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Gas Poblem -Treat it with Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 161 Comments

“Gas problem” is something that is mostly harmless but can be very disturbing and incapacitating for the person who suffers from it. Its implications are diverse; ranging from being a mere social embarrassment to quite a troublesome yet benign gastric issue. The big question is why do some individuals suffer more from gas than others do? The answer lies in the fact that some of us are biologically more prone to have this problem where as for others, eating habits contribute majorly to this disorder. This gas problem exhibits mainly in three ways. Patients complain of being bloated around the abdomen or passing of too much gas from the anus (flatulence) and thirdly belching of gas from mouth (eructation).

Belching of air or eructation occur mainly due to swallowed air (aerophagia) during eating, drinking. This is also associated with increased intake of carbonated drinks. Excessive salivation also leads to increase in the swallowing of air.. Bloating of the abdomen is usually related to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or chronic constipation and rarely is it associated with serious gut problems. People with IBS have this increased sensitivity of the intestinal walls. This sensitivity causes even little gas to give the impression of excessive bloating of abdomen.

It is important to realize that some amount of gas formation is very normal and is produced naturally during the process of digestion. Flatus (gas passed from anus) is a metabolic byproduct of intestinal bacteria and is not caused by swallowed air .An average normal adult has 13 to 19 gas passages every day. But the condition can be really bad for some individuals -one study noted a person who expelled gas 140 times daily, with 70 passages in a period of just four hours.

Passing of gas from anus is mostly related with the food that we eat or with the kind of bacteria that we have in our intestines.  Flatulence is generally produced when undigested food is acted upon by bacteria in our large intestines. Certain food substances produce more flatulence than others because they contain more indigestible carbohydrates. Substances that lead to overproduction of gas are , beans, dairy products,  onions, celery, carrots, sprouts, fruits (raisins, bananas, apricots) and complex carbohydrates  like dals . People with lactase deficiency and celiac disease (gut allergy to wheat) also suffer from excessive flatulence. Gases like   Methane, Hydrogen and Hydrogen Sulphide are the main component of flatulence. Hydrogen sulphide is responsible for the odor of the flatus.

Homeopathy offers a very effective cure for excessive gas problem.  Homeopathic medicines Carbo Veg ,Lycopodium and Nux Vomica  are few of the very effective ones. Carbo Veg can be used for nearly all kinds of excessive gas conditions though  more suited in conditions where the symptoms of bloating appear immediately after eating and everything that has been eaten seems to get converted into gas. Lycopodium is more suited for patients that have the problem of passing more flatulence and also when their problem tends to increase towards the evening hours. Nux  Vomica is one of the most effective   medicines for our digestive system  and is  used in conditions that are incidental to  modern living like excess of alcohol  and improper eating habits.

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Digestion Problems and Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 62 Comments

Common digestion problems and their remedies
By Dr Vikas Sharma

SEDENTARY life-style, prolonged work hours, excessive mental strain and consumption of rich food stimulants such as alcohol, coffee and tea have made gastric problems like acidity into routine disorders. Not adding to the already “not-so-health-friendly” regimen that we follow, homeopathic medicines are non-toxic and by far the safest form of treatment available for such ailments.

Gas formation

Although some gas formation is considered normal during digestion, excess of it can cause great discomfort at times .Recent researches show that people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome have very low tolerance to gas formation. Thus, for some even moderate amount of gas can cause major symptoms. Signs and symptoms can vary – distension, bloating pain in the abdominal area, discomfort extending to the chest area, etc.

Carbo vegetablis (better known as carbo veg) is the most preferred homeopathic medicine for treating acute gas attacks. Carbo veg is made from vegetable charcoal. It can be used in cases that complain of immediate bloating after meals and also where the abdomen becomes hard and their are abdominal pains too. Everything that the patient eats seems to turn into gas. Three doses of 30c potency taken internally at an interval of 15 minutes each should help in relieving the distressing symptoms.

Acidity or heartburn

Acidity or heartburn is a burning discomfort that is generally felt in the chest just behind the breastbone. The burning sensation results when harsh stomach juices come in contact with and irritate the delicate lining of the esophagus, the tube-like structure that connects the mouth to the stomach.

Natrum carb is an important homeopathic medicine for the treatment of hyperacidity or heartburn. Three-four doses of natrum carb 30 c each taken at an interval of 15 minutes should be sufficient to relieve the acute suffering.

Please note that the treatment mentioned here is only for acute phase of the diseases. Self-medication should be avoided in chronic cases and also when medical help is easily accessible.

Digest this!
It is not only what we eat, but also how and when we eat makes the difference.

Schedule your meals
The basic purpose of having a digestive system is to break complex food substances into simpler ones for them to be easily absorbed into our body. So the stomach is selective in digesting things. For a simple bowl of dal and some chapatis may take not more than an hour to be digested, but a heavy meal such as a butter chicken can take even hours.

