Obstruction to Breathing

Allergic Respiratory Swelling: Also known as anaphylactic shock, this is a life threatening situation and is usually caused by bee stings, allergies to medications or even food allergies. A sudden swelling of the tongue and closing of the throat can cut off the airways.

What to take: Apis mellifica should be taken immediately. Apis has been proven to be a life saving homeopathic for allergic reactions and should be kept with you at all times if you have or suspect you have an allergy to bees or foods. If possible, get a high potency formula of Apis from a homeopathic physician or manufacturer.

Asthma attack : For anyone with asthma, sudden attacks are a frightening thing, and the feeling of not being able to breathe along with coughing and wheezing is especially frightening in children and young adults.

What to take: There are several homeopathic remedies such as Arsenicum album and Ipecacuanha that treat the wheezing and inability to breathe. Carbo vegetabilis and Nux vomica are taken to relieve the stomach upset and belching or bloated feeling that often accompanies asthma attacks.

Case Experience: I have dealt with asthma since about age six (brought on by allergy to house paint initially), suffered teen years in a subtropical climate, overcame it in mid-20s (by heavy exercise and moving to temperate climate), and it returned at age 40. By the early '90s, sodium cromylyn (Intal brand) inhaler brought on coughing which prevented asthma attacks, two puffs twice a day prevented any wheezing. By 2000, I discovered the Chinese herbal product, Respira Herbs, had the very same effect as Intal, and the cost was $10/month instead of $124 (and rising).  Cordyceps mushrooms have been reported to heal asthmatic lungs, and it's working for me.  I take one capsule of New Chapter (brand) "Breathe!" before bed (with Respira Herbs), and I sleep quieter and wake more rested, only threatened by asthma when animals get too close. WMB

Eye injuries: Injuries to the eye take on many forms. It may be an object caught in the tissue next to the eyeball or in the eyeball itself. It may be a blow to the eye causing trauma to parts or the whole of the eye including bleeding and discoloration. Eye-strain is also a form of eye injury in a much milder form.

What to take: Hypericum in solution is an excellent eyebath to flush out any foreign object in the eye. To relieve the pain caused by foreign objects or specks in the eye, Aconite is excellent to relieve inflammation. Please note that if the object is still present in the eye, Aconite will only give short-term relief, so make sure that all material is out of the eye. Two excellent remedies for a black eye are Arnica and Ledum applied in a compress. If there is pain, Hypericum internally will ease the distress. Another homeopathic that has worked wonders on traumatic eye injuries is Symphytum officinale used by the ancient Greeks to heal eye injuries over 3,000 years ago.

If you suffer from eye-strain as many computer programmers do, try Ruta graveolens as an eyewash to soothe and comfort eyestrain.

Cautions and Commonsense: If you suspect that your eye or the person you are treating has an object firmly imbedded in the eye, see your physician immediately. Never rub the eye or try to remove an object with a dry cloth.

Case history:While building a set of golf clubs, a very small metal shaving from cutting a steel shaft lodged in my eye. At the time I did not know it, and it was the next day before the pain started. A bath of Ruta helped to ease the pain and swelling, and when repeated eye washing did not completely stop the discomfort, I went to an opthamologist who removed a ¼ inch, hair-size metal sliver. Additional treatment with Ruta eased the soreness and promoted healing the same day. JJS, Virginia