Asthma in Homeopathy: Complete Repertorial Analysis According to Dr. S.R. Phatak

Introduction

Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by variable airway narrowing, inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Patients may experience recurrent episodes of breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness and cough.

In homeopathic case analysis, asthma presents an opportunity to study characteristic respiratory symptoms, exciting causes, modalities, concomitants and the individual patient’s symptom pattern.

This article explores the repertorial mapping of ASTHMA according to Dr. S.R. Phatak’s Concise Repertory, together with related respiratory rubrics and selected remedy differentiations from his Materia Medica.

1. Main Rubric: ASTHMA (Bronchial)

ASTHMA (Bronchial)

Remedies: Aco, Amb, Arg-n, Ars, Ars-io, Cup, Ip, Kali-ar, Kali-c, Kali-n, Lach, Lob, Merc-i-r, Nux-v, Pul, Samb, Sil, Spo, Stan, Stram, Sul, Tab, Terb, Thu, Tub, Vise.

The main rubric provides the starting point for repertorial investigation. Further differentiation should be based on the patient’s specific modalities, concomitant symptoms and characteristic expressions.

2. Complete Sub-Rubrics Under ASTHMA

The following sub-rubrics are arranged alphabetically for easier clinical reference.

1–10: Asthma – Bed to Coryza

1. Bed, turning in – AGG : Ars

2. Bending – Head backwards – AMEL: Spong , Verat alb

Shoulders backward – AMEL: Calcarea acetica (Calc-ac).

3. Cardiac Asthma

Remedies: Cact , Chin-ar, Laurocerasus , Naja , Psor, Spong , Sumbul

4. Catarrhal Asthma

Remedies: Calad, Caps.

5. Coition – AGG

Remedies: Ambra grisea (Amb), Asafoetida (Asaf), Kali bichromicum (Kali-bi).

6. Cold, preceded by

Remedy: Sulphur (Sul).

7. Constitutionally

Remedies: Calcarea carbonica (Calc), Iodum (Iod), Sulphur (Sul).

8. Consumptives, of

Remedy: Mephitis (Meph).

9. Coryza

With: Argentum nitricum (Arg-n), Justicia (Just), Natrum sulphuricum (Nat-s), Spongia (Spo).

After: Justicia (Just), Naja (Naj).

Summer, in: Arsenicum album (Ars).

10. Cough

With: Caladium (Calad), Natrum muriaticum (Nat-m).

After: Phosphorus (Pho).

11–20: Asthma – Expectoration

11. Diarrhoea

After: Kali carbonicum (Kali-c).

Alternating with: Kali carbonicum (Kali-c).

When: Natrum sulphuricum (Nat-s).

12. Digestion disturbed, after (Gastric Asthma)

Remedies: Sanguinaria (Sang), Zingiber (Zing).

13. Drunkards, of

Remedy: Mephitis (Meph).

14. Dust, inhalation of

Remedies: Pothos / Ictodes (Poth), Natrum arsenicosum (Nat-ars).

15. Dysuria at night, with

Remedy: Solidago (Solid).

16. Eating

AMEL: Ambra grisea (Amb), Graphites (Grap).

Satisfying – AGG: Asafoetida (Asaf).

17. Eructation – AMEL

Remedies: Carbo vegetabilis (Carb-v), Nux vomica (Nux-v).

18. Eruptions, alternating with

Remedies: Caladium (Calad), Hepar sulphuris (Hep), Kalmia (Kalm), Sulphur (Sul).

19. Exertion excessive, from

Remedy: Silicea (Sil).

20. Expectoration – AMEL

Remedies: Antimonium tartaricum (Ant-t), Caladium (Calad), Hypericum (Hypr), Ipecacuanha (Ip), Stannum (Stan), Zincum (Zin).

21–30: Asthma – Fog to Overheated

21. Fog – AGG

Remedies: Hypericum (Hypr), Hamamelis (Ham).

22. Foot sweat, suppressed, from

Remedy: Oleum animalis (Ol-an).

23. Fright, after

Remedy: Sambucus nigra (Samb).

24. Full moon

Remedy: Spongia (Spo).

25. Goitre, in

Remedy: Spongia (Spo).

26. Hay fever, of

Remedies: Arsenicum album (Ars), Arum triphyllum (Aru-t), Chlorum (Chlor), Iodum (Iod), Naja (Naj), Sepia (Sep).

27. Hives, from

Remedies: Apis mellifica (Ap), Pulsatilla (Pul).

28. Humid Asthma

Remedies: Cannabis sativa (Cann), Dulcamara (Dul), Kali bichromicum (Kali-bi), Baryta carbonica (Bar-c), Baryta muriatica (Bar-m), Carbo vegetabilis (Carb-v), Coca (Coca), Conium (Con), Senega (Seneg).

29. Old people, in (Senile Asthma)

Remedies: Ammonium carbonicum (Am-c), Antimonium crudum (Ant-c), Antimonium tartaricum (Ant-t), Arsenicum album (Ars), Baryta carbonica (Bar-c), Baryta muriatica (Bar-m), Carbo vegetabilis (Carb-v), Coca (Coca), Conium (Con), Senega (Seneg).

30. Overheated, after being

Remedy: Silicea (Sil).

31–42: Asthma – Rheumatism to Talking

31. Rheumatism, with

Remedies: Benzoicum acidum (Benz-ac), Viscum album (Vise).

32. Rocking – AMEL

Remedy: Kali carbonicum (Kali-c).

