Research - Asthma
Individualized homeopathy in a group of Egyptian asthmatic children.
Shafei HF, Abdeldayem SM, Mohamed NH.
SourceComplementary and Alternative Medicine Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate homeopathy as an adjunctive treatment for bronchial asthma in children.
METHODS: In a prospective observational longitudinal study the effects of individualised homeopathic medicines were assessed in 30 children with asthma as an adjunct to conventional treatment. The main outcome measures were frequency of attacks, use of medication, night awakening and spirometry at baseline and at follow-up till 6 months.
RESULTS: There were clinically relevant and statistically significant changes in those measuring severity, indicating relative improvements after 3 months and absolute improvements after 6 months of treatment by homeopathic medicines.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that homeopathic medicines, as prescribed by experienced homeopathic practitioners, improve severity of asthma in children. Controlled studies should be conducted.
Source : Homeopathy. 2012 Oct;101(4):224-30. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2012.08.006.
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Homeopathy in research on bronchial asthma performed in Cuba
Riverón Garrote, Mayra Noelia
Abstract
The present article reviews seven research articles on homeopathy and bronchial asthma performed in Cuba between 1996 and 2005. There were three descriptive studies, one clinical trial, one intervention study, one unblinded controlled study and one double-blind controlled study. The studies were mainly performed in children and in primary care. Several therapeutic methods were compared in five studies. Sixteen remedies were used in acute crises and five were used between crises. Eleven remedies were used to abort crises and 13 were used as constitutional remedies in research. Ten remedies met several criteria for use. The results show the utility of homeopathy compared with the other treatment methods employed, producing statistically significant clinical improvement.
Source : Revista Médica de Homeopatía
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Erythrocyte and Plasma Antioxidants in Bronchial Asthma Before and After Homeopathic Treatment
Shiefa Pinto1, Ashalatha V Rao2 and Anjali Rao3*
1Department of Biochemistry, Fr. Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
2Department of Biochemistry, K. S. Hegde Medical Academy, Deralakatte Mangalore, Karnataka, India
3Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
Abstract
Objective:
Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma. The present study was
done to assess the effectiveness of practicing homeopathy in modulating free radical toxicity in bronchial asthma by measuring some parameters of oxidant stress and antioxidant defenses in blood, before and after homeopathy treatment.
Methods:
In the present study, erythrocyte lipid peroxidation (LP), erythrocyte antioxidants viz., glutathione
(GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CT) and plasma antioxidants viz., ceruloplasmin, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), vitamin C, total antioxidant activity (AOA) have been determined in 41 patients with bronchial asthma and 53 control subjects. Twenty three patients who were treated with homeopathic remedies were considered for the follow-up studies.
Results:
Erythrocyte LP (0 hour, p<0.001; 2 hours, p<0.001; and susceptibility to LP, p<0.01) and SOD
(p<0.05) were significantly higher, whereas plasma vitamin C (p<0.001) and AOA (p<0.001) were significantly lower in bronchial asthma patients when compared to controls. In follow-up patients the erythrocyte LP (0 hour, p<0.01; 2 hours, p<0.001; and susceptibility to LP, p<0.001) and SOD (p<0.01) were significantly lower when compared to their pretreatment values. Plasma vitamin C attained a normal range. The AOA activity after treatment was not significantly different from that observed before treatment.
Conclusion: The present study showed an imbalance between antioxidants and oxidants in bronchial
asthma. Oxidative stress had increased as indicated by increased LP, increased SOD, decreased vitamin C
and decreased AOA. On homeopathic treatment the LP had decreased in the erythrocytes which shows that
homeopathic treatment has some effect in reducing oxidative stress. This is further evidenced by returning of
plasma vitamin C and erythrocyte SOD to the normal levels, but oxidant stress has not been completely overcome within the period of study as plasma AOA has still not returned to normal control levels. Thus, a prooxidant mileu exists in asthma patients which tends to normalize after homeopathic treatment.
Source : J Homeopat Ayurv Med 2011, 1:1
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Anti-asthmatic and anti-anaphylactic activities of Blatta orientalis mother tincture
Chetan Chandrakant Nimgulkar1,Savita Dattatray Patil2, B. Dinesh Kumar1
- 1 Food and Drug Toxicology Research Centre, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
- 2 Department of Pharmacology, R.C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Karvand Naka, Shirpur, Dhule 425 405, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
Objectives
To study the anti-asthmatic and anti-anaphylactic activities of Blatta orientalis mother tincture (B. orientalis MT), a homeopathic medicine, in experimental animal models.
Methods
The anti-asthmatic activity of B. orientalis MT was studied in the bronchial hyperactivity models, acetylcholine and histamine induced bronchospasm, in guinea pigs. Anti-anaphylactic activity was tested by active and passive anaphylaxis models in rats, anti-eosinophilic activity was tested by milk-induced eosinophilia in mice.
Results
Significant protection against acetylcholine and histamine aerosol-induced bronchospasm in B. orientalis MT treated guinea pigs was seen. In active and passive anaphylaxis albino rat models significant reduction in mesenteric mast cells degranulation, serum IgE level and eosinophil cell count was observed in the B. orientalis MT treated rat group when compared with the sensitized control rat group.
Conclusion
These results reveal broad activity of B. orientalis MT. It may have nonselective anti-asthmatic activity. The anti-anaphylactic activity of B. orientalis MT may be due to mast cell stabilization, suppression of IgE and eosinophil cell count.
Source : Homeopathy Volume 100, Issue 3, July 2011, Pages 138–143
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