A breath of fresh air, clear of all impurities, is what a man needs for his well being. Where can we get this breath of fresh air today? Along with the air we take in, come loads of viruses, pollutants and other impurities of the surroundings which harm our system slowly and a stage comes when it damages our lungs so much that we are left with days of agony and discomfort. Thus we become aware of the word “Bronchitis”. Let us tell you what this so commonly heard and used term actually means. Bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the air passages within the lungs. It occurs when the trachea (windpipe) and the large and small bronchi (airways) within the lungs become inflamed because of infection or irritation from certain causes.

Causes of Bronchitis

Bronchitis occurs most often during the cold and wet seasons and is usually coupled with an upper respiratory infection.

Several viruses cause bronchitis, including influenza A and B, commonly referred to as “the flu.”

A number of bacteria are also known to cause bronchitis, such as Mycoplasma pneumonia, which causes so-called “walking pneumonia.”

Bronchitis also occurs when a person inhales irritating fumes or dust, Chemical solvents and smoke, including tobacco smoke.

Elderly people, people with weakened immune system, smokers and anyone who is repeatedly exposed to irritant fumes or lung irritants are more susceptible to bronchitis.

If the cause of the bronchitis is viral or bacterial, it can be contagious. If the cause of the bronchitis is due to smoking, air pollution, or other inhaled irritants, it is not contagious.

Symptoms of Bronchitis

Bronchitis describes a group of symptoms (including airway inflammation, over-production of phlegm, cough).

Acute bronchitis most commonly occurs after an upper respiratory infection such as the common cold or a sinus infection. The affected persons have symptoms such as fever with chills, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and sore throat.

The mucous lining of the airways becomes irritated and swollen causing the cells to leak fluid in response to the inflammation.

Coughing is a reflex symptom which comes up to clear the secretions from the lungs.

The cough lasts for more than 2 weeks. Continued forceful coughing make the chest and abdominal muscles sore. Coughing can be severe enough at times to injure the chest wall or even cause a person to faint.

Wheezing occurs because of the muscular tightness and inflammation of the airway leaving the affected individual short of breath.

Asthmatic bronchitis occurs when asthma and bronchitis coexist. Asthma is an inflammatory airway condition that leads to tightening of the muscles around the airways and swelling, both of which cause the airways to narrow. In combination with the inflammation of the inner lining of the airways and mucus production it leads to severe wheezing and shortness of breath.

Infants usually get bronchiolitis, which involves the smaller airways and causes symptoms similar to asthma.

Homeopathy in Bronchitis

Homeopathy gives fantastic results in all stages and types of Bronchitis. These are the patients who are frequently seen by a homeopath in his or her daily practice.

In cases of Acute Bronchitis the duration of illness is reduced to a great extent and the need for resorting to antibiotics is eliminated. Toxicity to the patient is much less with homeopathic treatment.

In Chronic Bronchitis, homeopathy brings about lasting relief to the patient by boosting his immune system to fight against the triggering allergens and controls the underlying tendencies to catch the cold easily.

We have amazing medicines like Antim tart and Ipecac to immediately give relief from the productive coughing episodes

Deep acting intercurrent medicines like Tuberculinum and Silicea help in lowering the tendencies to catch the infection repeatedly and give an immunity boost to the patient.

Since these medicines are safe and have no side effects they are suited to patients of all age groups without the fear of any toxicity.

Homeopathic treatment clears up the infection, relieves inflammation of the air passages, the discomfort, pain and pressure caused by coughing, opens the airways in your lungs and help in loosening the bronchial secretions making elimination of mucus easier thus enabling every patient to breathe better and naturally.

Few tips for Self Care

• Stop smoking and also avoid taking in passive smoke.

• Avoid triggers of attack such as dust, allergens, etc.

• Wash your hands more often.

• Get lots of rest so your body has enough energy to fight the infection.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Try coughing up the mucus.

• Eat a healthy diet.

• Use a humidifier if required in your room.

