Are you breathing through mouth? Is your nose constantly blocked ?? Is it nasal polyp that’s recurring? Is surgery the only answer to nasal polyp?
So many questions and the solution lies in alternative treatment – Homeopathy !!! Let us get to the root of the nasal poly to help you break the recurrence of the cycle of nasal polyp.
People with nasal polyps could easily relate themselves with this question as they are stuck in the cycle of a polyp- treatment- surgery -polyp- treatment and surgery. Once stuck in this vicious cycle would seek a way out of this problem for getting a permanent relief and stopping the recurrence. Studies have shown recurrence as early as 6 months after the surgery.
For those who are diagnosed for the first time, let me explain to you what exactly is a nasal polyp.
It is a soft benign growth from the mucus membrane that lines the inside of the nose and the sinus. It is teardrop in shape and could be small or large.
People may have just a single polyp while some could have numerous of them inside their sinus cavities as well. This condition is called as sinonasal polyposis.
The smaller polyps often go unnoticed initially as they do not produce any symptoms. As the size grows it may obstruct the nasal cavity making it difficult to breathe through the nose, or obstructing the flow of mucus from the sinus causing sinusitis.
What causes nasal polyps –
Nasal polyp is mostly caused by inflammation of the mucus membrane present inside the nose and sinus. ( sinuses are air filled spaces in the facial bones) This mucus membrane has an important function of trapping and destroying the disease producing organisms and allergens in the mucus that it secretes; thus preventing infection and allergens reaching the throat or lungs. In some people, the nasal mucosa gets sensitive to certain harmless substances which would other wise not affect other normal people. This causes a state of inflammation and if it persists for years together, would cause formation of polyp.
Polyps are frequently seen in people with –
Chronic allergic rhinitis -where they experience sneezing, itching in the eyes and nose and watery nose when in contact with allergens such as dust, pollen, smoke, perfume, cold etc.
Asthma
Cystic fibrosis-It is a genetic condition affecting the mucus membranes of different organs of the body.
Allergic fungal sinusitis – sinusitis causes because of fungus growing in the sinus seen in people with low immunity.
An allergy to aspirin and other pain killers
Nasal mastocytosis – a condition in which there is an increase in the mast cells in nasal mucosa causing inflammation.
It is also important to note that not all the people with above mentioned conditions will have a nasal polyp.
How do I know that I have polyps-
You would have symptoms of any of the conditions mentioned above. As mentioned earlier, small polyps would not cause symptoms. However, with big polyps, the person could experience any or combination of the below mentioned symptoms –
- Inability to breathe through the locked side of your nose with a sense of stuffiness
- Mouth breathing.
- Sensation of heaviness and discomfort in the bones of the face
- There could be pain in the facial bones as well
- Heaviness in the head, pressure sensation and headache
- Watering from nose
- Reduced or loss of sense of smell.
- Snoring
- There could be a continuous post nasal drip in case the sinus is involved.
- There could also be bleeding from the nose if one blows the nose forcefully.
How is the condition diagnosed -Do I need surgery?
Though polyps are extra growths in nasal mucosa, all the nasal growths are not polyps. Hence it is always important to consult your doctor to rule out the possibility of any other cause of growth inside the nose that is obstructing the breathing
The diagnosis is made through the history given by the patient, examination of the nose. The doctor may also suggest you investigations such as X-ray and MRI scan if he feels that the sinus are also involved and to know the extent of sinus involvement.
Treatment -Can homeopathy help in nasal polyp?
For a complete treatment of Nasal polyps and to minimize the chances of its recurrences, the treatment must not only focus on the present condition but also try to correct the underlying source of inflammation of the mucus membrane.
Homeopathy holds the promise of offering long-lasting results to the patients with nasal polyps since it aims to address the cause of the polyps too while helping relieve the presenting symptoms of polyp. Homeopathy could help to reduce the size of the medium and small sized polyps and causing them to disappear without the need for surgery. The medicines are safe and do not have side effects. However, if the size of the polyp is big and interfering with your normal day to day functioning ( eg- loss of sleep caused due to inability to breathe due to blocked polyp could reduce the person’s ability to focus on work and concentrate, cause irritability. If continued over for a long time could reduce productivity), it is advised that the patient first removes the polyp through surgery and then opt for homeopathy treatment to correct the cause and prevent the recurrence of polyp.
The Homeopathic medicines are selected after a detailed case study of the patient and would include an in-depth study of the symptoms and factors that increase or decrease the symptoms because not all the patients with nasal polyp have the same symptoms.
Below are the most commonly indicated homeopathic medicines for nasal polyps –
Lemna Minor-Indicated for cases of nasal polyp. It helps to reduce the nasal obstruction caused due to swelling of the nose. Person experiences asthma due to nasal obstruction.
Teucrium Marum– nasal polyp with sensation of crawling inside the nose. Chronic discharge from the nose.
Calcarea Carb-Polyp in patients who have a tendency to catch cold with every change of weather. There is a blockage of nose with bad odor and yellow discharge. Swelling at the root of the nose.
Sanguinaria– Nasal polyp in patients with hay fever. The patient has chronic runny nose with yellow mucus. Polyps especially of the right side.
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