Asthma - Homeopathic cure

The recurrence of asthmatic attacks forms a major disability for the patients. Homeopathic constitutional treatment comes as a proverbial “breath of a fresh air”, resulting in permanent cure. Constitutional treatment is aimed at understanding and prescribing medicines, for the psycho-physiological profile of the patient. Arsenic Album, Natrum Sulph, Bacillinum and Kali Carb are few of the lot used to treat the chronicity of asthma.

Natrum Sulph is one of the most important medicines for treating chronic asthma. It is often asked for treating asthma in children. Dr Kent (a 19th century homeopathic pioneer), in an essay on Natrum Sulph says:”If a child has asthma, give Natrum Sulph as the first remedy”. It is very useful when asthma is hereditary. Often, asthma that gets aggravated in humid weather and dampness, requires Natrum Sulph.

Arsenic Album is beneficial both in the acute phase and the chronic state. It is often indicated when attacks are frequent during night (midnight and after), accompanied with great restlessness and fear of suffocation on lying down.

According to J.H. Clarke (a major homeopath also of the 19th century) an inter-current course of Bacillinum will often make a wonderful change in patients who have a personal or family history of chest infections. Bacillinum, a deep-acting medicine, is required for those patients who are very sensitive to cold, having a personal or family history of tuberculosis.

Many asthmatics can relate the origin to an attack of pneumonia. A few doses of Kali Carb can work wonders for them. Kali Carb is also indicated in asthma attacks that occur early in the morning.

A word of caution: The above-mentioned medicines are deep-acting and should not be used without consulting an experienced homoeopath.

SAMBUCCUS, Nux Vomica, Kali Bichrome and Carbo Veg are a few of the important homeopathic medicines useful in treating chronic asthma.

Sambuccus, according to its prover, Samuel Hahnemann, is one of the remedies for asthma in children when the attacks come on suddenly in the night. The afflicted child turns blue, gasps for breath and seems as if he or she is almost dying. Then the little one goes to sleep and wakes up with another attack. Many such attacks can occur in one night. Another characteristic of this medicine is that the skin becomes entirely dry and there is a burning sensation when he or she falls asleep. The patient breaks into profuse sweat immediately on waking.

Farrington calls Kali Bichrome a “certain remedy” if attacks are after-midnight (from 3 a.m to 4 a.m). Relief is obtained from sitting up and bending forward, and from the expectoration of stringy mucus. It is indicated for attacks that are liable to return in winter. It is also useful in bronchial asthmatic breathing.

Nux Vomica is for difficult breathing associated with a feeling of fullness and heaviness in the stomach, particularly manifested after a major meal. The symptoms are aggravated after the meal, in the morning, and are increased by cold air. Belching provides relief. It is sometimes useful also in difficult breathing arising from gastric disturbance.

Where there is much abdominal irritation present with much flatulence (gas), Carbo Veg should be thought of. Carbo Veg also corresponds to asthma in the aged who are much debilitated and are in search of breath. The problem gets less trouble some after belching wind.

Nux Vomica and Carbo Veg are invaluable in controlling acute asthmatic attacks. Self-medication should be avoided in such chronic disorders. There is no substitute for an expert homoeopath’s advice. .

Cure for IBS

Do you frequently suffer from “too much gas” or cramping pain in the abdomen, or from loose stools immediately after you have your meals? Do you get diarrhea and constipation alternatively? Do you get mucus in your stools?

Are you very frequently bothered about by some or all of these symptoms? If so, then there are chances that you might be suffering from a disorder called irritable bowel syndrome or IBS for short. IBS is a functional disorder of the bowel (large intestine). This disorder affects the functioning of the large intestine. Some researchers believe that it affects the nerves controlling the muscles of the bowels. It does not cause any physical changes like inflammation or ulcers in the intestine. It does not also lead to any kind of cancer. Food allergy and stress play a major role in IBS

To understand how IBS affects, it is important to know about the normal functioning of the bowel. Under normal circumstances the muscles in the layers of the walls of the intestine contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm so as to push the digested food to the rectum. But in people who suffer from IBS, these muscles contract for a longer time and with more strength, causing diarrhea or pain. In some cases, reverse of this happens and the movements of the large intestines slow down, thus leading to the slowing of the passage of waste. The ultimate result is constipation with hard and dry stool.

