Gasping For Breath? Breathe Calmly With Life Force Care

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a common lung disease, caused by damage to the lung airways or other parts of the respiratory tract, that restricts airflow to the lungs, resulting in breathing problems, wheezing, shortness of breath, and persistent cough usually with phlegm and tiredness. The most common types are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The treatment usually involves the use of bronchodilators and corticosteroids to manage inflammation and enhance airway function.

Mrs.L.G visited the Life Force Homeopathy clinic at its Thane branch for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from which she has been suffering for the past 3 years. Her age is 35 years, a homemaker. She had endured constant shortness of breath, primarily during inspiration.

For the last year, her episodes have become more frequent, occurring 30 to 40 times a day. Each episode would last between one and four seconds, making her feel breathless, though only during the day. Interestingly, her nights were free from these breathlessness episodes.

She also experienced a cough with whitish phlegm and constantly had a sensation as if something stuck in her throat. She also complained of post-nasal drip causing further discomfort. Once in a while she also complained of tightness in her chest, associated with mild pain in the right side of her back just beneath the scapula. She didn’t complain of any other symptoms like weight loss, loss of energy, or recurrent respiratory infections which are quite common in COPD cases.

In the past, Mrs L.G had been prescribed various medications, including Surbex FE, Deriphyllin, and Formoflo 250 mcg MDI, which she took using a Trauspacer. She was regularly taking these medicines; however, her COPD complaints didn’t show remarkable improvement. Since conventional medications were not helping her, she tried homeopathic treatment for 6 months from some other Homeopathic practitioner but found limited relief in her complaints.

While taking her detailed case history, we asked the patient about possible causes for her complaints or triggers that worsen her complaints, then her husband and she began to reflect on a possible reason for her complaints and informed the Life Force team about the beginning of her COPD complaints after moving to a new house before 4 years which was situated near to the open drainage system. The constant foul smell from the drainage system was a potential environmental factor that triggered her respiratory health.

Investigation:

- Date: 17.11.2021

- Pulmonary function test: Showed mild obstruction in large airways, Breath Sounds Bilaterally Equal.

Mrs L.G was a non-vegetarian with an average appetite, and often craved spicy foods. She drank around 2 litres of water per day and her perspiration pattern was normal. She was comfortable in both warm and cool temperatures, neither excessively hot nor cold. She didn’t complain of any bowel or urinary bladder issues.

Her sleep was frequently disturbed, and she found some relief by lying on her left side at night. As a mother of two, she had experienced two normal deliveries; her eldest son was twelve years old, while her younger child was six. Her menstrual cycles were regular.

She often struggled with severe acidity, which had become a persistent problem. As a result, she had recently started treatment for her acidity alongside her COPD management.

Follow-Up and Progress:

During the first follow-up on January 27, 2024, the patient showed an improvement of around 20%. The tightness of the chest and pain in the chest were reduced, and also she showed improvement in gasping for breath, the frequency was reduced to around 15 to 20 times/ day during inspiration from 30 to 40 times /day. She had stopped all other conventional medication.

On March 2nd, 2022, further improvement was noted, with a reduction in the intensity and severity of symptoms, shortness of breath mainly after the afternoon, was reduced to the frequency of around 15 times/day with no complaints of tightness or pain in the chest.

On April 10^th, 2024, she was 60 % better, had no pain in her chest, postnasal drip was less, and shortness of breath intensity was reduced.

On July 23^rd, 2024, further improvement was noted, and experienced post-nasal drip only if she was exposed to dust, also shortness of breath intensity and frequency were reduced.

By September 19th, 2024, showed a remarkable 80 % betterment with shortness of breath once/ day, and there was no need to take any conventional medicines.

Conclusion:

This case highlights the efficacy of Homeopathic treatment in managing difficult, challenging respiratory conditions like COPD. The patient showed gradual, positive changes, and was able to breathe normally. Also, importantly the dependency on conventional medicines was reduced which has its side effects.