Homeopathic Remedies for Cough

Aconitum napellus:

This remedy is indicated when a cough has come on suddenly—often from exposure to cold wind, or after a traumatic experience. The cough is likely to be sharp, short, dry, and constant. It may begin during sleep and wake the person up, or can start when the person goes from a cool place into a warmer one. Restlessness and fear are typical when this remedy is needed. It is often used in early stages of croup and asthma.
Belladonna:

A cough that comes on suddenly, often with the feeling of a speck or tickle in the throat, is a strong indication for this remedy. The cough is intense and nagging and the person may feel as if the head is about to burst. Sensations of heat, a reddened face, and dilated pupils are often seen when this remedy is needed.

Antimonium tartaricum. [Ant-t]

With this remedy the child is worse when excited or angry, or when eating; the cough culminates in vomiting of mucus and food. There is much rattling of mucus in the chest, but the expectoration is slight. when approached; the tongue will be white and weakness will be present. If diarrhoea be present with great debility and depression of vital forces, or if the child vomits its supper shortly after midnight, Antimonium tartaricum will be the remedy. It also has marked aggravation form warm drinks.

Bryonia:

This remedy is indicated when a cold goes into the chest and the cough is very painful and dry. The person feels worse from any movement, and may even need to hold his or her sides or press against the chest to keep it still. The cough can also make the head or stomach hurt, and digestion may be upset. The mouth can be dry and the person may be thirsty. If someone is very grumpy when ill and wants to be left alone, not talked to or disturbed, Bryonia is likely to be the remedy.

FEVER

Aconite

This fever comes on suddenly, often after a chill (especially from a cold wind). She is fine on going to bed and then wakes around midnight with a high fever. She is hot and sweaty and thirsty, kicks the covers off and then feels cold. Her cheeks alternate between being hot and red and pale and ghostly or one cheek may be hot and red if it is a teething fever. She can also be very restless and distressed, you suspect that she may have a pain somewhere.

Belladonna

Fevers calling for Belladonna come on suddenly. Your baby gets so hot she radiates heat. It is a dry heat (without sweating) and can alternate with chills. She may become delirious, her pupils are more dilated than usual and she may grind her teeth (if she has any!)

Chamomilla

Fevers in teething babies, or those that accompany an earache or sore throat. You will recognise this one easily because your child is very hard to please, she wants to be carried constantly but even that doesn't help much, she cries and shouts a lot and may even hit out. There are red, round patches on one or both cheeks. The face can be hot whilst the body is cold.

Gelsemium. [Gels]

This remedy suits dull, stupid, apathetic conditions. The patient is dizzy and drowsy, the chill is partial; there is a full flowing pulse with an element of weakness in it. It corresponds especially to remittent types of fever and to fevers brought on by warm, relaxing weather. The fever is accompanied by languor, muscular weakness and a desire for absolute rest and is unaccompanied by thirst. Ferrum phosphoricum. This remedy stands midway between Aconite and Gelsemium in febrile conditions, and it may be differentiated from its neighbors by the pulse, which, under Aconite, is full and bounding and under Gelsemium soft and flowing, and by the mental symptoms, Aconite being marked by anxiety and Gelsemium by drowsiness and dullness. Baptisia. Hughes praises this remedy in simple continued fevers, where he believes it is specific. Gastric fever, he claims, will never run into typhoid if treated with this remedy. Pulsatilla has a thirstless fever, hot head, dry lips and chilliness all over, especially in the evening. Chilliness predominates with the remedy, there being but little heat.

Sulphur. [Sulph]

An excellent fever remedy, it comes in after Aconite when the skin is dry and hot and there is no sweat; the fever seems to burn the patient up,the tongue is dry and red and the patient at first is sleepless and restless, but soon becomes drowsy. There are no blood changes; it is a chronic Aconite or a passive Aconite does to the arteries.

