Asthma Anhang 2
[Charles Bernaert, N.D.]
Breath
We already know that the skin is intimately connected with all bodily
organs. A striking example is its close relationship to the lungs. The lungs
breathe and so does the skin. Skin and lungs are affected by emotions; they
communicate with the inner and the outer physical world.
Asthma
Sometimes, if we suppress eczema, we activate asthma. Then, when we
'cure' the asthma, eczema may return. Asthma patients don't lack air—their
lungs are full of it; but because their alveoli are constricted they cannot
expel it. Using the analogy of a church organ, if the air is not expelled it
cannot play, and if you hold your breath you cannot sing.
Asthma often begins when children are emotionally smothered, or when
people are not allowed to freely express their emotions. In sudden changes of
life circumstance, fear can sometimes trigger an asthma attack. If we fall into
cold water, what do we do? We hold our breath. When a life situation that we
cannot handle comes too close we hold our breath; we hold, protect our
emotions, and it causes an asthma attack. Breathing is an act of intimacy with
the immediate surrounding world. An asthma attack is actually a cry for help -
I'm stuck, I'm not able to express my feelings and emotions.
Often what is diagnosed as asthma seems to be bronchial asthma caused by
a chronic post-nasal drip. Many children I see that were diagnosed with asthma
and put on steroids actually suffer from post-nasal drip caused by air
pollution. In order to treat this condition we treat the sinuses homeopathically, and the condition will usually clear up.
From my many years of experience with these conditions, I have been able to
formulate some very effective remedies such as Sinus Complex, supported by
Respiratory Complex and Lymphatic. When heavy wheezing appears, Asthma Complex
is indicated. In cases of yellow or green nasal secretion, Infection Complex is
used.
Touch
The skin is a sensor that reacts to emotions and to touch by contracting
and relaxing through the pores and the delicate peripheral blood vessels. That
is actually where we control our body warmth,
by closing or opening pores. Using a loofah,
or better still, a Finnish sauna, activates the function of the skin.
Healthy people have an energy field of about three to four feet around
them. When we meet another person we are intimate within that radius. The way
you feel in your skin as a person will affect this mingling. If you feel
beautiful or loved, the skin is relaxed and radiates; when a negative energy
enters the force field, then we feel uncomfortable.
Touching the skin is an act of intimacy. If I shake your hand, we are
intimate because the energy flows. The Chinese, if they want to hold back, cross
their arms and bow for respect. The Russian "bear hug" is a remnant
of times when a person could tell if you were a good person simply by
embracing. Thus, it is so important for babies to have loving physical contact
with their family. Children that are not held and hugged will later resist
allowing anyone into their space.
Aroma
Allowing the skin to breathe gives a sense of freedom. It needs contact
with the elements. Walking on the beach, your skin in touch with sun and wind,
is a fantastic feeling. The breathing skin is a tremendous exit for toxins or
chemicals, some of which cannot leave the body via the bowels and urinary
tract. If this principle is not clear, a physician might prescribe an ointment
that suppresses
the toxin back into the system. This is a similar process to carbon
dioxide that is not fully expelled from the lungs in asthma.
Perspiration assists the elimination of toxins through the skin.
Antiperspirants suppress this function, diverting those toxins within the body,
for example, to the kidney. Odor is associated with
our physiology, and generally people who are healthy do not smell badly; their odor is only individually different. We relate to some
smells and not to others of course, just as we relate to some flowers more than
others. This discernment can help us find the right applications to enhance the
beauty and the health of the skin, and which will allow it to breathe.
http://ir.dut.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10321/2177/TAK_2000_.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
[Eugene Lawrence Tak]
This study aimed to evaluate the use of homoeopathic remedies, as an
alternative to.allopathic medicines in the management
of asthma.
A double blind.randomised placebo-controlled
design was used in the-trial, 32 patients who were medically diagnosed ~ suffering
from '..atopic asthma took part in the study.
Certain limiting criteria such as. age, smoking, pregnancy were used to
focus the patients into a more homogenous group.
The patients selected for this trial were using only salbutamel;
a bronchodilator, in a metered unit dose inhaler to treat their asthmatic
symptoms.
Limited use of additional medication was allowed, if asthmatic symptoms
were exacerbated during the trial.
Both subjective and objective records were used to .determine the
efficacy of the homoeopathic medications used.'