A well-thought-out Homeopathic treatment can work miracles in IBS. Homeopathic medicines treat IBS by using the body’s own innate healing powers, thus making it very effective and completely side-effect-free. Homeopathic medicines Argentum nitricum, Asafoetida, Colocynth, Nux Vomica and Natrum Carb are best known for their great efficacy in curing IBS.

Argentum Nitricum leads the table and is more suited to the sensitive kind of people who at the slightest disturbance of emotions develop a sudden urge to pass stool. This urge to pass stool is usually accompanied by increased flatulence (gas) and strong crampy pains in the abdomen. Asafoetida is more suited for those who suffer from an increased gas problem and their abdomen gets bloated immediately after eating.

Colocynth works miracles to relieve the cramping pains accompanied by diarrhea or flatulence (gas).

Nasal Allergy & homeopathy

Allergies are fast emerging as a major threat to our health. There are three basic reasons why one should prefer homeopathy for this problem.

One, it is the most natural and safest treatment. As it is based on the principle of ”like cures like” it forms a natural way of conditioning our healing responses also. The substances used in homoeopathy are in a highly diluted state and they act very safely - without any side-effect. Two, as it is a natural form of medication it does not suppress the disease. Three, the beneficial effects achieved with homeopathic medicines are lasting and do not vanish once the treatment is stopped.

What is allergic rhinitis?

It is nasal allergy which is also referred to as hay fever. This mostly affects our nasal path (nose tract) and the conjunctiva of the eyes. Its symptoms are frequent sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, congestion, and itchy eyes, nose, and roof of the mouth or the throat.

Allergic rhinitis is like any other allergy. The only difference is that the fight between the antigen and the antibodies takes place in the nose, eyes, etc.

As we breathe, we take in many substances along with the air. Substances such as pollens, animal dander and smoke (allergens), for some individuals, are countered by the body’s own defence system in our nose. They are attacked by the already developed antibodies in our system. This is called an allergic reaction, which also results in the release of an inflammatory chemical called histamine. It causes the swelling of the mucous membranes in our nose, sinuses and eyes, leading to a runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing.

The most common allergens are pollens (released by trees, grasses or weeds.), animal dander, dust mites, molds, dust and smoke. For those who have seasonal allergies, pollens are the main culprit, and for those who suffer all the year around animal dander, dust mites, cockroaches and molds are the culprits.

But it is actually no fault of the person who suffers from this allergy. It is your body’s own watchdogs that have (by mistake) started fighting the substances that are not at all harmful to you. The hereditary factor plays a major role. If one of your parents is suffering from any kind of allergy the chances are that you would also develop an allergy of some sorts. If both parents suffer from allergy, the risk for you to develop allergy is 70 per cent.

The homeopathic medicines used in treating allergic rhinitis are Sabadilla, Natrum Mur, Arundo, Allium Cepa, Histaminum and Wyethia. Another medicine that has been introduced and has a great role in treating allergic rhinitis is Glaphimia Glauca. The medicines mentioned are for information only. Self-medication can be harmful.

Sepia the wonder drug for females

Homeopathy acknowledges certain groupings of body-mind symptom patterns that a person has and which correspond with the sensitivity of a particular medicine. It takes into account information about the person’s body type, temperament and disposition, and behavioural tendencies to determine the appropriate medicine. There are, for instance, the “sepia type,” the “sulphur type,” the “arsenic type,” and the “natrum mur type”. Each of these topologies refers not only to a type of medical problem but also to those factors that make it better or worse other physical symptoms may be related to its various past or present symptoms and diseases, food cravings or aversions, sensitivity to temperature and weather and energy levels at varying times of the day.

