Respiratory Disease is the term for disease of the respiratory system. These include diseases of the lung, pleural cavity, bronchial tubes, trachea, upper respiratory tract  and of the nerves and muscles of breathing.

In the US, people suffer 1 billion colds per year. One in seven people in the UK are affected by some form of chronic lung disease, most commonly chronic onstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Respiratory disease is responsible for over 10% of hospitalizations and over 16% of deaths in Canada alone. Childhood asthma rates in western countries have increased 4 fold over the past 10 years.

Common upper respiratory conditions which Homeopathy can be beneficial in treating include:

  • Nasal symptoms – sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose, painful pressure in the nose
  • Throat symptoms – soreness, swelling, loss of voice, pain, dryness, coughs, common colds
  • Recurrent cold & throat infections,  may also  benefit from Homeopathic medicine.

Homeopathy treats the “whole” person which means that two people presenting with respiratory illnessess may receive different medicines based on their individual symptoms. Homeopathy may work alongside conventional medicine to help both alleviate unwanted side-effects & to improve & strengthen the individual’s response to the disease state, sometimes resulting in the patient being able to discuss with their GP gradual reduction in conventional medicine.

Overview of the respiratory system
The respiratory system plays a vital role in delivering oxygen to the body — fuel for all the body’s functions. It also removes carbon dioxide waste, eliminates toxic waste, regulates temperature, and stabilizes blood acid-alkaline balance (pH).

The lungs are the largest part of the respiratory system and have both “respiratory” and “nonrespiratory” functions. The respiratory function involves gas exchange — the transfer of oxygen from the air into the blood and the removal of carbon dioxide from the blood. Non-respiratory lung functions are mechanical, biochemical, and physiological.

The lungs provide a defense against bacterial, viral and other infectious agents; remove various metabolic waste products; control the flow of water, ions, and large proteins across its cellular structures; and manufacture a variety of essential hormones and chemical agents that have important biological roles.

Respiratory diseases can arise from a number of causes, including inhalation of toxic agents, accidents, and harmful lifestyles, such as smoking. Infections, genetic factors, and anything else that affect lung development, either directly or indirectly, can cause respiratory symptoms.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IN ANY LONG-TERM OR CHRONIC ILLNESS THE ADVICE OF YOUR MEDICAL HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL SHOULD ALWAYS BE SOUGHT