With our negligence and irresponsible behaviour we have severely polluted our environment; now it kills about 90 lac people per year. One in every eight deaths is due to air pollution in India, as per a 2017 record. According to a WHO study conducted in 2017, over one lac children died in India due to air pollution. An assessment in 2015 revealed that 80% of the surface water was contaminated. We create these problems, and we face the consequences. However, awareness, proper healthcare and hygiene can resolve the issues.
Air Pollution
Air surrounding us consists of dust, smoke and chemicals and is a pathway towards different diseases. Respiratory tract infections and irritation, bronchial asthma, stroke etc., are caused due to air pollution. Covering our nose and mouth with a handkerchief isn’t enough any more! At times we develop breathlessness, cough and feel feverish; homoeopathy has a wide range of medicines to help you.
Along with smoke and dust, sprays, perfumes or chemicals like gulal too, can result in breathlessness, wheezing and aggravated asthma, if the person is sensitive. Air pollution also affects other organs besides the respiratory system and lungs; we cannot ignore eye irritation and allergies that may later worsen. People allergic to dust particles, kilns smoke, perfumes and sprays may develop an allergic cough and cold. Homoeopathy works wonders with such allergic cough and cold.
Water pollution
We all know it is advisable to drink purified or boiled water. Water contains microbes, pathogens and chemicals which lead to water pollution. Diarrhoea, hepatitis A and E, typhoid, cholera, roundworm and threadworm infestation in the stomach, and a host of skin diseases are caused due to drinking polluted water. Along with these, arsenic poisoning, which leads to diarrhoea, dehydration and exhaustion, is another hazard of consuming contaminated water. Prolonged exposure to arsenic poisoning can also lead to bladder and skin cancer.
People, who suffer from hepatitis A, should follow a low-fat diet. A person suffering from hepatitis may feel tired and nauseatic. Homoeopathic medicines like Card-Mar, Chelidonium, Chionanthus, Lycopodium help with such symptoms. Remember, a bit of hygiene like regularly washing hands before consuming food or water and drinking boiled, or purified water can prevent Hepatitis A. In case of typhoid, homoeopathic medicines such as Baptisia, Arnica, and Muriatic acid are useful. Even after treatment, if the typhoid symptoms like constipation, vomiting and headache continue, Bryonia or Phos-acid could be prescribed to help the patients.
How can Homoeopathy help?
- Common house hold pollutants just as insect sprays, mosquito coils are known to trigger allergies and hypersensitivities and cause sneezing, runny nose and headaches. Homeopathy uses a two-pronged approach in treating allergies. One is to give immediate relief from the acute symptoms and other to prevent recurrence of symptoms.
- The most common symptom of breathlessness, cough and irritation of the airways due to pollution can be dealt with medicines such as Pothos, Arsenicum Album, Justicia and Phosphorus.
- A host of skin conditions are known to occur due to pollution. Contact with water contaminated by industrial solvents can lead to dry and peeling skin and in severe cases cracked skin because of the irritation. Medicines such as Petroleum, Bovista and Sarsaparilla are used for different skin disorders.
- Eye complaints such as redness and irritation are commonly seen due to exposure to polluted air especially while driving a two-wheeler. Remedies like Euphrasia and Ruta are helpful in such cases. Euphrasia eye drops give instant relief from redness and eye irritation.
- There is a steady rise in endocrine and hormonal disorders over the past decade. Plastic pollution, light pollution and water pollution contribute to this. For homoeopathic treatment of endocrinological disorders like PCOD and thyroid disorders a detailed case analysis and evaluation is necessary for management of the patient.
References
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Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine.
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The Lancet Planetary Health: Pollution prevention and climate change mitigation: measuring the health benefits of comprehensive interventions.
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http://www.searo.who.int/india/topics/air_pollution/en
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Nash Respiration By E.B. Nash