• ½ tsp. of Turmeric powder in ½ cup of warm milk is an effective home remedy for Bronchitis

• 1 tsp. of raw onion juice in the morning has beneficial expectorant properties, it liquefies the mucus and prevents its further formation.

• Include garlic in your diet, it is a natural antibiotic.

• Vitamin C intake like fresh orange juice or fresh lemonade is very helpful in preventing and hastening cure of respiratory infections.

• Fresh air and outdoor exercises are essential for Bronchitis patients.

Treatment of bronchitis can differ depending on the suspected cause.

• Medications to help suppress the cough or loosen and clear secretions may be helpful. If the patient has severe coughing spells they cannot control, see the doctor for prescription strength cough suppressants. In some cases only these stronger cough suppressants can stop a vicious cycle of coughing leading to more irritation of the bronchial tubes, which in turn causes more coughing.

• Bronchodilator inhalers will help open airways and decrease wheezing.

• Though antibiotics play a limited role in treating bronchitis, they become necessary in some situations.

• In particular, if the doctor suspects a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.

• People with chronic lung problems also usually are treated with antibiotics.

• In rare cases, the patient may be hospitalized if they experience breathing difficulty that doesn’t respond to treatment. This usually occurs because of a complication of bronchitis, not bronchitis itself.

• Stop smoking.

• The dangers of secondhand smoke are well documented. Children should never be exposed to secondhand smoke inside the home.

• Avoid exposure to irritants. Proper protection in the workplace is vital to preventing exposure.

• Avoiding long exposure to air pollution from heavy traffic may help prevent bronchitis.

Nearly all cases of acute bronchitis clear up completely over time.

• In the case of bronchitis caused by exposure to respiratory irritants, all the person may need to do is keep away from the cause of irritation.

• Smoking cessation is recommended to prevent development of chronic bronchitis or other chronic lung disease such as emphysema. Chronic bronchitis, as its name suggests, can cause symptoms for prolonged periods and lead to other debilitating lung conditions.

It is very rightly said that when we own our breathe nobody can steal our peace. We all need to breathe…it’s after all the secret of Life, hence imagine the state of a person when every breathe for him or her is an effort & a moment of fight for survival. Now what exactly is the condition which causes a person difficulty in breathing & the most commonly heard condition is called Asthma. Asthma is a disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

Causes, Incidence and Risk Factors

Asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways become tight and the lining of the air passages swells. This reduces the amount of air that can pass by. In sensitive people, asthma symptoms are triggered by breathing in allergy-causing substances (called allergens or triggers). Common Asthma triggers include: Animals (pet hair or dander) Dust Changes in weather (most often cold weather) Chemicals in the air or in food Exercise Mold Pollen Respiratory infections, such as the common cold Strong emotions (stress) Tobacco smoke Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) provoke asthma in some patients. Many people with asthma have a personal or family history of allergies, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or eczema.

Symptoms

Most people with asthma have attacks separated by symptom-free periods. Some people have long-term shortness of breath with episodes of increased shortness of breath. Either wheezing or a cough may be the main symptom. Asthma attacks can last for minutes to days, and can become dangerous if the airflow is severely restricted.

Symptoms include: Cough with or without sputum (phlegm) production. Pulling in of the skin between the ribs when breathing. Shortness of breath that gets worse with exercise or activity

Wheezing,Which:

Comes in episodes with symptom-free periods in between.

May be worse at night or in early morning

May go away on its own

Gets better when using drugs that open the airways (bronchodilators)

Gets worse when breathing in cold air.

Gets worse with exercise

Gets worse with heartburn (reflux)

Usually begins suddenly

Emergency symptoms:

Bluish color to the lips and face.

Decreased level of alertness, such as severe drowsiness or confusion, during an asthma attack.

Extreme difficulty in breathing.

Rapid pulse.

Severe anxiety due to shortness of breath.

Sweating.

