| |
TREATING ASTHMA WITH HOMEOPATHY
The word "Asthma" comes from the Greek, meaning, "to breathe hard."
"Breath is life and life is breath". Breathing is such an accepted
reality of life that we do not give much significance to it until we are
deprived of it. Ask an asthma patient the agony and distress of waking
up in the middle of the night, with a feeling of suffocation, short
ineffectual cough, labored breathing, and wheezing.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflammation and spasm
of the bronchial tubes (airways) that transfer air into and out of the
lungs. The bronchial tubes of an asthmatic patient are hypersensitive
and react excessively to things that are minor irritants to people
without asthma. Symptoms vary from person to person, but may include
coughing, producing a lot of mucus, paroxysms of wheezing, difficult
breathing and tightness of chest, feeling of suffocation and anxiety.
Asthma can happen at any age, but most often develops in childhood. This
health condition seems to be increasing in our population. It affects
one in ten adults and one in seven children.
Actual cause of asthma is unknown but is generally due to a
hypersensitivity of the lungs and airways to certain "triggers" such as:
• Pollens, dust mites, pets.
• Foods such as fish, eggs, peanuts, nuts, cow’s milk.
• Respiratory infections, like colds, bronchitis, and sinusitis.
• Certain drug sensitivity.
• Tobacco, smoke, weather changes, diesel fumes, paint, detergents,
deodorants, chemicals, dust, gases, and perfumes.
• Exercise.
• Emotional stress.
• Hormonal factors, such as in premenstrual syndrome.
• Genetic tendency in children with a family history of asthma,
allergy or eczema are more prone to this disease. Approximately 80% of
children and 50% of adults with asthma also have allergies.
How to recognize signs and symptoms of Asthma?
• People with asthma may seem anxious and restless and may cough with
each breath as an attack comes on.
• Wheezing that initiates as a slight whistling sound and progresses
to an evidently shrill noise with each labored breath.
• Coughing that gets worse over minutes to hours.
• The chest may appear curved in and the ribs may show as the person
with asthma struggles to get air. This is observed well in children, as
their small chest is flexible.
• Exhaling (breathing out) takes longer than inhaling (breathing in).
• Breathing is faster as the person fights to get enough oxygen.
• Fingernails and lips may turn blue (especially in children).
• Shortness of breath – air hunger.
Homeopathic Treatment of Asthma:
Homeopathy is a system of medicine that supports the body’s own healing
mechanism, by means of specially prepared remedies. It is possible to
treat asthma with correctly selected Homeopathic medicines. However, it
involves careful study of every episode to evaluate the cause that might
have precipitated the attack, the exact symptoms, and the factors that
make the attack worse or better. Every patient suffering from Asthma
experiences it in a different way: with exertion, when apprehensive,
when outdoors, in summer, in winter, on waking, after eating, etc.
Persons treated with Homeopathy may be saved from using heavy doses of
inhalers, steroids and bronchodilators.
Below I have noted some of the basic Homeopathic remedies that can be of
assistance in treating an acute attack of asthma at home. Constitutional
Homeopathic care with the management of an experienced professional
Homeopath can help to recover a person’s general health on deeper levels
by treating asthma from the origin rather than suppressing its symptoms,
and in all prospects diminish the tendency towards asthma. Thus you can
rely on Homeopathy for healthy breathing and a healthy life with an
enhanced resistance power.
Antimonium tartaricum – This remedy is given specifically for children
with a rattling cough with an inability to expectorate mucus. Their
condition is sometimes precipitated after being angered or annoyed. They
feel drowsy, weak, and feeble, and their symptoms are usually worse at 4
a.m. They feel chilly but are averse to stuffy warm rooms and desire
cool rooms and open windows.
Arsenicum alb. – This remedy works for persons with complaints of a
periodic onset, when the breathlessness is aggravated at night 1 am and
daytime 1 pm. making them toss and turn in bed. Restlessness and anxiety
are predominant symptoms of this remedy. These patients are very thirsty
but for only sips of water at a time.
Blatta Orientalis - A remedy prescribed to control an acute attack.
Helps for the time being but has to be followed by a constitutional
treatment.
Drosera : This remedy is helpful for violent erratic symptoms, cyanosis
and vomiting.
Ipecac - Coughing spasms that lead to retching or vomiting strongly
indicate this remedy.
Kali Carbonicum - The asthma is aggravated at 3 am in the morning, and
is aggravated from dust, central heating, and usually associated with
anxiety and weakness.
Pothos foetida - The asthma that gets aggravated after exposure to dust.
The attack is better after passing stools.
Phosporus – This is one of the best remedy for noisy wheezy breathing,
cough in a tall, thin, narrow chest person who are always anxious, and
need a lot of reassurance and attention.
Spongia – This remedy is helpful in children with asthma who has a dry,
barking, croupy cough that is worst in the early part of the night.
Patient feels better by warm food and drinks, leaning forward and
sitting up.
|
|
