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About Cough

A cough is a reflex action to clear your airways of mucus, phlegm, and irritants, such as dust, smoke or a foreign body. A cough can be caused by inflammation of your upper respiratory tract (throat and windpipe) due to a viral infection. Viral infections include; the common cold, flu, laryngitis, and bronchitis. These viral infections can also spread to the lower respiratory tract (bronchi) and cause a cough. A cough is a symptom of many illnesses and conditions including: asthma, bronchitis, common cold, influenza (flu), smoking, and whooping cough (pertussis).

Possible Symptoms

*Itchy, dry and/or painful sore throat
*Production of phlegm and/or mucus
*Shortness of breath
*Constricted lung capacity

Western Medicine View

There is no quick way of getting rid of a cough that is caused by a viral infection. It will usually clear up after your immune system has defeated the virus. However, you can take measures to treat the symptoms of the virus, including a cough. For example, you can: take over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce fever (high temperature), and to ease any aches, pains and headaches. Children under 16 should not take aspirin. Have lots to drink if you have a fever in order to prevent mild dehydration, and take a cough medicine that you can buy over-the-counter.

Chinese Medicine View

A cough is the main symptom of lung problems and may result either from attack by external (or environmental) factors which disturb the Qi of the Lung (the essential energy of the lungs), or from disorders of the lung itself or other diseased organs affecting the lungs. There are two types of cough due to external factors: Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat. And two types of cough due to internal factors: one is characterized by blockage of the Lung by phlegm and the other cough involves dryness of the Lung with deficiency of yin (in the Yin-Yang theory of medicine, this means an insufficiency of cooling bodily fluids).

Treatment Options

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Chinese Medicine has been shown to relieve the symptoms of chronic cough.

Acupuncture targeting the Hand is used for the treatment of coughs due to external (environmental) factors. Both acupuncture and moxibustion (which involves igniting a cone or cylinder of moxa close to the skin) are applied in case of Wind-Cold, while only acupuncture is used in case of Wind-Heat to help relieve the symptoms. Internal injury is characterized by blockage of the Lung by phlegm and is treated by acupuncture (targeting the Foot). Acupuncture treatment, or combined with moxibustion, should be used to strengthen the function of the Spleen and get rid of phlegm.

Lifestyle Advice

For personalised advice on diet and lifestyle, please ask the doctor during your consultation.

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Case History

"I came to AcuMedic eight weeks ago because of a dry cough and tongue swelling that went on for over 6 months and was starting to effect my general wellbeing. The doctor there advised me to take herbal tea, royal jelly together with acupuncture. Within the first month of taking Chinese medicine, I could feel the improvement and I am very pleased with the treatment I received. I especially liked the opportunity to explain to the doctor how I felt and was very surprised with how precise/correct the check up was."