Acupuncture points for dry cough

Thursday, December 24, 2015 Posted by Saravanan V

Acupuncture points for dry cough


A dry cough is a non-productive cough caused by irritation or inflammation in the throat and chest.

A dry cough is a type of cough which does not produce any mucus or phlegm. It is closely related to tickly coughs and often, these terms are used interchangeably. Read about the causes, remedies and what you should be looking out for when you have a dry cough.



A dry cough is most often the result of infection by cold and flu viruses. It can also be triggered by atmospheric pollutants (such as cigarette smoke) irritating your throat. In most of these situations, dry coughs occur because the back of your throat (or pharynx) becomes irritated or inflamed, but may also arise from deeper in the chest.



Causes of coughing:

Coughs can be caused by a wide variety of factors:


1. Viruses responsible for colds and flu are perhaps the most common causes leading to chesty, tickly and dry coughs

2. Smoking is associated with chesty coughs as cigarette smoke irritates the lungs and an excessive amount of mucus is produced. This gives rise to the characteristic sound of the ‘smoker’s cough’

3. Hayfever and other allergies can sometimes lead to a cough. This is because it can cause inflammation in the respiratory system leading to a dry or tickly cough.

4. Feeling nervous and under stress can cause a dry cough - for example, during a job interview

5. Dry coughs may also be associated with psychological conditions including low mood or depression

6. All types of cough can be a sign of a variety of lung conditions ranging from asthma to lung cancer

7. Heart disease can lead to fluid building up in the lungs giving rise to a dry cough initially and latter a cough which brings up white, frothy sputum

8. Certain prescribed medicines may produce dry coughs as a side effect



Causes of dry coughs


The most common causes of a dry cough are the viral infections we know as the common cold and flu. These coughs may occur at the start of the illness or most often, towards the middle or the end of the infection.


Other causes of a dry cough include:
    • Side-effect of medication – some medicines, particularly those for high blood pressure, can result in a dry cough
    • Hayfever - this is an allergy to grass and tree pollen. It sets off inflammation in the eyes and nose. Sometimes, this inflammation can also affect the deeper tissues in the chest, leading to a dry cough.
    • Psychological conditions – this is when coughing has become a habit. It is also sometimes referred to as a psychogenic cough. There is no physical illness behind the cough and often the person does not even realise he or she is coughing. A feature of this type of cough is that it goes away when one is asleep
    • Nerves and stress – many people cough when they are in a stressful situation. Breathing becomes shallow when you are anxious and this can trigger the cough reflex. Some people tend to be more anxious than others, and for them the ‘natural’ nervous cough can become a problem if they find themselves in uncomfortable situations. Often, the underlying problem will have to be addressed in order to cure the dry cough.

 Persistent dry coughs

A dry cough that lingers for more than three weeks may be the result of an underlying medical condition such as:
  • Asthma – this is a recurring disease which causes your airways to become inflamed and partially blocked
  • Heart disease – this is one of the most common causes of ill-health in the Western world. Heart problems can lead to heart failure and a build up of fluid in the lungs and a persistent cough, especially at night
  • Lung problems and cancer – a persistent cough can also be a specific sign of lung problems, including lung cancer
  • Whooping cough – this is a bacterial disease caused by Bordetella pertussis characterised by bouts of coughing followed by gasping of air in a distinctive ‘whoop’ sound. It is not as common as it used to be
  • TB – Tuberculosis is a highly infectious bacterial disease which primarily affects the lungs. In the early stages, it gives rise to a persistent dry cough. TB was once thought to have become extinct throughout the World, but cases have increased recently because of a combination of drug resistance and lowered immune resistance.
Types of Cough

While you may be bringing up a lot of mucus when you cough, the person next to you might be experiencing a dry or tickly cough. This is because coughs can be described in a number of different ways:

