Cough is Not About Kapha Alone

For most of the people- cough and Kapha are one and same. But even who understands Kapha a bit, alaso thinks that cough is all about Kapha only. But both the things are not right. And because of this confusion, most of the times a simple cough turns to be a chronic cough.

So let’s clear the confusion between these words and conditions. First of all we will discuss about the difference in these two words – Cough and Kapha.

Cough: is a simple reflex of the respiratory system. This helps in getting rid of the sputum or any external things in the respiratory system. But when it becomes chronic- it becomes a disease too. The term for cough is – Kasa in Ayurveda.

Kapha: One among three doshas. Helps in smoothening of the body. Commonly confused with mucus/sputum/phlegm. But rather than being one of these three- this is more like the “energy” behind these three.

So, these two are- two different things. No comparison. So you need not to confuse between cough from modern medical science and Kapha form Ayurveda.

Kapha is not the only reason behind Cough

When you know about Ayurveda, you know about this difference. But beyond this the confusion is bigger. This is a common assumption or belief that, when you cough- this is all about the Kapha.

And this misbelief strengthens from the theory that lungs are the place of Kapha. So whatever happens in the lungs is associated with the Kapha only.

None of these two beliefs are true.

Cough is not always about the Kapha. The mucus you spit is not kapha. So you need not to compare these two at any point. As per Ayurveda cough- kaasa is of 5 types. Here all the three doshas- Vata, Pitta and Kapha can cause this condition.

And this is the reason, I always tell my patients to not to boil this and that mixture of the herbs, which pacifies the kapha to make a tea and drink. Because almost all the herbs in your “Cough-Tea” are hot in nature- due to the misbelief that – cough occurs because of Kapha only.

Ayurvedic treatment for Asthma

So what is the easiest way to differentiate the doshas in kapha?

Here it is-

The types of Cough as per Doshas

There is one basic thing in the cough and that is the sputum you spit. And the same sputum tells about the type of the cough-

Vataja Cough:

• Dry cough
• It is hard to spit the mucus.
• Sputum is frothy
• Quantity of sputum is very less.
• Dryness in the mouth, throat and lungs.

Pittaja Cough:

• Yellow coloured sputum.
• The bitterness of the taste.
• Burning in eyes.

Kaphaja Cough:

• Wet Cough
• Excessive mucus
• Heaviness in chest

So you can see, these are different types of Cough.

The cautionary words for you!

Please never boil- Tulsi, Black Pepper, Piper longum etc. when you are suffering with coughing condition.

Because when this is a Pitta cough- it can lead you to the bleeding from the lungs.

When you make this mistake with dry cough (Vataja Kaasa), the cough will keep on complicating. So make a smart move and don’t trap yourself with certain home remedies.