Disease Index

Homeopathy for Thalassemia

thalassemia homeopathy medi
Written by Dr. Manish Bhatia

People suffering from thalassemia have abnormal formation of hemoglobin. The faulty red blood cells carry less oxygen than normal, so the oxygen supply to the tissues of the body is reduced. The severity of the disease depends on how many genes are mutated. More than 300,000 babies severely affected with the condition are born each year.

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disease that causes anemia. People suffering from thalassemia have abnormal formation of hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying substance in the blood. Their red blood cells contain only a small amount of hemoglobin, and these cells live for a shorter time than normal red blood cells. The faulty red blood cells carry less oxygen than normal, so the oxygen supply to the tissues of the body is reduced. Hemoglobin for the red blood cells is normally made in the bone marrow.

Thalassemia is a group of disease with an abnormal quantity but not quality of hemoglobin.  α thalassemia is a genetic deficiency of the  α chain of HbA and β thalassemia (Homeopathy Treatment for Beta Thalessemia) is a genetic deficiency in β chain of HbA. Anemia occurs both because of lack of one chain (under hemoglobinization of red cells) and the excess of the other unpaired chain, which aggregates causing lysis of red cells precursors in the marrow.

β thalassemia – the β chain of HbA id located on chromosome 11, and β thalassemia is caused by one of many different point mutations in the gene. Mutations can occur that completely eliminate one or both genes or just reduce the amount of one or both genes.

α thalassemia –  there are four genes that code for α chain, and α thalassemia is caused by whole gene deletions. The severity of the disease depends on how many genes are mutated.

The loss of one gene leads to an asymptomatic carrier state.

The loss of two genes is called α thalassemia trait. Patients are asymptomatic but can potentially pass along a severe thalassemia to their offspring.

The loss of three genes is called Hemoglobin H disease.

The loss of all α chain genes causes hydrops fetalis, a condition that is generally fatal in utero. Hydrops fetalis means “water baby” and refers to a markedly edematous state that occurs when the liver becomes hypoxic and cannot make the plasma proteins necessary to maintain oncotic blood pressure.

Thalassemia major – is the absence or reduced amount of both genes and symptoms are severe.

Thalassemia minor – is the absence of reduced amount of one gene with the other one unaffected. Symptoms are less severe.

Thalassemia is common in people who come from the Mediterranean regions, the Middle East, and Southeast, Asia. If both parents have this condition, their children will have the illness in its most severe from. If only one parent has thalassemia, the children’s condition will be mild. Thalassemia can restrict a child’s development, and in its most severe form it can cause death. More than 300,000 babies severely affected with the condition are born each year.

Patients are treated with regular blood transfusions to keep the level of ordinary hemoglobin high and to provide a good supply of oxygen to their body tissues. These transfusions eventually cause a buildup of iron in the body, and drugs must be taken to help the kidneys excrete more iron. Treatment may include antibiotics to counter infection, and sometimes the spleen is removed.

If a person with severe thalassemia is to survive, he or she will need transfusions of about 25 units of blood per year.

Physiology of Thalassemia

Thalassemias are characterized by the absence or decrease in the synthesis of one of the two constituent globins subunits of a normal hemoglobin molecule. In α-thalassemia, decreased synthesis of α-globulin results in accelerated red cell destruction because of the formation of insoluble Hb inclusion in the mature erythrocyte. The more severe β- thalassemia reflects the extreme insolubility of β- globins, which is present in excess in the red cell because of decreased β- globins synthesis. Studies of RNA metabolism in erythroid cells have suggested that many patients with β-thalassemia have a defect in RNA processing. This defect affects efficient RNA splicing during protein globins synthesis.

Cause of Thalassemia

The thalassemia, syndromes are among the most common genetic diseases in southern China, with the highest prevalence in areas where malaria has been or remains endemic. In Southeast Asia, with a population of approximately 600 million people, the burdens of inherited globins gene disorders in many regions are of such magnitude that they represent a public health concern.

These syndromes are caused by an abnormality in the rate of synthesis of the globins chains. This is in contrast to the true hemoglobinopathies (e.g., Hb S and Hb C) that result from an inherited structural defect in one of the globin chains that produces hemoglobin with abnormal physical or functional characteristics.

Inheritance of thalassemia is autosomal; whether it is autosomal; dominant or recessive is questionable because heterozygotes are not always symptomatic. Globin structural genes are found on chromosomes 11 and 16.

The alpha chain and its embryonic counterpart, the zeta chain, are located on chromosome 16. Two genes on each homologous chromosome, four per diploid cell, specify the α-globins sequence. Only one gene per chromosome, two per diploid cell, specifies most of the non- α chain on chromosome. In terms of the genetic basis of α and β-thalassemia, this represents an important difference.

All thalassemia genes that have been studied to date have been found to contain mutations that directly alter gene structures and subsequently gene function. One of five processes is now believed to be responsible for the genetic defect in thalassemia. These processes are:

  1. A nonsense mutation leading to early termination of the globin chain synthesis.
  2. A mutation in one of the non-coding intervening sequences of the original globin Hjjjchacachain gene, which causes inefficient splicing to mRNA.
  3. A mutation in the promoter area that decreases the rate of gene expression.
  4. A mutation at the termination of the gene that leads to lengthening of the globin chain with additional amino acids; the mRNA becomes unstable and causes a reduction in globin synthesis.
  5. A total or partial depletion of a globin gene, probably as the result of unequal chromosomes crossing over.

Signs and symptoms of Thalassemia

Possible signs and symptoms of thalassemia major (also known as Cooley’s anemia, Mediterranean disease, and erythroblastic anemia) include a healthy neonate at birth, but during the second 6 months of life developing severe anemia, bone abnormalities, failure to thrive, and life threatening complications.

The first sings are pallor, yellow skin and sclera in infant’s ages 3 to 6 month. Later signs and symptoms include Splenomegaly, with abdominal enlargement; frequent infections; bleeding tendencies (especially nosebleeds); and anorexia. Most children with thalassemia major have a small body, a large head (characteristic features), and possible mental retardation. Infants may have features similar to Down syndrome, because of thickened bone at the base of the nose from bone marrow hyperactivity.

Signs and symptoms of thalassemia inter-media include some degree of anemia, jaundice, and Splenomegaly, and possibly signs of hemosiderosis due to increased intestinal absorption of iron.

Thalassemia minor may cause mild anemia but usually produce no symptoms and is commonly overlooked; it should be differentiated from iron deficiency anemia.

Causes of poor growth in β thalassemia major

  • Inadequate transfusion
  • Hypogonadism
  • Decreased growth hormone secretion/hypopituitarism
  • Decreased growth hormone action due to receptor abnormalities
  • Hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus
  • Adrenal hypo secretion
  • Bone disorder
  • Delayed puberty
  • Trace element deficiency
  • Intensive chelation

Complications of thalassemia

Possible complications of thalassemia include pathologic fractures due to expansion of the marrow cavities with thinning of the long bones, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart failure.

Diagnosis of thalassemia

Diagnosis of thalassemia major includes low RBC and hemoglobin levels, microcytosis, and high reticulocyte count. Laboratory tests also reveal elevated bilirubin and urinary and fecal urobilinogen levels.

A low serum folate level reflects increased folate use by hypertrophied bone marrow. A peripheral blood smear reveals target cells, microcytes, pale nucleated RBCs, and marked anisocytosis. Thinning and widening of the marrow. There’s also a granular appearance of bones, of skull and vertebrae, areas of osteoporosis in long bones, and deformed (rectangular or biconvex) phalanges. Significantly increased fetal hemoglobin level and a slightly increased hemoglobin A2 level on quantitative hemoglobin studies are revealed.

Additionally, diagnosis must rule out iron deficiency anemia, which also produces hypochromic microcytic RBCs.

Diagnosis of thalassemia inter-media includes hypochromic microcytic RBCs, significantly increased hemoglobin A2 level, and moderately increased fetal hemoglobin level on quantitative hemoglobin studies.

Treatment of thalassemia

Treatment of thalassemia major is essentially supportive. Infections require prompt treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Folic acid supplements help maintain folic acid levels despite increased requirements.

Transfusions of packed RBCs are administered to increase hemoglobin levels but must be used judiciously to minimize iron overload. Splenectomy and bone marrow transplantation have been tried, but their effectiveness hasn’t been confirmed.

Thalassemia inter-media and thalassemia minor generally don’t require treatment. Iron supplements are contraindicated in all forms of thalassemia.

Homeopathic treatment of thalassemia symptoms

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat thalassemia symptoms but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to cure thalassemia symptoms that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints.  For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following homeopathic remedies which are helpful in the treatment of thalassemia symptoms and increasing hemoglobin:

Carcinosin, Tuberculinum, Silicea, Chininum ars, Chininum sulph, Ferrum met, Natrum mur, Phosphorus, Radium brom, X-Ray and many other medicines.

Thalassemia Cases Cured with Homeopathic Medicine

Leucorrhoea and Thalassemia – by Dr.Jitesh Sharma

 

About the author

Dr. Manish Bhatia

- BHMS, BCA, M.Sc Homeopathy (UK), CICH (Greece), MD (Hom)
- Associate Professor, Organon & Homeopathic Philosophy, SKH Medical College, Jaipur
- Founder Director of Hpathy.com
- Editor, Homeopathy for Everyone
- Co-author - Homeopathy and Mental Health Care: Integrative Practice, Principles and Research
- Author - Lectures on Organon of Medicine vol 1, 2, 3. CCH Approved. (English, German, Bulgarian)
- Awardee - Raja Pajwan Dev Award for Excellence in the Field of Medicine; APJ Abdul Kalam Award for Excellence in Homeopathy Education
- Visit Dr. Bhatia's website

16 Comments

  • I would like to discuss a case of thalassemia. he is given Iodium. thyroid. 1M as intercurrent. Before treatment he had to go for blood tranfusion every fifteen days. at present he received a tranfusion afte a gap of three yrs, that too, as he surrered from Typhoid.

    • Hello Sir,
      Can you please provide me details of that patient who was cured by your homeopathic medicine?
      Is he suffering from Thalassemia major or intermediate??

      And also contact of doctor who saved him from transfusions..

      My son is diagnosed for Thalassemia major a few days before and I haven’t gone and don’t wanna go for transfusion..
      Plz help if I can.

      • Ms praveen if u got the answer and treatment plZ mail me my daughter is also suffering from thallassemia major.

    • I would like to discuss a case of thalassemia. he is given Iodium. thyroid. 1M as intercurrent. Before treatment he had to go for blood tranfusion every fifteen days. at present he received a tranfusion afte a gap of three yrs, that too, as he surrered from Typhoid.

      Reply

  • Recently I have checked my blood and found thalassemia minor. Have any homeopathy medicines permanently relieved this disease?

  • ls there any evidence that Thalasseima (minor) patients are also “bleeders”? Each time my (Chinese) husband has had surgical procedures he has had bleeding problems and has recently begun to have frequent nose bleeds.

  • I am 42 year old suffering for infections in abdomen. many doctors say it is due to gas but recently I know I am a beta thalsemia trait patient. Pls tell me medicines

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