack of willingness to open his eye. When he finally did open his eye it was bright red, weepy and was obviously irritated. She gave him two tablets of arnica montana, but I was sure I would be taking him to the doctors office later that day. However, within a half hour the redness and weepinees were gone, his eye was crystal clear and he was climbing the tree again. Honestly, I was really surprised. It was that day I began to think perhaps there is something to all this homeopathy.
My youngest son is now almost 2. He tends to get sniffles that quickly develop into chest congetion that have him on a nubulizer for a week or so. He hasn't actually been diagnosed with asthma as my daugther has but I suspect it is the same thing as his colds follow her pattern. Back in April 2007 our family went on an international trip for three weeks. As the date approached I was worried about them developing a cold while we were away. About a month before we were to go wouldn't you know it, they both began to sniffle. If it was to follow the usual course I had grown to know well, within three days they would both be on the nubulizer three times a day for at least seven days. I would also have to take them into the doctors office every other day for observation, a daunting task in itself without the children being sick. I called my sister in law and asked her what I could do that would ward off a cold and chest congestion. She asked me about their personality at the time and how they were feeling right then and suggested Apis and Kail Muri for both of them. I administered the remedies as she suggested and within three days the sniffles were gone. I was so thankful and less amazed this time. I was a believer. The same thing happened one week before we left. Sniffles, this time a frantic call to my sister in law. Again she suggested Apis and Kali Muri, agian, no surprise, it worked.
That same week about half the children in my older sons second grade class were out of school due to strep throat. It seemed to be going around and around and around the school all winter long. I was worried we would have it but not develop symptoms until we were overseas. I called my sister in law again, ( she is now my family's doctor ) and she suggested I get some Belladonna, for the headaches and Apis for the sore throats. One of the last errands I did was to run out the day before we left and get the Belladonna 30C and Apis 30C ! Luckily my sister in law advised me that altitude, jet lag, fatigue, hunger, thirst and dehydration, the dry air of the cabin ( all those lovely symptoms that can affect you while flying ) can affect your symptoms so remedies may have to be given more frequently if you are flying or jet lagged. As fate would have it, about two hours into our flight I woke up because I could hardly breath. My throat was on fire! I couldn't swallow it was so painful. I sat there in the dark thinking what on earth am I to do. Then I remembered I had packed the remedies in my carry on bags! I got hold of the Apis and Belladonna. I did have to administer them every half hour for about four hours then it was about every two hours. By the time we landed ( it was a 12 hour flight ) I was down to one every four hours. By the third day my symptom were gone but my husband was complaining of a scracthy throat. His throat was very red and looked irritated. I suggested he try the remedies and he scoffed and said he didn't want to take "snake oil ". I reminded him we were 10,000 miles from home and it was the best we had. He grudgingly took the remedies three times a day and by the third day all symptoms were gone. He still won't admit that the remedies work but he is less resistant to taking them when they are offered these days. My children haven't been on the nubulizer since I started using the remedies with them last winter and I think arnica is in production for my sons alone! I like to call my sister in law every so often a tell her another story about how the remedies have helped my family. She patiently helps me with whatever questions I have and encourages me to call her for any help. I owe my children's good health to her knowledge and generosity. - Paul and Andree
Remedy Source is looking for:
Any homeopathic stories you would like to share - good, bad, or indifferent. Email them to me and I would be glad to put
them in the newsletter.
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