Ayurvedic treatment for Cough

Synonyms:
Kasa (Ayurvedic Terminology)

Definition: (According to Ayurveda):
When aggravated ‘Vata’ forcefully comes out from the mouth with typical sound like broken tin vessel then it is called as ‘Kasa’.

Common Causative Factors:
1) Inhalation of smoke and dust
2) Excessive exercise
3) Exposure to cold wind
4) Consuming dry and rough food
5) Entry of food into wrong passage
6) Suppression of urges and
7) Sneezing
Premonitory Symptoms:
There is itching sensation in throat and pharynx, stickiness in the throat and difficulty in deglutition.

Classification:
According to Dosha predominance, five different types of cough are described in Ayurveda as below.

Specific features:
1) Vataja Kasa (Dry Cough):
Causes: Intake of rough, cold and astringent as well as very little and improper food, excessive fasting, excessive sexual intercourse, suppression of urges causes this type of cough.
Symptoms: Aggravated Vata causes intense pain in cardiac region, in the flanks, headache, hoarseness of voice, dryness of chest, throat and mouth, horripilation, feeling of darkness, sounds like that of conch or clouds, anxious expression, debility and fainting and produces cough, which is usually dry, hacking type with little expectoration. The person may start coughing continuously and this paroxysm diminishes only when little mucous comes out with difficulty.

2) Pittaja Kasa (Yellowish Cough/ Cough stained with blood):
Causes: Excessive intake of pungent, hot, burning, sour and alkaline food and drinks and emotions like anger and heat of the fire causes aggravation of Pitta.
Symptoms: Aggravated Pitta causes this type of cough, which has yellowish sputum sometimes with streaks of blood. There is fever, thirst, burning sensation, fainting, anorexia, giddiness and dryness in the mouth.

3) Kaphaja Kasa (Wet Cough or Cough having Expectoration):
Causes: Intake of heavy, slimy, sweet and oily food, excess sleep and sedentary habit causes Kapha aggravation.
Symptoms: This type of cough is with thick expectoration. It is slimy and white in colour. Patient complains of sweet taste in mouth, heaviness in the body, loss of appetite, anorexia and vomiting. His lungs are full of mucous, hence he brings out huge amount of mucous, which is sweet, unctuous and without any difficulty.

4) Kshataja Kasa (Cough in the patient having Cachexia):
Causes: If weak person who has patches in his lungs indulges in excessive sexual intercourse or excessive physical exercises like weight lifting or fights then Vata will be aggravated and causes this type of Cough.
Symptoms: Initially there is dry cough but later on there will sputum with intense pain in throat and chest. There may be fever, dyspnoea and thirst. Such patient also suffers from pain in the joints and abnormal voice.

5) Kshayaja Kasa (Cough with having Tuberculosis/ Koch’s Disease):
Causes: Due to Irregular meals, intake of unsuitable food, excessive sexual intercourse, suppression of urges all Doshas will get aggravated
Symptoms: The patient brings out excess sputum, which is of foul smelling and green colour with pus and sometimes blood. There is fever, pain in the chest and severe weakness.

Ayurvedic treatment for Cough:
Ayurvedic Treatment for Vatika Kasa (Dry Cough):
Palliative Treatment:

• Drug of Choice:  ‘Kantakaari’ (Whole plant of Solanum surattense/ Solanum xanthocarpum)
• Chewable: Sunthi (Dry Ginger) Powder+ Jaggery + Grita (Clarified Butter) – Mix well these all ingredients in equal quantity. Then take around one teaspoon full and make it a round pill with the help of your both palms. The patient has to chew these pills one to two hourly.
• Take hot drinks and foods all the time.
• Decoctions: ‘Abhayaadi kwath’(of Punarvasu Pharma, Nadiad) with Grita (Clarified Butter) can give instant relief in this condition.

Panchkarma Therapy:

• Do Ayurvedic Oil Massage and Hot Fomentation locally with gentle hands.
• Internal Oleation by Ayurvedic Medicated Grita (Medicated Clarified Butter).
• Basti Chikitsa (Enema Treatment) through Ayurvedic Medicated Oils.

Paediatric/Children:

• Give him Medicated Jam like Vyagri-haritaki Avaleha
• Give him ‘Sitopalaadi Churna’ (Sitopalaadi Powder) of reputed Ayurvedic Pharmacy mix with Grita (Clarified butter) in equal quantity on every hourly basis, will give instant relief from dry cough.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Pittaja Kasa (Yellowish Cough/ Cough stained with blood):
Palliative Treatment:

• Drug of Choice:  ‘Yashtimadhu’(Root of Glycyrrhiza glabra)
• Chewable: Tab. Yashtimadhu Ghanvati
• Take food/drinks having cold property but it should be easily digestible
• Having 50 to 100 gms. of Dry Black Grapes will give good relief and stamina for this type of cough.

Panchkarma Therapy:

• Mild laxatives like Triphala Churna (Triphal Powder), Trivruta Churna (Trivruta Powder) can be used.
• When Kapha Dosha is associated with Pitta, medicated emesis (Vamana Karma) should be done after proper oleation with the used of medicated grita (medicated clarified butter).

