Jan 06 2021
AN OVERVIEW OF ASTHMA WITH ITS HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION: There is universally no agreed definition of asthma. Descriptions of the condition focus on clinical, physiological and pathological characteristics stressing the central role of both chronic airway inflammation and increased airway hyper-responsiveness. Typical symptoms include wheeze, cough, chest tightness and dyspnoea which are accompanied by the presence of airflow obstruction.
EPIDEMIOLOGY: The prevalence of asthma increases steadily over the latter part of the last century, first in the developed than in the developing world. Current estimates suggest that asthma affects 300 million people world-wide and an additional 100 million persons will be diagnosed by 2025. The socio-economic impact is enormous, particularly when poor control leads to days lost from school or work, unscheduled health-care visits and hospital admissions.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ASTHMA: Airway hyper-reactivity (AHR)- the tendency for airways to contract too easily and too much in response to triggers that have little or no effect in normal individuals- is integral to the diagnosis of asthma and appears to be related. Other factors likely to be important include the degree of airway narrowing and the influence of neurogenic mechanism. With increasing severity and chronicity of the disease, remodeling of the airway occurs, leading to fibrosis of the airway wall, fixed narrowing of the airway and a reduced response to bronchodilator medication.
FLOW CHART OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FOR ASTHMA
CLINICAL FEATURES:
Typical symptoms include:
recurrent episodes of wheeze,
chest tightness,
breathlessness and
cough.
Not uncommonly, asthma is mistaken for a cold or chest infection that is failing to resolve. Classical precipitants include exercise, particularly in cold weather, exposure to airborne allergens or pollutants, and viral upper respiratory tract infections.
Patients with mild intermittent asthma are usually asymptomatic between exacerbations.
Patients with persistent asthma report on-going breathlessness and wheeze, but variability is usually present with symptoms fluctuating over the course of one day, from day to day, or from month to month.
Asthma characteristically displays a diurnal pattern, with symptoms and lung function being worse in the early morning.
DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis of asthma is predominantly clinical and based on a characteristic history. Supportive evidence is provided by the demonstration of variable airflow obstruction, preferably by using spirometry. The measurement of FEV1 and VC identify the obstructive nature of the ventilator defect, define its severity.
HOMOEOPATHIC THERAPEUTICS FOR ASTHMA FROM DR BOERICKE’S MATERIA MEDICA:
ACONITUM NAPELLUS: Constant pressure in the left chest; oppressed breathing on least motion. Very sensitive to inspired air. Shortness of breath.
AMBRA GRISEA: Asthmatic breathing with eructations of gas. Nervous, spasmodic cough, with hoarseness and eructations, on waking in the morning; worse in presence of people.
ANTIMONIUM TARTARICUM: Rapid, short, difficult breathing; seems as if he would suffocate; must sit up. Palpitations, with uncomfortable hot, feeling. Pulse rapid, weak, trembling.
ARALIA RACEMOSA: Asthma on lying down at night with spasmodic cough; worse after first sleep, with tickling in the throat. Constriction of the chest; sensation of a foreign body in the throat.
ARSENICUM ALBUM: Unable to lie down; fears suffocation. Air passages constricted. Asthma worse midnight. Burning in the chest.
BACILLINUM: Oppression. Catarrhal dyspnea. Humid asthma. Bubbling rales and muco-purulent expectoration.
BLATTA ORIENTALIS: A remedy for asthma. Especially when associated with bronchitis. Indicated after Arsenic, when it is insufficient.
BROMIUM: Asthma; difficulty in getting air into the lungs (Chlorum, in expelling). Better at sea, in seafaring men when they come on land.
CARBO VEGETABILIS: Asthma in the aged with blue skin.
CHLORALUM HYDRATUM: Asthma with sleeplessness.
CINCHONA OFFICINALIS: Asthma; worse damp weather.
COCA: Asthma, spasmodic variety.
CROTON TIGLIUM: Asthma with cough; cannot expand the chest.
DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA: Asthma when talking, with contractions of the throat at every word uttered.
DULCAMARA: Asthma with dyspnea.
GRINDELIA ROBUSTA: Asthma, with profuse tenacious expectoration, which relieves.
HYDROCYANICUM ACIDUM: Asthma, with contraction of the throat.
ICTODES FOETIDA: Asthma; relieved by stool.
IPECACUANHA: Annual attack of Asthma.
KALIUM NITRICUM: Asthma, with excessive dyspnea, nausea, dull stitches and burning in the chest.
KALIUM PHOSPHORICUM: Asthma; least food aggravates.
LOBELIA INFLATA: Asthma; attacks, with weakness, felt in the pit of the stomach and preceded by prickling all over.
MEPHITIS PUTORIUS: Asthma, as if inhaling sulphur.
NAJA TRIPUDIANS: Asthma beginning with coryza.
NAPHTHALINUM: Spasmodic Asthma; better in open air.
NATRIUM SULPHURICUM: Humid Asthma; rattling in the chest between 4 and 5 a.m.
NUX VOMICA: Asthma, with fullness in the stomach, in the morning or after eating.
PSORINUM: Asthma with dyspnea; worse sitting up; better, lying down and keeping arms spread wide apart.
PULSATILLA PRATENSIS: Smothering sensation on lying down in Asthma.
SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS: Asthma with stomach disorders.
SCROPHULARIA NODOSA: Asthma in scrofulous patients.
THUJA OCCIDENTALIS: Asthma in children.
VISCUM ALBUM: Asthma, if connected with gout or rheumatism.
DR SUSHMA YADAV
M.D(HOM) PART II
GOVT HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL, BHOPAL