And also our digestive system needs rest. So when we sleep the process of digestion also slows down. Food left undigested can cause discomfort, so if you plan for a heavy meal in the evening, make sure that you have it in time. A simple walk after dinner may aid digestion.

Go slow
We usually tend to eat much more than we actually need to. Because the signals that indicate satiety to the brain from the stomach are slightly delayed. So, the best way to avoid overeating is to eat slowly and to stop just before the satiety level.

Break up your intake
Having 2-3 large meals is generally what most people like to have. It is not a very healthy practice and usually burdens our digestive system. Try and break your total food intake into many short meals.

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Homeopathy- THE HOLISTIC CONCEPT

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 1 Comment

The Holistic Concept …. Dr. Vikas Sharma

A lot is usually said about the funny little questions that homoeopaths often ask. Even comedian Jaspal Bhatti couldn’t resist making fun of it about a decade back. Speaking from a patient’s point of view, frankly, a lot many questions do sound too strange. But the truth is that asking too many questions shows a lot of medical wisdom. It certainly helps in deciding the line of treatment.

Let us for a while consider a hypothetical situation where you have chronic skin and a nasal allergy and you visit a homoeopath for its treatment, and a physician starts asking about your nightmares or your response to anger, or if you weep very easily or about your worst moment in life, etc. The physician may also ask about the kind of diseases and lifestyle your forefathers had.

Surely, this is not what you expect when you visit a physician. More so, it makes you wonder what emotions and stress have to do with nasal and skin allergy.

Recent researches suggest that the human body stands as a single entity with the mind and body as an indivisible continuum, and the old concept of mind-body dualism seems more obsolete than ever. A whole new range of diseases called psychosomatic diseases have been identified in the last few decades.

In some disorders, a necessary biological component (eg the genetic tendency to asthma), when combined with psychological reactions and stress (e.g. depression, loss of a loved one), results in conditions sufficient to produce a disorder.

A recent research in the field of Psychoneuroimmunology (a branch that deals with the relationship between our immune system, the psychological and physical aspects of our nervous system) has shown an interrelationship between reactions affecting the mind (brain) and alterations in immune responses mediated by lymphocytes and lymphokines. Thus, changes at our psychological level can make our allergies go berserk or even reduce our resistance to infections. So, it makes great sense when the homoeopath assesses your psychological stress levels in order to treat the skin and nasal allergy.

‘But what have my father’s smoking and drinking habits got to do with my skin and nasal allergy?’ Crazy as it may sound, but it does mean much more than you can think of. Researchers in the field of genetics found in a study conducted in Europe that the grandchildren of well-fed adolescents had a greater risk of dying from diabetes whereas those descended from the famine were less likely to die of heart disease. This suggests that factors such as lifestyle and diet not only influence our susceptibility to disease but also leave a trail of foot prints on our genome.

This means that the earlier belief that at the stage of fertilization the genome is completely reprogrammed is not true, and that some changes survive the process. So, the information on the illness and the kind of lifestyle of your parents and grandparents actually gives the assessment of the kind of impressions you have inherited which the homoeopath in his language calls “miasms” and can be one of the factors influencing the prescription.

With growing evidence, we now know that the diseases in our body exist in a bigger parameter. The earlier belief the disease is just confined to an organ is not true.

Homoeopathy has always looked at this broad parameter to treat the sick, and even though it has an unconventional outlook it surely is a science that tries to understand you at the deepest level.

Broaden your horizon

Understanding the holstic concept of health can help you in overcoming many chronic disorders like allergies.

Work together

Homoeopaths always require a close cooperation from their patients. The more information you give to your physician about your health, the better are the chances of your disorder being cured?

All in the family

Medical history of your family is equally important and in some chronic disorders it can form the basis for prescription in homoeopathy. Also today if you are what your grandparents ate and how they exercised, your generations too depend upon how you lead your life. So, improve your lifestyle

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IN a given situation, where one finds a hair in a bowl of soup, broadly four different types of human reactions occur. The first flies into a rage and throws the soup at the waiter. The second expresses disgust, shrugs it off, and leaves the restaurant. The third begins crying because bad things always happen to him. The fourth looks at the hair, picks it out and goes on eating. For many it may look like a humorous pantomime but for a skilled homeopath they are typologies – characters that fit into certain remedies.

Remedies, as homeopaths learn to realise them, step forth as personalities. For a homeopath this constellation of “body and mind types” haunts them everywhere they go – restaurants, trains, queues. They become creatures of temperaments – mental or physical. They have likes and dislikes craving and aversions, sensitiveness to meteoric conditions as well as to human interaction. They realise their terrors, real or imaginary – their strange obsessions.

