asthma
Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2003 10:16 am
I got time to read the newsletter after almost a month. Here are a few suggestions for treating cases of asthma.
The treatment of asthma should be studied under two headings, controlling the acute attack and curing the patient. Usually it is not difficult to control the attack specially if the patient has never had Homoeopathy before. But curing the patient completely is absoluekly another matter. A deep acting constitutional medicine must be found. Usually but not invariably the medicines that cure this condition permanently are the anti sycotic remedies. The most important medicines for the permanent cure of asthma include Thuja, Lycopodium, Sil, sulph and Kali-carb. In some places Nat-s might also do the job. I have written here only remedies that I have seen work. There are many more remedies some of them very highly recommded such as blatta, Cupr., hydr-ac, Ambr. etc. But I have either never used them because there were no indicationg symptoms, or I have used them but not seen them work, so I have left them out. The remedies below I have used and I have seen them work.
Amminium Carb: Asthma aggravaed from 3 to 5 am. Increases in a warm room, the patient feels suffocated and has to go into the open air for relief, better in cold air. Pulmonary oedema.
Antim Ars: Whenever there is the rattling cough of Ant-tart and the anxiety of Arsenic this remedy may be tried. Asthma with emphysema.
Ant-t: Asthma with rattling cough. Asthma of old people and children. Asthma better by expectoration. Great rattliong but little comes out. The lungs get overloaded with mucus, threatened oedema and paralysis of lungs. The expectoration is usually white in colour.
Argentum Nitr. Asthma better in cold air, better in open air. Attacks coming on in a room full of people, in a warm room. Wants doors and windows open. The Arg patient is a hot patient, always in a hurry, desires sweets and salt, though sweets might aggravate, claustrophobia, fear of heights.
Ars. Alb.: Asthma occuring around midnight or from 12.00 to 2.00 am. The asthma is attended with restlessness, anxiety and anguish. The patient can not lie down, the patient is chilly. There may be thirst for small quantities of water frequently. This medicine is very commonly indicated in acute asthma, but one thing should be borne in mind, the medicine will stop one attack or two attacks (Sometimes for upto a year) but usually that is all it does, after giving Arsenic a deep acting remedy (Usually Thuja) has to be given to cure the disease. Again whenever asthma patients get coryza, Allium cepa and Ars. Alb should be avoided as they stop the coryza and bring on a severe attack of asthma. Ars-iod or kali-iod would be better in these patients.
Ars-iod: Ars-iod is very similar to ars alb, but the patient is a hot patient. Unlike Ars. Alb this medicine can actually cure asthma. Unlike Ars. Alb it also does not bring on an attack of asthma if given for coryza.
Apis Mel: Great dyspnoea as if every breath will be his last. Intense sensation of suffocation, pulmonary oedema, the patient is thirstless and has a sensation as if his tongue is made of wood.
Brom: Asthma of sailors as soon as they come on land.
Calc-c: Asthma coming on after the slightest exertion. The patient is fine and does a little physical activity and he gets a severe attack. Asthma of children usually due to exertion or from dust allergy. Asthma better by retracting the shoulders. The typical calc. patient is fat, flabby, chilly and perspires easily. The patient craves eggs.
Carbo-Veg: Asthma with sensation of distension of abdomen, the patient craves air wants all the doors and windows open. The patient is better from eructations. Asthma of old people. Asthma better in cold air (even though the patient may feel terribly cold).
Chamomilla: I have used this medicine only two times in this condition. It is useful in asthma of children where the child wants to be carried during the attack. The child is irritable and angry. There may be a rattling cough and the cough usually starts when the child is sleeping.
Grindelia: Asthma coming on as soon as the patient goes to sleep, with sensation of suffocation As soon as the patient falls asleep his breathing stops and he wakes up with a start and gasps for air. Accumulation of tenacious mucous which is hard to bring out but once it is out thjere is relief. Fear of going to sleep on account of loosing breath.
Hep-s: Asthma from bending head backwards, must sit up during the attack. Asthma after exposure to cold dry winds, worse from cold in any form. Yellowish expectoration. The patient is irritable and feels better from external warmth and warm drinks. The attack usually starts with a painful throat. Pain throat better warm drinks. Then after a few days there is an attack. The Hep- patient is very irritable.