Quoting from one of the most classical descriptions by Margaret Tyler, the “sepia type” is not difficult to spot.

Picture sepia as a sallow, tired mother of a big family, on “washing day”. She is perspiring profusely, pouring under the arms. She cannot be shut in because of the heat and the stuffiness which make her feel faint. Her back aches badly. She wants to press it to support it. She feels she must sit down, or cross her legs, as her whole inside seems to be dragging down, and coming out of her. She simply must sit down to keep it in. The worry of the children is more than she can bear.

Her baby wants to be carried, and wails and screams. And when her six-year-old starts drumming with a spoon on a tin can, she can stand no more. She snatches the tin can and hurls it away, and smacks her small son which does not improve matters. He howls dismally, and she does not care. Oh! How she wants to run away and leave it all, and have a little peace! Her head aches.

The pain is left-sided today: last time it was on the right side, as she remembers. She is so nervous and jumpy. She has to hold on to the edge of the wash-tub to prevent herself from screaming. If she could only go away from everybody and everything, and lie alone, in the dark, and close her eyes! Her husband comes in. She has no smile to greet him. Nothing but dull indifference, weariness and suffering. He must leave her alone. She has her work to do. If she could only lie down, she knows even 10 minutes’ sleep would make her a new woman! But there are the clothes to be ironed, cooking to be done, the stuffiness, the terrors of her restless children, with their noise and fidgeting.

Sleep is not for her. Her dull face has lost its contour, its bloom, and its pleasing lines. There are horrifying brown bands or blotches on the forehead, and saddlewise across the nose and cheekbones. She once was a bright and beautiful girl. Now she is a sepia.

Sepia is predominantly a female’s remedy with some exceptions. Women needing this remedy are usually strong and hardy until they are overstressed. Then they become emotional wrecks resulting in depression, irritability, crying and indifference towards their loved ones. This is one of the best remedies for women who have become worn out from all their toils of life. Many women’s health issues are addressed with this remedy. For example, the pre-menstrual syndrome, vaginities, menopause, pregnancy, miscarriage, endometriosis, anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, digestive disorders, loss of sexual desire, mental disorders, depression and hysteria.

Sepia is a deep-acting medicine and requires infrequent repetitions. It should not be used without consulting an experienced homeopath.

The description of sepia is for the reader to identify with its sensitive characteristics. It helps the physician in selecting the true constitutional medicine. In no way does it endorse self-medication.

Depression & Homeopathic Treatment

It came as a shock to her. Sudden and untimely death of Divya’s father had left her grief struck. Divya (33 ) was deeply attached to her father. Although her husband was a big support for her, she was unable to cope up with the tragedy. From being a very vivacious person, within four months she was reduced to a nervous wreck. She suffered from very low moods, loss of appetite, low energy levels, sleeplessness and was clinically diagnosed as suffering from depression. Divya knew that if she wanted permanent relief from it, she would have to look for a cure that would treat her problem removing its source and also something that was safe. She opted for homeopathic intervention, and within three months she was showing major signs of improvement. Her sleep was better, emotional responses were more balanced, and she now was able to absorb the shock of her father’s sudden death. She was treated with homeopathic medicine Ignatia. Like Divya there are many who have benefited from homeopathy’s safe and far-reaching effects in treating psychiatric illness.

As a major fallout of the rapidly advancing modern civilization, depression has become the most common psychiatric illness. Recent data suggests that depression takes in its grip one in 10 adults, and nearly two-thirds of such cases do not get the help they need. Depression is an impairing illness that affects both women and men, but women experience the problem at roughly twice the rate of men.

Having some depressive symptoms does not mean a person is clinically depressed. For example, it is not unusual for those who have lost a loved one to feel sad, helpless, and disinterested in regular activities. Only when these symptoms persist for an unusually long time is there reason to suspect that grief has become a depressive illness.

