Treatment of the disease only with homeopathy or only as supportive therapy?
If coughing occurs, the first thing to do is to try homeopathy alone. Whether this is sufficient, however, depends strongly on the type of cough and the underlying cause. Homeopathic remedies can be used especially for coughs that occur in the context of a cold or irritable cough caused by a specific trigger.
Of course, the cough trigger must also be avoided. In case of a severe cough that occurs over a longer period of time and causes pain, a medical examination is recommended. Here, it can be discussed with the doctor whether the homeopathic remedies should continue to be taken as a support.
When do I have to go to the doctor?
It is not necessary to consult a doctor every time you cough. If this occurs, for example, as part of a cold, it can be treated without medical attention. A doctor for lung diseases, i.e. pulmonology, is suitable for this purpose.
- However, if the cough persists over a longer period of time, i.e. several weeks or even months, a doctor should be consulted.
- Furthermore, pain when coughing and shortness of breath are clear reasons to consult a doctor.
- Coughing up blood or repeatedly large amounts of secretions are also reasons to ask a doctor for advice.
- Finally, a doctor should also be consulted if other symptoms such as fever occur.
Other alternative forms of therapy
A possible alternative form of therapy for coughing is acupressure. This is a similar treatment method to acupuncture, but the specific trigger points are not treated with needles, but with targeted pressure-intensive massages. The main points of acupressure for coughing are located on the sides of the throat and collarbone.
The latter are treated both on the edge and below the collarbone. Auxiliary points include the elbow, or its inner side, and the area of the wrist directly below the thumb. Acupressure can be used at any time for acute coughs, but the treatment should not be applied more than three times a day.
Other forms of treatment from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) include various medicinal plants and teas. For example, the preparation of a tea from the skin of untreated mandarins is recommended, the whole thing is called Chen Pi. This tea has a reducing effect on the cold, which often occurs in the respiratory tract when coughing in connection with a cold.
The use of ginger tea is also recommended in TCM. For this, fresh ginger is cut into small pieces and boiled up for a quarter of an hour. This ginger tea can also be mixed with dried shiitake mushrooms, which helps with headaches and aching limbs.
