COUGH AND ITS AYURVEDIC TREATMENT

MODERN DISEASE EXPLANATION

A cough is an action the body takes to get rid of substances that are irritating to the air passages, which carry the air a person breathes in from the nose and mouth to the lungs.A cough occurs when cells along the air passages get irritated and trigger a chain of events.The result is air in the lungs is forced out under high pressure.A person can choose to cough (a voluntary process), or the body may cough on its own (an involuntary process).

CLASSIFICATION

Acute coughs can be divided into infectious (caused by an infection) and non-infectious causes.

Infectious causes of acute cough include viral upper respiratory infections (the common cold), sinus infections, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and whooping cough.

Noninfectious causes of cough include flare-ups of chronic conditions such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and environmental allergies.

Classification of coughs

Acute cough - has a sudden onset and lasts up to 3 weeks

Subacute cough - persists for 3-8 weeks

Chronic cough - persists for over 8 weeks

Productive cough - a cough that brings stuff up, such as sputum

Dry cough - a cough that brings nothing up

Nocturnal cough - only occurs at night

DISEASE- AYURVEDA CONCEPT

Kasa is a disease explained in Ayurveda which involves most of the presentations of a respiratory tract disease. In the pathogenesis of disease Kasa, vitiated Kapha obstructs the free flow of Prana Vata in Kantha and Uras.When aggravated ‘Vata’ forcefully comes out from the mouth with typical sound like broken tin vessel then it is called as ‘Kasa’.

1. Vataja kasa: Cough due to aggravation of vata is called vataja kasa. Vataja kasa present as a dry cough with negligible production of the mucous. Small quantity of hard mucous occasionally accompanies the cough. Mucous is gray in color and not very sticky. Vataja kasa may be accompanied by severe chest pain and loss of voice. The frequency of vataja kasa is episodic in nature.

2. Pittaja kasa: Cough due to aggravation of pitta is called pittaja kasa. Pittaja kasa present with a large amount of mucous. Mucous is of yellow color and may be contaminated with blood giving it a rusty appearance. Pittaja kasa is usually accompanied by fever.

3. Kaphaja kasa: Cough due to aggravation of kapha is called kaphaja kasa. Kaphaja kasa is characterised by the greatest amount of mucous production. Mucous is white color, cloudy, sticky and thick. Kaphaja kasa is often accompanied by a nasal coryza, and vomiting. Fever is absent in kaphaja kasa and coughing is continuous affair.

4. Ksataja kasa: Coughs due to injury is termed as ksataja kasa. Ksataja kasa reveals a combination of symptoms allied to vata and pitta. Mucus is either of red, yellow or black colour, indicative of infection and hemorrhage. Fever is common and may be associated with joint pains. Due to injury, one can see hematuria.

5. Ksayaja kasa: Cough due to Ksaya is seen in wasting disease like tuberculosis. Ksayaja kasa results in a drying up and depletion of the tissue. While the biological air, vata plays vital role in ksayaja kasa, but the condition is sannipataja in nature as there is vitiation of all three biological humours.

TREATMENT PROTOCOL

Ayurvedic treatment for Cough:

Palliative Treatment: With ayurvedic classical medicines

Panchkarma Therapy:

For the treatment of Kasa the following categories of therapies are described to be administered:

1. Bhojya (food preparation)

2. Pana (drinks)

3. Sarpis (medicated ghee)

4. Leha (recipes of linctus) along with post- pradial drinks

5. Ksira (milk boiled with medicines)

6. Sarpirguda (preparation containing ghee, jaggery, etc) , which are used either in linctus from or in the form of pills and

7. Dhuma (recipes for smoking).

8.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) and virechena have to be done if necessary.

Below mentioned are some of the highly effective home remedies for Kasa (Cough):

1. Amalaki powder (Emblica officinalis) – 1 spoon boiled with milk and added with ghee

2. Ardraka (Ginger) juice + Madhu (organic and pure honey)

3. Haridra (Turmeric) powder + Vasa (Adhathoda vasica) juice + Cream of milk

4. Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) + Shunti (Ginger)

5. Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) + Pippali (Piper longum)

6. Bibhitaki + Honey

7. Maricha (Pepper) + Khanda Sharkara (Sugarcandy) + Ghrita (Ghee) + Madhu (Honey)

8. Pepper (Maricha) + Honey

9. Badara Patra (Leaves of Zizyphus jujube) fried in ghee and made into paste + Saindhava Lavana (Rock Salt)

CLASSICAL MEDICINES

1. KANDAKARI GRITHA

2. RASNA GRITHA

3. VIDARYADI GRITHAM

4. SITHOPALADI CHOORNAM

5. AGASTHYA RASAYANAM

6. VIDARYADI KASHAYAM

7. DASAMOOLAKADUTHRAYAM KASHAYAM

8. SWASANANDAM GULIKA

ETC....

AHARA VIHARAM

Care should be taken to avoid cold weather conditions. Bath in cold water is contraindicated, particularly when bronchitis is in acute phase. Curds and sour substances need to be avoided, and banana and guava are also fruits that are contraindicated in this disease. Proper care and attention is a ‘must’ for treatment of the disease.