Cough 

Cough is an ailment characterized by frequent coughing, which is an explosive expulsion of air from the lungs. It acts as a protective mechanism to clear the air passages or as a symptom of pulmonary disturbances. Coughs can be classified into three types: dry, wet, and allergic. 

1. Dry Cough: No mucus production.
2. Wet Cough: Produces mucus.
3. Allergic Cough: Triggered by allergens.

Duration of Cough

• Acute Cough: Lasts for less than 3 weeks.
• Sub-acute Cough: Improves over 3 to 8 weeks.
• Chronic Cough: Persists for more than 8 weeks.

Causes of Cough

Cough is a symptom of respiratory diseases and can be caused by:

• Cold weather
• Excessive intake of ice cream and cold drinks
• Excessive intake of sour food like curd
• Cigarette smoking
• Sinus problems
• Allergic rhinitis
• Asthma
• Medications for controlling blood pressure
• Common cold
• Frequent weather changes
• Viral lower respiratory tract infections
• Exposure to irritants

General Symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose

Herbs to Treat Cough

1. Clerodendrum serratum (Bharangi): Acts as an expectorant and is useful for treating coryza, cough, and catarrhal conditions.

2. Solanum surattense (Kantakari): Helps dislodge tenacious phlegm and extensively treats cough, bronchitis, and asthma.

3. Piper longum (Pippali): Cures cough and dyspnoea; has anti-tubercular activity.

4. Glycyrrhiza glabra: Used as an expectorant in the form of decoction or lozenges for irritable bronchial tubes and sore throat conditions.

5. Viola odorata (Banatsha): Flowers are emollient and demulcent, used in decoctions for cough and sore throat.

Natural Home Remedies

Home remedies are beneficial for acute cough. Chronic cough with secondary manifestations like pneumonia, asthma, or bronchitis requires urgent medication. Here are some effective home remedies:

• Honey and Carrot Juice: Mix and drink.
• Pepper and Ginger Powder: Mix black pepper, long pepper, and ginger in equal proportions with honey. Take twice daily.
• Turmeric Milk: Mix 2g of turmeric powder in warm milk. Take twice daily for about 15 days.
• Garlic Milk: Boil 2 crushed garlic cloves in a cup of milk until it reduces to half. Drink one part in the morning and the other in the evening. Avoid if you have acidity.
• Onion Juice and Honey: Mix and take.
• Adhatoda vasica Juice: Take one teaspoon with sugar in the morning.
• Herbal Mixture: Boil 5 basil leaves, a small piece of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon aniseed, 4 cloves, and 4 black pepper seeds with ½ teaspoon sugar in one cup of water until it reduces to half. Drink after filtering.
• Warmth: Keep the body, especially the chest, throat, and head, warm.
• Aniseed: Useful in breaking up mucus.
• Cloves: Roast and take 2-3 cloves to relieve throat irritation and inflammation.
• Garlic and Honey: Roast a garlic clove over a flame, crush it, mix with honey, and consume.
• Diet: Eat boiled and steamed vegetables, vegetable soup, and herbal teas. Drink hot milk with ginger.
• Juniper Essential Oil: Use as an inhalant.
• Hot Water: Drink a cup before bed.
• Turmeric Steam: Add turmeric powder to water for steam inhalation.
• Garlic Water: Boil 4-5 cloves of garlic in 2 cups of water until it reduces to one cup. Drink after filtering.
• Spinach Juice: Gargle with warm spinach juice for dry cough.

Avoid

• Ice cream, cold drinks, fried food, and bread
• Sleeping during the day
• Exposure to cold, wind, fans, and air conditioning
• Sour foods like pickles, curd, meat, and fish

Consult an Ayurvedic physician for the correct quantity of ingredients and appropriate remedies before taking them.