Abstract:
Respiratory hypersensitivity is a common yet distressing condition that affects individuals with an exaggerated response to environmental stimuli. This case report presents the successful homeopathic management of a 45-year-old female suffering from chronic cold and cough aggravated by exposure to slightest cold air. The patient exhibited marked sensitivity to cold, continuous cough with yellowish-white expectancy, and significant improvement under individualized homeopathic treatment. The prescription of Sepia, based on the totality of symptoms, led to a complete resolution of symptoms within two months. This case highlights the importance of individualized remedy selection in managing respiratory hypersensitivity. [1,2]
Keywords: Homeopathy, Respiratory Hypersensitivity, Chronic Cough, Cold Air Sensitivity, Individualized Remedy Selection
Introduction:
Respiratory hypersensitivity is characterized by an exaggerated response to environmental factors such as cold air, dust, or allergens. Patients often experience recurrent cold, cough, and associated symptoms affecting their quality of life. Conventional treatments provide temporary relief, whereas homeopathy offers a holistic approach targeting the root cause. This case report highlights the effectiveness of individualized homeopathic treatment in managing chronic respiratory hypersensitivity.
Case Report:
Patient Details:
Name: XYZ
Age: 45 years
Sex: Female
OPD No.: 5541/564021
Date of First Visit: 03/09/2022
Location of Treatment: GHMC, Bhopal
Chief Complaints:
Chronic cold and cough, hypersensitive to cold air (since last 2 years).
Easily catches cold, continuous coughs with yellowish-white expectoration.
Aggravation: Sweets, cold air, lying down, night, thinking about complaints.
Amelioration: When occupied with work.
Additional Symptoms: Itching in throat, trickling in larynx, itching in ears.
Strong aversion to fanning and air conditioning.
Provisional Diagnosis:
Respiratory Hypersensitivity with Chronic Cough -The marked sensitivity to cold air and aggravation of respiratory symptoms point towards a hypersensitive airway response.
Differential Diagnosis:
- Allergic Rhinitis – Fits the history of allergy but lacks classical sneezing, nasal congestion, or eye irritation.
- Chronic Bronchitis – Possible, but there’s no mention of prolonged smoking history or significant mucus hypersecretion.
- Postnasal Drip Syndrome – The itching and trickling in the throat could suggest PNDS, but it’s not the dominant symptom.
Past Medical History:
Allergy during first pregnancy (2014) with sun exposure leading to rashes. Shortness of breath during second pregnancy (2020).
Jaundice in childhood.
Physical Generals:
Appetite: Diminished
Hunger Tolerance: Headache, Acidity
Desire: Sour food
Thirst: Thirstless
Tongue: Dry, coated
Thermal State: Highly chilly
Bowel & Urine: Normal
Sleep: Disturbed due to cough
Perspiration: Scanty, non-offensive, non-staining.
Menstrual & Obstetric History:
LMP: 01/09/2022
Menarche: 13-14 years, previously 32-day cycle, now 25-day cycle.Menses: Scanty, 2-day flow, dark, bland.
Pain: Backache, thigh pain, pelvic pain before/during menses.
Obstetric History: 2 cesarean deliveries, 1 miscarriage.
Mental Generals:
Aggressive, dominating personality. She says that no one can tolerate her except husband. She is that much angry bird and dictatorial one.
Previously attached to husband, now indifferent, and she could not explain why this is so. Quick repentance.
Strong desire for self-dependence and identity.
Physical Examination:
Throat: Clear
Lungs: No abnormal sounds on auscultation.
Laboratory Investigations:
No laboratory tests were conducted prior to homeopathic treatment
Miasmatic Diagnosis:
Predominantly Psoric with Syco-Syphilitic tendencies [9]
Prescribing Totality:
Hypersensitivity to cold air.
Continuous cough with yellowish-white expectoration.
Aggravation from sweets, lying down, and at night.
Amelioration when busy.
Mental state: Dominating, independent, detached from husband.
Repertorial Totality & Result:
Rubrics selected from Synthesis Repertory
Sepia emerged as the most suitable remedy
Remedy Prescribed & Justification:
Sepia 200 (single dose) on first visit.
Followed by Sepia 1M in the subsequent visit.
Selected based on totality of symptoms and mental generals.
Follow-Up & Outcome:
Within 1 month: Significant reduction in cough intensity
Within 2 months: Complete resolution of symptoms
No recurrence reported
Dose.
