Other names for Cough (spastic)

Choking Cough
Irritative Cough
Paroxysmal Cough
Spasmodic Cough

Synopsis of Cough (spastic)

A spastic cough, sometimes called a spasmodic or paroxysmal cough, is characterized by sudden, uncontrollable bursts of coughing that can be forceful, exhausting, and sometimes accompanied by wheezing, gagging, or difficulty breathing. Unlike a simple dry or wet cough, a spastic cough tends to come in fits or attacks and may leave the person gasping for air.

This type of cough can occur after an infection (like pertussis/whooping cough), as part of asthma or chronic bronchitis, or due to irritant exposure (like smoke, dust, or cold air). In children, spastic coughs are especially concerning and may need prompt medical evaluation.

Types of Spastic Cough (by Cause):

• Infectious Spastic Cough: Post-viral, pertussis, croup.

• Asthmatic Spastic Cough: Related to airway hyperreactivity.

• Allergic Spastic Cough: Triggered by environmental allergens.

• Reflux-Related Cough: Gastric acid irritating the throat and airways.

Common Causes:

• Pertussis (whooping cough)

• Post-viral airway hyperreactivity

• Asthma (especially cough-variant asthma)

• COPD or chronic bronchitis

• GERD (reflux causing chronic irritation)

• Environmental pollutants (smoke, chemical exposure)

• Cold, dry air exposure

• Airway hypersensitivity after infection

Severity Factors:

• Coughing fits that cause vomiting, exhaustion, or trouble breathing

• Prolonged coughing attacks lasting weeks to months (especially post-pertussis)

• Severe coughing in young children can cause dehydration and respiratory distress

• In asthma or COPD, spastic cough can signal worsening airway inflammation

When to See a Doctor:

• Persistent coughing fits longer than 2 weeks

• Severe difficulty breathing or wheezing

• Coughing up blood or frothy mucus

• Chest pain with coughing

• High-pitched "whoop" sound on inhalation (suggests pertussis)

• If coughing fits disturb sleep, eating, or daily activities

Natural remedies for Cough (spastic)

Warm, soothing drinks: Honey and herbal teas (ginger, licorice root) calm spasms (no honey under 1 year old).

Steam inhalation: Loosens airway irritation and helps breathing during attacks.

Humidify air: Moist air soothes inflamed airways.

Avoid cold air and smoke: Common triggers of spastic coughing.

Hydration: Keeps mucus thin and reduces airway sensitivity.

Rest voice and body: Excessive coughing strains muscles and tissues.

Elevate head when sleeping: Helps prevent nighttime coughing fits.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Cough (spastic)

Abies spectabilis
Acacia
Aconite
Adenophora
Aerva lanata
Agastache
Alantolactone
Albizia
Alcohol
Allicin
Allium tuberosum
Allyl sulfide
Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
ambergris
Anamarrhena
Andrographis
andrographolide
anise
Aniseed myrtle
apple
Aralia
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
atractylodes
atractylone
Baccharoides anthelmintica
balloon flower
bayleaf
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
Bergenia
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
black salt
black seed
boneset
borage
Buddha\'s hand
cactus
calamus
capsaicin
capsicum
cat's claw
Chekiang Fritillary
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
Chondrus
cineole
cinnamaldehyde
cinnamon
Cistus
citron
Citrus
clove
Cnidium
coltsfoot
costus
cowage seed
cowslip
cubeb
Cyanthillium cinereum
Dichrostachys glomerata
diterpenes
dodder
dragonhead
Echinacea
elderberry
elecampane
ephedrine
eucalyptus
fernbush
flavoglycosides
fritillaria
fritillary
Galangal
Gallesia
garlic bulb
ginger
Glehnia littoralis
glehnia root
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Glycyrrhizin
grape
Greek mountain tea
green tea
Grindelia
Guaco
Guava
gum
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
honey
honey loquat syrup
horehound
hyssop
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian frankincense
Indian tinospora
inula racemosa
Ivy
Japanese kadsura
Jatoba
Javanese Long Pepper
jujube
juniper berries
Khella
Lactucarium
Large-leaved linden
lemon
licorice root
Ligusticum
linden
Lindera
lobelia
loquat
Loranthus
lovage
lungwort
mace
madder
Maidenhair Fern
malabar nut
Marsh Tea
Meadow sage
Melia
Mentha haplocalyx
Mucilage
Mullein
Nettle
Nigella seed
Nutmeg
Nymphaea nouchali
onion
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
orange
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Osmanthus
Paris polyphylla
pear
Pelargonium
Pimpinella
Pinellia ternata
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
pistacia integerrima gall
Platycodon
platycodon root
plum fruit
Polygala
Polypodium
pomegranate
poppy
prepared aconite tuber
prickly ash
punarnava
Pyrrosia
ravinsara
Rhododendron
Sabadilla
sarsaparilla
Sete sangrias
Shogaol
soursop
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
Stemona
sweet flag
Tea
Terpenoids
Theobromine
thyme
Thymoquinone
turmeric
Varuna
Vasicine
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Vladimiria souliei
Waterhyssop
Zinc