No two people become depressed in exactly the same way. Many people have only some of the symptoms, varying in severity and duration. This is where the homeopathic treatment has an edge over the conventional ones. While treating depression, the homeopathic approach realises the individualistic nature of the mind. A lot of emphasis is laid on one’s individual symptoms and causative factors while prescribing a medicine. An experienced homeopath would do a detailed analysis (constitutional analysis) considering all important factors such as genetic predisposition, thermal sensitivities, emotional responses to a certain given situation, food habits, etc, before prescribing any medicine

Ignatia and Natrum Mur

Ignatia is a great remedy for milder forms of depression. It is often given in cases with low moods, stress and strain connected with shock or loss of loved ones or disappointment having completely unhinged normal judgement and self-control. When this condition recurs and tends to become chronic. Natrum Mur is the right medicine. Ignatia is also given in depression that occurs during the menopausal period.

‘Depression major’ and Aurum Met

“Depression major” refers to those forms of the disease where symptoms such as extreme hopelessness, excessive guilt, recurring thoughts of death, or suicidal thoughts or actions are predominant. Homeopathic medicine Aurum Met is often a great help in such cases. It is strongly recommended in the case of the patients who have lost the love of living, are weary of life, feel an absolute loss of enjoyment in everything and, most importantly, long to die and seek methods to commit suicide.

Constitutional analysis

In such disorders, a thorough constitutional analysis by an expert homeopath is a must before using any medicine, and self-medication should be avoided.

First aid when cold starts

With the change in the weather, the chances of getting an exposure or a cold-related illness have increased considerably. One medicine that works wonders in saving you in the initial stages from any problem that arises out of an exposure to cold is Aconitum napelus, also commonly known as Aconite. Remember to have it in your pocket if you are trying to venture out on an extremely cold day. This medicine is effective only if it is used when the symptoms are just setting in. After the initial stages are over, it hardly gives any relief but is extremely effective in aborting nearly any kind of cold-related illness - common cold, headache, fever, runny nose, sneezing, etc. This can be taken as a preventive measure if you feel you’ve been exposed to a cold air and feel symptoms are bound to come sooner or later.

Take a few shots of aconite 30c and be rest assured that the attack is going to be aborted. If the first stage has just passed by and symptoms have been there for a while and signs of inflammation, heat and redness and swelling have already set in, Belladonna will work very effectively.

Runny nose: For colds with runny nose that starts off when one suddenly gets chilled or is exposed to cold air while being overheated, homoeopathic medicine Arsenic Album will help.

Sore throat: Sore throat in the winters and rattly cough that is very common is very well treated with Hepar Sulph. For throats and tonsils that, after an exposure, usually end up developing severe inflammation, Hepar Sulph is the best choice. Great pain while swallowing or even on touching the throat from outside is the key indication for Hepar Sulph to be prescribed. Coughs that come after an exposure which are of rattly nature and yield yellowish phlegm respond very well to Hepar Sulph.

Headaches: For people who develop headaches after a little bit of exposure, homoeopathic medicine Silicea will solve the problem immediately.

Body pain: For pains that may occur in joints and other parts of the body after an exposure to cold air, few doses of Rhus Tox can be of great help.

Chilblains: Low humidity levels and cold weather lead to the loss of moisture from the skin, resulting in a condition called “xerosis” or chapped skin. The skin becomes dry cracked and itchy. Homoeopathic medicine Petroleum is extremely effective in healing chapped skin and cuts in heels that arise in winters.

Chilblains occur due to an overexposure to cold. Some individuals develop it otherwise also in winter. They form due to the inflammation of the small blood vessels in fingers, toes, tip of ear, nose, etc. The skin gets red swollen and itchy and has a burning sensation which may even progress to form ulcers. Homoeopathic medicine Agaricus leads the table in treating chilblains very effectively.

Sinus problem & homeopathic treatment

COME winter and it is time for all the cold-related illnesses. Sinusitis happens to be one of them. Although its occurrence is not always related to cold and can happen any time of the year, for those who are sensitive to the least chill in the air, sinusitis may be just round the corner. Homeopathic treatment can be of great help to those who suffer from sinusitis often during winter.

