Spasmodic & Rattling Coughs

The cold reaches the second stage when the cough develops further and discharges are beginning to occur.

When there is much mucous and phlegm, so all of it is coming out, this is when the cold has entered the third stage. Either of these stages can be accompanied by a dry, spasmodic or rattling cough.

Spasmodic Coughs

When coughs come in a series, or in spasms, it’s described as a spasmodic cough. It can be dry or wet in nature.

The Drosera cough is a dry and barking cough, from a tickle, with prolonged periods of rapid, deep, barking, or even choking type of cough. It can take the breath away and may end in retching or vomiting, a nose bleed or a cold sweat. Often it’s worse at 2am.

Incessant and violent cough, with wheezing and choking that may trigger vomiting. The vomiting of phlegm occurs, though it doesn’t ameliorate the coughing.  The body can stiffen during the suffocative spasms of coughing, Ipecac.

Sudden onset at night of coughing, after being asleep, wakes with a suffocative cough, must sit up to cough, will be frigthened, grasping at their throat. Shortly after the coughing spasms, sweating on the head, face and neck will break out.  During the cough, the nails and lips will appear purple, Sambucus.

Regular episodes of violent tickling, racking cough, ending in vomiting or raising up of much clear ropy type of mucous, with a purple red coloured face and internal heat feeling. Coughing episodes can be brought on by brushing the teeth, rinsing the mouth with water, or trying to raise the phlegm.  Raising the mucous/phlegm, ameliorates the cough for 3 – 4 hours, before it begins again. Usually worse in the morning, on first waking or on first getting out of bed. Coughing does not stop until vomiting or raising of the mucous occurs, Coccus cacti.

There are many more remedies for spasmodic coughs that vary in symptoms from these mentioned too.

Rattling Coughs

Cough hacking, rattling, with sneezing and painless watering of the eyes. The nose runs like water also, Allium cepa.

Rattling cough, with a lot of thick, yellow or yellow/green mucous from the nose. Accompanied by a loss of appetite and no thirst, loss of taste and smell.  Often there is much mucous and phlegm during the day, and dry at night. Pulsatilla.

Antimonium tartaricum has much rattling mucous in the chest, however it is very difficult to cough it up. The chest seems full of mucous, yet it gets harder and harder to raise it.  Mucous can be thick and yellow. The cough can come on if you are angry, or have been eating. Often worse after midnight, and better for sitting up or for being carried upright.

Lots of yellowish mucous, with a thick, loose sounding cough, can be rattling and barking.  Often comes on after being in the cold air, or the cold winds. Usually accompanied by a sore throat that feels as if there is a splinter or fish bone in there, Hepar sulphuris.

A loose cough during the day, that is much better when lying down at night. A lot of watery discharge from the nose, and the eyes are red and sore from the burning tears, Euphrasia.

As for the spasmodic coughs, there are many more options for a rattling cough, symptoms dependant.

For the lingering or recurrent cough, do take the time to come for a consultation to consider an overall picture and discover the deeper acting remedy that is required to clear that cough and restore balance.

For further information on homeopathic remedies dosage, visit http://www.sandravenables.com

Image courtesy of StockImages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed within this blog are those of the author and should not be taken to constitute medical advice or imply treatment of any disorder. For all health conditions you must visit an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Dry Coughs

For very early stages of any inflammatory process, either colds or flus, Ferrum phos may be useful, when the symptoms are vague, there’s a feeling of not being 100% or ther may be a short, dry cough, with no expectoration.  When the cough is dry, barking, comes on, or is worse, in the evening, especially after being out in the cold winds that day, Aconite.

When the dry, barking, repetitive, cough is accompanied by a fever and a flushed face, Belladonna.

A painful, dry cough, where any movement makes it worse, or it’s so sore to cough the chest or sternum has to be held, Bryonia.

A dry, tiring cough, usually accompanied by blocked nose overnight and runny nose during the day, Nux vomica.

When the dry cough is raspy and barking, like a seal, especially when it develops into this around midnight, consider Spongia.

