The boy who coughed for a year and homeopathic medicine

Master J* began coughing in April 2019 when he started school, which he loves. A dry night time cough which got really bad at bedtime, continued throughout the night while he slept, and woke him at 5am. Master J often coughed until he vomited. In the past Master J had had croup, an ear infection and molluscum contagiosum.

I met with Master J eight months after he started coughing, in December 2019. 
   
Mum noticed the cough got worse during the full moon time when Master J also became extra sweaty when asleep – often wetting his pillow. He loves eggs and meat, eats a lot, often having runny stools. He has a fear of ghosts and monsters and always wants a light on.  

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Homeopathic medicine recognises mental, emotional and physical symptoms. Homeopathic medicine is prescribed in accordance with clinically verified symptoms – not on the indication that X medicine is known to assist with X condition so therefore might help Mr X’s problem – which is standard practice in other systems of medicine. Homeopathic medicine evaluates symptoms into meaningful data – also including key information about the individual to make an holistic prescription. 

CALCAREA CARBONICA (calcium carbonate) is a homeopathic medicine prepared from the middle layer of oyster shells. Commonly referred to as Calc carb, this medicine might possibly be helpful for kids who have lots of coughs and respiratory issues, who tend to sweat a lot especially on their head during sleep and are affected by or can get worse during a full moon. These kids love to eat eggs, have great appetites and many fears particularly of ghosts and monsters. Most Calc carb kids have had ear infections and you can usually see a few warts.   
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Master J was given Calc carb in December 2019 - within seven days his cough had reduced to an occasional daytime cough without vomiting.    

By March 2020, Master J’s parents become convinced he has a ‘behavioural cough’ because he always coughed during the day but not while asleep. There has been no vomiting with the cough since December. Master J has been coughing for almost one year.

A homeopathic medicine often given to kids who have a family history of respiratory issues in the parents and grandparents, symptoms which change, a history of dry (or wet) coughs from 5am onwards, runny stools, night sweats and night coughs which don’t wake them up, was given.   
 
In April the cough was still present but it had reduced, no longer driving his mother crazy. May, no cough. June, no cough – The family have been on holiday down South to the cold which greatly aggravated Master J’s cough this time last year.

 
Homeopaths acknowledge that the body of evidence for homeopathic medicine is small but growing and much more research needs to happen. Is there evidence for homeopathic medicine in the treatment of coughs?

Homeopathy in the Age of Antimicrobial Resistance: Is It a Viable Treatment for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections? (2018)
Multiple peer-reviewed studies were found in which homeopathy had been used to treat URTIs and associated symptoms (cough, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, acute sinusitis, etc.) Results for homeopathy treatment were positive overall, with faster resolution, reduced use of antibiotics and possible prophylactic and longer-term benefits. In the light of antimicrobial resistance, homeopathy offers alternative strategies for minor infections and possible prevention of recurring URTIs.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Homeopathic Syrup in the Treatment of Cold Symptoms in Young Children (2016)
​The severity of cold symptoms compared to baseline values found that improvements in sneezing, cough and the composite cold score were significantly greater at both the first and second assessments among those receiving the cold syrup compared to placebo recipients. The homeopathic syrup appeared to be effective in reducing the severity of cold symptoms in the first day after beginning treatment.

Homeopathic Medicine for Acute Cough in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Acute Bronchitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (2014)
After 4 and 7 days of treatment, cough severity was significantly lower in the homeopathic group than in the placebo one. Sputum viscosity was significantly lower in the homeopathic group. We concluded that the homeopathic syrup employed in the study was able to effectively reduce cough severity and sputum viscosity, thereby representing a valid remedy for the management of acute cough induced by URTIs.
 

*Master J’s year - long cough has been published with the permission of his parents who have checked and confirmed the content.