The subjective data were collected using the Asthma Quality of Life'
Questionnaire (Marks, et al. 1992).
Objective data were collected using daily Peak Expiratory Flow readings,
salbutamol inhaler Pump Usage and Asthma Severity
Scores (Woolcock and Jenkins, 1991).
A two-week "dry" run was- initially performed allowing
the-patients to familiarise themselves with what was- expected of them.
This period also allowed the researcher to rectify any potential
problems, before the actual study took place.
During the study the treatment group was prescribed five Poumon Histamine 15CH pillules to
be taken each morning on waking, five House Dust 30CH pillules
to be taken at bedtime each night.
Once a week, five pillules of a constitutional
remedy in the 15CH potency, chosen out of a possible twelve, was prescribed.
A 50/0 level of significance was used in all cases of analysis.
Statistical differences between the two groups became more significant
as the study progressed.
Notably, the mean asthma pump usage at the end of the study was
significantly lower (P=O.016) for the treatment group (1,74 puffs/daily) as
compared to the placebo group (3,41 puffs/daily).
Inter-group comparison of Asthma
Severity score at the end of the study shows a significant difference in
the scores between the placebo and the treatment group (P=O.019).
The placebo group had a higher mean Asthma Severity score (9,8) compared
to that of the treatment group
Intra-groupcomparison for asthma severity
score showed that there was significant deterioration (P=O..0 1) in Asthma,
Severity scores in the placebo group.
In the treatment group there was an improvement (P=0.100) in Asthma
Severity score.
This study showed that there was significant improvement in asthma, intenus of asthma pump usage and asthma severity in the
treatment group.
The graphs showed a divergent trend with the placebo group deteriorating
and the treatment group improving as the study progressed.
The results derived from this trial were encouraging.
It was recommended that this study be used as the basis for further
studies on the homoeopathic treatment of asthma.
This study needs to be extended, in both the sample size and the length
of the study, before recommendations for its definitive use as an adjunct in
asthma management can be made. (7,1-4).
The placebo group perceived that the severity of their asthma to be
worse than that of the treatment group.
From the beginning of time, breath has been fundamentally important to
all living things.
According to the Holy Bible (Genesis 2: 7), "And the Lord God
formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life; and man became a living soul."
The word asthma is derived from the Greek, and means "to
pant". This describes the shortness of breath associated with this
condition.
Aretaeus in the 2nd century,
already described the rapid noisy breathing of the asthmatic, and also the
anxiety and fear which it induced. (Lane and Storr,
1981: 18-19.)
Jeena, et al. [s.a.] concede
that asthma is one of the most common respiratory complaints.
It affects one in ten children and one in twenty adults. Further more,
they say that asthma cannot be cured as yet, but may be controlled.
This is the case in spite of the fact that asthma is the commonest
chronic disease affecting both adults and children in the developed world (Murcheson, 1995).
"Asthma affects over 100 million people world-wide and creates a
burden in health care costs and lost productivity" (Vine, 1998:107). Gleick (1997) illustrates that the indirect costs of asthma
treatment may almost be as high as the direct medical costs.
In the case of the U.K. it shows that the indirect costs, which relate
to loss due to illness, including absence from work, may be more than the
direct medical costs.
In 1988 the direct medical costs in the U.K. was estimated to be
US$722.5 million, whilst the indirect costs were estimated to be US$1.07
billion.
Drugs may be used to control the symptoms of asthma, but it seems that
the cheaper the drug, the more prevalent the side-effects are.
Theophylline has been used as a bronchodilator
for 45 years and is probably the most commonly prescribed drug for asthma. Theophylline, however, has a low therapeutic index.
(Edinburg, 1998.)
Summers (1992) says that long term use of ~2-agonists are no longer
favoured in some circles, because of increased morbidity and mortality.
This may be a consequence of the fact that regular use of ~ragonists may result in increased airway inflammation, and
the formation of hyper-responsive scar tissue.
An acute condition may then become chronic and irreversible. Edinburg
(1998) even goes as far as to say that repeated, excessive use of ~2-agonists
may result in paradoxical bronchospasm.
According to Edinburg (1998) corticosteroids are used to prevent asthma
attacks.
She lists the Cushingoid appearance, growth
suppression, cataracts and muscle weakness as some of the side-effects
associated with corticosteroid use.