Homeopaths acknowledge certain groupings of bodymind symptom patterns that a person has and which correspond with the sensitivity of a particular homeopathic medicine. The word “symptom” here is most broadly defined as any sensation that is discomforting or that limits a person’s physical or psychological functions. Homeopaths also enquire into factors (which homeopaths call “modalities”) that seem to aggravate or ameliorate these sensations. In addition to prescribing on these factors, a homeopath may utilise information about the person’s body type, temperament and disposition, and behavioural tendencies to determine the appropriate medicine.

There is, for instance, the “phosphorous type,” the “sulphur type”, the “arsenic type,” and the “natrum mur type”. Each of these typologies refers not only to a type of medical problem, for instance, but also to those factors that make it better or worse, other physical symptoms which may be related to it, various past or present symptoms and diseases, food cravings or aversions, sensitivity to temperature and weather, energy levels at varying times of the day.

Over the years many schools of homeopathic practice have come into existence. Some adhere strictly to the original principles laid down by Hahnemann while others have explored different methods of utilising homeopathic remedies Homeopathy is a rigorous discipline that demands both years of immersion and a commitment to its philosophy. Choosing a single remedy that is the most appropriate in any given situation can be very difficult. It depends on the practitioner’s understanding of which symptoms are the most significant.

Through a homoeopath’s viewfinder the set of most distinct, individual symptoms and also that are truly characteristic of the patient, form the basis of “constitutional prescribing”.

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Sinus Problems and Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 81 Comments

Sinusitis and Homeopathy … Dr. Vikas Sharma

THAT a cold is just a simple disease and would pass away without causing any harm is a misconception. Many a times this simple cold gets converted into a chronic disorder. Sinusitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the nasal sinuses-hollow cavities within the cheekbones found around the eyes and behind the nose.

The primary functions of these sinuses are to warm, moisten and filter the air in the nasal cavity. They also play a role in our ability to vocalise certain sounds.

Sinusitis, which is common in winter, may last for months or years if inadequately treated. It can affect the nose, eyes or middle ear, and may be indicated by profuse, thick, coloured nasal drainage, bad-tasting post-nasal drip, cough, head congestion and an accompanying headache. Symptoms may also include a plugged-up nose, a feeling of facial swelling, toothache, constant tiredness, and occasionally fever.

There are two types of sinusitis. Acute sinusitis, is often caused by a bacterial infection and usually develops as a complication five to 10 days after the first symptoms of a respiratory infection such as the common cold.

Then there is chronic sinusitis, which may also be caused by bacterial infection. Although colds are the most common cause for acute sinusitis, those with allergies may also be predisposed to develop this problem.

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To avoid developing sinusitis during a cold or allergy attack, keep your sinuses clear by:

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Curing Nasal Allergies with Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 9 Comments

Allergies with Homeopathy   …. Dr . Vikas Sharma

WITH spring approaching, respiratory allergies are at their peak. hay fever, or allergic rhinitis as it is called, is characterized by bouts of sneezing, watery eyes, excessive thin discharge from the nose and, at times, difficult breathing. Homoeopathic medicines, Allium Cepa, Euphrasia, Sabadilla, and Arsenic Album, are a bunch of the effective ones that are rolled under the sleeves of an expert homeopath.

Symptoms asking for Allium Cepa are characterised by violent sneezing, burning watery discharge from the nose and watery eyes. At times, the problem may start in the left nostril and gradually shift to the right one. The patient feels more comfortable in the open. The symptoms are aggravated in the months of March and April and August.

Euphrasia is asked for when, along with the classical symptoms of hay fever, there is excessive burning and watery discharge from the eyes. The patient finds relief more when he or she is indoors. Many hay-fever patients are oversensitive to strong smell, to the odour of the hay field, to dying vegetable matter; so oversensitive are some patients to the odour of fruit that apples may have to be removed from the house. Such patients require Sabadilla. Another characteristic symptom that indicates its use is its sensitiveness to cold air, a cold room and cold food.

Symptoms indicating the use of Arsenic Album are: profuse watery discharge that burns a red streak over the upper lip and about the wings of the nose, with sneezing. The typical Arsenic patient is anxious, restless and often asthmatic; his worst hour is soon after midnight. If indicated, the 30 c potency of the above-mentioned medicine could be used four times a day during the acute phase. A constitutional treatment aiming at the thorough analyses of the chronicity of the disease is often required to stop the recurrence of attacks. Only a qualified homoeopath should handle such analysis and prescription.

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Sleeplessness and Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 4 Comments

Insomnia and Homeopathic Treatment  Dr.Vikas Sharma

A few decades ago sleep was thought to be an insignificant activity in our daily life. But with recent advances in medical research, we now know that it is an active process and affects our physical and mental health in many ways.

