Coughs affect one in two Italians a couple of times a year. Whether dry, chesty, acute or chronic, homoeopathy offers more than one therapeutic option for adults and children.
Although coughs can catch us out at any time of year, winter is undoubtedly the season when this bothersome complaint is most prevalent. Dr Mauro Mancino, a homoeopathic physician specialising in paediatrics, spoke clearly on the subject during an event held at the premises of Boiron, a long-established company in the sector.
Frequently present in influenza syndromes, it generally begins as a dry cough before becoming a productive or chesty cough and lasting for more than a week. It can naturally affect both adults and young children, and can be bothersome during the day but even more so at night, almost always preventing restful sleep. Each bout of coughing increases the irritation of the respiratory mucosa and sets the stage for the next bout.
When we cough, we activate a cleansing mechanism that gives the respiratory system the opportunity to defend itself and clear away excessive secretions or unwanted particles. These could compromise the passage of air or, worse still, encourage the formation of bacteria.
Coughs can arise from various causes. Cold weather is certainly a trigger in winter, but inflammatory or allergic conditions are also frequent causes, and coughs can also be linked to gastric reflux.
Whatever the cause, the cough reflex should not be suppressed by conventional sedative products, because in addition to side effects such as drowsiness, tachycardia, constipation and cardiovascular disorders, they block the natural removal mechanism, which could increase the risk of infection. Furthermore, they act on the symptom rather than on the cure and on the inflammatory state of the respiratory tract.
Dry coughs — irritating and bothersome — productive or catarrhal coughs, and coughs classified as chronic when they last more than three weeks, all find in homoeopathic pharmacology a range of extremely effective remedies that allow the physician to personalise treatment in a specific way.
Drosera in granules, known as the mother of all coughs, is the initial remedy and can be used alongside other homoeopathic medicines such as Bryonia, Spongia tosta or Ferrum phosphoricum when the cough is dry, with no mucus, and there is irritation of the trachea and bronchi. It can, on the other hand, be used together with Antimonium tartaricum, Pulsatilla or Ipecac when the cough has become productive and chesty with an abundant production of mucus.
Boiron has long produced Stodal syrup, which contains many of these remedies and can be used when the cough presents different characteristics with multiple symptoms present.
To avoid contagion, one can also protect oneself with single-dose granules of Oscillococcinum, another long-standing product from the company which, if taken regularly during the winter season, can reduce the risk of contracting influenza and the associated complaints.
For allergic coughs, the recommendation is to begin homoeopathic treatment at least two months before the onset of symptoms. For those allergic to pollens, Pollensì, a product containing pollens from various plants at an appropriate dilution, is certainly an effective remedy to be taken once or twice a week, while during the acute phase Poumon histamine granules can be used, repeated several times throughout the day.
Nasal hygiene is essential when dealing with a cough. Rinsing regularly with saline solution to keep the nose clear is a fundamental rule for both adults and children, especially young ones who are not yet able to blow their own nose. Humidify indoor spaces and keep the temperature below 20 degrees in rooms where you sleep.
Drink plenty of fluids, as this helps to thin secretions and maintain good hydration, and lastly the recommendation to follow basic but extremely important hygiene rules. The advice is therefore to give all children a "cleansing" shower when they return from nursery or school, along with a change of the clothes worn during the day. Not only will the steam produced help them breathe more easily, but triggering elements will also be removed.