She adds that the toxicity of corticosteroids depends more on the
duration of use, than on the dose.
Gleick (1997) maintains that
bronchodilators and corticosteroids have been available for the control of
asthma for about 20 years.
She also observes that there are limitations: these medications only
suppress the condition, they do not cure it.
Van der Kooy (1999)
says medical costs are rising faster than inflation by a factor of about 16%
per year.
However, according to Halberstadt (1999):
" .... of concern are not those who have medical aid cover, but
those who cannot afford the most basic of asthma medication".
According to Wallace (1986), there are no known acute reactions to the
administration of homoeopathically prepared allergens recorded.
This is further supported by Ernst (1995: 193) who says,
"Homoeopathy is a low-cost, non-toxic system of medicine".
He does, however qualify his statement, by saying that adverse drug
reactions to homoeopathic medicine is rare, but we must weigh the benefits
against the risk when prescribing
any form of treatment.
Kayne (1997: 117) maintains that there is no
evidence that homoeopathic remedies interfere with allopathic medicines. Hence,
homeopathic and allopathic medicines may be complementary.
There is no precise defmition of asthma, but
in older children and adults, it is considered to be a chronic inflammation of
the airways (Paton, 1998).
Newman, et al. (1995: 710) define asthma as "narrowing of the
airways that is reversible over a short period of time, either spontaneously or
as a result of treatment."
This definition emphasises the reversibility of the airway narrowing in
asthma, as opposed to the less reversible narrowing of other respiratory
conditions.
Edwards and Boucher (1991: 376) describe bronchial asthma as paroxysms
of breathlessness, chest tightness and wheezing, resulting from narrowing of
airways.
This, according to them, is as a result of muscle spasm, mucosal
swelling and viscid bronchial secretions.
Kumar, et al. (1997: 395-397) say asthma is a heterogeneous disease,
which has a multitude of triggers.
It can however be divided into two main categories depending on whether
there is an underlying immune disorder or not: namely, extrinsic and intrinsic
asthma.
A. Extrinsic asthma
Exposure to an extrinsic antigen initiates a
type-l hypersensitivity reaction.
This results in the production of
Immunoglobulin E (lgE).
Atopic asthma is the most common type of asthma
and associated with other allergic manifestations.
B. Intrinsic asthma
Here the triggering mechanism is not
immunologically based.
Triggers of intrinsic asthma may also trigger
an asthma attack in a patient suffering from extrinsic asthma.
So the border between intrinsic and extrinsic asthma is not distinct. The
common factor in all forms of asthma is the increased airway reactivity. This
can be demonstrated by the increase sensitivity
of asthmatics to bronchoconstrictors like
histamine and cholinergic agonists.
Atopic asthma like all type-l hypersensitivity reactions, is driven by
sensitisation of CD4+ cells of the class II helper T-cells (TH2) type.
The TH2 cells release cytokines like Interleukin-t (IL-4) and
Interleukin-5 (IL-5).
This favours the synthesis of IgE.
Interleukin-4 stimulates the growth of mast cells, while IL-5 causes growth and
activation of eosinophils.
Direct sub-epithelial vagal stimulation
provokes reflex bronchoconstriction.
Mast cell activation leads to the release of a number of mediators.
The most important being leucotrienes,
prostaglandins, eosinophils and platelet activating
factor.
Platelet activating factor causes platelet aggregation and the release
of mediators from their granules.
These mediators induce broncho-constriction,
oedema and mucus secretion. There is also evidence of bronchial basement
membrane thickening.
Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the smooth muscle cells are also
involved. (Kumar, et al. 1997:395-397.)
It has recently been found that inhaled leucotrienes
cause the classical pathophysiology in atopic
asthmatics.
That is, bronchoconstriction and Atopic asthma
generally effects individuals who readily form 19B antibodies to commonly
encountered allergens.
These allergens are usually organic in origin and include pollen, house
dust mites, feathers, danders and fungal spores.
(Edwards and Boucher, 1991 :376.)
Rusznak (1999) says allergen avoidance is
the basis for the management of all allergic diseases. Exposure of infants to
more than 10mcg of DerpI (a major mite
allergen) per gram of household dust, during infancy is associated with
almost a five-fold risk of developing asthma by the age of eleven. an increased
sensitivity to histamine.
They also cause increase in airway micro-vascular permeability. This
leads to oedema, mucosal thickening and mucus secretion. (Van Schoor, 1999c.)
