Top 5 Homeopathic medicines for a Dry Cough

Cough is a common reflex action to clear breathing passages and airways. A dry cough refers to a cough free from mucus or phlegm also known as non – productive cough. A dry cough is annoying and troublesome and makes a person restless. In some persons, dry cough occurs in a continuous spasm, making the person anxious.  It may also cause difficulty in breathing and sleeping. Depending on the cause behind dry cough, few signs and symptoms can attend. These include runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, chest pain, headache, breathing difficulty, wheezing, watery itchy eyes, post nasal discharge, fever and heartburn.

Homeopathy offers a very safe and effective treatment for dry cough. Homeopathic medicines work naturally to reduce the severity of dry cough setting relief gradually and completely. Besides, they also manage any associated symptoms like headache, chest pain, breathing difficulty and wheezing. Homeopathic medicines for treating dry cough are made up of natural substances and are very safe. Homeopathic medicines not only provide relief in acute cases of dry cough but also help to stop the recurring tendency of the disease. Conventional treatment mainly uses medicines which are cough suppressants. They distort the body’s natural healing processes, make the body dull and can lead to many side effects. Homeopathic medicines do not suppress cough temporarily but use the body’s restorative processes to treat cough and give long-term relief without slowing down body processes.

As dry cough can arise from different causes such as infections, allergies, post nasal drip, so homeopathy aims to address this root cause. This way, rather than short term relief, it results in complete recovery. With the approach of proper identification of cause and its treatment, homeopathy promises great cures.

In homeopathy, an individualized prescription is recommended in cases of dry cough. It means the medicine is finalised as per the characteristic signs and symptoms of the patient in every case. This properly prescribed remedy can bring wonderful cures in cases of dry cough. Expert guidance from a homeopath is needed to select homeopathic medicine and its dosage, potency and repetition as it varies from case to case. Self-medication should be avoided.

Homeopathic medicines are natural remedies which work very gently yet effectively to treat dry cough. They have no side effects as they have no toxins or chemicals. Cases of dry cough respond exceedingly well to natural homeopathic treatment.

Top 5 Homeopathic Medicines For Dry Cough

The top listed homeopathic medicines to manage dry cough are Bryonia, Drosera, Spongia, Rumex and Belladonna.

1. Bryonia – Top Medicine For Dry Cough

Bryonia is the top-most medicine for managing cases of dry cough. On coughing, pain may be felt in the head and chest. The pain is mainly stitching type. It feels as if the head and chest would break into pieces from pain. Pain may also be felt in the abdominal muscles while coughing. The cough worsens from eating or drinking. At times, vomiting of food occurs while coughing. Bryonia is also indicated when cough increases when a person enters a warm room.
When to use Bryonia?
Bryonia is the most commonly used medicine for treating dry cough especially with pain in head and chest.
How to use Bryonia?
It is a short-acting medicine that can be repeated frequently. Bryonia 30C can be taken three to four times a day at a three-hour interval.

2. Drosera – For Dry Cough At Night

Drosera is the most important medicine to manage dry cough that gets worse at night. A very peculiar feature to use this medicine is cough as soon as a person lies down at night. Besides, this medicine is suitable when cough gets worse while laughing or singing. In some cases needing it, vomiting may occur with cough.
When to use Drosera?
For dry cough that gets worse at night as soon as a person lies down, Drosera is highly recommended.
How to use Drosera?
Initially, Drosera 30C can be used two to three times a day. Once relief starts, the dose should be reduced.

3. Spongia – For Dry Cough That Gets Better By Warm Food Or Drinks

Spongia suits well when dry cough gets better by taking warm food or warm drinks. Cough is absolutely dry. Along with cough, burning may be felt in the chest. Cough worsens from lying down and gets better by sitting up. In some cases, wheezing and weight are felt in the chest. Besides, difficult breathing can be there which gets worse by talking or moving. Spongia is very effective for managing dry cough in bronchitis and asthma.
When to use Spongia?
Spongia is the best remedy in cases of dry cough which is relieved by intake of warm food or warm drinks.
How to use Spongia?
It works well in both low and high potency. To start with, 30C potency is usually preferred and can be taken once or twice a day.

4. Rumex – For Dry Cough From Temperature Change From Cold To Warm Or Vice Versa

Rumex is a very effective medicine for dry cough that arise from sudden change of temperature from cold to warm or warm to cold. Cough happens from tickling/irritation in the throat pit. Another very specific indication to use Rumex is cough that occurs by inhaling cold air. In majority of the cases needing Rumex, coughing is the most troublesome during the day. Besides cough, there is marked weakness and headache. Sometimes, few urine drops escape involuntarily while coughing.
When to use Rumex?
Rumex should be selected in dry cough cases that are triggered from change of temperature from cold to warm or vice versa along with irritation in the throat pit.
How to use Rumex?
It is advised to take Rumex 30C one or two times a day.

5. Belladonna – For Persistent Cough Day And Night

This herbal medicine is very useful when dry cough occurs day and night. It occurs from a tickling sensation in the throat. Along with cough, the throat is red and inflamed. Headache may attend cough. Its use is also recommended for cough that arises from inhaling fine dust in air.
When to use Belladonna?
Belladonna can be used to calm dry cough that persists day and night along with a red, inflamed throat.
How to use Belladonna?
It can be used in low (30C) as well as high potencies (like 200C and 1M). The dose varies from case to case. Usually in the beginning, 30C potency can be used twice or thrice a day.

Causes Behind Dry Cough

1. Viral infections: Viral infections, like common cold and flu, can cause cough. In such cases, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing tend to resolve early but cough may take a few weeks to resolve and in some even one to two months.

2. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI): It refers to an infection of nose, pharynx, larynx, bronchi with virus or bacteria. Some examples include common cold, pharyngitis, and sinusitis.

3. Asthma: It is an inflammatory disease in which airways swell, constrict and produce excessive mucus. Cough in asthma can be productive or dry but most of the time, it is dry along with its main symptom of difficulty in breathing, tightness in chest and also wheezing. However, in cough variant asthma (an asthma type), dry cough is the main symptom.

4. Bronchitis: It refers to inflammation of bronchial tubes via which the air passes from the trachea to the lungs. In bronchitis, cough is dry in the initial stages but gets productive afterwards.

5. Post nasal drip: It means dripping of mucus from the back of the nose into the throat. PND tends to irritate nerves in the throat leading to cough.

6. Allergies: People suffering from nasal allergy (allergic rhinitis) can get cough along with other symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes.

7. COVID-19: Dry cough can be a symptom of COVID – 19. About 50 to 70 % people having coronavirus infection suffer dry cough along with other symptoms like fever, sore throat, weakness.

8. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): It refers to back flow of stomach acid into the food pipe and throat. This acid can cause cough by irritating the throat.

9. Air pollution, dust and smoke can also trigger dry cough.

10.  A dry cough may be the result of overexertion or a psychological condition. Sometimes, people develop a habit of coughing, especially under stress or even without any stress.

11. Some other rare causes are idiopathic lung fibrosis (in this scar tissue forms in lungs), lung cancer and heart failure.