By Dr Anmol Arora ( Sr Homoeopathic Specialist )

CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

Asthma is the most common serious chronic childhood disease. It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs and airways — the tubes that bring air to the lungs. If your baby has asthma, these airways are irritated and swollen, and produce more mucus which narrows these breathing tubes and can affect his ability to breathe and lead a normal, healthy life. He may breathe rapidly, cough, wheeze, or whistle as his breath is forced through the narrowed airways.

Exposure to allergens such as pollens, or animal dander can trigger or worsen symptoms in some children with asthma. This condition is referred to as allergic asthma. Other possible triggers include cold air, viral infections (such as the common cold), tobacco smoke, and other air pollutants. Some children only get attacks when they have a cold or other upper respiratory infection, while others have an attack after coming into contact with an allergen or with cigarette smoke.

If the child often coughs and wheezes after running or playing etc, he may have what’s called exercise-induced asthma. Asthma in child is common and about 1 to 2 percent of all children get chronic asthma during childhood

Causes of asthma in child:

• As asthma tends to run in families, your child may be affected with asthma.
• The cause of asthma in child is due to the air pollution, animal dander, cockroach droppings and dust mites.
• Exposure to smoke is also an important cause of asthma in child.
• If your child is having infections caused by virus such as cold and flu.
• If there are changes in weather.
• Emotions such as fear, excitement or anger can cause asthma in child.
• Play and exercise, especially in cold weather.

Signs and symptoms of asthma in child:

• Wheezing, which is a whistling sound especially noticeable as your child breathes out.
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• If your child can’t play or exercise normally with other children
• If your child’s sleep is disturbed because of wheezing and coughing
• Chest congestion and tightness
• Frequent respiratory infections

Wheezing may be mild to severe and it can easily heard by you. Your child may appear to breathe normally and quietly to you but your doctor can identify the signs of narrowed airways by listening to the child’s chest with stethoscope.

The wheeze can be easily recognized when your child is breathing out and it is present all the time, after exercise or during a viral infection. The wheezing may be worse frequently at night or in the early morning.

Coughing is the cause of asthma in child and older children may cough thick yellow sputum. The coughing can occur after physical exercise or at night. Sometimes cough can disturb the child’s sleep and the child may wake up often during the night. Due to the cough, child may not participate in the games and sports activities at school.

Tightness in the chest is the cause of asthma in child. Due to this symptom, children often feel tired or may lose their appetite.

Some children may wheeze or cough several times a year along with cold and some may experience the symptoms daily. Some children with asthma never wheezes and five percent of children have only cough as the symptom.

You can learn to recognize the symptoms of asthma in child, as child develop a pattern of symptoms. Special breathing tests can be helpful to assess asthma in older children. But if the child is below six years, the diagnosis should be based on the history of child’s symptoms.

As time passes, you can recognize the early signs and symptoms of asthma. To understand what happens during an asthma attack to your child’s body, you have to understand the symptoms.

Asthma in child can be treated by reducing the symptoms of asthma, severe asthma attacks, and triggers. Asthma in child can be treated by the medications prescribed by the doctor and medications should be given properly on time.

Homoeopathic Treatment  for Asthma

When a person has an asthma attack, the inflammation in the respiratory system makes breathing difficult. Homeopathic treatments usually involve giving the body a miniscule amount of the substance causing the reaction to help the body learn how to cope. Once a homeopath finds the right treatment, patients can find relief. Because treatments are extremely individualized, clinical research in homeopathy is difficult; the same remedy is not the correct remedy for every case of a disease. Homeopathic treatment, however, can be taken in conjunction with prescribed drugs, providing a safe, alternative method for people to cope with asthma.

General Approach –

Homeopathy is the only system of medicine which tries to ‘cure’ this disease, instead of trying to provide symptomatic relief. While dealing with a case of asthma, a homeopath not only records the symptoms of the disease but also studies the medical history, family history, physical and psychological characteristics of a person. This helps to find  the cause, the precipitating factors, and the hereditary tendency etc. Of special interest to a homeopath is the history of suppression of skin disease. Homeopaths believe that when there is a tendency or predisposition for a disease – it first manifests on the less vital organs, towards the periphery (like skin). If this manifestation is suppressed than the disease shifts inwards, towards the more vital organs (like lungs, heart, brain etc).

How Does Homeopathy for Asthma Work

The goal of homeopathic treatment for asthma is to identify the root cause for the attacks, and then to use the bodies own healing processes to transform the triggers into remedies. Asthma is viewed differently in each person, because each person is afflicted in a different way. Factors considered by the homeopath include frequency of attacks, possible allergens and other symptoms. The health of the whole body, not just the respiratory system, is addressed. Ultimately, homeopathy might create a cure for the asthma by strengthening and balancing the immune system.

What Homeopathic Treatments Work for Asthma

When treating an asthmatic patient with homeopathic remedies, great care must be taken to record the exact symptoms experienced during an attack to properly identify the correct remedy.