Hypericum: Asthma better by profuse perspiration and copious expectoration.
Ipecacuanha: Asthma with feeling of nausea. Rattling cough but nothing is expectorated. Coughing followed by vomitting which releives. Specially useful in asthma of children with rattling cough (Ant-t)
Kali-ars: Asthma coming on around 2-3 am. usually 2.00 Many symptoms are like ars. alb. but the symptoms appear a bit later. Cough coming on from cold air, cold drinks etc.
Kali-bi: Asthma with bronchiectasis, bronchial tubes get blocked from tough stringy mucous. Asthma aggravated at 2 a.m.. The expectoration is thick, yellow and ropy. Must sit up and bend forward during the attack.
Kali-carb: Attacks coming on around 3.00 am. The patient must sit up with head bent forward, or must place head on table or knees. Dyspnoea aggravated from exertion, from eating, from lying down, from motion, better by sitting up with head bent forward.
Kali-Nitr: Symptoms similar to Kali-carb only the patient is a hot patient.
Lachesis: Patient rouses up from sleep with sensation as if he is suffocating. Can not bear the least pressure on the throat or chest. Can not bear anything (Such as a hankerchief) near the mouth, feels suffocated if something is brought near the mouth. The patient desires to take a deep breath but deep breathing becomes impossible. Has to have doors and windows open or must go out into the open air for relief. Intolerance of clothing, specially around the neck.
Lobelia: Asthma aggravated at noon, from cold air, from exertion, andwalking rapidly.
Lycopodium: Attacks coming on every four hours remaining for about half an hour then reappearing again after four hours. Usually start around 4.00 pm, then 8.00 pm, then 12.00. 4.00 am No attacks from 4.00 am to 4.00 pm. Asthma with marked flatulance.
Mag phos and kali-Phos are two biochemic medicines recommended for acute attacks of asthma. Mag-phos has spasmodic asthma. Kali-phos has asthma due to nervous causes or asthma brought on after eating.
Medorrhinum: Asthma of children better by lying on the knee elbow position.
Mephitis: Asthma on lying down at night. Asthma aggravated from drinking cold water.
Naja: Cardiac asthma, asthma from least exertion. The attacks are worse in the evenings.
Nat-s: Asthma of children, attacks come around 5.00 am. Asthma aggravated in humid weather. Expectoration of large quantities of whitish or greenish mucus. Holds the chest with the hand while while coughing. This medicine was Dr. Kent's favourite for curing asthma permanently specially asthma of children. Personally I have never seen it cure asthma permanently (probably because where I practice there is not so much humidity). But I have seen it many times palliate attacks for a year.
Nux-v: Asthma from gastric disturbances, obstruction of nose at night, asthma better by eructations, aggravated from cold. The patient feels extremely chilly during the attacks.
Phos: Asthma with cough and hoarseness. Cough aggravated laughing, talking, cold air, cold drinks. Violent cough, it seems as if the whole body shakes with the cough.
Pothos: Asthma aggravated from inhalation of dust.
Psorinum: Asthma better lying down with arms spread apart.
Pulsatilla: Asthma specially of children, aggravated evenings. Asthma after suppressed eruptions. Asthma better in open air, there is an accompanying dryness of mouth without thirst.
Rumex: Asthma aggravated 2.00 am. Asthma from change of temperature from exposure to cold air. There is tickling in the throat pit causing cough aggravated by inhaling cold air or drinking cold drinks (Ars.). Uncovering at night brings on the attacks (hep).
Sambucus: Asthma with obstruction of nose at night. Asthma aggravated around midnight. Suffocating cough coming on around midnight. Sudden attack making the patient restless, has to leave the bed. More suited to attacks of children but relieves adults too if accompanying the asthma there is profuse perspiration and swelling of ankles and feet.