Evidence indicates that there may be a genetic basis for atopic asthma.
It is widely accepted that asthma is an inheritable disease.
There is an increased prevalence of asthma amongst relatives of
asthmatics as compared to non-asthmatic subjects.
Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the pathogenesis
and development of the disease.
It is hypothesised that a defective~2-adrenergic receptor may be
responsible for asthmatic symptoms.
In 1989 the first evidence of a ß2 relationship between atopy and a specific chromosomal region was found.
(Holloway, et al. 1999.)
Antileukotrienes are the first new class of drugs in
25 years for the asthma management.
They include leucotriene antagonists and
5-lipoxygenase inhibitors.
5-Lipoxygenase inhibitors inhibit enzymes necessary for the conversion
of arachidonic acid into leucotrienes.
Cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs)
are said to be a 1000x more potent as a bronchoconstrictor
compared to histamine.
Leucotriene antagonists are a recent addition
in the fight against asthma in patients over 12 years of age.
When leukotrienes are inhaled by asthmatics,
the classic pathogenesis of asthma is induced.
Zafilukast®, is a new orally active leukotriene receptor antagonist.
It inhibits bronchoconstriction induced by an
allergen challenge, cold air and exercise.
Leucotriene antagonists improve asthma control,
in cases which are poorly controlled by
high doses of cortisones.
Leucotriene antagonists are generally well
tolerated, but side-effects like headaches, nausea and diarrhoea are evident.
They are not suitable for use during breast-feeding or pregnancy.
(Barnes, 1997.)
Barnes (1997) further says that asthma is a
highly complex inflammatory disease process involving many inflammatory
cells, mediators and inflammatory effects.
He further observes that drugs that target only one aspect of this
disease are unlikely to be highly effective.
Seretide®
Is a novel combination of salmeterol and fluticasone propionate for the treatment of asthma.
The.combination of a long acting ß2~ragonist and a
corticosteroid in one inhaler allows the patient to control the symptoms of
asthma for up to 12 hours.
This allows for better patient compliance. (Ehrich,
1998:4.)
Immunotherapy, intravenous theophylline,
sedatives, tranquillisers and chest physiotherapy are labelled as hazardous or
ineffective therapy by Woolcock and Jenkins (1991).
This is especially true for acute asthma attacks.
Mucolytics and ionisers are ineffectual in the
treatment of childhood asthma.
The efficacy of antibiotics is also questioned, since acute attacks of
asthma are often precipitated by viruses.
Antibiotics should only be prescribed in the uncommon situation where a
bacterial super-infection is evident. (Woolcock &
Jenkins, 1991.)
2.5.2
House dust mite reduction
House dust mites, and especially their excrement, are a contributing
factor in allergic asthma.
Tests based on the guanine content of house dust mite excrement have
been developed.
If house dust mites are found to be a problem, they may be removed using
benzlbenzoate based solutions, powder, foam or sprays
(Allergopharma, [s.a.]).
Allergen avoidance is a cost-effective way to control atopic asthma,
however this may disrupt a patient's life style. For example, the patient may
have to get rid of the family
pet. (Morice, 1998.)
Acupuncture, Treatment of Asthma
Acupuncture has been used for over 5000 years (Chang 1976: xvi).
Xinnong (1987:385-387) explains the
different causes of asthma and their treatments according to traditional
Chinese diagnosis.
According to him asthma is of two types.
The excess type is due to exogenous philosophies of medicine depend on
the healing power inherent in the pathogenic factors, whilst the deficiency
type is due to a patient's weakened resistance.
Manning and Vanrenen (1988: 4-9) say that
Chinese medicine and homoeopathy share theoretical and practical links.
Both these body. This inherent power of self-healing depends on an
energy which regulates and vivifies life. Chinese call this energy Chi, in
homoeopathy it is called the Vital
Force.
Manning and Vanrenen (1988:9) referred to this
energy as Bioenergy.
According to them this energy may be manipulated using acupuncture or
homoeopathy to restore the body to health.
2.5.6
Homoeopathic Treatment of Asthma
A study by' Opperman (1997) showed that
homoeopathic medicines were. effective' in the treatment of atopic eczema, Pulmo bovis is a homoeopathic sarcode, which is derived from the lungs
of healthy animals.