Paediatric/Children:

• Give him Medicated Jam like Vasavaleha, Chyawan prash.
• Give him ‘Sitopalaadi Churna’ (Sitopalaadi Powder) of reputed Ayurvedic Pharmacy mix with Sugar and Grita (Clarified butter) in equal quantity on every hourly basis, will give instant relief from this type of cough.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Kaphaja Kasa (Wet Cough or Cough having Expectoration):
Palliative Treatment:

• Drug of Choice:  Bibhitaka (Fruit of Terminalia belerica)
• Chewable: Tab. Lavangadi Vati, Tab. Khadiradi Vati, Tab. Throat-C (Punarvasu Pharma)
• Take hot drinks and foods all the time.
• Turmeric Powder: Powder of Turmeric  one teaspoon full 4 to 5 times a day with luke warm water or mix with hot milk with give good relief in this type of cough.
• Decoctions: ‘Abhayaadi kwath’(of Punarvasu Pharma, Nadiad) can give instant relief in this condition.
• Ayurvedic Herbal Teas like Tulasi (Holy Basil) and Ginger Tea (of Organic Pharma) can be beneficial in wet cough or cough with expectoration.

Panchkarma Therapy:

• Vamana Karma (Medicated Emesis) is advisable.

Paediatric/Children:

• Give him Medicated Jam like Amruta-bhallataka avaleha, Agatsya-haritaki avaleha or Vasavaleha.
• Give him ‘Baal Chaaturbhadra Churna’ (Baal Chaaturbhadra Powder) of reputed Ayurvedic Pharmacy mix with honey in equal quantity on every hourly basis, will give instant relief from this type of cough.
• Give him Medicated wine like Mustarishta, Kanakasava or Abhayarishta 2-4 teaspoons full, 4-5 times a day.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Kshataja Kasa (Cough in the patient having Cachexia):
Palliative Treatment:

• Drug of Choice:  Laksha (Gum-Resin exudates of Ficus religiosa tree) along with,
  For Vegetarians: Sunthi (Dry Ginger Powder mixed with Ghee-Clarified Butter), Dhanyaka(Powder of Dry Coriander Seeds ), Daadima (Pomegranate ), Munakka (Dry Black Grapes);  For Non-Vegetarians : Aja mamsa (Meat of Goat).

• In this variety, there is more loss of body tissues so the patient should be given tonics like medicated jam- ‘Chyavanprash avleha’ with the food and drinks.
• He should take Laksha (Gum-Resin exudates of Ficus religiosa tree) with hot milk regularly.

Panchkarma Therapy:

• Do Ayurvedic Oil Massage and Hot Fomentation locally with gentle hands.
• Internal Oleation by Ayurvedic Medicated Grita (Medicated Clarified Butter) like ‘Amrita prash grita’ can give tremendous relief in this condition.
• Basti Chikitsa (Enema Treatment) through Ayurvedic Medicated Oils is advisable.

Paediatric/Children:

• Give him Medicated Jam like Vyagri-haritaki Avaleha, Chyavan prash Avleha.
• Give him ‘Sitopalaadi Churna’ (Sitopalaadi Powder) of reputed Ayurvedic Pharmacy mix with Grita (Clarified butter) in equal quantity on every hourly basis, will give instant relief in this type of condition.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Kshayaja Kasa (Cough with having Tuberculosis/ Koch’s Disease):
Palliative Treatment:

• Drug of Choice:  For Vegetarians: Sunthi (Dry Ginger Powder mixed with Ghee-Clarified Butter), Dhanyaka(Powder of Dry Coriander Seeds ), Daadima (Pomegranate ), Munakka (Dry Black Grapes);  For Non-Vegetarians : Aja mamsa (Meat of Goat).
• Chewable: Sunthi (Dry Ginger) Powder+ Jaggery + Grita (Clarified Butter) – Mix well these all ingredients in equal quantity. Then take around one teaspoon full and make it a round pill with the help of your both palms. The patient has to chew these pills one to two hourly.
• Take hot drinks and foods all the time which should be easily digestible and tonics.
• The patient of this type should take boiled water all the time mix with Dry Ginger Powder and Powder of Dry Coriander Seeds.

Panchkarma Therapy:

• Do Ayurvedic Oil Massage and Hot Fomentation locally with gentle hands.
• Internal Oleation by Ayurvedic Medicated Grita (Medicated Clarified Butter) like ‘Amrita prash grita’ can give tremendous relief in this condition.
• Basti Chikitsa (Enema Treatment) through Ayurvedic Medicated Oils is advisable.

Paediatric/Children:

• Give him Medicated Jam like Vyagri-haritaki Avaleha
• Give him ‘Sitopalaadi Churna’ (Sitopalaadi Powder) of reputed Ayurvedic Pharmacy mix with Grita (Clarified butter) in equal quantity on every hourly basis, will give instant relief in this type of condition.

Diet Plan:
One should follow the ‘Ayurvedic Life-style’ (given on the home page of this website) during the entire treatment.