Senega: Most important remedy for asthma of old people, but not so useful in young people. Asthma aggravated cold air better sitting upright. There is great intolerance of cold air. Walking in the cold open air brings on a cough and an attack. Chronic rattlicg cough of old people (Ammoniacum)
Silicea: This is another of those medicines that can permanently cure this condition. The silicea patient is a chilly patient and there is great perspiration.Asthma following exposure to a draft of air. Asthma from exposure to cold air after being overheated. Asthma following any unusual exertion. Dust allergy. Asthmatic attacks of children brought on from running or from exposure to cold air.
Spongia: Asthma accompanied with dry barking croupy cough. The cough is better by drinking and eating. Irresistable cough from irritation in a spot deep in chest. Attacks come on around midnight or during sleep, the patient feels weak in the chest can scaecely talk. Asthma from taking cold better bending head backwards.
Stannum: Asthma with feeling of weakness in the chest. Feeling of emptiness in the chest. The slightest exertion causes coughing and dyspnoea. There is great anxiety when breathing and the patient feels as if the respiratory organs are very weak. Attacks come around 4-5 am. Copious green expectoration, sweetish in taste (rarely saltish).
Sulphur: Asthma after suppressed skin eruptions or alternating with eruptions. Asthma of old people. Wants doors and windows open during the attack. Asthma from dust allergy. Can not talk during the attack, feels suffocated if he talks.
Thuja: One of the most important remedies in curing this condition permanently. Asthma in sycotic subjects. May be given after the acute condition has been subdued by other remedies to prevent recurrence. Asthma of children.
Veratrum: Asthma in damp cold weather. Rattling cough that can not be brought out. Asthma and cough are aggravated from cold drinks and better from warm drinks.
Some observations after giving the indicated medicine:
1. After giving the homoeopathioc medicine many times there is relief of the dyspnoea but the cough increases, and sometimes becomes violent. The remedy should not be changed as usually this subsides in a few days time.
2. The dyspnoea and cough decrease but there is sudden increase in nasal discharge: This should be left alone.
3. The time of the attack changes. For example if the attack came at 12.00 midnight and you gave a medicines the next day the attack may come at 2.00 am. This also should be left alone and no medicine given, as long as each attack comes at a later time it is a good sign. On the other hand if each subsequent attack comes earlier on, a medicine might be needed.
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The treatment of asthma should be studied under two headings, controlling the acute attack and curing the patient. Usually it is not difficult to control the attack specially if the patient has never had Homoeopathy before. But curing the patient completely is absoluekly another matter. A deep acting constitutional medicine must be found. Usually but not invariably the medicines that cure this condition permanently are the anti sycotic remedies. The most important medicines for the permanent cure of asthma include Thuja, Lycopodium, Sil, sulph and Kali-carb. In some places Nat-s might also do the job. I have written here only remedies that I have seen work. There are many more remedies some of them very highly recommded such as blatta, Cupr., hydr-ac, Ambr. etc. But I have either never used them because there were no indicationg symptoms, or I have used them but not seen them work, so I have left them out. The remedies below I have used and I have seen them work.
Amminium Carb: Asthma aggravaed from 3 to 5 am. Increases in a warm room, the patient feels suffocated and has to go into the open air for relief, better in cold air. Pulmonary oedema.
Antim Ars: Whenever there is the rattling cough of Ant-tart and the anxiety of Arsenic this remedy may be tried. Asthma with emphysema.
Ant-t: Asthma with rattling cough. Asthma of old people and children. Asthma better by expectoration. Great rattliong but little comes out. The lungs get overloaded with mucus, threatened oedema and paralysis of lungs. The expectoration is usually white in colour.
Argentum Nitr. Asthma better in cold air, better in open air. Attacks coming on in a room full of people, in a warm room. Wants doors and windows open. The Arg patient is a hot patient, always in a hurry, desires sweets and salt, though sweets might aggravate, claustrophobia, fear of heights.
Ars. Alb.: Asthma occuring around midnight or from 12.00 to 2.00 am. The asthma is attended with restlessness, anxiety and anguish. The patient can not lie down, the patient is chilly. There may be thirst for small quantities of water frequently. This medicine is very commonly indicated in acute asthma, but one thing should be borne in mind, the medicine will stop one attack or two attacks (Sometimes for upto a year) but usually that is all it does, after giving Arsenic a deep acting remedy (Usually Thuja) has to be given to cure the disease. Again whenever asthma patients get coryza, Allium cepa and Ars. Alb should be avoided as they stop the coryza and bring on a severe attack of asthma. Ars-iod or kali-iod would be better in these patients.
