HOMOEO CURE FOR BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

What is Asthma
How Does Asthma Occur
Causes of Asthma
Children and Asthma
Symptoms of Asthma
Investigations
Prevention of Asthma
What Can Homoeopathy Do
Treatment

Kof..Kof...Kof…Achoo, Achoo…
Well, sounds familiar if you are a kith and kin of asthmatics. It is difficult to say who suffers more whether the patient himself or the near and dear who see the respiratory distress of the patient with Asthma. That is how hard it seems to take each breath during an acute attack of this disease.

What is Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, congestion of chest and coughing.

HOW DOES ASTHMA OCCUR

• In a person suffering from asthma there is an inflammation of the inner lining of the airway conducting the passage of air into and out of the lungs during respiration.
• During an attack of asthma the smooth muscle layer in the bronchioles becomes tight and the lining of the air passages swells, reducing the airflow and producing the characteristic wheezing sound. This occurs in an acute phase of Asthma.
• In case of chronic asthmatics even when there is no suffering because of the same there is an increased mucus secretion from the inner layer of the airways which becomes congested because of the same and the same may form a good medium for secondary infections with bacteria.

CAUSES OF ASTHMA

Depending on the type of causation or genesis of Asthma it is broadly said to be of two types.

• Non Allergic Asthma
• Allergic Asthma.

There is a hypersensitivity of the bronchial system and can be caused by any one of the following reasons.
Genetic predisposition is a must for the occurrence of Non allergic Asthma. The acute attacks could be triggered by:

• Cigarette smoke
• Pollen, dust.
• Shellfish.
• Cold air, wind, rains and changes in weather.
• Air pollution
• Irritations like paint fumes, smog, perfume etc.
• Medication
• Emotional factors like shock, depression etc.
• Disturbed family relationships.
• Bacterial and Viral infections.
• Reflux of stomach acid.

Due to the hypersensitivity of the individual the above triggers lead to release of histamine from the inner bronchial wall which leads to constriction of the bronchioles and thereby an attack of Asthma.

Allergic Asthma:

• In a patient with Allergic Asthma there is always a tendency for development of Asthma. When an individual with Allergy is exposed to any specific stimulus which can cause an attack in him there is an overproduction of Immunoglobulin E in the blood which rushes to the bronchial wall and leads to release of histamine and an attack of Asthma.
• In patients with Allergy, initially the attacks are due to exposure to the specific allergens but as the years roll by in such people even non specific stimulus can lead to an attack of Asthma.

CHILDREN & ASTHMA

Asthma in children has always been common but if the recent spurt in the number of cases is anything to go by we are in an urgent need to look at the causes. The increase in pollution in the cities and children traveling to schools and being exposed to atleast an hour in the day in the traffic and sedentary and indoor activities like playing on the computer, eating high calorie foods like potato chips, downing colas (refrigerated) in air-conditioned environments has all contributed to the increased preponderance of asthma in children. Now this is the most common chronic disease in children.

But then the good news, asthma in children is reversible if proper care and treatment are given at the right time.

SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA

Breathlessness, cough and wheeze are the symptoms of Bronchial Asthma.

Wheeze:

• It begins suddenly.
• It is periodical in nature.
• Worse day or night but mostly during night.
• Aggravated by exposure to cold air.
• Aggravated by exercise.
• Aggravated by heartburn.

• Could be associated with phlegm or could be dry in nature.
• In fact in some cases it could precede an attack of asthma as incessant cough can lead to breathlessness.
• Shortness of breath as the patient feels his inhalation is not enough and unconsciously tries to breathe deeply.
• During an attack there could be retraction of skin in between the ribs indicating labored breathing.
• Also during an attack there could be rapid pulse, sweating, anxiety, nasal flaring, tightness of chest, pain in the chest etc.
• The exhalation of air seems longer than the inspiration during an acute attack.
• The significance of attacks of asthma is the patient is woken up suddenly at particular part of the night again characteristic to each patient and has to sit up with cough and breathlessness for relief.

INVESTIGATIONS

• Symptomatology of the patient is enough to diagnose Bronchial Asthma.
• In patients with Asthma the pulmonary function tests show decreased capacity of the lungs.
• Chest X-Ray would rule out Bronchitis or any other infection.
• Eosinophil count is found to be raised.

PREVENTION OF ASTHMA

• The symptoms of Asthma can be significantly reduced by avoiding known allergens and respiratory irritants.
• Dust mites in cotton mattresses and carpets are the most common irritants in children and even if used should be encases properly.
• Homes with sunlight penetration and cross ventilation would help in lowering humidity and reduce the growth of bacteria.
• Any pets in the home should be avoided when children are less than two years of age or in households where the patients have identified the allergens as danders or feathers.
• Exposure to cigarette smoke, air pollution, industrial dusts and irritating fumes to be avoided.
• Children should not be encouraged to use perfumes.

WHAT CAN HOMOEOPATHY DO

• Homoeopathy can reduce an attack of asthma by relieving the breathlessness and cough.
• The altered immune response leading to repeated attacks of asthma can be corrected by Homoeopathic medicines.
• Homoeopathy can help in desensitizing against the allergens.
• As the treatment progresses we would see that acute attacks become less severe and less frequent before they stop completely. The known allergens when exposed to produce no symptom shows that Homoeopathic medication is going in the right direction.

TREATMENT

Some of the common Homoeopathic remedies which help in abating the attack and preventing further episodes are discussed here. ARSENIC ALB is prescribed for patients with cough and breathlessness at 12 midnight.
ARSENIC IOD is indicated in patients who suffer from chronic Bronchitis or Pneumonia and seem to develop Asthma secondary to the same.
ANTIMONIUM TART is for both children and old aged when there is accumulation of mucus in the lungs with a characteristic sound of rattling, this medicine relieves it.
BLATTA in mother tincture form is indicated when cough, breathlessness are severe i.e. in acute cases of Asthma.
CARBO VEG is indicated is for acute attacks with wheezing and rattling of mucus in the chest and the patient feels better by fanning.
Laryngitis with cough for a long time when it settles down in the lungs causing asthma like symptoms IODUM is the remedy.
IPECACUANHA is indicated in patients with wheezing cough and breathlessness with constriction in the chest which relieves an acute attack of asthma.
KALI CARB is indicated in patients with cough at about 3 a.m. and has to sit in the bed as breathlessness gets worse.
LOBELIA INFLATA is for senile people with breathlessness with constriction of the chest.
NATRUM SULPH is indicated in patients who develop asthma living in basements, cellars with lack of proper ventilation and have attacks worse between 4-5 a.m. in the morning.
PULSATILLA is indicated in patients with heartburn, eructation’s develop cough and wheeze with copious mucus expectoration are cured of by this medicine.
SILICEA cures breathlessness and cough with bloody and purulent expectoration who develop an attack on slightest exposure to cold.
SULPHUR is prescribed in patients with loose cough worse during morning hours and breathlessness at midnight compelling the patient to sit up for relief.
THUJA is good to relieve asthma of children who develop it on exposure to slightest stimuli causing sneezings and later on wheeze.

Dr. Venugopal Gouri
Consultant Homeopath