Sleep is extremely essential for our nervous system to work properly. Some experts believe that sleep is more important for our nervous system. Unlike other organs, the nervous system cannot replace the neurons (nerve cells), so it shuts down during sleep and gives neurons (nerve cells) time to repair and remove the byproducts of their cellular activity.

A good sleep is not only defined by the hours one sleeps but by the quality of sleep too. An individual is said to be suffering from insomnia (sleep disorder characterizing inadequate sleep) when one or more of the following are present: difficulty in falling asleep, waking up frequently during the night with difficulty in returning to sleep, waking up too early in the morning, unrefreshing sleep.

Insomnia can be classified as transient (short term), intermittent (on and off) and chronic (constant). Chronic insomnia can result in a combination of physical and mental disorders. Depression is the most common cause, although physical causes such as night pains caused by arthritis, kidney and heart disease, restless legs syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and hyperthyroidism can also be the causative factors for insomnia. In addition, some other factors also have a role in insomnia: excessive caffeine (tea, coffee) intake, taking of alcohol before bedtime, smoking cigarettes before bedtime, disrupted sleep schedules and excessive sleeping in the afternoon. At times it is the worry of having difficulty in sleeping that causes it. Though insomnia is found in both sexes, it seems to be more pronounced in women after menopause. It is also more in the elderly

Treatment

Whereas the conventional system treats this disease by giving drugs to induce artificial sleep, which frequently may cause side-effects or addiction, the homoeopathic approach is totally safe and natural. It treats insomnia by giving a tiny dose of a substance that in large doses may cause sleeplessness in a healthy person. This tiny dose helps in optimising the sleep regulatory mechanism in the body.

Coffea Cruda is a homoeopathic medicine that is most often used for treating insomnia of acute origin. As the name suggests, it is made from coffee beans. It is indicated when insomnia is due to the mind being overcharged by an excessive inflow of thoughts and ideas at the time of sleep. Nux Vomica is more suited when insomnia is due to the abuse of stimulants, e.g. alcohol, coffee, smoking, etc.

Chronic insomnia needs to be treated according to the cause and also evaluated on the constitutional scale. The high efficacy homoeo-treatment for depression needs a special mention as it is the most common cause for chronic insomnia.

Fighting sleeplessness

The underlying cause: The key is to find out what’s causing insomnia so that it can be dealt with directly. Simply making a few changes in the sleep habits helps many people.

Set a schedule: It is important to set a schedule for sleeping. Sleeping and waking according to a set schedule can help in overcoming insomnia.

Relaxation: Make restful activities a part of your bedtime habits. Any activity – such as bathing, reading and music – which relaxes you should be made a bedtime ritual.

Regular exercise: Set a regular exercise schedule, and for maximum benefits exercise 5-6 hours before sleep time.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine: Caffeine drinks – coffee and tea – should be avoided after evening hours. Alcohol and smoking before bedtime should be completely avoided

Wake up with the sun: Make sure that you get up with the sun. Let enough sunlight enter your bedroom in the morning as sunlight helps set the body’s internal biological clock each day.

Don’t lie in the bed awake: If after 30 minutes of lying in the bed you are not able to sleep, it is better that you do something else till you feel sleepy.

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Pigmentation and Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 452 Comments

Protecting our skin from sun
Dr.Vikas Sharma

Come summer, and sun begins to take its toll on Indians, their skin to be precise. As the temperatures soar to 44`B0C in the season, several people complain of skin-related disorders, all caused due to exposure to sun. While an exposure to sun harms people across all age groups, those with highly photosensitive skin and children are most susceptible to skin damage during summers.

The strong rays of the sun are undoubtedly damaging to human skin while its ultra-violet radiation is all the more harmful to us. Cases of dryness of the skin, spotting or pigmentation, itching, more non-painful acne on the face are common ailments people have been complaining about after an exposure to sun. Patients particularly complain of freckles, skin pigmentation, sun tanning, appearance of reddish elevated patches on the exposed parts and lip pigmentation. Photodermatitis is the most often noticed outcome. Photodermatitis is an abnormal skin response to ultraviolet (UV) rays, particularly sunlight. It can be acute or chronic. Signs and symptoms of photodermatitis are itchy bumps, blisters, or raised areas. Lesions that resemble eczema, hyperpigmentation, darkened discoloration compared to one’s normal skin tone, outbreaks in areas of the skin exposed to sunlight, pain, redness and swelling.

 

Who is most at risk? (1) Skin type may influence the likelihood of a photodermatitis reaction. Those with fair to light skin, or those with red or blond hair, and green or blue eyes tend to be most sensitive regardless of their racial or ethnic background. This is categorised as the skin type I. (2) Exposure to UV rays for 30 minutes to several hours increases the risk of photodermatitis. (3) Exposure to UV rays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. also increases the risk of photodermatitis since 50% of UV radiation is emitted during this time.