It is recommended for the treatment of pulmonary problems such as asthma,
bronchitis and emphysema. (Reckeweg, 1983:352-353.)
In this study a homoeopathically potentised
lung histamine (Histaminum pulmonis)
was used as a homoeopathic antihistamine. In this
context, lung histamine was used as
an isopathic
remedy
(Gaier, 1991: 290).
According to Gaier (1991:290) isopathic remedies are made from the exact product which
shows a causal relationship with the disease.
Histamine is one of the products of mast cell degeneration due to an
antigen-1gE reaction (Murcheson, 1995):.
According to Edwards. and' Boucher (1991:37), histamine causes vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, chemokinesis and bronchoconstriction.
Further; these effects of histamine are responsible for much, of the pathophysiology of atopic asthma.
According to Edwards and' Boucher (1991:37), histamine causes vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, chemokinesis and bronchoconstriction.
Further; these effects of histamine are responsible for much, of the pathophysiology of atopic asthma.
In a small pilot study, subcutaneously injected potentized
histamine was found to increase serum cortisol levels
of patients.
The cortisol levels in one of the patients
remained abnormally high for several months (Ward, 1995).
Krishnamurty (1984} says that asthma is an acute
exacerbation of a chronic disease.
According to Dutta (1984), all chronic
diseases have their origins in the chronic miasms
viz., psora, sycosis and syphylis.
Krishnamurty (1984) goes on to' say that there
are successful homoeopathic practitioners who. Treat asthma using keynote
prescriptions of anti-sycotic remedies.
He further says that, unless the prescription is based on the totality
of symptoms, the disease cannot be cured according to the homoeopathic
definition of the word.
Wallace (1986) used anti-psoric remedies,
constitutional remedies and desensitization remedies. to treat the triad of
asthma, eczema and hayfever.
Skin tests were used to determine the desensitising remedy.
He also says that the above triad of conditions have a very strong
inherited tendency, indicating the psoric miasm.
According to Gaier (1991:103) constitutional
prescribing was: used to simplify homoeopathic diagnostics.
It was used to classify patients
According to, their temperaments, appearance, characteristics and their
variance from normal,
These patients seem to. Respond to
a corresponding-polycrest,
Some homoeopaths condemn the practice of prescribing constitutiona1ly; (GaieE' 19~N:']: OS).,
Hahnemann emphasises, that the totally' of the patient's symptoms, must
be the physician's principle concern (Kanzli et al 1983).
However, according to Gaier (1991:104) constitutional remedies can increase a
patient's vital energy; thus increasing resistance, improving well-being,
prevents.
Relapses and facilitates deteriorated physiological and biological
functions.
According to Casserley (1996) the homoeopathic
responses should be, ill order of importance:constitutional
responses, hereditary predisposition, environmental factors,
infective factors and, triggering factors, Treatment of asthma by means
of allopathic medication results in
a complex disease.
This complex disease arises, according to Hahnnemann
from the addition of an iatrogenic disease to the original' cause of the asthma
(Kunzli eta 1983:,40).
Casserley (.l996) states that the most common constitutional remedies for the
treatments of asthma were:
Ars., Sulph., Phos., Nat-s., Hep., Kali-c., Bry.
Eizayaga, et
al. (1996), did a retrospective evaluation of the homoeopathic treatment of 62 randomly
selected asthma patients.
They found that there was a statistically significant improvement in
their patients.
Their findings confirm the satisfactory, if not surprisingly good
results obtained by homoeopathic physicians.
They divided the patient's symptoms and characteristics into three
groups:
1. symptoms and characteristics of the
attack,
2. fundamental symptoms
3. constitutional features.
The ideal remedy would be that which covered all three groups of
symptoms.
If this was not possible, an initial remedy that suited the
characteristic symptoms of the asthmatic
attack was chosen, to complete the treatment, a remedy covering the second,
and later the third symptom picture was prescribed.
Only one remedy was given at a time. Nosodes
were however sometimes prescribed in addition to a constitutional remedy.
The remedies were frequently changed as: the symptom picture changed, constitutional
combination with the homeopathic similimum, were:effective:
in the.treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis:;
The constitutional remedy was chosen for each patient according to Allen
(1978), using keynotes and characteristics.
Arg-n. Ars. Calc. Lyc. Nat-m. Nat-s. Nux-v.
Phos. Puls. Sep. Sil. Sulph
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum