All About Cough In Relation To Body Posture

Authors:

Dr. Nandini Dadhich¹ and Dr. Dilip Dadhich²

1. MD (PGR), Dept. of Materia Medica, Dr.M.P.K.Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Jaipur (A constituent unit of Homoeopathy University, Jaipur, Raj. 302029) India.
2. M.D.(Hom.), Professor and HOD, Dept. of Physiology & Biochemistry, Dr.M.P.K.Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Jaipur (A constituent unit of Homoeopathy University, Jaipur, Raj. 302029) India.

A cough is rapid expulsion of air from lungs, clearing throat and the breathing passage from foreign particles, microbes, irritants, fluids and mucus. It is also known as tussis. It is a reflex act and can occur voluntarily or involuntarily.

MECHANISM OF COUGH: It occurs in three phases –

1. Inhalation.
2. Increased pressure in the throat and lungs with the vocal cords closed.
3. An explosive release of air when the vocal cords open, giving a cough its characteristic sound.

Cough may be acute or chronic.

Causes of acute (short-term) cough: The infection is in the upper respiratory tract and affects the throat. This may be due to:

• Flu
• Common cold
• Laryngitis

If it includes lower respiratory tract, the lungs are infected, and/or the airways lower down from the windpipe. This includes:

• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia

Causes of chronic (long-term) cough:

• Smoking
• Post nasal dripping
• GERD
• Asthma
• Medications like ACE inhibitors

Diagnosis: Cough is a symptom not  a disease. A visit to doctor may help to rule out something serious underlying the cough. Following diagnostic tools may help find out the cause underlying if any –

• X-Ray chest
• Sputum test
• Spirometry

HOMOEOPATHIC INSIGHT TO COUGH INFLUNCED BY CERTAIN BODY POSTURES –

BETTER ON CHANGING THE POSITION IN BED – borax, ignatia

BETTER ON SITTING ERECT IN BED – phosphorus

BETTER ON BENDING FORWARD – eupatorium perf, spongia

BETTER LYING ON BACK – aconite, lycopodium, manganese

BETTER LYING ON HANDS AND KNEES – eupatorium perf

BETTER LYING WITH HEAD HIGH – cinchona

BETTER FROM WALKING – drosera

COUGH FORCING THE PATIENT TO BEND DOUBLE – agaricus, coffea, hydrogenium, theridion

COUGH ON BENDING FORWARD – podophyllum

COUGH FROM STANDING IN WATER – nux moschata

COULD NOT LIE DOWN, HAS TO SIT BENT FORWARD – iodum

COMPELLING THE PATIENT TO SLEEP IN CHAIR – croton tig

MUST PUT ARMS ON THIGHS WHEN COUGHING – niccolum met

WORSE ON RAISING THE ARMS  – bryonia, ferrum metallicum, tuberculinum

WORSE ON SRETCHING ARMS  – lycopodium

WORSE ON CHANGING THE POSITION IN BED – arsenic, conium, kreosote

WORSE ON PUTTING HAND OUT OF BED – hepar sulph, rhus tox

WORSE ON BENDING FORWARD – causticum, digitalis

WORSE ON BENDING HEAD BACKWARD – bryonia, rumex, silicea

WORSE LYING ON BACK – arsenic, kali carb, natrium mur, nux vomica, phosphorus, sepia

WORSE LYING ON LEFT SIDE – phosphorus

WORSE FROM MOTION OF ARMS – ferrum met, natrium muriaticum

WORSE FROM MOTION OF HEAD – belladonna

WORSE WALKING IN OPEN AIR – arsenic, phosphorus

REFERENCES –

1. Schroyens F. Synthesis, 8th ed. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) LTD; 2001.
2. Murphy R, ND. Homoeopathic medical repertory, 3rd revised  ed. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) LTD; 2010.
3. Boericke W. Boericke’s New Manual of Homoeopathic MateriaMedica with Repertory. Third revised and augmented edition based on 9^th edition. Noida, India: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 2018
4. Murphy Robin. Lotus Materia Medica. #3^rd edition. Noida, India: B. Jain Publishers(P) Ltd; 2006