 

The treatment

 

Today we find ourselves being cautious and protective of everything around us. There are some effective and natural ways to eliminate the worries of summer time. Homoeopathy is one of the safest forms of the first-aid available. It uses a unique approach to health and healing by addressing both the symptoms of the problem and the person concerned. It also has a unique ability to treat chronic as well as acute skin disorders very effectively. Homoeopathic medicines do not suppress these skin conditions but try to treat them from its source, thereby annihilating the disease in totality

Burning sensation on the skin is one of the first symptoms of sun-induced skin disorders and should be attended to at the earliest, lest it manifests into other skin disorders. The initial reddening of the skin might further lead to pigmentation and stay until one takes medication. Homoeopathic medicine Belladonna is very beneficial for treating the initial stages when burning starts. 30 c potency of Belladonna can be used internally three-four times a day when such sun-induced skin disorder starts till a substantial relief has occurred.

If blisters form, then homoeopathic medicine Cantharis 30 c should be used. Sulphur is a very important homoeopathic medicine when skin disorder results from an exposure to sun. It is also very helpful in chronic skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, etc, which aggravate in summers. But for Sulphur to be used in acute and chronic cases of photodermatitis, an evaluation by a professional homoeopath is a must.

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IBS AND HOMEOPATHY

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 215 Comments

Treating IBS with Homeopathy   Dr. Vikas Sharma

If you have frequent bloating of abdomen, recurrent pain in your belly, and if you get loose stools or get constipated very often; then there are good enough chances that you could be suffering from IBS. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the intestines; this means that it does not cause physical changes in your gut, but only affects the functioning of the intestines. Though it is a functional disorder, but it can seriously affect ones quality of life. Homeopathy offers a very effective solution to deal with ibs and can completely eradicate it from the body.

So what exactly is IBS and what causes it? IBS is referred to a condition when one or more of these symptoms are present in an individual. The main symptoms are abdominal pain or cramping, a bloated feeling, Gas (flatulence), Diarrhea or constipation (sometimes alternating with each other) and mucus in the stool .The symptoms in IBS can vary a great deal from an individual to an individual. Mostly IBS affects individual in a mild to moderate way, but in some patients, severity of symptoms can completely jeopardize their day to day life. For most of the people, IBS (when untreated) is a chronic condition although it may vary in intensity from time to time.

Although the cause of IBS is not very clear but it is widely believed that IBS is caused by disturbances in the nerve ending in the wall of the intestines, which control the muscles of the intestinal wall. Under normal circumstances these muscles in the walls of the intestines contract and relax alternatively to push the digested food forwards towards the rectum (terminal part of the intestinal canal). These muscles work in a rhythmic and a coordinated way. But for those who have IBS these muscles start working in an erratic fashion. The muscles may suddenly start contracting in a very strong manner casing the digested food to move out in a very speedily manner leading to diarrhea and cramps. On the other hand if the contractions become slow the bowel movements become constipated. Bloating is thought to be caused by the heightened sensitivity of the intestinal wall. Even small amounts of gas can give a feeling of distension (‘full of gas’ feeling in abdomen) due to the heightened sensitivity when intestinal walls are stretched even slightly by gas.

People suffering from IBS can have their symptoms triggered by external as well as internal factors. External factors are food substances like milk, alcohol eggs carbonated drinks etc. Stress is a major internal factor for triggering and affecting the symptoms of IBS. Trigger factors can hugely vary from an individual to individual.

Homeopathic medicines are very effective in managing and curing IBS. They work by using body’s own restorative abilities to counter the disease thus giving a gentle and a permanent cure .The treatment is best handled by a professional homeopath as choosing the right homeopathic medicine for IBS can be a very challenging job. This is because; homeopathic prescribing in such disorders is dependent upon the physical symptoms as well as the psychological aspect of the patient. Homeopathic medicines that have been found to be most effective in treating IBS are Asafoetida ,Colocynth, Argentum Nitricum ,Nux Vomica , Lycopodium and Carbo Vegetablis .

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Chilblains and Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 15 Comments

Treating chilblains with Homeopathy

image Even the thought of winter for some evokes horrid memories of swollen, painful, itchy fingers and toes. With winters hitting its peak at this time of the year, chilblains and frostbite have already started affecting those prone to it. Timely adequate measures and homeopathic treatment can save them from re-living those horrid memories of frost bitten toes and fingers.

Frostbite and chilblains are injuries due to cold, causing structural and functional disturbances of small blood vessels, nerves and skin. Chilblain is a condition with long-lasting symptoms from mild cold injury. It is an inflammatory disease of the skin of the arms and legs and is triggered by prolonged exposure to cold. The disorder is characterized by painful, itchy skin lesions on the lower legs, hands, toes, feet, ears and the face. The lesions usually last two to three weeks.