Ars-iod: Ars-iod is very similar to ars alb, but the patient is a hot patient. Unlike Ars. Alb this medicine can actually cure asthma. Unlike Ars. Alb it also does not bring on an attack of asthma if given for coryza.
Apis Mel: Great dyspnoea as if every breath will be his last. Intense sensation of suffocation, pulmonary oedema, the patient is thirstless and has a sensation as if his tongue is made of wood.
Brom: Asthma of sailors as soon as they come on land.
Calc-c: Asthma coming on after the slightest exertion. The patient is fine and does a little physical activity and he gets a severe attack. Asthma of children usually due to exertion or from dust allergy. Asthma better by retracting the shoulders. The typical calc. patient is fat, flabby, chilly and perspires easily. The patient craves eggs.
Carbo-Veg: Asthma with sensation of distension of abdomen, the patient craves air wants all the doors and windows open. The patient is better from eructations. Asthma of old people. Asthma better in cold air (even though the patient may feel terribly cold).
Chamomilla: I have used this medicine only two times in this condition. It is useful in asthma of children where the child wants to be carried during the attack. The child is irritable and angry. There may be a rattling cough and the cough usually starts when the child is sleeping.
Grindelia: Asthma coming on as soon as the patient goes to sleep, with sensation of suffocation As soon as the patient falls asleep his breathing stops and he wakes up with a start and gasps for air. Accumulation of tenacious mucous which is hard to bring out but once it is out thjere is relief. Fear of going to sleep on account of loosing breath.
Hep-s: Asthma from bending head backwards, must sit up during the attack. Asthma after exposure to cold dry winds, worse from cold in any form. Yellowish expectoration. The patient is irritable and feels better from external warmth and warm drinks. The attack usually starts with a painful throat. Pain throat better warm drinks. Then after a few days there is an attack. The Hep- patient is very irritable.
Hypericum: Asthma better by profuse perspiration and copious expectoration.
Ipecacuanha: Asthma with feeling of nausea. Rattling cough but nothing is expectorated. Coughing followed by vomitting which releives. Specially useful in asthma of children with rattling cough (Ant-t)
Kali-ars: Asthma coming on around 2-3 am. usually 2.00 Many symptoms are like ars. alb. but the symptoms appear a bit later. Cough coming on from cold air, cold drinks etc.
Kali-bi: Asthma with bronchiectasis, bronchial tubes get blocked from tough stringy mucous. Asthma aggravated at 2 a.m.. The expectoration is thick, yellow and ropy. Must sit up and bend forward during the attack.
Kali-carb: Attacks coming on around 3.00 am. The patient must sit up with head bent forward, or must place head on table or knees. Dyspnoea aggravated from exertion, from eating, from lying down, from motion, better by sitting up with head bent forward.
Kali-Nitr: Symptoms similar to Kali-carb only the patient is a hot patient.
Lachesis: Patient rouses up from sleep with sensation as if he is suffocating. Can not bear the least pressure on the throat or chest. Can not bear anything (Such as a hankerchief) near the mouth, feels suffocated if something is brought near the mouth. The patient desires to take a deep breath but deep breathing becomes impossible. Has to have doors and windows open or must go out into the open air for relief. Intolerance of clothing, specially around the neck.
Lobelia: Asthma aggravated at noon, from cold air, from exertion, andwalking rapidly.
Lycopodium: Attacks coming on every four hours remaining for about half an hour then reappearing again after four hours. Usually start around 4.00 pm, then 8.00 pm, then 12.00. 4.00 am No attacks from 4.00 am to 4.00 pm. Asthma with marked flatulance.
Mag phos and kali-Phos are two biochemic medicines recommended for acute attacks of asthma. Mag-phos has spasmodic asthma. Kali-phos has asthma due to nervous causes or asthma brought on after eating.
