Disease Index Homeopathy Papers

The Contribution of Homeopathy to Asthma

Written by Robert Medhurst

Asthma can have deadly consequences and in extreme cases should obviously be dealt with as a medical emergency. However, in the majority of instances where symptoms may be treated by other means, homeopathy frequently provides excellent results. For those who fail to respond to the remedy in a reasonable period of time, the services of a competent professional, preferably a homeopath, should be sought.

Asthma can have deadly consequences and in extreme cases should obviously be dealt with as a medical emergency. However, in the majority of instances where symptoms may be treated by other means, homeopathy frequently provides excellent results.

Constitutional treatment aimed at prescribing on the totality of the symptoms is always preferable, but a number of authors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 have found consistently useful outcomes provided by the following remedies. For those who fail to respond to the remedy in a reasonable period of time, the services of a competent professional, preferably a homeopath, should be sought.

Remedy Differentiating Features
Antimonium tart Commonly indicated in children, asthma appears suddenly at night with a suffocating cough and palpitations and the sufferer feels the need to sit upright. Worse from warm weather or being warm, better for motion, belching or lying on the right side
Arsenicum alb The sufferer has periodic attacks of asthma with a burning sensation in the chest, restlessness, anxiety, extreme fatigue and cold sweats. Attacks may be associated with hayfever or emphysema. Symptoms are worse immediately on lying down, from walking or exertion and better for warmth and warm food.
Arsenicum iod Occasional bouts of asthma that force the sufferer to sit up to breathe, with exhaustion and a burning in the chest. Worse for dry, cold weather or exertion, better for open air.
Bromine Asthma with a sensation of exhaustion and weakness in the chest with difficulty getting air into the lungs. Worse at or near the seashore, warmth or drafts, better for motion or exercise.
Carbo veg Frequently useful in the elderly, this remedy may be indicated where there is an association with gas in the stomach. The sufferer experiences cyanosis, a coldness to the skin and extreme dyspnoea. Worse for sitting or lying down, better for eructation and walking.
Cuprum metallicum Characterised by suddenly occurring spasmodic attacks often arising from emotional disturbances or fright, with facial cyanosis. Hiccoughs often occur before asthma attacks. Worse from motion, menses, touch and pressure, better for drinking cold water.
Ipecac Spasmodic asthma with wheezing, loose cough, a feeling of tightness in the chest, nausea, anxiety, perspiration and restlessness. Worse from motion or warm, humid air, better for open air, rest and pressure.
Kali carb May be indicated by the appearance of wheezing asthmatic attacks frequently occurring just after midnight or around 3 a.m. Worse from walking, cold air or change of weather, better for leaning forward, warm weather and motion.
Lachesis Asthma attacks usually occur on falling asleep or when wrapped too tightly around the throat. Symptoms improve on coughing up phlegm. Worse during and after sleep, hot drinks and during menopause and better for open air and cold drinks.
Lobelia inflata Asthma with often brought on by exercise and preceded with a feeling of prickling over the skin, with nausea and profuse salivation. Worse from exertion, warm food, exposure to cold, better for rapid walking.
Natrum sulph Asthma that often has a familial basis, and may be associated with a rheumatic complaint and occurs during wet weather. It is accompanied by a loose cough producing thick white or greenish mucus. Diarrhoea often arises during or after each attack. Worse for damp weather and lying on the left side, better for open air and lying on the back.
Nux vom Asthma often arises from gastric disturbances, the sufferer is frequently nauseous, flatulent, irritable and constipated and has a yellow-coated tongue. Symptoms are worse after midnight or early morning, and worse for cold or exertion. Better after belching, damp, wet weather, lying on the back, changing sides or sitting up.
Sulphur Asthma often associated with skin disease, or suppression of skin diseases, it occurs from a recurrent cough and produces an expectoration of thick offensive sputum. Worse for bathing and overheating, better for standing and dry, warm weather.

Bibliography

1. Dooley, T.R,  Asthma on the rise- Homeopathy can help, Homeopathy Today, 2002, November, 6-7.

2. Hunton, M, Asthma- What homoeopathy can offer, Health and Homoeopathy, Summer, 1994, 9-11.

3. Rai Bahadur Bishambur Das Select Your Remedy, 14th ed, may 1992, B Jain, New Delhi, India

4. Clarke Dr JH, A Clinical Repertory to the Dictionary of the Materia Medica, Health Sciences Press, England, 1979 ISBN 0 85032 061 5.

5. Dewey Dr WA, Practical Homoeopathic Therapeutics, 2nd Edition, B Jain, New Delhi, 1991 . 8. Bouko Levy MD Dr Michael M. Homeopathic and Drainage Repertory, Editions Similia, France, 1992, ISBN-2-904928-70-7.

6. Raue MD, CG, 4th Edition, Special Pathology and Diagnostics with Therapeutic Hints, 1896 (B Jain, New Delhi).

7. Kalvin B Knerr, Repertory of Hering’s Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica. (1997, B Jain, New Delhi).

8. Samuel Lilienthal, Homoeopathic Therapeutics, 3rd edition, 1890, Indian Books and Periodicals.

About the author

Robert Medhurst

Robert Medhurst BNat DHom DBM DRM DNutr is an Australian Naturopath & Homeopath with 40 years of clinical experience. He has written many articles and lectured on homeopathy throughout Australia and the U.S. Robert previously set up and operated 5 natural therapies practices in Sydney and Adelaide and was involved in teaching and medical research. He was formerly the Expert Advisor on Homeopathy to the Federal Government of Australia, Dept. of Health & Ageing. He specialises in homeopathy and is the author of The Business of Healing, the definitive guide for clinical practice establishment and management, as well as The Concordant Clinical Homeopathic Repertory. For more information see adelaidehillsnaturopath.com.au.

7 Comments

  • Dear sir,
    I have read your article,very much helpfull for the practitioner.But one thing I should suggest that during the discussion of therapeutics of acute disease potency should be mentioned.Because in my several years practice I have seen one particular medicine acts better in a particular part in a particular potency.I am very much eager to publish a report regarding this shortly through your esteemed journal.

  • Very informative article. This should ome handy to asthma patients who can diagnos their own ailments. I thank th author.
    Vijay Rajurs

  • DEAR DR,
    YOU HAVE MENTIONED VERY GOOD MEDICINES FOR ASTHAMA. I THINK THAT IT WAS NEVER CLAIMED THAT ASTHMA IS FULLY CUREABLE. IN ONE ARTICLE OF DR RAMAN IT WAS STATED THAT HE HAS FULLY CURED MANY PATIENTS OF ASTHMA WITH THREE REMEDIES
    1.LOBELA Q
    2 PASSIFLORA INN Q
    3.SENEGA Q , ALL MIXED AND GIVEN 4 TIMES A DAY–PERMANANTLY CURED ASTHMA
    PL TRY AND LET US ALL KNOW YOUR EXPERIRNCE
    DR SHEKHAR

    • Dear Doctor
      can yougive me some information about the cure of asthma with the mix of Lobelia, Passiflora and Senega?
      Which diluition?
      I’m a italian homeopathic doctor, since 1990, i have studied with george vithoulkas, and now I have many difficulties to cure a case of bronchial asthma of 13 years old boy.
      thanks
      my e-mail is : [email protected]

      Massimo Zurria

  • A very nice guide to understand the symptomatology concerned with Asthma. Inclusion of dose and potency will help the doctors much. I earnestly thank the author.

  • Sir
    Homeopathy medicine for asthma is definitely challenging one but symptoms and selection of dosage with potency is varying for acute and chronic . As far as iam concerned Arsenicum album is doing very good result.

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