[Read more…]

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Psoriasis: Its winter Aggravation and Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 20 Comments

Winters is not a good season for those who suffer from skin ailments, as some skin disorders tend to increase or get triggered during the cold weather. One such skin disorder is Psoriasis. Quite a few of the Patients who suffer from psoriasis have this tendency to develop flare-ups (increase in their symptoms) in winters.These winter flare-ups in psoriasis can range from mild to very severe. For some patients winter is the only time when they suffer from psoriasis, summers can be totally free from any attacks of psoriasis. Homeopathy offers a very effective treatment for eradicating this tendency to develop psoriasis. Not only does it the winter flare-ups, it can very effectively cure psoriasis completely.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder which can last for years together. Although there are many forms of psoriasis, the most common is the Plaque Psoriasis.In this form, Skin lesions are in patches which are red at the base and are covered by silvery scales. Shiny and Silvery scales are typical of psoriasis. This is usually accompanied by itching, soreness, and cracks. It varies in severity from small local patches to complete body coverage. Nails of fingers or toes are also affected.

Psoriasis occurs when immature skin cells from the lower layer of the skin surface move upwards even before they have matured. This leads to the profuse scaling of the skin. Under normal circumstances, the skin cells take about a month to mature, but in psoriasis, it takes just a few days for them to come up to the surface of the skin. Psoriasis has a strong genetic angle to it, about one-third of the cases have a family history of it. Psoriasis is an immune system driven disorder. The ‘t cells’ (one of our body’s defense cells) that are usually responsible for protecting our body against infections, by mistake, start an autoimmune process which leads to inflammation and the rapid production of immature skin cells.

Psoriasis, like much other skin disorder, tends to increase in winters. This is due to the fact that cold weather leads to dry skin. Also in winters, indoor heating arrangements can further rob the skin of the moisture leading to an increase in the symptoms of psoriasis. Hot and sunny climate help the skin to become better and moisturizing the skin can also help.

Homeopathy has an effective solution for psoriasis that aggravates during cold weather.T here are medicines in homeopathy that are there especially for treating winter flare-ups. Not only do they treat the ‘winter increase’ in psoriasis but also help in stopping the recurrence of psoriasis. Homeopathic medicines help in permanently eradicating the disorder from the body. This is possible because homeopathy works by optimizing the defense system of our body, and as Psoriasis is also a result of an overreaction of an immune response, homeopathy cures it by optimizing our defense system. The safety aspect also strengthens the case for homeopathic medicines to be used for treating psoriasis. While using them, the patient is not exposed to the risk of toxicity, as homeopathic medicines are highly diluted and side-effects are very uncommon.

Homeopathic Treatment of Psoriasis

Homeopathy is a natural, safe and effective science that treats skin complaints wonderfully well. Homeopathic medicines remain very successful in treating psoriasis by moderating the overactive immune system. Homeopathic medicines follow a curative approach in treating psoriasis and do not suppress it. In fact, by the time treatment ends, psoriasis is completely eradicated, in its full extent. Top grade Homeopathic medicines in this category are Arsenic Album, Arsenic Iodatum, Graphites, Petroleum and Sulphur. The ideal medicine is selected after an in-depth case study and analysis. Homeopathic medicines start by treating symptoms such as itching and burning in psoriatic lesions. The next step is stop further progression of the disease. In the last phase, Homeopathic medicines heal the psoriatic lesions. Homeopathic medicines have shown remarkable results in all kinds of psoriasis, including psoriatic arthritis.

 Homeopathic Medicines for Psoriasis

Arsenic Album – Effective Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis

Arsenic Album is one of the highly effective Homeopathic medicines for treating psoriasis. Indicative symptoms for use of Arsenic Album include rough patches of skin covered in scales. The patches may be brownish or blackish in colour. Roughness of the skin is very well marked. Burning sensation in eruptions may arise. The skin may be oversensitive. Swelling may also be present on the skin along with dry, patchy eruptions.

Sulphur – Excellent Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis with marked itching

For psoriasis with intense itching in psoriatic lesions, Sulphur is an excellent choice of Homeopathic medicine. Though itching is present throughout the day, it gets worse in during the evening and at night. Another unique symptom to look out for while prescribing Sulphur is that the Itching worsens with warmth. Intense burning on the skin may also be felt. The skin is dry, unhealthy, dirty looking and covered in scales. Also, if psoriasis worsens in damp weather, Sulphur will work best. It is also a good choice of Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis cases that have been suppressed with external applications such as ointments.

