Rumex crispus
Remedy of incessant, tickling, dry cough worse from the slightest breath of cold air. Must cover the mouth when going outdoors. Every change from warm to cold triggers coughing. Itching of skin on undressing.
Source
Prepared from the fresh root of Rumex crispus (Polygonaceae).
Available Potencies
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Keynote Symptoms
Incessant, dry, fatiguing cough from tickling in throat pit — the great keynote is extreme sensitivity to cold air. Must cover mouth with hand or blanket when going into cold air or cough is provoked violently. Every breath of cold air triggers the cough. Itching of skin on undressing, especially lower extremities.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Irritable. Low spirits. Indifference. Dull, heavy.
General Symptoms
Extreme sensitivity of air passages to cold air. Left-sided. Worse from cold air, uncovering, undressing, evening, lying down, pressure on throat, 11 PM, talking. Better from covering mouth, warm air.
Physical Symptoms
Throat
Tickling in pit of throat or suprasternal notch — provokes incessant cough. Rawness. Hawking mucus. Sensitive to pressure of collar.
Respiratory
The keynote: dry, incessant, tickling cough from cold air. Must cover mouth in cold air. Cough in paroxysms, especially evening and night. Copious watery or frothy expectoration later. Thin, early morning diarrhea (5-6 AM) accompanies cough.
Rectum
Early morning diarrhea — painless, brown, watery, driving out of bed at 5-6 AM. Accompanies cough.
Skin
Intense itching on undressing — especially lower extremities. Urticaria from cold air. Itching worse from cold, evening.
Modalities
Better From
Covering mouth, warm air, wrapping up, warmth
Worse From
Cold air, uncovering, undressing, evening, lying down, pressure on throat, 11 PM, talking, deep inspiration
Constitutional Type
Not strongly constitutional. Used primarily for coughs triggered by cold air and skin itching on undressing.
Clinical Indications
Dry tickling cough from cold air, bronchitis, tracheitis, early morning diarrhea with cough, urticaria from cold, itching on undressing
Comparative Materia Medica
Phosphorus also has cough from cold air but with more hemorrhagic tendency and voice loss. Spongia has dry cough but croupy and worse before midnight. Drosera has tickling cough but paroxysmal and worse after midnight. Hepar sulphuris has cough from cold air but loose and choking.
Safety Information
Belladonna, Camphora, Lachesis.
Yellow dock contains oxalates which in large amounts can cause kidney damage. The root has been used as a traditional medicine and food. Low toxicity in normal amounts. Safe in all potencies.
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