HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES FOR BRONCHIECTASIS
BRONCHIECTASIS
Bronchiectasis there is permanent enlargement of parts of the airways of the lung. In bronchiectasis, the inside surfaces of the bronchi get thicker over time from inflammation that leave scars. Thicker walls cause mucus to collect in these passages because the walls are not strong enough to make the mucus move out of the lungs.
CAUSES
Bronchial obstruction by
Foreign body
Tumour
Stenosis
Secretions
Pressure from lymph nodes
Bronchial infection
Childhood pneumonias in measles, whooping cough
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Bronchial asthma complicated by allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Repeated chest infections of any type in immunodeficient persons
Miscellaneous
Fibrocystic disease
Kartagener’s syndrome
RISK FACTORS
Cystic fibrosis
Chronic and inflammatory lung disease
Chronic or severe lung infections, like tuberculosis, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) or pneumonia
Deficits in the immune system
Repeated aspiration (breathing in) of things other than air, such as food particles, that cause damage to the lungs
SYMPTOMS OF BRONCHIECTASIS
Coughing that results in a lot of mucus
Coughing up mucus that has blood in it (known as hemoptysis)
Chest pain or tightness because it is harder to breath
Wheezing or making whistling noises when breathing
Clubbing of nails
Loss of weight
Flare-ups that usually include:
Fatigue
fever and chills
Increased shortness of breath
Night sweats
DIAGNOSIS
A skiagram of the chest may show cystic lesions looking like a bunch of grapes, which are typical of cystic bronchiectasis.
X-ray of the chest, however, may be entirely normal in patients with limited disease, particularly of the cylindrical variety. Only an area of pneumonitis may be seen and underlying bronchial abnormality may be invisible.
Bronchography may be done to show cystic lesions.
CT scanning of the chest is now the preferred method for diagnosis. Since bronchiectasis is frequently produced by underlying bronchial obstruction (foreign body or adenoma), bronchoscopic examination is required.
Pulmonary function tests show a mixed pattern of restrictive and obstructive ventilatory dysfunction.
HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES
Homeopathy medicines play important role in cases of bronchiectasis. These remedies help a person manage the symptoms of bronchiectasis including cough, expectoration, wheezing, shortness of breath in an excellent manner.
Antimonium Tartaricum- The key feature to use Antimonium Tart is an excessive rattling cough. Rattling worsens on lying down and is better on sitting in upright position. There is a collection of enormous mucus in the lungs and the chest feels full. The expectoration is difficult. Expectoration, when arising, is yellow, thick, tough and sometimes mixed with blood. Cough is attended with suffocation. Chest feels oppressed. Chest pain also arises on coughing.
Kali Bichromicum - is useful medicine for bronchiectasis with thick, tenacious expectoration. Expectoration is highly viscid, sticky in nature that can be drawn in long strings. The expectoration is copious and can be transparent, white, yellow, green or slate – coloured. There is cough with pain and soreness in the chest. Chest also feels heavy as from a weight / heavy load on chest.
Pulsatilla Nigricans - is indicated for bronchiectasis when there is cough with yellowish green coloured expectoration. The cough worsens in a warm room. Expectoration appears in large quantities of yellow-greenish thick, lumpy mucus, especially in the morning time. It may have a slimy, bitter, sweet or salty taste.
Silicea - It is helpful for cases of bronchiectasis with offensive expectoration. Expectoration is profuse. It can be thick and purulent in nature. The expectoration appears in badly smelling granules. Cough appears day and night with copious expectoration. Cough tends to get worse from a cold. Chest feels sore. Pain in chest appears that gets worse from motion and deep breathing
Phosphorus – Phosphorus is a prominent medicine for bronchiectasis with bloody expectoration. The blood is bright red, reddish brown or rust coloured. This can be attended with chest pain. The pain tends to be stitching in nature. A heated sensation may be felt in the chest. The chest also tends to feel heavy as from a weight lying on it. Breathing is very oppressed.
Arsenic Album - Arsenic album is a well-indicated medicine for bronchiectasis with marked wheezing. This is attended with cough and expectoration which is mainly of frothy nature. The phlegm can be bitter or saltish. Shortness of breath also frequently attend. There is marked difficulty in breathing and the person is able to breath better with chest inclined forwards. Lying down worsens the difficulty breathing episodes. An aggravation of all symptoms is there at midnight. Constriction of the chest also accompanies. Sometimes chest pain is also felt. Anxiety and marked restlessness are felt with the above symptoms.
Ammonium Carb - Ammonium carb is beneficial for bronchiectasis with shortness of breath. Persons requiring Ammonium Carb has difficulty in breathing even on walking a few steps. This gets better in the open air but may be attended with cough and spitting of bloody phlegm either light or dark coloured. Chest feels contracted and heavy along with a burning sensation.
Kali Carb – It is indicated for bronchiectasis with chest pain attending other symptoms. For using Kali Carb the chest pain may be cutting, stitching or stabbing in nature. Cough is present with suffocation. Wheezing may be present with cough. Cough most times gets worse around 3:00 am. Shortness of breath may be felt in the morning hours. There is expectoration of offensive, lumpy copious phlegm.
Hepar Sulph - Hepar sulph is indicated in cases of bronchiectasis with purulent expectoration. It may have a sour or sweet taste and smells bad. Along with this cough and wheezing in the chest are present. Symptoms worsen from cold air exposure. Wrapping up warmly helps to relieve the symptoms. Difficulty in breathing may arise that prevents sleeping in some cases with the above symptoms.
Stannum Met - Stannum Met is another indicated medicine for bronchiectasis with copious greenish expectoration. It has sweetish taste in most of the cases where Stannum Met is indicated. There is a cough with shortness of breath. The person tends to take deep breaths frequently. Chest feels oppressed on coughing. There is a sensation of weakness in the chest.
Dr YOGESHVARI
MD (HOM) PART II BATCH -2017-18
DEPARTMENT OF HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
GOVT. HOMOEOPATHIC. MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL BHOPAL, M.P
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