Arsenic Iodatum – Wonderful Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis with exfoliation of abundant scales

A highly useful Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis with extreme exfoliation of abundant scales from the skin is Arsenic Iodatum. Beneath the scales, raw red skin is exposed. Dryness of skin with itching may also be present.

Petroleum – Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis set off during the winter

Petroleum is an appropriate choice of Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis that gets triggered during the winter. The skin is dry, hard, rough and very thick. Cracks on the skin may also be present. Bleeding from the cracked skin may be observed. The skin may look dirty. Petroleum is also one of the majorly indicated Homeopathic medicines for psoriasis of the hands and psoriasis arising in skin folds. The affected skin may be very sensitive to touch.

Graphites Naturalis – Top rated Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis of the scalp

Graphites Naturalis is one of the prominently indicated Homeopathic medicines for psoriasis of the scalp. It is useful where the scalp is covered in excessive scales. It is attended with intense itching. The scalp may emit foul odour and the hair may get matted together. Burning sensation on the scalp may arise in hot weather. The psoriatic lesions extend behind the ears. Graphites are also helpful in treating rawness in bends of skin as in the groin, armpits and behind the ears. Graphites also offer help in nail psoriasis. The symptoms for using this medicine in nail psoriasis are – deformed, crumbled, thick and painful nails.

Antimonium Crudum – Best Homeopathic medicine for nail psoriasis

Antimonium Crudum is a very useful Homeopathic medicine for treating nail psoriasis. The person needing Antimonium Crudum has brittle nails. In some cases, the nails grow out of shape. Nail discoloration is also observed. If there is pain under the skin of the nail, Antimonium Crudum is the ideal choice of Homeopathic medicine.

Rhus Tox – Homeopathic medicine for joint pains in psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis

Rhus Tox is one of the best Homeopathic medicines for joint pains arising in psoriasis cases. A person who needs prescribing Rhus Tox will have highly inflamed and painful joints. Joint stiffness will be marked. Warm applications on the affected joints bring relief. Movement, too, provides relief. On the other hand, exposure to cold air worsens joint pains.

Homeopathic Medicines for Psoriasis

Which Homeopathic medicines psoriasis would you rate as the best?

Among the majorly indicated Homeopathic medicines for psoriasis, Arsenic Album and Graphites are an excellent choice. Arsenic Album is very effective homeopathic medicine for psoriasis. Graphites  works wonders for treating skin as well as nail psoriasis.

 I have psoriasis with excessive itching, which Homeopathic medicine should I take?

Homeopathic medicine Sulphur remains highly successful in treating psoriasis attended with intense itching. Extreme burning may also arise in such cases. Do consult a Homeopathic practitioner before you take any medicine.

Please advise a Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis with abundant scale exfoliation?

Homeopathy offers a vast range of medicines for treating psoriasis with excessive scale exfoliation. However, in my clinical practice, Homeopathic medicine Arsenic Iodatum has shown the most wonderful recoveries in such cases. The exfoliation leaves behind a raw, red surface on the skin.

For psoriasis of the scalp, which Homeopathic medicine should I take?

The list is long, but I have found Homeopathic medicine Graphites Naturalis to be extremely useful in treating psoriasis of the scalp. A scalp covered in excessive scales, with itching and in some cases burning, will respond well to Graphites Naturalis.

What is the Homeopathic medicine for psoriasis of Nails?

Graphites Naturalis and Antimonium Crudum are well recognized Homeopathic medicines for nail psoriasis. A person with this condition has discolored, crumbling, brittle, painful nails.

In psoriasis that worsens in winters, which Homeopathic medicine would help?

Topmost on the list of most effective Homeopathic medicines for treating psoriasis cases that worsen during the winter is Petroleum. This Homeopathic medicine has amazing properties and will calm a flare-up and provide relief to the patient.

I have had psoriasis for a long time and now, my joints are inflamed and in pain. Please suggest a Homeopathic medicine.

Inflamed and painful joints in a person suffering from psoriasis refer to a condition called psoriatic arthritis. Homeopathy can definitely treat this condition. In my clinical practice, Rhus Tox has shown great results in cases of psoriatic arthritis. Highly inflamed, painful, swollen and stiff joints in psoriasis are all guiding symptoms for use of Homeopathic medicine Rhus Tox.

 What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a skin disease characterized by well defined red patches covered in silvery white scales. Skin cells normally grow and are shed every 28 to 30 days. In psoriasis, the skin cells start to grow more rapidly, every 3 to 5 days. The skin cannot shed the excessive cells as quickly as they appear on its surface. The result is a build-up of cells on the skin referred to as plaque. The skin lesions in psoriasis may be attended with itching and burning, the intensity varying from case to case. Pain may be present along with itching and burning in psoriatic eruptions. Psoriasis is a disease that runs a remitting and relapsing course, that is to say that there is a phase when the psoriasis gets better, termed as the remitting phase, followed by an active phase, when the psoriasis flares up, termed as the relapsing phase.