Other Symptoms that may Occur with this Disease:

Abnormal breathing pattern –breathing out takes more than twice as long as breathing in.

Breathing temporarily stops.

Chest pain.

Tightness in the chest.

Prevention

You can reduce asthma symptoms by avoiding known triggers and substances that irritate the airways. Remove carpets from bedrooms and vacuum regularly. Use only unscented detergents and cleaning materials in the home. Keep humidity levels low and fix leaks to reduce the growth of organisms such as mold. Keep the house clean and keep food in containers and out of bedrooms — this helps reduce the possibility of cockroaches, which trigger asthma attacks in some people. If a person is allergic to an animal that cannot be removed from the home, the animal should be kept out of the bedroom. Place filtering material over the heating outlets to trap animal dander. Eliminate tobacco smoke from the home. This is the single most important thing a family must do to help a child with asthma. Smoking outside the house is not enough. Family members and visitors who smoke outside carry smoke residue inside on their clothes and hair – this too triggers asthma symptoms. Persons with asthma should also avoid air pollution, industrial dusts, and other irritating fumes as much as possible.

Asthma – Homeopathy Treatment Homeopathy is the system of medicine which tries to ‘cure’ this disease, instead of trying to provide symptomatic relief. While dealing with a case of asthma, a homeopath not only records the symptoms of the disease but also studies the medical history, family history, physical and psychological characteristics of a person. This helps to find the cause, the precipitating factors,the hereditary tendency or is there a history of suppression of skin disease. Homeopaths believe that when there is a tendency or predisposition for a disease – it first manifests on the less vital organs, towards the periphery (like skin). If this manifestation is suppressed than the disease shifts inwards, towards the more vital organs (like lungs, heart, brain etc).   Once the symptoms are ascertained the selection of the suitable homeopathic medicine. In almost 80% cases the asthma patient gets relief from their acute distress phase & they are saved from the side effects of strong medications & steroids.   It is sometimes observed that when a right homeopathic medicine is given, the asthma disappears but the old eczema (if it was there originally) reappears for some time, before finally disappearing itself. This reappearance of old symptoms is seen as a reversal of disease process and is considered a very good prognostic sign by homeopaths   Some of the wonder Homeopathic medicines like Arsenic alb, Spongia, Natrum sulph, Antim tart & many more bring relief in many cases of asthma but it is the finesse of an experienced homeopath who with their experience are able to arrive at the right medicine & give relief to the patient.   MEDICINES – There are lots of medicines in homeopathy for asthma and it is not possible to list them all here. Some of the common medicines are ars-alb, ipecac, lachesis, pulsatilla, spongia, sulphur, ignatia, antim-tart, hepar-sulph, nat-sulph, tuberculinum etc. The selection of medicine varies from patient to patient.

It is quite surprising and also to some extent alarming to see many people suffer from repeated cold and flu like symptoms and the word Sinusitis is commonly used for such cases. To understand what sinusitis is we must first know what Sinuses are. Let us give you an insight on this in the simplest form we can, so that you may know if you are suffering from it, and what is the best way to treat this disease.

Sinuses are hollow, air-filled cavities that are in the skull and connected to the nasal airway by a narrow hole in the bone called Ostium.

Humans have four pair of these cavities:

• Frontal sinus (in forehead)

• Maxillary sinus (behind cheeks)

• Ethmoid sinus (between the eyes)

• Sphenoid sinus (deep behind the ethmoids)

The four pair of sinuses are often described as a unit and termed the “Paranasal Sinuses”. Functions of the sinuses include humidifying and warming inspired air, insulation of surrounding structures (eyes, nerves), increasing voice resonance, and buffers against facial trauma. The sinuses decrease the weight of the skull. Sinusitis is inflammation of any of these sinuses. A sinus infection occurs when a pathogenic microorganism (virus, bacterium, or a fungus) grows within a sinus and causes intermittent blockage of the sinus ostium. Drainage of mucus and pus often occur when the blockage is relieved. The drainage usually goes from the nasal passages to the throat or out the nostrils. Inflammation of the air cavities within the passages of the nose is referred to as sinusitis which as we said is usually caused by infection but can also be caused by allergy and irritation of the sinuses.

