The word asthma has originated from an ancient Greek word meaning panting. Essentially asthma is a chronic inflammation of the air ways (Bronchi) that result in obstruction of air flow.
What happens in Asthma? (Pathogenesis)
There is a decrease in the lumen of the air ways resulting from a two fold response to the allergens and other irritants.
Primarily in a hyper reactive response, the smooth muscles in the airways constrict and narrow excessively. Followed by an inflammatory response where the immune system responds to the allergens by sending white blood cells and other immune factors to the airways. These inflammatory factors cause a swelling of the airways and also an increase in the mucus secretion thus causing symptoms like wheezing, cough and shortness of breath.
Prevalence
Children aged 2-12 years reported higher rates of asthma (15.7%) than adults
aged 16 years and over (10.1%). In males, the prevalence of asthma was highest
among children aged 2-12 years; in females, prevalence was highest among young
adults aged 16-24 years. Asthma is also closely linked to allergies. Most, but
not all, people with asthma have allergies. Children with a family history of
allergy and asthma are more likely to have asthma.
Symptoms of asthma:
The most common symptoms are
Cough
Difficulty in
breathing
Mucus production.
The most important and distressing symptom is
the breathlessness or sense of suffocation, which may be of varying intensity.
Some patients may not have cough or mucus production (expectoration) at
all.
The symptoms of asthma may be
Periodical
(once in a a week to once in a year)
Seasonal (a
few weeks in a year)
Continuous
(all throughout or most of the time).
The symptoms might get triggered by one or more of the
following:
a. Physical
exertion
b. Change in
weather or temperature
c. Infection
d. Mental stress
e. Exposure to
pollution (dust, chemical, pollen, etc.)
f. Without any
apparent reason
Homeopathic treatment:
Homeopathy offers excellent treatment for asthma, which
can do following jobs:
a. Reduce
frequency of asthmatic attacks
b. Reduce
severity of asthmatic attacks
c. Reduce
duration of attacks
d. Reduce need
for bronchodilators, cortisone and antibiotic (in case of infections)
Limitation of homeopathic medicines:
Homeopathy may not easily control acute attacks, which
are better taken care of by conventional medicines.
Recommendation about homeopathy for asthma:
It can be said that those who do not take homeopathy for
asthma are deprived of the wonderful benefits of it. It is very strongly
recommended during all stages.