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses (hollow spaces) in our skull. These hollow spaces are linked to the nose from inside. The anatomical presence of these cavities makes our skull light for our neck to bear it. Sinuses also provide the resonance to our tone when we speak. So, the presence of the sinuses is not a problem but it is their inflammation (sinusitis) that causes distress. Inflammation can be acute, recurrent or of chronic nature.

Sinuses are four sets of hollow spaces in our skull. They are situated in cheek bones, forehead, behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes and yet another set is situated in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes. All of these sinuses have the same lining that is present in our nose. This lining produces mucus which is drained out of these sinuses through an opening in the nose. During an attack of cold or allergies (mucous membranes start producing more mucus during cold, etc.) swelling in the nose and sinuses can cause the drainage from the sinuses to get blocked. This blockage leads to the trapping of mucus in the sinuses resulting in the growth of bacteria and viruses.

The symptoms

The symptoms of sinusitis depend upon the sinus that gets affected. The morning headache when one wakes up is typical of sinusitis: blocked sensation: in the nose, heaviness and pain in the facial bones and head may occur due to the underlying inflamed sinus. Inflammation in the sinuses that are present behind the bridge of the nose and in-between the eyes can lead to swelling in the eyelids and the tissues around the eyes. Inflammation in the maxillary sinuses can cause pain in the upper jaw and teeth.

Sinusitis may be accompanied by other symptoms of nasal congestion, runny nose, fever, tiredness and cough that may aggravate at night. Post-nasal dripping of mucus can cause problems in the throat too.

A correctly prescribed homeopathic medicine can be a great boon to those who suffer from sinusitis. Homeopathic treatment aims at rebuilding one’s immunity towards such attack. Although it may take some time, a well-aimed homeopathic treatment can completely cure the chronicity and recurrence of this disease.

Homeopathic medicines Silicea and Kali Bichrome lead the homeopathic table in treating all kinds of sinusitis whether acute, chronic or recurrent. Silicea is very affective in treating sinusitis in individuals who are extremely sensitive to the least amount of chill in the air and often develop frontal headaches or heaviness during the attack of sinusitis. Kali Bichrome is helpful in cases where the discharges are very stringy, sticky and yellowish green or when the patient complains of a constant pain in the root of the nose. Other important homeopathic medicines like Hydrastis and Merc Sol also need special mention.

Preventing and managing sinusitis

• Control your allergies and avoid exposure
• Avoid exposure to cold air, as it may trigger runny nose which can further lead to inflammation of sinuses. Try to have your allergies under control by avoiding exposure to known allergens and taking homeopathic medicines.
• Reduce stress and eat natural foods
• By reducing stress and eating vegetables and fruits that are rich in anti- oxidants can help in boosting your immune system.
• Steam inhalation can be of great help during an acute attack
• Drink plenty of fluids to thin the mucus.

Cervical ,Neck pain cure- Homeopathy

Neck pain or cervical pain is perhaps one of the most common disorders that are caused by the modern life-style. Lack of exercise, poor posture, prolonged working hours and long driving hours are the primary factors that lead to neck-related disorders. And for some who suffer from chronic neck pain, cold weather adds to their woes.

Homoeopathic treatment of neck pain or cervical pain can provide great relief to the patients as it not only treats the pain but also cures the underlying causes to make sure that pain does not recur.

Although neck pain may be caused by many factors, cervical strain is the most frequent diagnosis. The pain can be severe and can temporarily limit the patient’s everyday activities. This condition is very often (by mistake) thought of as spondylosis. Although both the conditions - strain and spondylosis - are different from each other, their symptoms resemble closely.

Cervical strain affects the muscles of the neck, particularly those at the back of the neck. This straining occurs after an overuse of the muscles - prolonged studying, driving, awkward positions such as cradling the phone between the ear and the shoulder, sitting in a chair that offers no support, or working at an ill-designed computer station or any activity where one has to hold the head in one position for hours.