Bryonia. [Bry]

Suits especially a quite form of fever; true, the patient may be restless and toss about, but is always made worse thereby. There is intense headache, dull, stupefying with a sensation as if the head would burst at the temples; sharp pains over the eyes, faintness on rising up, dry mouth and a tongue coated white in the middle. Cold, chilly sensations predominate in fevers calling for Bryonia, and there is much thirst for large drinks of water at rather infrequent intervals. The fever of Bryonia is unmarked by the violence, acuteness and general storm of Aconite or the decomposition and great debility of the acids. It is neither synochal nor so markedly asthenic in character, it is between the two and is dependent upon local affections, state of stomach, liver, chest, etc.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Aconitum Napellus

A state of fear, anxiety; anguish of mind and body. Physical and mental restlessness. Sudden and great sinking of strength. Complaints and tension caused by exposure to dry, cold weather. Fears the future. Eyes feel dry and hot, as if sand in them. Pain at root of nose. Tingling in cheeks and numbness. Gums hot and inflamed. Tongue coated white. Vomiting, with fear, heat, profuse sweat and increased urination. Bitter taste of everything except water. Intense thirst. Bleeding hemorrhoids. Urine scanty, red, hot, painful. Cough, dry, short, hacking; worse at night and after midnight. Tingling in chest after cough. Tachycardia. Pulse full, hard; tense and bounding. Rheumatic inflammation of joints; worse at night. Anxious dreams. Sleeplessness, with restless and tossing about.

Aesculus Hippocastanum

Dry and swollen mucous membranes. Tongue thickly coated, feels as if scalded. Hemorrhoids with sharp shooting pains up the back. Burning of anus after stool. Spine feels weak. Backache affecting sacrum and hips. Heart's action full and heavy, can feel pulsations all over.

Aethusa Cynapium

Marked inability to digest milk, and poor circulation. Stool undigested, thin, greenish, preceded by colic. Vertigo with drowsiness, with palpitation. Lymphatic glands swollen. Skin of hands dry and shrunken. Ecchymosis.

Allium Cepa

Watery and acrid nasal discharge which becomes worse in warm room. Oppressed breathing. Tickling in larynx. Eyes sensitive to light. Burning in nose, mouth, throat, bladder and skin. Sneezing, especially when entering a warm room.

Alumina

Very severe constipation, no desire for days. Rectum sore and dry. Dryness of mucous membranes. Left-sided abdominal complaints. Brittle nails. Intolerable itching when getting warm in bed. Legs feel asleep, especially when sitting with legs crossed. Staggers on walking. Heels feel numb.

Antimonium Crudum

Excessive irritability. Tongue thickly-coated white. Loss of appetite. Menses suppressed from cold bathing. Watery leucorrhea. Various skin diseases. Arthritic pain in fingers.

Antimonium Tartaricum

Respiratory problems, rattling of mucus but little expectoration. Thirst for cold water but little and often. Great drowsiness.

Apis Mellifica

Edema of skin and mucous membranes. Stinging pains. Intolerance of heat. No thirst. Swelling in throat. Swelling after insect bites. Last drops of urine burn and smart. Inflammation of kidneys.

Argentum Nitricum

Patient is always in hurry. Headache from mental exertion. Symptoms of in-coordination. Painful swelling of pit of stomach. Great desire for sweets. Intolerance of heat. Sexual weakness of males. Diarrhea immediately after eating or drinking.

Arnica Montana

Traumatic injuries. Pain from overuse of an organ. Fetid breath. Violent spasmodic cough. Angina pectoris. Small boils. Thrombosis. Tinnitus.

Arsenicum Album

Influenza with thin, watery and excoriating nasal discharge. Sneezing. Photophobia. Seaside complaints. Restlessness. Food poisoning. Intolerance of smell of food. Jaundice. Anemia. Skin dry, rough, scaly. Psoriasis which is worse in winters. periodic fever. Typhoid. Thoughts of committing suicide.

Baptisia

Septic conditions. Fetid breath. Stool offensive, thin, dark, bloody. Menses too early, too profuse. Sleeplessness and restlessness. Nightmares and frightful dreams.

Baryta Carbonica

Tonsils and glands around ears painful and swollen. Easy taking of cold. Abdomen hard and tense. Palpitation when lying on left side. Fetid foot sweat.

