Emphysema is a component of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) characterized by abnormal, permanent enlargement of air spaces distal to terminal bronchioles. It is caused by the combination of mechanical obstruction in the small airways from inflammation and later scarring, and loss of elastic recoil of the lung which makes these airways more likely to collapse during expiration.
ANATOMICAL TYPE OF EMPHYSEMA
1. Centrilobular emphysema
2. Panacinar or pan lobular emphysema.
3. Parietal or periacinar emphysema
Bronchiolitis: comprising infiltration of inflammatory cells, particularly macrophages, into the bronchiolar wall is one of the earliest lesions in the cigarette smokers. It can produce fibrosis of small airways in the patient with COPD.
CLINICAL FEATURES
In predominant emphysema, the patient will be very thin and there will be marked weight loss. The sputum is very scanty. Dyspnoea is intense with purse lip breathing. The cough usually starts after dyspnoea. The bronchial infections are less frequent and episodes of respiratory failure often terminal. Pulmonary hypertension is none or mild unrelenting downhill. The chest radiograph shows narrow cardiac shadow, attenuated vessels, and emphysematous bullous changes. The arterial partial CO2 is normal. The elastic recoil is markedly decreased. Resistance is normal or slightly increased, and diffusing capacity is increased.
Homeopathic treatment
In emphysema, the outcome is, the lungs fail to recoil back to its original shape. To happen this it takes many years. So in well established cases complete cure and make the lung back to normalcy is impossible. The miasm behind the emphysema is tubercular changes into syphilitic as disease progress into an established form.
So homeopathic remedies should cover both this miasm.
But if homeopathic treatment starts in the early stage and with lifestyle changes marked relief of symptoms is possible, and the patient can lead almost normal life.
Homeopathic medicines usually prescribed are.
Anti tart, Bacillinum, Tuberculinum, Phos, Ars alb, Aspidosperma, etc.
