Effective, natural remedy for a cough

I had a patient come to see me last week with a persistent dry cough.  She coughed all day long and all through the night.  She could hardly sleep for all the coughing.  In fact, it seemed worse on lying down.  My patient told me that she felt a tickle in her throat and that the coughing was worse when she was talking.  I took her case and prescribed homeopathic Drosera.  She did spectacularly well and finally found relief in a relatively short time after having had this cough for quite some time.  This is by no means the only remedy for a cough.  It is important to know that there are a number of different possibilities depending on the symptoms that are present.    Here is a table that you can consult and along with an introductory book on homeopathic remedies with a basic materia medica you should be able to successfully self-prescribe for your cough or that of your loved ones.  Consult your doctor if the cough continues for several weeks, or if you have thick green or yellow phlegm, you have a fever higher than 101F or you are coughing up blood.

DRY COUGH  Aconite           Bryonia Nux vomica    Phosphorous Rhus tox       Spongia	DAMP CHESTY COUGH (mucousy)  Antimonium tartaricum Hepar sulph Ipecac         Kali-bi	DAMP or DRY depending on time of day Pulsatilla
COUGH WORSE in EVENING Antimonium tartaricum Belladonna	COUGH WORSE at NIGHT Drosera Rhus tox Rumex Spongia	COUGH WORSE around MIDNIGHT  Arsenicum Drosera
COUGH WORSE in COLD, DAMP CONDITIONS Rhus tox	COUGH WORSE for COLD, DRY WIND Aconite Bryonia Hepar sulph Rumex Spongia	COUGH WORSE for CHANGE in TEMPERATURE Phosphorous
COUGH WORSE LYING DOWN Antimonium tartaricum Belladonna  Phosphorus (lying on right side)	COUGH WORSE for SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT Bryonia	COUGH WORSE for LAUGHING or TALKING Phosphorus Rumex Spongia
COUGH WORSE in WARM ROOM  Aconite Bryonia Ipecac (warmth in general) Pulsatilla	COUGH with TICKLING IN THROAT Drosera Phosphorus (<talking) Spongia	COUGH with HEADACHE Belladonna      Bryonia Nux vomica
COUGH with VOMITING or RETCHING  Drosera Ipecac Pulsatilla	COUGH with THIRST Belladonna       Bryonia Hepar sulph      Phosphorus	COUGH with no THIRST Pulsatilla