Abstract
Chronic asthma is characterised by widespread inflammation and reversible narrowing of the bronchial airways. Inflammation of the bronchial mucous membrane renders it hyper-responsive to a variety of stimuli, resulting in wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and breathing difficulty. Asthma was first recognised by the Chinese, four thousand years ago and Hippocrates described it in the fourth century BC. Despite the amount of literature and information available on asthma, this disease is still on the increase world-wide.
This research study was undertaken to establish the efficacy of homoeopathic simillimum remedies in the reduction of the frequency and severity of asthmatic symptoms, in adult individuals who suffered from chronic asthma.
The research was carried out at the TWR health clinic at Doornfontein, from 1 June 2003 to 31 December 2003. Ten participants, eight males and two females, of all ethnic groups and between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-one, took part in this research. Each participant was interviewed during a homoeopathic consultation. Simillimum remedies were given and the participants were monitored over a period of fourteen weeks, at fortnightly follow-up consultations.
Each participant received his/her own peak flow meter and a peak flow rate chart (Appendix E). Morning and evening PEFR were obtained by using the peak flow meter. These readings were recorded, along with any relevant symptoms experienced and/or bronchodilating medication used that day. Participants were required to record the above-mentioned data for two weeks before the homoeopathic treatment commenced and for the remaining twelve weeks of the study.
The following results were obtained:
• Most participants reported less frequent and less severe acute asthmatic attacks, as well as fewer nocturnal asthmatic symptoms.
• Most participants reported an increased ability to participate in exercise without the need for bronchodilating medication during these activities.
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• No statistically significant changes were found on the morning or evening peak expiratory flow rates recorded over fourteen weeks.
• No statistically significant change was found on the frequency of bronchodilating medication used over fourteen weeks.
The following conclusions may be drawn from the recorded results:
• Homoeopathic simillimum remedies appear to have been effective in the treatment of chronic asthma in adults.
• Homoeopathic simillimum remedies appear to have been effective in the reduction of acute asthmatic attacks and nocturnal asthmatic symptoms.
• Homoeopathic simillimum remedies appear to have been effective in increasing the participants’ abilities to partake in physical exercise, as well as in decreasing their need for bronchodilating medicine during exercise.
Dr. S. C. van Es
Dr. H. Niehaus