Whooping Cough - Comparison of Remedies
A comparison of five main homeopathic remedies: Drosera, Coccus Cacti, Carbo Vegetabilis, Kali Carbonicum, Cuprum Metallicum.
Cough
All five remedies have the spasmodic suffocative paroxysms of coughing characteristic in whooping cough. Drosera has a barking cough from a crawling and tickling in the throat. The Coccus child must sit up as soon as the cough commences, and tries to hold his breath to prevent coughing. Carbo Veg has an exhausting cough where the breath and face feel cold and clammy. Kali Carb has an incessant gagging cough, and like Coccus the child has to sit up and lean forward. The Kali Carb child, though, leans his head on his knees while coughing. Cuprum 's coughing is the most violent, and spasms of whooping cause loss of breath and cyanosis. Cramps in toes, fingers; and clenching of thumbs.
Vomiting/Mucus
All five remedies have paroxysms of coughing which can end in vomiting of stomach contents or mucus. Cuprum's vomiting is most violent with spasms and jerks of body. Kali Carb has expectoration of blood-streaked mucus and blowing of blood from the nose. Carbo Veg , Drosera and Coccus have copious expectoration of mucus with gagging and vomiting. However, Coccus has ropy jelly-like mucus which hangs from the mouth in long strands.
Face
The child's face can be red, congested, or purple depending on the violence of the coughing spasms. Carbo Veg has a cold pinched face, with cold clammy skin and a great desire to be fanned due to internal burning. Kali Carb's face is characterised by puffed, bag-like swellings between the upper lids and eyebrows. Cuprum eyes roll upwards with the spasms; lips and face are blue.
Sensations
Each of the five remedies includes pain and discomfort during the coughing spasms. Drosera clasps his stomach due to pain in the pit of the stomach during the paroxysms. Kali Carb feels as if his head would fly to pieces and the whole chest has stitching pains that fly around. Carbo Veg has strong burning pains internally with a great desire for air. He wants to lie down and doze, and feels benumbed. Kali Carb has a desire to sleep during meals and is sensitive to every draught. Coccus feels cold and is sensitive to cold, as is Drosera. Cuprum and Drosera are restless, uneasy.
Modalities
All five remedies are worse when lying in bed as mucus collects and has to be coughed up. Drosera is worse after 12 midnight; Kali Carb is worse between 2 and 4 am. Drosera and Coccus are worse after drinking, eating, or from the warmth of the bed; and better for open air, cool rooms, sitting up in bed. Coccus has an aggravation from brushing teeth or drinking, which causes gagging. Just talking causes Drosera's throat to tickle unbearably. Kali Carb is definitely worse for cold drinks, but Coccus and Cuprum are better for sips of cold water, which if given in time may ward off a bout of coughing.
Drosera
Cough: Barking cough due to crawling and tickling in throat. Choking for breath as paroxysms follow each other so fast. Sensation of feather in throat.
Vomiting/Mucus: Coughing fits followed by vomiting of mucus.
Face: Red, congested and purple during cough.
Sensations: Pain in pit of stomach from coughing. Child clasps stomach. Putrid taste in mouth. Feels cold. Restless.
Modalities: WORSE: lying down, after 12 midnight, drinking, talking, warmth of bed. BETTER: open air, getting up from bed.
Coccus Cacti
Cough: Spasmodic cough. Child has to sit up as soon as cough commences. Holds breath to prevent coughing.
Vomiting/Mucus: Paroxysm ends in vomiting copious ropy jelly-like mucus which hangs from mouth in long strands.
Face: Face becomes purple.
Sensations: Feels cold; sensitive to cold and pressure of clothing.
Modalities: WORSE: eating/drinking, night, hot in bed, exertion. Brushing teeth or drinking causes gagging and retching. BETTER: cool room, scanty cover. Sips cold water may deter cough.
Carbo Vegetabilis
Cough: Spasmodic hollow dry cough. Suffocative and exhausting. Breath feels cold. Pain in chest after coughing: burning as from a coal of fire.
Vomiting/Mucus: Copious expectoration. Continuous formation of mucus in larynx. Gagging and vomiting and feeling of suffocation.
Face: Dusky, purple, cold pinched face. Cold clammy skin.
Sensations: Internal burning and external coldness. Burning pains in chest. Great desire for air. Wants to be fanned. Cold sweat. Wants to lie down and doze. Shivering but wants window open.
Modalities: WORSE: fatty foods, night, warmth of bed. BETTER: flatus and eructions. Craving for salt.
Kali Carbonicum
Cough: Dry, hacking incessant gagging cough with whooping. Child sits up bent forward leaning head on knees. Blowing of blood from nose.
Vomiting/Mucus: Vomiting of everything in stomach. Expectoration of blood-streaked mucus.
Face: Puffed, bag-like swellings between upper eyelid and eyebrow.
Sensations: When coughing it feels like his head would fly to pieces. Pains fly around, stitching pains affect whole chest. Burning in stomach. Desire for sleep during a meal. Sensitive to every draught.
Modalities: WORSE: cold drinks, 2-4 am. BETTER: sleep, warmth.
Cuprum Metallicum
Cough: Violent spasms of coughing. Whooping intake of breath causes cyanosis. One cough follows another until breath lost. Clenching of thumbs with dyspnoea. Cramps in toes and fingers. Violent vomiting. Great rattling in chest.
Face: Rolling up of eyes. Lips blue. Face may look blue or purple.
Sensations: Strong metallic taste in mouth, relieved by cold water. Restless, tossing about. Constant uneasiness.
Modalities: WORSE: inhaling cold air. BETTER: drinks. Cold water relieves coughing spasms.