Medorrhinum: Asthma of children better by lying on the knee elbow position.
Mephitis: Asthma on lying down at night. Asthma aggravated from drinking cold water.
Naja: Cardiac asthma, asthma from least exertion. The attacks are worse in the evenings.
Nat-s: Asthma of children, attacks come around 5.00 am. Asthma aggravated in humid weather. Expectoration of large quantities of whitish or greenish mucus. Holds the chest with the hand while while coughing. This medicine was Dr. Kent's favourite for curing asthma permanently specially asthma of children. Personally I have never seen it cure asthma permanently (probably because where I practice there is not so much humidity). But I have seen it many times palliate attacks for a year.
Nux-v: Asthma from gastric disturbances, obstruction of nose at night, asthma better by eructations, aggravated from cold. The patient feels extremely chilly during the attacks.
Phos: Asthma with cough and hoarseness. Cough aggravated laughing, talking, cold air, cold drinks. Violent cough, it seems as if the whole body shakes with the cough.
Pothos: Asthma aggravated from inhalation of dust.
Psorinum: Asthma better lying down with arms spread apart.
Pulsatilla: Asthma specially of children, aggravated evenings. Asthma after suppressed eruptions. Asthma better in open air, there is an accompanying dryness of mouth without thirst.
Rumex: Asthma aggravated 2.00 am. Asthma from change of temperature from exposure to cold air. There is tickling in the throat pit causing cough aggravated by inhaling cold air or drinking cold drinks (Ars.). Uncovering at night brings on the attacks (hep).
Sambucus: Asthma with obstruction of nose at night. Asthma aggravated around midnight. Suffocating cough coming on around midnight. Sudden attack making the patient restless, has to leave the bed. More suited to attacks of children but relieves adults too if accompanying the asthma there is profuse perspiration and swelling of ankles and feet.
Senega: Most important remedy for asthma of old people, but not so useful in young people. Asthma aggravated cold air better sitting upright. There is great intolerance of cold air. Walking in the cold open air brings on a cough and an attack. Chronic rattlicg cough of old people (Ammoniacum)
Silicea: This is another of those medicines that can permanently cure this condition. The silicea patient is a chilly patient and there is great perspiration.Asthma following exposure to a draft of air. Asthma from exposure to cold air after being overheated. Asthma following any unusual exertion. Dust allergy. Asthmatic attacks of children brought on from running or from exposure to cold air.
Spongia: Asthma accompanied with dry barking croupy cough. The cough is better by drinking and eating. Irresistable cough from irritation in a spot deep in chest. Attacks come on around midnight or during sleep, the patient feels weak in the chest can scaecely talk. Asthma from taking cold better bending head backwards.
Stannum: Asthma with feeling of weakness in the chest. Feeling of emptiness in the chest. The slightest exertion causes coughing and dyspnoea. There is great anxiety when breathing and the patient feels as if the respiratory organs are very weak. Attacks come around 4-5 am. Copious green expectoration, sweetish in taste (rarely saltish).
Sulphur: Asthma after suppressed skin eruptions or alternating with eruptions. Asthma of old people. Wants doors and windows open during the attack. Asthma from dust allergy. Can not talk during the attack, feels suffocated if he talks.
Thuja: One of the most important remedies in curing this condition permanently. Asthma in sycotic subjects. May be given after the acute condition has been subdued by other remedies to prevent recurrence. Asthma of children.
Veratrum: Asthma in damp cold weather. Rattling cough that can not be brought out. Asthma and cough are aggravated from cold drinks and better from warm drinks.
Some observations after giving the indicated medicine:
1. After giving the homoeopathioc medicine many times there is relief of the dyspnoea but the cough increases, and sometimes becomes violent. The remedy should not be changed as usually this subsides in a few days time.
2. The dyspnoea and cough decrease but there is sudden increase in nasal discharge: This should be left alone.
3. The time of the attack changes. For example if the attack came at 12.00 midnight and you gave a medicines the next day the attack may come at 2.00 am. This also should be left alone and no medicine given, as long as each attack comes at a later time it is a good sign. On the other hand if each subsequent attack comes earlier on, a medicine might be needed.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]