• Symptoms
• Occupational asthma
• Work-related asthma

Symptoms

Asthma is a serious health problem. Thousands of people have to face the challenges of this disease every day.

Symptoms include severe shortness of breath that can stop you from doing the simplest tasks. Imagine not being able to carry your shopping or walk up the stairs or even play with your children. Some sufferers are unable to work again.

Other symptoms include:

• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Chest tightness

The symptoms can develop right after exposure to a workplace substance. But sometimes symptoms appear several hours later, possibly at night. This can make any link with workplace activities unclear.

Other associated conditions are:

• rhinitis (sneezing/runny nose)
• conjunctivitis (itchy and inflamed red eyes).

See what happens to the lungs during an asthma attack!

Occupational asthma

Occupational asthma is an allergic reaction that can occur in some people when they are exposed to substances, for example flour or wood dust in the workplace.

These substances are called 'respiratory sensitisers' or asthmagens. They can cause a change in people’s airways, known as the 'hypersensitive state'.

Not everyone who becomes sensitised goes on to get asthma. But once the lungs become hypersensitive, further exposure to the substance, even at quite low levels, may trigger an attack.

Work-related asthma

Work-related asthma or asthma made worse by work is broader and includes substances in the workplace that irritate the airways of individuals with pre-existing asthma. This includes people who have had asthma since childhood. Respiratory irritants may trigger attacks in those with occupational asthma or pre-existing asthma.

Examples include chlorine, general dust and even cold air.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR ASTHMA.

Homeopathy in the long run is the best option available for patients suffering from asthma.  The homeopathic approach depends upon the longevity of the disease, the time period for which he is undergoing/undergone allopathic treatment, hereditary factors, environmental factors etc.  If the patients is on steroids then it becomes very difficult on the part of homeopath to bring him back only to homeopathy.  In these cases slowly the steroids have to be tapered and simultaneous and judicious use of homeopathic remedies will bring back patient to normalcy.  The more chronic the case the more time is required.

Usually what I have seen in my 28 years of practice is that children suffering initially from recurrent attacks of cold and cough and who are taking antibiotics for these attacks become more vulnerable in future to develop asthma.  So, if these frequent colds are treated with homeopathy, in the initial period itself, will make the child more resistant to these attacks in future.

Also in certain cases skin complains and asthma run parallel or alternate each other.  In these cases if the skin complains are treated with local applications the asthma starts getting worse, while if one treats the asthma the skin complains starts getting worse.  In my opinion the skin complains getting worse is more helpful as the skin being the outermost layer the disease force venting the disease outside is more beneficial in the long run of treatment.   As the asthma starts reducing slowly the skin symptoms usually increase and slowly over a period of time they also start regressing.  The treatment of Asthma requires a highly professional homeopath who will be able to guide the patient step by step over a period of time towards cure. 

The common question posed by the patients is - Can we continue allopathic treatment when one is under homeopathic medication?   

In conditions like bronchial asthma I advise my patients to continue allopathic treatment along with homeopathic medicines till there is remarkable improvement in the symptoms of the patients both subjective and objective.  After this improvement begins and persists for a week or more then slowly the bronco-dilators can be reduced in a phased manner.  This might take quite a time.  Once all the allopathic medication is stopped then the homeopathic medication has to be continued depending on the chronic nature of the illness.  If the patient continue the homeopathic treatment for 5-7 years slowly but surely the asthma almost gets cured in majority of the cases.

Food substances to avoid for patients who have a general tendency for colds and for asthmatic patients:

I usually tell my patients to avoid all cold things both food and drinks

Avoid bananas, guavas, custard apple, curds, butter milk, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

Avoid chocolates and all food items where preservatives are added.  Many a times the preservatives act as allergens and induce the attack of asthma.  Also avoid going into dusty places, avoid dusting or cleaning the house or chambers.  Persons who know of their allergens should avoid them.  Avoid being near to the pet animals like dogs and cats as the hair of these animals can trigger the attack of asthma.

Try to sleep in a well ventilated room.  Avoid stuffy rooms.  If it is not very cold try to keep the windows open of your bed room.  Regular breathing exercises, particularly “pranayam” helps to increase the lung capacity and also to increase ones immunity levels thus overall helping the patient to cope with this disease in a more efficient and better manner. 

ANY TIME DURING THE COURSE OF HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT IF THE PATIENT GETS AN ACUTE EPISODE OF ASTHMA I ADVISE MY PATIENT TO RESORT TO ALLOPATHIC TREATMENT.  THIS IMMEDIATELY CONTROLS THE ACUTE EPISODE.  ONCE CONTROLLED, THEN THE PATIENT CAN CONTINUE WITH THE REGULAR HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT.  DURING THE COURSE THE PATIENT MIGHT GET THESE ASTHMATIC ATTACKS AT FREQUENT INTERVALS BUT SLOWLY AND SURELY THEY START REDUCING IN INTENSITY AND ALSO THE FRQUENCY OF THE ATTACKS REDUCES. 

Common homeopathic medicines which I have found useful in asthmatic cases are

Ars alb, Natrum sulph, Bryonia, Rhus tox, Sulphur, Psorinum, Carbo veg, Kali carb, Kali ars, Ars iod, Pulsatilla, Cup met, etc.  Continue homeopathic treatment only with a professional homeopathic practitioner.