Causes of Sinus Infections

• Sinus infection may be caused by anything that interferes with airflow into the sinuses and the drainage of mucus out of the sinuses like by some infections from a pathogenic microorganism (virus, bacterium, or fungus), which grows within a sinus and causes intermittent blockage of the sinus ostium.

• Sinusitis may be classified in several ways such as acute sinus infection, sub-acute sinus infection, chronic sinus infection, infected sinusitis, and noninfectious sinusitis.

• The sinus openings (ostea) may be blocked by swelling of the tissue lining and adjacent nasal passage tissue due to common colds, allergies, and tissue irritants such as OTC nasal sprays, cocaine, and cigarette smoke. Sinuses can also become blocked by tumors or growths that are near the sinus openings.

• The drainage of mucous from the sinuses can also be impaired by thickening of the mucous secretions, by decrease in hydration or water content of the mucous brought on by certain diseases like cystic fibrosis, drying medications (antihistamines), and lack of sufficient humidity in the air.

• Sinusitis commonly occurs when environmental pollens irritate the nasal passages, such as with hay fever.

Types of Sinusitis

Sinusitis may be classified in several ways, based on the time span of the problem (acute, subacute, or chronic) and the type of inflammation (either infectious or noninfectious).

• Acute Sinus Infection is usually defined as being of less than 30 days duration.

• Sub Acute Sinus Infection as being over 1 month but less than 3 months.

• Chronic Sinus Infection as being greater than 3 months duration.

• Infected Sinusitis usually is caused by uncomplicated virus infection. Sub acute and chronic forms of sinus infection usually are the result of incomplete treatment of an acute sinus infection.

• Noninfectious Sinusitis is caused by irritants and allergic conditions and follows the same general time line for acute, sub acute and chronic as infectious sinusitis.

Symptoms and Signs of Sinusitis

Commonly the symptoms of sinus infection are:

• Headache.

• Facial tenderness with pressure and pain.

• Fever mostly associated with acute infection.

• Cloudy or a discolored nasal discharge.

• A feeling of nasal stuffiness.

• Sore throat and cough.

• Reduced sense of smell and taste.

• Occasionally toothache and jaw pain, neck stiffness and fatigue due to infection.

• In certain fungal infections people may also experience ear pain and foul smelling breath.

• In non infectious sinusitis or allergy related infections sneezing and itching of eyes may also be experienced by the patients.

Homeopathic Treatment of Sinusitis

Imagine the torture the patient must be going through with pain in the whole skull which can be sensitive to even slightest touch and the person feels as if his eyes are going to come out of their sockets. Yes this is how the patient is agonized by his symptoms. Initially a patient resorts to antibiotics, nasal sprays, decongestants, expectorants and humidifiers but all this does not give any permanent relief and the episodes of such attacks keep recurring and moreover the side effects of the medicines are also taking their toll on the person. Hence when the patient is told that surgical intervention is required than he is often compelled to look for other alternatives.

• A Homeopath treats sinusitis by eradicating the allergic tendency or recurring tendency in the patient and enhancing the immunity of the patient by treating them with a constitutional medicine.

• Acute symptoms are effectively covered by many medicines like Kali Bich and Hydrastis which help the patient to get immediate relief from symptoms like stuffy nose and head heaviness.

• Homeopathic remedies facilitate drainage of mucus relieving sinus congestion, reduces inflammation in the sinuses, relieve pain and pressure by clearing the infection. It also prevents the formation of scar tissue and avoids permanent damage to the tissues lining the nose and sinuses.

• Homeopathic treatment helps in improving the immunity and vitality of the sinusitis patients preventing them from succumbing to repeated infections. Over the period of time attacks of sinusitis lessen down and patient is much relieved of the complaints.

