Asthma - remedies in homeopathy

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways.
It is known to be associated with an ‘inflammatory’ reaction which involves all the structures of the bronchial wall and also the muscle.
It is characterised by paroxysms of breathlessness, chest tightness and wheezing, resulting from narrowing of the airways by a combination of muscle spasm, mucosal swelling and viscid bronchial secretion.
These changes are manifestations of an inflammatory reaction within the bronchial wall. The airflow obstruction, which characteristically fluctuates markedly, causes mismatch of the alveolar ventilation and perfusion ad increases the work of breathing.
Being more marked during expiration it also causes air to be ‘trapped’ in the lungs.
A narrowed bronchus will not be able to clear the mucous effectively by coughing and many of the smaller bronchi become obstructed by mucous plugs.

Causes:

- Drugs such as Beta blockers etc
- Industrial chemicals like isocyanides, resins
- Allergens such as dust, pollen etc
- Foods

Asthma may be either episodic or chronic. In general atopic individuals tend to develop episodic asthma and non-atopic individuals chronic asthma.
Episodic asthma
In this form of the disease the patient has no respiratory symptoms between the episodes of asthma. They may occur at any time, and sudden in onset. They are mostly triggered by allergens, exercise and viral infections. Attacks may be mild to severe and may last for hours, days or even weeks.
Chronic asthma
Here all the above said symptoms tightness, wheeze breathlessness, cough occur together, mostly during night and subsides only after medication.
Severe acute asthma is described as life -threatening attacks of asthma

Homeopathic Treatment:

Chief Remedies:

Aconite: sudden asthmatic attacks after exposure to cold dry winds; anxiety, fear, cough worse at night and after mid night.

Arsenicum Album: asthma with restlessness, anxiety, and thirst for small quantities of water; worse after taking cold, at midnight.

Bromium: asthma with difficult inspiration; better at sea; asthma of seafaring men worse after coming to land; bronchial tubes feel as if filled with smoke.

Spongia Tosta: It is a chief remedy for croupy cough and exhaustion. There is dryness of mucus membranes of air passages such as throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi etc. There is burning, stinging and tickling which causes cough. Patient constantly clears throat. Cough is caused due to exposure to dry cold wind, cold drinks, tobacco smoking and sweets. Cough is dry, barking, gasping, ringing, wheezing and whistling. Suffocation and profuse expectoration. There is a sensation as if a saw is driven through a pine board in the throat. Croup is anxious, wheezing and worse during inspiration and before midnight.

Senega: congestive attacks in old asthmatics; pressure on chest as through lungs were forced back to spine; rattling in chest.

Other Remedies:

Carbo Veg: asthma in aged; desired to be fanned during the attack; wheezing and rattling of mucus in chest.

Cina: asthma due to worm infection.

Lachesis: asthma worse on falling asleep, after sleep, on waking up; suffocation when anything is around the throat, compelling the patient to go to open window.

Pothos F: asthma worse from inhaling dust, better after stools.

Rxhomeo COMBO # 17: A homeopathic combination pack with two single remedies, Blatta Orientalis and Quebracho for the relief of asthma.

Bio-Combination#2: This remedy is useful for bronchial asthma with yellow or greenish sputum or ropy sputum, short breath on climbing stairs, dry, tickling spasmodic & whooping cough. Bronchial asthma with yellow sputum, worse in the evening and in warm rooms, better in cool air. It also helps in nervous asthma accompanied by cough, gasping, irregular pulse. Asthma with troublesome flatulence or spasms, convulsive tickling cough.