Treating cough with ayurveda

Ayurvedic medicine is, on the whole, little known and practiced in Italy. In a country that opens up with extreme difficulty to everything that is "unconventional" - in all fields - it is not surprising that the cultural and medical heritage behind this millenary Indian science is for the most part little known.

Let's try to clear the mind of prejudices, while keeping it alert and sharpening the antennae of the critical sense, and see how this medical system approaches one of the most frequent seasonal ailments: coughing .

Find out what your cough is according to Ayurveda

The first thing we would be told, from an Ayurvedic point of view, about cough is that it is a symptom of kapha imbalance. What does it mean? To understand this affirmation it is essential to know that according to Ayurveda every living entity is pervaded by three energies called "doshas" whose equilirium determines the well-being of the individual. They are: Vata (Air), Pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Earth / Water) and each of them is related to physical and character characteristics.

Since in our case the dosha we are interested in is Kapha, we will focus on it. The world of water and earth is associated with Kapha, so on a physical level it is represented by the body's liquids and "solidity" (for example, its imbalance leads to overweight and obesity). Just following this scheme, the cough is caused by an excess of mucus or in any case of toxins that the body has to expel and has its root in the digestive system .

For Ayurveda however there is cough and cough: there are 5 types of which three are referred to the doshas, the fourth, Ksataja, regards the cough deriving from trauma while Kshasayaja refers to that with tissue loss.

TOUGH OF VATA TYPE: it is characterized by pains in the chest, temples, head and abdomen. The cough is dry and continuous, often accompanied by a lack of voice.

COUGH OF PITTA TYPE: it is accompanied by the sensation of burning and vomiting .

KAPHA-TYPED COUGH: it is recognized by mucus secretions and feelings of heaviness and weakness .

KSATAJA-TYPED COUGH: it is post-traumatic or caused by wounds and can cause bleeding from the mouth.

KSHASAYA-TYPE COUGH: it is characterized by the difficulty of swallowing and the sensation of itching in the oral cavity .

Also find out how to treat cough with herbal medicine

An ayurvedic solution for every type of cough

To solve cough disorders, Ayurvedic medicine is based on an accurate analysis of the patient, both physically and psycho-characterially. Thereafter the therapy will focus on releasing the pathways obstructed by the mucus and on the digestive tract considered the true root of the illness.

Here are the specific remedies for each type of cough:

TOUGH OF VATA TYPE: vapors, hot packs and massages with sesame oil are highly recommended. Traditionally it is treated with some Indian herbs considered to be medicated such as kantakari and vamsa rochana . Speaking instead of plants of western origin, you can use licorice, useful for its anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties, and the cherry bark. As for the broad supply to substantial soups.

COUGH OF PITTA TYPE: in this situation, on the contrary, the "heat" is to be avoided and recourse to herbal remedies: again licorice, mullein, prunis virginiana . In the traditional Indian environment, sitopaladi churna can go well. On the table, to be preferred bitter, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, light and easily digestible foods. Other herbs that can be used as a corollary of the previous ones are: the hydrate and the echinacea.

KAPHA TYPE COUGH: this type of cough is treated with "dryness" and purification, through expectorant herbs or suitable for inhalation. Eucalyptus and black pepper can be useful.

The world of ayurveda in Italy

These are only general advice, obviously for any serious or chronic pathology the doctor must be consulted, even ayurvedic . In Italy there is no definition of standards for Ayurvedic medicine (as it is in India where it is known and practiced and the degree is the result of long years of study), so particular attention must be paid to the search for a serious and competent figure .

Slowly, medical systems of a non-Western matrix, or alternatively definable ones, are becoming increasingly common. Ayurveda is one of these and offers an approach, mentioned above has just been mentioned, for us very unusual and full of ideas.