Belladonna

Sudden and violent complaints and inflammations. Neuralgic pains which come and go suddenly. No thirst. Redness of affected organs. Skin sore and sensitive. Dysmenorrhea, menses profuse. Eyelids red and swollen. Epistaxis. Spasmodic hiccough.

Berberis Vulgaris

Kidney and gall bladder stones. Inflammation of kidneys. Bloody urine. Anal fistula. Itching of skin worsened by scratching. Lumbago.

Bryonia Alba

Excessive irritability. Dryness of all mucous membranes. Great thirst for large quantities of water. Constipation. Menses suppressed. Frequent bleeding of nose when menses should appear. Dry cough. Joints red and swollen. All complaints are aggravated by motion.

Arthritis

Arsenicum album (arsenic trioxide, white oxide of arsenic). In its crude form, arsenic is a deadly poison: when applied topically, it can literally corrode skin tissue; when ingested, it damages blood vessels and ultimately leads to organ damage throughout the body. However, in the right form and amount, arsenic is known to be a treatment for several different illnesses—and has been known as such since physicians in ancient Greece and Rome started using it. Samuel Hahnemann introduced arsenic to homeopathy in 1828, and it has been used as a remedy ever since.
Homeopaths generally prescribe arsenicum album to those people whose symptoms tend to be worse at night than in the morning, improve with heat and warm drinks, and include anxiety and fear.

Aurum metallicum (metallic gold). Similar to the gold compounds used to treat arthritis in mainstream medicine, aurum metallicum is a remedy for a variety of disturbances. Homeopathic gold comes in a fine brown powder which is prepared by a process called trituration. Trituration, which involves grinding down the powder and diluting it with milk sugars, is necessary because gold is not soluble in water or alcohol.
Typically, homeopaths prescribe aurum metallicum to arthritis patients who complain that the pain in their fingers or limbs feels worse from sunset to sunrise, is least problematic in the morning, and gets better during the day.

Bryonia alba (wild bryony, wild hops). Bryonia, which is derived from a climbing vine known as Cucurbitaceae, is one of the most effective homeopathic remedies for rheumatic conditions. It acts especially on fibrous tissues, including ligaments and tendons, as well as nerves. The illnesses usually associated with bryonia are more likely to occur in warm, damp climates.
A homeopath is most likely to suggest bryonia to an individual who seems sluggish and dull of mind, whose symptoms improve with exposure to cool, fresh air and worsen with movement and touch. Rest and a diet consisting mostly of cold foods may also be recommended.

Calcarea carbonica (Calcarea ostrearum, oystershell). Derived from the pure white portion of oyster shells, this homeopathic remedy has as its primary component the mineral calcium. The fifth most abundant element in the body, calcium is essential to the body's formation and repair of bone tissue. Calcarea carbonica, therefore, is especially useful for those people suffering from osteoarthritis.
A person for whom this remedy would be most helpful would have symptoms that improved in a dry, warm climate and worsened in the cold and with any type of exertion. Generally speaking, the calcarea patient tends to have pale skin and a plump figure, among other qualities.

Pulsatilla (windflower, meadow anemone). This remedy derives from the perennial herb known as Pulsatilla nigricans; it is prepared from the whole fresh plant when it is in flower. In addition to its use as a remedy for arthritis, it is also known to help in eye disease, uterine disorders, and menstrual cramping.
For those with arthritis symptoms, a homeopath is most likely to prescribe pulsatilla to someone who, like Marjorie, is warm and compassionate, complains about the heat, and (if female) has associated menstrual problems. Symptoms tend to worsen with heat and rich food, and improve with open air and cold applications.

Rhus toxicodendron (poison ivy). Derived from a plant with which campers, hikers, and adventurous children are all too familiar, this homeopathic remedy was first used by a French physician in 1798. It affects the skin, mucous membranes, and, of special importance to those with arthritis, fibrous tissue including joints, tendons, and sheaths.
People who do best with Rhus tox., as it is known, tend to be anxious and despondent and have symptoms that improve with warmth and warm, dry weather. Other common traits of Rhus tox. include frequent rashes, dryness of the mouth and throat, and a dry cough.