Popular homeopathic remedies for asthma include:

• Ipecac works well if symptoms are spasmodic; the patient feels a lot of weight and anxiety about the chest; there is sudden wheezing, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of suffocation, which is made worse if the patient moves or is warmed; and the cough creates retching and vomiting. Ipecac might be called for when the cough is continuous and the chest seems full of phlegm, yet nothing is coughed up. The extremities are covered with cold sweat.
• Arsenicum is similar to Ipecac, and is especially useful if the disease is chronic, the patient is older and the labored breathing is habitual and dry. It is used when the attacks occur between midnight and 2 a.m. The patient’s dry wheezing may progress to a cough that brings up frothy, whitish fluid. He or she feels exhausted yet experiences a lot of anguish and restlessness, fearing suffocation if he or she lies down. There is a general sweat, and the person can be thirsty, taking frequent, tiny sips. If the patient falls asleep again, he or she is awakened with soreness and burning pain in the chest and heat in the head. Warmth often brings improvement. Arsenicum follows Ipecac well, and is especially useful in those who are anemic.
• Nux vomica (Nux.v) is helpful when symptoms include a tense, constricted feeling in the lower part of the chest, with pressure in the stomach. The patient finds some relief by belching, and the patient must loosen his or her clothing. Problems are often worse in the morning. It might be useful when gastric disturbances bring on the asthmatic attacks, and during simple spasmodic asthmas. Both mental exertion and physical effort can make symptoms worse, while warmth and sleep often bring relief. Overindulgence in sweets, spicy food, stimulants and alcohol are common. If there is a lot of abdominal irritation and much flatulence, Nux vomica might be combined with Lycopodium and Carbo vegetabilis.
• Kali bichromicum (Kali.bi) might help patients who experience attacks at about 3 or 4 a.m., with a feeling as if there were no air in the chest. The patient feels compelled to sit up to breathe, and bending forward while sitting brings some relief. The patient coughs up stringy yellow mucus.
• Natrum sulphuricum (Nat.s) treats general symptoms including a worsening of asthma when exposed to mold and dampness; attacks occur at about 4 to 5 a.m.; and the patient sits up and holds the chest with the hands while coughing. Wheezing and breathing difficulties are aggravated by exertion. The patient usually also has loose bowels after each attack.
• Antimonium tartaricum (Ant.t), a remedy used by conventional medicine for asthma, can also be used as a homoeopathic treatment for certain symptoms. The keynote for using this option is the presence of fine rattling or crackling sounds in the chest. The chest also seems full of phlegm that the patient cannot cough up. The patient must sit up at about 3 a.m., has great difficulty breathing, and feels suffocated. Antimonium tartaricum is especially suited to young children and the elderly.
• Moschus (Mosch) can assist when the patient experiences intense anxiety and fear combined with a smothering sensation. It suits those of a highly organized, nervous, sensitive temperament.
• Spongia tosta is strongly indicated by a barking cough during an asthma attack. Labored breathing has a sawing sound and little mucus is produced. The person may feel best when leaning forward or when sitting up and tilting the head back. Warm drinks may be helpful. The problems usually begin before midnight while the person is asleep.
• Carbo vegetabilis may be indicated when a person has a hollow sensation in the chest and feels weak or faint. Excessive coughing can lead to gagging. The person may have very cold hands and feet, yet desire moving air. Sitting up and belching offers some relief, as digestive upset and gas are likely. Other indicators are feeling worse from talking, eating or lying down, as well as feeling worse in the evening.
• Chamomilla can be used when the patient has a hard, dry, irritating cough that starts after becoming overexcited and angry or being exposed to moving air. The cough is often worse around 9 p.m. and may continue into the night. The person may be highly irritable and agitated, and acts hypersensitive.
• Pulsatilla is indicated if wheezing starts after a person eats rich food or gets too warm. Tightness in the chest tends to become worse during the evening and at night, and is relieved by fresh, cool air. Coughing with gagging and choking brings up yellow-colored mucus. A person who benefits from this remedy is likely to be emotional and changeable, desiring comfort and attention.

Some other common homeopathic medicines for treating asthma include lachesis, sulphur, ignatia, hepar-sulph , tuberculinum, Blatta , Griendelia ,Yerba santa, Senega and Aviaire,

WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE ? – LIFESTYLE AND ACCESSORY MANAGEMENT

• Avoid the allergen you are sensitive to.
• Do regular light exercise like brisk walking or jogging. Heavy exercise can precipitate an attack of asthma, so always do mild exercise without putting too much strain on your body.
• Learn breathing exercises to improve your lung capacity. Of especial use is ‘pranayam’, a yoga exercise.
• Learn some stress relieving exercises, meditation, or yoga to minimize the psychological factors related to disease.
• Eat healthy, nourishing and well balanced diet.

For Consultation Contact Dr Arora (0 9213949366 ) Or  Mail At dranmolarora@yahoo.co.in

‘HOMOEOPATHY FOR TOTAL , SAFE AND NATURAL CURE WITHOUT ANY SIDE EFFECTS’