This actually causes the muscles at the back of the neck to get tired, resulting in pain and stiffness in the back of the neck and at times this pain can also be felt in the shoulders and the back part of the head. When this overuse of muscles is repeated again and again, the pain becomes chronic. This is also called as “repetitive stress injuries”. Pain can also occur due to cervical sprain. Sprain occurs due to trauma to the neck as in whiplash (when the head is suddenly and quickly forced forward and backward) injuries in car accidents, falls and sport injuries.

Another major cause for neck pain is cervical spondylosis. Like other joints, cervical joints tend to deteriorate with age. This includes the wear and tear of the vertebrae, degeneration and herniation of the cushions between the vertebrae (also commonly called as disks). Abnormal growth of the bones also occurs on the vertebrae (cervical bones). These accumulated changes (cervical spondylosis) result in pressure on the nerve root. This results in the symptoms that are produced in spondylosis - neck pain, loss of sensation or abnormal sensation in arms and shoulder, stiffness in neck, episodes of loss of balance, headache at the back side of the head.

The treatment of neck pain with homoeopathy has distinct advantages unlike the conventional system of medicine, it does not suppress the pain symptoms. Homoeopathy treats the underlying condition that is causing pain. For example, if one suffers from pain due to spondylosis, the treatment will be aimed at treating the degenerative changes. Medicine for pain due to the straining of cervical muscles are different from the ones that will treat spondylosis. Further differentiation is also made on the individual variations of symptoms.

Thus homoeopathy customises the treatment based on individuals underlying disorder and symptom. This high level of customisation is what provides homoeopathy an edge in stopping the recurrence by curing the disease. Cervical strain can be very effectively and speedily treated with homoeopathy. The treatment of cervical spondylosis require more time as the changes are at the physical level and also have occurred over a long period. The treatment in cervical spondylosis depends upon the extent of damage.

Cold sensitivity and Homeopathy

You dread winters! Because cold makes life hell for you - runny nose, sneezes, headache, stuffed-up feeling, and that cold damp feeling in the feet. Your defences are also too high, with a muffler wrapped around your head all day long, layers of woolens, more than a pair of warm socks, still nothing seems to keep you warm and if you thought that’s only the way to beat out your sensitivity, believe me you are totally wrong. Homeopathy may just be the right choice for you. A well-directed homeopathic treatment can actually help reduce and cure your sensitivity towards cold and disorders associated with it. In homeopathy we call it a “chilly constitution” and certain specific medicines are there for it.

Medically speaking, slow metabolism is one of the main causes for cold intolerance. Some people (often very slender women) do not tolerate cold environments simply because they have minimal body fat and are unable to keep warm. General poor health, faulty diet and medical conditions such as anorexia nervosa, hypothyroidism, AIDS and other chronic illness can also lead to intolerance.

Be it the lack of warmth in the body or symptoms that sensitive individuals develop, homeopathic medicines such as Silicea, Calcarea Carb offer a big promise in their treatments. Personally, I would rank Silicea ahead of other medicines in treating cold intolerance. Silicea is an invaluable constitutional remedy, and is indicated in the over-sensitive, imperfectly nourished (generally), not for want of food, but because of imperfect assimilation. There are very high levels of cold intolerance. Nothing makes the Silicea patient feel warm and take cold easily, especially from uncovering the head or the feet.

The main indication for Silicea is that no matter how hard the patient tries, feet don’t seem to get warm and also there is an increased cold intolerance on the head. Least exposure seems to bring on a severe headache, only to be relieved by warm applications. Chronic conditions - sinusitis, cold, asthma, bronchitis and cough caused in such oversensitive individuals - are effectively treated with Silicea. Calcarea Carb is very useful in constitutions where metabolism seems to slow down; it is indicated in cold intolerance associated with hypothyroidism and one of the main indications for the use of Calcarea Carb is constant sensation of cold damp feet.