  • Chesty cough  – this type of cough is also known as a productive or mucous cough because it expels mucus from the upper airways
  • Tickly cough  – this cough does not produce mucus and is known as a non-productive cough. Something is irritating your throat and this stimulates the cough reflex
  • Dry cough  – this is another non-productive cough and is similar to a tickly cough although causes can be different
  • Persistent cough  – this is a cough which lingers for more than three weeks. The term can be applied to both productive and non-productive coughs
  • Smoker’s cough – this is the result of long-term smoking and arises as the lungs try to clear of toxins gathering in the respiratory system.
Major Points:
 1. (Bl 13): the back transport point of the lung meridian, it helps promote the flow of lung qi and clear accumulated pathogens.
 2. (Cv 22): an acupoint located in the throat region, it belongs to the conception vessel meridian which has a branch to connect the throat. Stimulating it effects on the local region, or the involved nearby tissues and organs.



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Wind-cold cough
(Coughing with thin and white phlegm, nasal congestion, headache, chills and fever)
 1.  (Lu 7): the connecting point of the lung meridian.

2.  (Li 4): the source point of the large intestine meridian, it works together with lie que (Lu 7), to enhance the efficacy of lung functioning.
3.  (Gv 14): the crossing point of the yang meridians with the governor vessel meridian, it helps the body to disperse pathogens and relieve fever.
4.  (Gb 20): specializes in relieving cold symptoms like congestion, headache, runny nose and eye soreness.
feng men (Bl 12)
neck stiffness.

*Fei shu (BI 13) and da zhui (Gv14) are suggested for moxibustion.








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Wind-heat coughts
(Coughing with yellow and thick phlegm, throat soreness, thirst, fever and headache)

       1. (Li 11): the sea point of the large intestine meridian.
       2.  (Lu 5): the sea point of the lung meridian. It works together with qu chi (Li 11) to resume the qi flow of the lungs so as to arrest coughing.
      3.  (Lu 11): the well point of the lung meridian, it specializes in relieving throat soreness, fever and cough.
      4.  (Gv 14): the crossing point of the yang meridians with the governor vessel meridian, it promotes the body to disperse pathogens and relieve fever.
* Fei shu (Bl 13) and da zhui (Gv14) are suggested for blood-letting.








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Phlegm-dampness cough
(Coughing with copious white and sticky phlegm, fatigue, stuffiness in the chest and stomach, and a thick tongue coating)

      1. (Bl 20): the back transport point of the spleen meridian, it resolves phlegm and expels dampness.
      2. (St 40): the connecting point of the stomach meridian, it specializes in relieving productive cough.
      3. (Sp3): the source point of the spleen meridian, it works together with feng long (St 40) to enhance the efficacy of spleen functioning.
      4. (Lu 9): the source point and stream point of the lung meridian. It regulates the flow of lung qi, relieves cough and shortness of breath.
* All the points can be used with moxibustion.







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Lung-deficient cough
(A productive weak coughing with thin and white phlegm, shortness of breath, wheezing, poor appetite, fatigue and sweating)

      1. (Lu 7): the connecting point of the lung meridian.
      2. (Lu 9): the source point and stream point of the lung meridian. It regulates the flow of lung qi, relieves cough and shortness of breath.
      3. (St 36): the sea point of the stomach meridian, it promotes the spleen and stomach to produce more qi to supply the lungs.
      4. (Cv 6): a point belongs to the conception vessel meridian, it enhances the overall qi condition of the body.

* All the points are suggested for moxibustion.





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Best food for Lungs:
Water – Water plays a huge role in health and is the base of any cleansing action. Pure, clean water is essential to keeping blood flowing to and from the lungs. It also keeps our lungs hydrated and the mucus flowing. It may sound disgusting, but that mucus is important and needs to be the right consistency for the cilia to move it—along with toxins, microbes, and pollutants—out.

Garlic and Onions – These pungent foods are great for the heart and thus the lungs too. They reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, and fight infection.

Ginger – This spice has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes the elimination of pollutants from the lungs.

Chili Peppers – Peppers are filled with capsaicin, the spicy compound that gives them their bite. Capsaicin improves blood flow, stimulates mucus membranes, and fights infection.

Thanks.
Saravanan.V

ref:
Shen-nong, avogel, yinyanghouse, St. John, Meredith, Valaskatgis, Peter and sunwarrior.



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