Coughing is the body’s way of removing foreign material or mucus from the lungs and upper airway passages or of reacting to an irritated airway. Coughs have distinctive traits you can learn to recognize. A cough is only a symptom, not a disease, and often the importance of your cough can be determined only when other symptoms are evaluated. A productive cough produces mucus and is drained down to the back of the throat from the nose or sinuses. It should be cleared and not suppressed, as it removes the mucus from the lungs.
A cough can be a symptom of a variety of health conditions and can become debilitating and lead to other issues like sore throats and stomach muscles. It can also reduce quality of life as it can keep you awake, impacting how much sleep you get which can lead to daytime fatigue, headaches, and loss of concentration. Acupuncture works by addressing issues within the body that result in outward symptoms of health conditions, like coughing. And, acupuncture has been used for millenia to help reduce symptoms of cough and allow people sturggling with this symptom to live out better, more fullfilling lives.
There are different types of cough as it’s a symptom of a variety of issues. Understanding the type of cough you’re experiencing can help you pinpoint the underlying cause of your cough and pinpoint an effective treatment plan. Some different types of cough include:
Dry: Dry cough is a more raspy cough that can be due to recovering from a cold or flu or due to seasonal allergies. Coughing of this type can irritate the throat as it can be scratchy.
Heat: This type of cough gets worse in warmer weather. Heat coughs can be accommodated by yellowish mucous.
Cold: A cold cough gets worse during colder weather. Cold coughs can be accommodated by a whitish color mucous and also a runny nose.
Chronic: Chronic coughing is when a person continues to cough no matter the weather or season. It’s typically due to a non-treated or poorly treated infection of the lungs or other organs. Or, from lifestyle habits like smoking or taking medications.
Acupuncture can help to reduce coughing as it can help to relieve the underlying issues that result in coughing as a symptom. As an underlying issue is treated, symptoms like coughing will start to dissipate. For people who are struggling with coughing, this often means adding acupuncture to points that help to heal the lungs, which are often the most commonly affected organs by illness or injury that can result in symptoms of coughing.
Acupuncture can help to heal the lungs and reduce coughing by improving blood flow into the lungs which can help to clear up phlegm and also help the body to breath easier. This can also help to speed up the healing process for anyone who is struggling with cough as the result of a bacterial illness like brohchitis or pneumonia. Acupuncture also works by reducing inflammation that may surround the lining of the esophogus and throat which can result in an itching sensation that leads to coughing.
Want to try acupuncture for chronic coughing or another type of cough you are struggling to manage? Acupuncture Zen offers acupuncture treatment to address a number of conditions, including cough. We use an individualized approach to help people create a personalized treatment plan according to the severity of their symptoms and the results they want to experience. Find out more about our acupuncture services and our acupuncture clinic located in Delray Beach on our website.
All coughs can be debilitating to daily life, but chronic cough is even more debilitating as it doesn’t cease. It’s important to identify the symptoms of chronic cough so that you can get the help you need to finally manage the symptoms of this condition. Symptoms of chronic cough can include:
