A Case of Bronchial Asthma Treated with Homeopathy

Introduction

Asthma is defined as chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is characterized by increase in responsiveness of the tracheobronchial tree to a multiplicity of stimuli. It is manifested physiologically by widespread narrowing of air passages, which may relive spontaneously or as a result of therapy, and clinically by paroxysms of dyspnea cough and wheezing.

Asthma is an episodic disease, , with acute exacerbations interspersed with symptom free periods. It is more common in developed countries. Seven percent of people suffer from asthma in U.S. and it causes approximately 421 deaths per year.

Homoeopathy has a definite role in treatment and cure of such cases. Through case study we can find the simillimum and prescribe strictly according to homoeopathic philosophy.

Case details

A 35 year old female, suffering from asthma since last three years. She has taken allopathic treatment without much improvement. She has to use an inhaler daily.

LOCATION

SENSATION

MODALITY

CONCOMITANTS

1) Respiratory

system

Since 3 years

Gradually started

2) GIT

Since 4 year

3) Skin

Dyspnea

Coughing

Suffocation

Constipation

(2 or 3 days)

Gas++

Irritation

itching

<Change of

weather

<Winter

<Dust

<Smoke

> Nebulizer

< Soap

She spontaneously said that she experiences the same type of dyspnea and suffocation when she gets emotionally upset. The incident which affected her most was the death of her grandfather. At that time she was shocked and became hysterical. She wanted to weep but she couldn’t.

The most critical situation in her life was death of her father in law. When he died (because of heart attack) she was alone at home and she was pregnant. She said that she has to control her emotion because of her pregnancy. She is very mild, submissive, sentimental and emotional.

Physical general

Desire – pickles+++, sour food and ice cream

Thirstless++

Past history

Bronchitis

Piles

Menstrual history

Menarche – 13year

Cycle – irregular – every 2 or 3 moth

LMP – 17-5-2015

Duration – 5 days

Flow – sometime profuse or some time scanty

Color – red, no clots

Physical examination

Weight – 45kg

Blood pressure – 122/ 78 mmhg

Respiratory rate – 17/minute

Pulse – 72/minute

Systematic examination

Respiratory system

At present wheezing not heard.

Investigation

X ray chest – chronic bronchitis (p/h)

Diagnosis : Bronchial asthma

Differential diagnosis : Bronchitis

Emphysema

Pneumonia

Bronchiectasis

ANALYSIS OF CASE
Reportorial analysis
Rubrics

MIND: Ailments from grief cry can not (complete repertory. Page 813)

MIND: Ailments from shock (complete repertory – page 1175)

MIND: Ailments from death of parents (complete repertory – page 267)

MIND: Grief silent (complete repertory – page 816)

RESPIRATION: difficult hysterical

GENERAL: Food and drinks desire pickles desire

GENERAL: Food and drinks cold drinks desire

EXTREMITIES : contraction of muscles hysterical

DISEASE : asthma

Reperterisation

Explanation

Initially she said that she had dyspnea while emotionally upset. Here we can see the mind –body connection. One of the most important things in the case is when her grandfather died. She became hysterical. (hg)

She felt shock in a critical situation like the death of her grandfather and death of father in law. So we have to select a remedy which has hysterical behavior, sensitive to death of relatives, tendency to shock.

Now if we take help from the repertory we can see three remedies Ignatia, Nat Mur and Gelsemium emerging.

Ignatia and gelsemium both belong to loganiaceae family.

Nat mur belongs to the mineral kingdom and third row of periodical table. Genius of Nat mur – patient is emotionally vulnerable, reserved, one to one relationship, silent grief and problems in relationship.

Genius of gelsemium – ailments from shock, bed news and gets paralyzed. Genius of ignatia – Emotional, mild, sentimental, silent grief cry cannot, ailments from bad news and death of relatives.

In reperterisation ignatia, nux vomica and gelsemium belong to loganiaceae family.

Now if we study loganiaceae family we see:

A/f shock,

A/f death of parents or relatives,

A/f bed news,

A/f disappointments

THIS IS MAIN THEME OF THIS FAMILY.

Exactness with Materia Medica IGNATIA

Dr Boericke Materia Medica

Mentally, the emotional element is uppermost, and co-ordination of

function is interfered with. It is one of the chief remedies for hysteria.

It is especially adapted to the nervous temperament-women of sensitive, easily excited nature, dark, mild disposition, quick to perceive

Effects of grief and worry.

After shocks, grief, disappointment.

Dr Phatak

Alert, Oversensitive, Nervous.

Highly emotional.

Brooding GRIEF.

GENIOUS

SYSTEM

KINGDOM – Plant (sensitive to death of relatives and

shock reaction is hysterical)

SUBKINGDOM – Loganiaseae

(A/F – Death of realtives, Shock, Hysterical Behavior)

REMEDY – Ignatia

MIASM – Syco – syphilitic

POTENCY – 1M

A/F Shock, A/F Death of relatives,

Silent Grief can’t cry, mild

Sentimental, Brooding, Signing

Silent and sad.Jerking in limbs.

REMEDY – Ignatia 1m

Potency selection
Indication for high Potency – increased susceptibility

Extreme/ exacting similarity between the patient and remedy

Qualified mentals covered well by the remedy

Hypersensitive patient

More characteristics

SYNERGY

Follow up

Date	Symptoms	Prescription
18-6-2015	Full case taken Lmp 17-5-2015	Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 7 days
29-6-2015	No inhaler needed Dyspnea improved Suffocation improved Gas complaints improved Constipation improved	Phytum(tds) for 7 days
8-7-2015	50% improved in all complaints Last night dyspnea so once pump taken	Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 7 days
20-7-2015	Improved in all complaints LMP – 15-7-2015	Phytum(tds) for 15 days
5-8-2015	Improved but constipation since one week	Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 15 days
24-8-2015	Inhaler is not needed Menses appear Lmp – 18-8-2015 Duration – 8 days	Phytum (tds) for 15 days
14-9-2015	Improved	Phytum (tds) for 15 days
30-9-2015	Improved LMP – 20-9-2015	Phytum(tds) for 15 days
26-10-2015	Gastric complaint since last week	Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 30 days
30-11-2015	No change in gastric complaint Inhaler is not needed	Ignatia 1m phytum(tds) for 30 days
28-12-2015	Improved ++ Menses regular	Phytum (tds)30days