Homeopathic Treatment for Asthma

Homeopathy is a scientific medical alternative for treating a wide variety of chronic ailments. The basic premise behind homeopathy as a treatment for asthma is to consider the whole extent of the asthma, thus a great deal of emphasis is given to the patient as a whole. A key component to homeopathy as a treatment for asthma is enhancing the body’s own defense mechanism to maintain good health by among other things reducing the body’s adverse reactions to allergens.

One remedy that utilizes homeopathic elements is called BioVent which is described as a unique combination of herbal and homeopathic ingredients. According to its’ maker, when used daily, it can improve respiratory functioning and health, reduce the incidence and severity of asthma attacks and strengthen the immune system without side effects.

Other Homeopathic remedies for asthma include:

Research on the homeopathic treatment for asthma was published in The Lancet (December 10, 1994) that suggests that asthma sufferers can be helped by homeopathic treatment.

Research by professors at the University of Glasgow indicates that patients given an exceedingly small homeopathic dose of whatever substance to which they are most allergic can provide significant relief within the first week of treatment. The researchers called this unique method of individualizing medicines "homeopathic immunotherapy."

This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. It revealed that over 80% of patients that were given a homeopathic remedy improved. Only 38% of patients given a placebo experienced about the same amount of relief. The patients were assessed by a homeopathic physician as well as a conventional physician.

The researchers used conventional allergy testing to determine what substances the asthmatic patients were most allergic, and then gave a 30th potency of this substance to half of the patients (neither the researchers nor the patients knew who was given the medicine and who was given a placebo). The 30th potency refers to the number of times the medicine was diluted 1:10 with distilled water, with vigorous shaking between each dilution.

This dose was so small that homeopaths and modern scientists acknowledge that there should be no remaining molecules of the original allergen. Homeopaths theorize that the unique pharmacological process of dilution with vigorous shaking between each dilution may create a more potent medicine.
Along with their recent asthma study, the authors performed a meta-analysis, reviewing all of the data from previous studies which totaled 202 subjects. The researchers found a similar pattern in each of the studies. Improvement begins within the first week and continues through to the end of the trial four weeks later.

The results of this meta-analysis were so significant that the researchers concluded that either homeopathic medicines work or controlled clinical trials do not. Because modern science is based on controlled clinical trials, it is more likely that homeopathic medicines are effective.
The researchers concluded, "The amount of positive evidence came as a surprise to us. The evidence presented in this review would probably be sufficient for establishing homeopathy as a regular treatment for certain indications."

Homeopathic medicine is little known in the U.S., but it is very popular throughout the world, especially in Europe. Approximately 40% of French physicians and 20% of German physicians prescribe homeopathic medicines. Over 40% of British physicians refer patients of homeopaths, and almost 50% of Dutch physicians consider these natural medicines to be effective.

Homeopathic treatment for asthma seems promising as a means to help asthma sufferers as well as for patients of other chronic conditions. Considering the scientific evidence that shows promising results, it certainly seems that all asthmatics should at least consider this approach in addition to the conventional methods prescribed by their doctor.