33. Sailors, on shore

Remedy: Bromium (Bro).

34. Sexual excitation, with

Remedy: Natrum carbonicum (Nat-c).

35. Sitting up – AMEL

Remedies: Naja (Naj), Kali carbonicum (Kali-c).

36. Skin disease, with

Remedy: Ipecacuanha (Ip).

37. Spasmodic Asthma

Remedies: Valeriana (Val), Cuprum metallicum (Cup), Drosera (Dros).

38. Stools – AMEL

Remedy: Pothos / Ictodes (Poth).

39. Summer

During: Argentum nitricum (Arg-n), Syphilinum (Syph).

AMEL: Carbo vegetabilis (Carb-v).

40. Suppressions, from

Remedy: Hepar sulphuris (Hep).

41. Sycotic Asthma

Remedies: Med , Nat-s , Sil , Thuja

42. Talking – AGG

Remedy: Drosera (Dros).

3. Related Important Respiratory Rubrics

Asthma case analysis should not be restricted to the main asthma rubric. Related respiratory rubrics may help in understanding the predominant character of breathing difficulty and associated symptoms.

A. RESPIRATION – Difficult, suffocating, choking

Remedies: Aconitum (Aco), Antimonium tartaricum (Ant-t), Apis (Ap), Arsenicum album (Ars), Bromium (Bro), Bryonia (Bry), Carbo vegetabilis (Carb-v), Cuprum (Cup), Hepar sulphuris (Hep), Ipecacuanha (Ip), Kali carbonicum (Kali-c), Lachesis (Lach), Lobelia (Lob), Natrum sulphuricum (Nat-s), Phosphorus (Pho), Pulsatilla (Pul), Sambucus (Samb), Spongia (Spo), Sulphur (Sul).

B. RESPIRATION – Wheezing, whistling, hissing

Remedies: Arsenicum album (Ars), Aurum (Aur), Causticum (Caus), China (Chin), Hepar sulphuris (Hep), Ipecacuanha (Ip), Kali carbonicum (Kali-c), Kali iodatum (Kali-io), Sambucus (Samb), Senega (Seneg), Spongia (Spo), Stramonium (Stram).

C. CORYZA – Annual (Hay fever)

Remedies: Ars Alb , Ambrosia (Ambro), Cepa (Cep), Gelsemium (Gel), Kali iodatum (Kali-io), Kali phosphoricum (Kali-p), Natrum muriaticum (Nat-m), Nux vomica (Nux-v), Phosphorus (Pho), Psorinum (Psor), Sabadilla (Saba), Senecio (Senec), Sepia (Sep), Silicea (Sil), Sinapis (Sinap), Sulphur (Sul).

4. Key Remedy Differentiation – Phatak’s Materia Medica

Repertorial selection is only the beginning. Remedy differentiation requires a closer study of the patient’s characteristic symptoms and the corresponding Materia Medica picture.

1. Arsenicum Album (Ars.)

Marked dyspnoea and difficulty lying down.
Patient needs to sit up to breathe comfortably.
Restlessness, anxiety and anguish.
Cold sweat may accompany severe attacks.
Aggravation around midnight, particularly 1–2 AM.
Turning in bed and cold drinks are described as aggravating factors.

2. Antimonium Tartaricum (Ant-t.)

Coarse rattling of mucus in the chest.
Chest appears full of mucus, but expectoration is difficult.
Increasing difficulty in raising secretions.
Drowsiness and marked debility.
Particularly considered in the traditional Materia Medica picture of debilitated children and elderly patients.

3. Ipecacuanha (Ip.)

Incessant suffocative cough.
Cough associated with every breath.
Rattling in the chest with little or no expectoration.
Persistent nausea and vomiting.

4. Natrum Sulphuricum (Nat-s.)

Traditional association with sycotic asthma.
Aggravation in damp and rainy weather.
Asthmatic complaints may be worse around 4–5 AM.
Loose cough with the patient holding the chest or sides while coughing.

5. Lobelia Inflata (Lob.)

Asthmatic dyspnoea with marked nausea or deathly sickness.
Weakness and rattling respiration.
Patient may sit leaning forward with elbows on knees.
Aggravation from tobacco odour is described.

6. Sambucus Nigra (Samb.)

Sudden suffocative paroxysms.
Attacks may wake the patient at midnight.
Gasping for air and bluish discoloration may occur in the traditional symptom picture.
Profuse sweating on waking.

5. Clinical Approach to Repertorisation

While working on a bronchial asthma case, the following sequence can be used as a study framework:

Establish the clinical diagnosis: Assess the nature, severity and variability of respiratory symptoms.
Identify the chief respiratory complaint: Breathlessness, wheezing, suffocation, cough or chest tightness.
Investigate modalities: Position, weather, time, exertion, eating, exposure and other aggravating or ameliorating factors.
Record concomitants: Coryza, nausea, expectoration, skin symptoms, digestive complaints and other associated features.
Consult the main rubric: ASTHMA (Bronchial).
Explore relevant sub-rubrics: Select only those supported by the patient’s actual symptoms.
Differentiate remedies: Consult Phatak’s Materia Medica for characteristic features.
Correlate the complete case: Do not prescribe on the basis of a single isolated rubric.

Dr. S.R. Phatak’s Concise Repertory offers a structured way to study asthma through its main rubric, associated sub-rubrics, modalities and concomitant symptoms.

The most important aspect of repertorial work is not merely counting remedies but identifying the symptoms that genuinely characterise the individual case.