Dr Jeena Aslam
Ammonium carbonicum – Chronic Bronchitis, with copious accumulation of mucus in the lungs, the patient coughs continually, but raises neither at all or with great difficulty. Heaviness in the chest with burning. Drowsiness or even some delirium with muttering may be present. The patient is weak and sluggish in his movements.
Ammonium muriaticum – Heaviness in the chest or a feeling, as of a lump in chest or burning, throbbing of certain spots in the chest, which beat with the pulse. Coldness between the shoulder-blades. Violent cough, during which the mouth is filled with the saliva.
Balsamum peruvianum – An admirable remedy when there is loud rãles in the chest and the expectoration is thick, creamy and yellowish-white. An excellent remedy, even though night-sweat and hectic fever show the disease is alarmingly progressing. To be used in low potency.
Bryonia alba – Indicated when there is a sensation of heavy pressure, just under the sternum, with great dyspnoea. The cough is dry and seems to start from the stomach, agg. after a meal, when it may end in vomiting; bursting pain in the head with every cough [Phos.]; during the cough, the patient presses his hand against his side, to relieve the stitching pain. Useful also when Bronchitis is associated with Measles.
Capsicum annuum – Chronic Bronchitis, with very offensive breath during the cough, though ordinary expiration is not offensive [Sang. Can.]. Carbo animalis Indicated in the later stage. The distinguishing symptom is : Suffocative hoarse cough, producing shaking in the brain, as though the brain is loose in the head; the expectoration is green, purulent and horribly offensive. There is a cold feeling in the chest [Brom., Camph., Paris Q.]. As soon as he closes his eyes, he feels as if he were smothering.
Carbo vegetabilis – Indicated in the later stage, particularly in Bronchitis of old people, when there is a decided burning in the chest and a great deal of rattling. The cough is spasmodic and the expectoration is profuse – it is yellow and very foetid. Dyspnoea, agg. on turning over in bed and on dropping off to sleep.
Arum dracontium – Violent attack with rapid formation, first of a watery, burning discharge, later, yellowish purulent, with great burning, rawness and other symptoms of inflammation. Used in lower potencies.
Ipecacuanha – Suited to Bronchitis associated with Laryngitis. Kalium bichromicum Indicated in Bronchitis, particularly if the glands are involved. The cough is of hard, barking character, almost always, agg. after eating and >> when warmly wrapped up in bed, and attended with a great deal of difficult breathing; the expectoration is generally of a stringy or ropy character, sometimes it consists of bluish lumps. There is a great deal of feeling of tightness in epigastrium.
Kalium carbonicum – Indicated in Bronchitis, when there are sharp, stitching pains, which are prominently located in the walls of the chest [Bry. – when coughing], characteristically in the lower third of the right lung – their most frequent site, made agg. by any motion; they may occur all over the chest or may be erratic and wander all over the chest [Ign., Kali Bich., Puls., Sul.]. The patient has a little sac filled with water, between the upper eye-lids and eye-brows.
Lachesis mutus – Indicated when the patient suffers from tickling, irritating cough which is esp. apt to come on as he drops off to sleep, arousing him, as if he were choking. He can bear nothing to touch his larynx or throat, so that he loosens his neck-band.
Lycopodium clavatum – Indicated when there is accumulation of mucus in the chest as indicated by rãles, rattling breathing, cough and dyspnoea, and waving of alae nasi.
Natrium arsenicosum – Indicated when there is a sensation of oppression in the chest, agg. by inhalation of dust and smoke and >> by urinating freely, and stuffiness, as if the lungs were full of smoke. There may be soreness in the supra-clavicular region and pain over the 4th and 5th costal cartilages of the right side. With these symptoms present, it may be used, even in the graver forms of the disease.
Phosphorus – Indicated when there are mucous rãles through the chest, panting and labored respiration, and even Emphysema. Cough, particularly agg. on moving from warm room to cold air or in changes from warm to cold, with tearing pains under the sternum, as if something were being torn loose; suffocative pressure in the upper part of the chest, with intolerable pain and constriction of the larynx. Very characteristic is the sputum consisting of yellowish mucus, with streaks of blood running through it, although it may be bloody and mucous or rust-colored or purulent having a sweetish or salty taste. Stitching pain in head [Bry.]. In extreme cases, there may be tremor of the whole body. Indicated esp. in tall slender persons of rather tubercular habit or tendency, rather inclined to stoop and to be hollow-chested.
Pix liquida – An excellent remedy. Indicated by the expectoration of purulent matter, offensive in odor or taste and accompanied by pain referred to the left 3rd costal cartilage (really in the left bronchus), which may or may not apparently go through to the back.
Pulsatilla pratensis – Cough with thick yellow expectoration or dry, tickling cough from irritation in the trachea, agg. in evening or on lying down, with dry air-passages or a scraped, raw feeling. Occasionally there is dyspnoea or constriction of the chest.
Sulphur – In Bronchitis, esp. chronic Bronchitis, it is indicated when there seems to be an enormous and persistent accumulation of thick muco-pus, with loud rãles all through the chest, particularly in the left lung. The patient suffers from spells of suffocation, with palpitation of the heart. He must have the doors and windows opened. The cough is agg. when he is lying in a horizontal position and may then be so violent as to cause nausea and vomiting. Hoarseness, with very deep voice or aphonia, agg. in morning. The more chronic the case, the more is Sulphur indicated.
Terebinthiniae oleum – Burning in the air-passages with thin expectoration, very difficult of detachment
Dr.Jeena Aslam BHMS,MD(Hom)
Medical Officer,Govt. of Kerala
Dear Dr. Jeena,
Read your article with avid interest as I am suffering from Cough Congestion and cough does not come out. There is running nose during the day and some sneezes.
Which of the above medicine(s) should be taken.
Thanks.
Sharad
Better to consult a qualified homeopath in your area – detailed case taking required