2. 05/10/2022 Sac.Lac /Bd/1 Month Significant reduction in cough, improvement in
appetite and thirst, she
could tolerate AC now
| S.No. | Date | Remedy | Improvement |
| 1. | 03/09/2022 | Sepia 200 single dose | |
| 2. | 05/10/2022 | Sac lac/BD/1 month | Significant reduction in cough, improvement in appetite, thirst, she could tolerate AC now |
| 3. | 07/11/2022 | No Medication. | Complete Resolution of Symptoms. Easy tolerance of cold air, improvement in physical generals, no allergy to sun, increased attachment towards husband. |
Advice to Patient:
Avoid exposure to cold air
Maintain hydration and proper nutrition
Lifestyle modifications to reduce stress.
Discussion:
This case demonstrates the role of individualized homeopathic prescription in treating chronic respiratory hypersensitivity. Sepia was chosen based on totality, including physical and mental generals. The improvement observed in this case aligns with classical homeopathic principles, emphasizing holistic treatment over symptomatic relief. Homeopathy provides an effective, non-invasive approach for managing such cases.
Aphorism 246 (6th Edition, Footnote)
When repetition of the remedy is not necessary, the LM potency will cause strong aggravations, unproductive accessory symptoms, and slow down the cure. Unneeded repetition can make a patient more hypersensitive or make them non-reactive due to overexposure.
This highlights the importance of cautious dosing, especially in sensitive individuals, to avoid adverse reactions and ensure effective treatment.
Aphorism 282 (6th Edition)
It would be a certain sign that the doses were altogether too large, if during treatment, especially in chronic disease, the first dose should bring forth a so-called homoeopathic aggravation.
This suggests that in hypersensitive patients, even standard doses might provoke strong reactions, indicating the necessity for individualized, minimal dosing strategies. Aphorism 260 (6th edition)
Hence the careful investigation into such obstacles to cure is so much the more necessary in the case of patients affected by chronic diseases, as their diseases are usually aggravated by such noxious influences and other disease-causing errors in the diet and regimen.
This underscores the heightened sensitivity of certain patients to environmental and lifestyle factors, necessitating a comprehensive approach to treatment that considers these elements. [8,9]
Conclusion:
The case highlights the efficacy of individualized homeopathic treatment in resolving respiratory hypersensitivity. A single constitutional remedy, Sepia, addressed both physical and mental symptoms, leading to complete recovery. This case supports the need for further research on homeopathy’s role in respiratory conditions.
“The patient reported significant improvement, stating that she no longer experiences night- time cough and can tolerate mild cold air exposure.”
The patient has provided informed consent for the publication of this case report, including relevant anonymized personal history.
References:
1. Ullman, Dana, and Michael Frass. “A review of homeopathic research in the treatment of respiratory allergies.” Alternative medicine review: a journal of clinical therapeutic vol. 15,1 (2010): 48-58.
2. Colin, P. “Homeopathy and respiratory allergies: a series of 147 cases.” Homeopathy: the journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy vol. 95,2 (2006): 68- 72. doi: 10.1016/j.homp. 2006.01.003
3. Management of Chronic Rhinitis with Individualized Homoeopathic Medicines- A Case Report. AJBR [Internet]. 2024 Oct. 21 [cited 2025 May 12];27(3):832-41. Available from: https://africanjournalofbiomedicalresearch.com/index.php/AJBR/article/view/2618
4. Anthony J. Frew, The immunology of respiratory allergies, Toxicology Letters, Volume 86, Issues 2–3, 1996, Pages 65-72, ISSN 0378-4274, https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4274(96)03674-0.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0378427496036740) 5. Rebecca Bascom, Environmental factors and respiratory hyper sensitivity: the Americas, Toxicology Letters, Volume 86, Issues 2–3, 1996, Pages 115-130, ISSN 0378-4274, https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4274(96)03682.
6. http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/s/sep.htm
7. http://www.homeoint.org/books/allkeyn/allkeyss.htm#Sep
8. Hahnemann Samuel. Organon of Medicine, 5th and 6th edition, Reprint 2007, B Jain Publishers New Delhi.
9. Hahnemann.S. The Chronic Diseases, Their Peculiar Nature and Their Homoeopathic Cure. 16th Impression 2017, B.Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd New Delhi. 10. Kent JT. Lecture on Homoeopathic Philosophy. re print Ed. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers Pvt Ltd. 2002.
About the Author:
Dr. Vaishali Saxena – Post Graduate Trainee, Dept Of Organon of Medicine and Homoeopathic Philosophy. GHMC Bhopal.
Guided by :
Dr. Rakesh Sunkusare, (Associate professor), Dept of organon of medicine and homoeopathic philosophy. GHMC Bhopal