How do I know I have psoriasis?

Psoriatic lesions have characteristic in appearance and are easily diagnosed. The presence of dry, red skin lesions with sharply defined borders covered in silvery white scales are well indicative of psoriasis. In case of nail psoriasis, the nails get discolored, deformed, brittle, crippled and may fall out. In a few cases of psoriasis, the joints may get inflamed and become painful. A few skin conditions like ringworm and eczema may look like psoriasis. However, the site of skin lesions, presence of possible triggers and positive family history of psoriasis support diagnosis. In rare cases, skin biopsy is required.

Why does psoriasis occur?

The clear cause of psoriasis is not yet known. However psoriasis is thought to be a disorder of autoimmune origin. Persons with psoriasis suffer an overactive immune system. The overactive immune cells, majorly T cells, cause skin inflammation and trigger the rapid skin cell growth. Psoriasis has a strong hereditary component. A person having a positive family history of psoriasis is at a high risk of suffering the condition.

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

Psoriasis can be easily diagnosed based on the presentation of the skin lesions. In rare cases, a skin biopsy is needed to rule out the type of psoriasis.

Is there only one kind of psoriasis?

No, psoriasis has various types. These are – plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, scalp psoriasis, nail psoriasis and pustular psoriasis. In plaque psoriasis, the skin gets covered in dry spots with a large number of silvery white scales. The major sites for plaque psoriasis are scalp, back, knees and elbows. Guttate psoriasis is characterised by the appearance of small, water droplet-like skin lesions covered in fine scales. Guttate psoriasis is often triggered after a bacterial infection, mainly strep throat infection. The lesions are mainly found on the legs, arms and trunk. Psoriasis lesions that appear in folds of skin – under the breasts, in groin area, armpits for example – are referred to as inverse psoriasis. The skin lesions in inverse psoriasis are in the form of smooth, red inflamed patches. In scalp psoriasis, red, inflamed, itchy lesions covered in thick white scales appear on the scalp. In nail psoriasis, psoriatic lesions arise in the nails, of the fingers or toes. The nail may get discolored, thickening of skin under the nail may arise, pitting on nails may be present and in extreme cases, the nail may crumble and fall out. In pustular psoriasis, pus-filled eruptions arise on the skin that is surrounded by redness and tenderness.

What are the factors that trigger psoriasis?

The various factors that can trigger psoriasis are stress, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, skin trauma and cold weather.

Apart from skin, what are the other sites for psoriasis lesions?

In addition to skin lesions, psoriasis may affect the nails and can lead to inflamed joints. Cases where joints get inflamed are referred to as psoriatic arthritis.

Is psoriasis contagious, can it spread from by touch or other means?

No, psoriasis is not a contagious disease and hence, does not spread from person-to-person contact.

Can stress cause psoriasis?

Stress and psoriasis are interlinked, but stress does not cause psoriasis. Stress plays an important role in triggering a flare-up of psoriasis.

I have had psoriasis for a long time. Now, my joints have started to hurt, why?

If you have had psoriasis for a long time and now your joints are in pain, then there is a good chance you have developed psoriatic arthritis. In approximately 30% of the psoriasis patients, joints may get inflamed and become painful. In psoriatic arthritis, the immune cells start to destroy and inflame the joints due to a misdirected immune response besides the usual rapid cell growth symptoms of the disease. Genetic and environmental factors play an important role in causing psoriatic arthritis.

Can ointments alone treat psoriasis?

Applying ointments may control symptoms like itching and burning in psoriatic lesions, but ointments merely suppress the skin complaint. They will not treat the condition. A curative approach in psoriasis will need to follow proper treatment that aims at moderating the immune system.

Is there a link between psoriasis and vitamin D?

Yes, there is a link between psoriasis and vitamin D. Improving vitamin D levels in psoriasis seems to decrease the severity of psoriasis condition. Vitamin D plays a role in decreasing excessive cell production, and therefore helps treat psoriasis.

rease the severity of psoriasis condition. Vitamin D plays a role in decreasing excessive cell production, and therefore helps treat psoriasis.

Will exposure to sunlight be of help to psoriasis patients?

Yes, evidence suggests that sun exposure helps heal psoriasis, though to a mild degree.

Lifestyle changes can help manage psoriasis better

  • Small changes in lifestyle can help manage psoriasis to a large extent. These measures include:
  • Use mild soap while bathing
  • Avoid bathing with warm water
  • For excessively dry skin, apply coconut oil
  • Quite smoking and alcohol
  • Some sun exposure may help psoriasis while excessive exposure will worsen symptoms
  • Stress management will reduce psoriasis flare-ups

 

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