• The patient when under an able homeopath continues the treatment religiously he or she is completely cured of the complaints and is saved from the side effects of strong antibiotics and the trauma of surgery

In today’s environment of stress and pollution every individual’s life is affected by these hazardous factors and the most gullible ones are the little children. Imagine the stress on the parents from the day their child is born wherein their already busy schedules they are juggling with frequent visits to the hospitals and clinics for the unmanageable and repeated episodes of cold, cough and ultimately following chest infections. Let us deal with the most common condition which is the root of these maladies.

Adenoids and Tonsils are a collection of lymph tissues which protect the body by trapping harmful bacteria and viruses that one breathes in or swallows. They are located on both the sides of the throat and nasopharynx.

The adenoids and tonsils get enlarged when they get infected with bacteria or when the body may overreact to an allergen causing infection and inflammation. Mostly they return back to their original size once the infection is over, however in some cases they tend to remain enlarged when infections are frequent or chronic.

Although some amount of enlargement is considered normal in preschool kids but when grossly enlarged, tonsils and adenoids cause certain ailments.

Symptoms

• The most common ailments are frequent sore throats, chronic ear infections, nose bleed and hearing loss due to obstruction of the Eustachian tube and accumulation of fluid in middle ear.

• Enlarged adenoids give a typical “pinched nose” quality to the voice. The child presents with sore and painful throat, drooling of saliva and sometimes fever.

• They also affect the shape of the child’s palate and the teeth causing gaps in front teeth and unhealthy gums, bad breath, cracked lips and dry mouth and snoring.

• Child also present with persistent runny nose or nasal congestion.

• Major fallout of the enlarged adenoids is that the child may have difficulty in breathing during sleep leading to a condition called as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is condition in which along with snoring the child goes through brief periods of pauses in breathing during sleep. This in turn leads to low oxygen levels with daytime sleepiness.

The Homeopathic Approach

• Homeopathy offers a very safe and effective way to cure enlarged adenoids and tonsils saving the little ones from the surgeon’s knife.

• Homeopathic philosophy has always stood by the view that whenever possible the tonsils and adenoids should be saved as they are an important defense tissue of our body and provide the children with the much required Immunity. Our treatment has proved beneficial unless and until it is purely a surgical case, which is only in 2-5 % cases in total. After removal a majority of the cases have symptoms like nose obstruction, mouth breathing and repeated upper respiratory infections which do not improve and there are chances that this infection may travel to sinuses and brain as the defense check post is lost.

• Homeopathic medicines are capable of treating and handling the acute infection and also the septic pockets which are formed in chronic cases.

• The treatment of enlarged tonsils and adenoids with homeopathy has two stages: (1) Acute stage with symptoms of fever, acute throat and ear ache, loss of appetite, congestion, vomiting and general discomfort and irritability needs to be treated with fast acting medicines like Belladonna, Merc iod flavus in frequent doses, thus minimizing the visits to allopathic doctors and consumption of antibiotics. In children who develop septic leisions Heparsulph and Lachesis can be administered and they can be treated successfully at home. (2) In chronic stages deep-acting medicines are capable of treating the constitutional tendencies of the child and bring about lasting results as seen with patients given Baryta carb, Thuja, reducing the frequency of acute episodes. Hard and indurate adenoids and tonsils are tackled by Calcarea flour, Calcarea iod and Baryta Mur. Precisely indicated remedies are there with us to take care of other complications and concomitant symptoms arising from inflamed tonsils and adenoids. For e.g. Deafness (Staphysagria), Foul mouth breath (Baptisia, Lachesis), snoring (China) and nasal voice (Kali Bichrom).

• Over the period of last few years at least 300 to 400 cases of Acute and Chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis have been treated by us.

• Continuous treatment along with immune boosting medicines gives the children a better quality of life saving them from the effects of strong antibiotics and frequent hospitalizations thereby making sure that foundation years of a child are healthy and disease free, giving them a platform for a healthy adult life.