A dry, yet barking cough, again holding the chest with their hands, coughing to retching or vomiting, often worse at night, Drosera.

The dry, teasing, continuous cough, from a tickle in the throat, especially worse for breathing in cool, or cold, air, or going from a warm to cold room, preventing sleep, Rumex.

Often the initial dry cough is considered to be the first stage of a cold.

For more information on homeopathy and dosing, visit http://www.sandravenables.com

Image courtesy of StockImages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this blog are those of the author and should not be taken to constitute medical advice or imply treatment of any disorder. For all health conditions you must visit an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Temper Tantrums In Children

Gallicum Acidum

Aggression, Adulation, Abandoment

Gall Nuts

One of the joys of homeopathy is learning about ‘new’ remedies.  These remedies may either be new to the materia medica, that is, recently introduced worldwide, or they may be a remedy that is new to me.

The latter is the case for Gallcium acidum. It is a remedy that has been utilised in homeopathy for a long time, though it’s application has not been that obvious to me.

I was intrigued to be on a webinar describing Gallicum acidum, then the next day, when out walking, I found these two beautifully formed Gall nuts.  These are one such source of Gallicum acidum. It is also found in tea, red wine and sumac.  In the days of past, it was used to stop haemorrhaging.

The main mental symptom for Gall-ac that was originally published has lead to an interpretation, where it is useful for children that I may see in clinic today.

Original Mental Symptom

“wild delirium at night; very restless; jumps out of bed; sweats profusely; afraid to be alone; insists on constantly being watched; is exceedingly rude and abuses everyone, even his best friends; jealous of his nurse and curses every one who speaks to her”

When originally published, this was the only mental symptom.  After clinical use, the following symptoms are utilised in practice:

Typical Symptoms

• Fear of being abandoned
• Fear of being alone, worse when alone
• Demanding of attention
• Tense and angry
• Destructive
• Loss of control
• Intense tantrums
• Rude, abusive, cursing
• Jealousy
• Compulsive behaviour
• Restless

A summary of this presentation can be the child who is constantly demanding your attention, always wanting to be watched when they are doing something, to be praised for the thing they have done.  When your attention is diverted from them, there is a jealousy of this, resulting in some different behaviours, tantrums (loss of control, destruction, cursing, swearing, rude behaviour) and manipulation of the situation to return the attention to themselves.

There may be a constant “Mummy, Mummy (or Daddy), look at me, look at what I’m doing”, “I want to sit by Mummy/Daddy”, “Mummy, do you like what I’ve done?”. This desire for attention, to be watched and observed by their loved one appears to derive from an underlying fear of abandoment, a fear of being left alone.  Often this situation can occur when it’s time for the primary care giver to return to work, and the child is placed in daycare, or they begin schooling.  The separation feels like this abandonment they have been fearing will happen.  It may also occur after a family breakup, when the child is unsure which parent they’re to go with.

Often strangers will comment that they are such a sweet child, as they wish to be seen to be doing the best, so until the relationship is stronger, the tantrums will not show themselves.  Instead, the anger may be held in, resulting in a very tense body or a clenching of the jaw.

When tantrums occur, they are very intense, as well as sudden.  The intensity can be destructive, malicious, cursing, rude and inconsiderate of how it’s affecting those around them. Picture the situation in a shopping centre, when the parent is very embarrassed by the tantrum of the child where there is biting, cursing, kicking and screaming.  Once the attention is returned to them, the tantrum ceases.

There can be a restlessness in their sleep also, a tossing and/or moaning, or a rolling of the head, along with excess saliva or perspiration.

Compulsive touching, smelling or collecting (stealing) of things can be seen also.

Although they will do a ‘wrong’ thing, e.g., stealing, or bad behaviour, they will deny that it was them, as they want you to see them in a good light, so will lie or hide what they have done wrong.

This remedy compares closely to Stramonium, Belladonna, Hyoscymus and Tuberculinum.  Differentiating between them is the art of Homeopathy.

For more information on homeopathy, http://www.sandravenables.com