Anosmia

Diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer’s can affect sense of smell.

“Ever since I am suffering from this cold, my food doesn’t taste good at all” is a common refrain. Well, that is because tasting is actually smelling. The act of smell has various advantages and loss of smell can be very disturbing too.

Anosmia means loss of smell and if a person has to go through this predicament there could be some reasons for it. The exact mechanism behind the sense of smell as such is a mystery but the way it is transmitted to the brain is thus. The odour molecules from the environment are breathed into the nasal cavity and on to the lining of the sensitive portion of the nose where the thin hair-like structures cilia trap them. The molecules are introduced to the “olfactory neurons” or the nerve endings which relay it to the nervous system and the brain and the sense of smell is processed and experienced. But there are some causes which can disrupt this experience either temporarily or permanently. Smokers find that the smell is affected as the mucus layer is affected by it benumbing the sensation. If one is exposed to the same smell over a period of time the nervous system rejects to discern it. People working in industries, exposure to chemicals, heavy metals, acids and pollutants causes the cilia to slow down in picking up the sense. Hormonal imbalance like hypothyroidism is also known to affect it. Diseases of the nervous system like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and even migraine can affects this sense. But probably the commonest reason for this predicament has been allergy of the nasal cavity and sinusitis. In these conditions due to exposure to allergens there is a production of a fluent nasal discharge which follows sneezing. This mucus layer obstructs the sensory layer of the nasal cavity and interrupts its function of relaying the data to the brain. Allergy also leads to formation of fluid filled nasal cells called the polyps and the function of the nose is compromised again. Worse is still to come as the repeated bouts of the allergy produce a discharge which finds its way into the empty spaces in the vicinity of the nasal cavity i.e the sinuses. This becomes a haven for bacteria to cause a secondary infection and it causes the blockage of the drainage of the sinus. This condition is called as Sinusitis. Since it is predominantly the area where the sensitive nerve endings take up the impulses they are blocked to do their function. This all leads to loss of smell.

Homoeopathic medicine has good remedies which can address the cause of the problem. If it is the diseases of the nervous system few remedies which invigorate the sense of smell are Opium, Nux vomica, Phos and Plum met. To improve the glandular function thereby the other allied symptoms like sense of smell get better, Psorinum, Thyroidinum have been found to be helpful. Pulsatilla, Sepia, Silicea are few remedies which keep the nasal allergy at bay and Hydrastis, Kali bich, Thuja clear the sinuses of the secondary infection so that the sense of smell gets restored. To enjoy the flavour of food, detect fumes and leaking gas, homoeopathy will surely perform the rescue act.

Dr. Venugopal Gouri
92463 72625 drvenugopal@gmail.com
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Normal delivery

Does Homeopathic medicine have a good remedy for normal delivery?

Savita

To facilitate normal contractions of the uterus during labour and the process of parturition, homoeopathic medicine has good remedies. As such the condition needs to be ascertained to suggest the probability of treatment.

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Hoarseness

I used to have hoarseness after teaching for about two hours but nowadays even after about fifteen minutes my voice goes strained and needs a break. Can homoeopathy help?

Praveena

With the help of a test called Laryngoscopy it can be visualised whether there is any inflammation, development of nodules which is common in professions where strain on voice is requisite. Once it is ascertained homoeopathic medicine has good remedies such as Arg met, Selenium that can help you relieve hoarseness.

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Depression

My 13-year-old son gets irritable, cries and gets depressed easily. It could be because we have shifted to a new place, new school, bullying by peers. He is very sensitive. Can homoeopathy help?

ABC

All the factors mentioned above, stress of studies, teenage can all lead to this crisis. Apart from counselling to help him out of the depression, mild homoeopathic remedies like Ignatia, Staphysagria can be administered under the guidance of a homoeopath.

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Lichen planus

This is the third time in five years that I have the problem of lichen planus. Every time I have been under medication for five to six months. Itching on the legs with rawness on scratching is the most troublesome.

Kabir

It is a condition where the immunity goes astray and leads to this skin condition with itching. Though there is no other cause usually stress has been known to aggravate it. Dulcamara, Thuja, Ac.nit, Rhus tox are a few remedies which can help such a condition. Consult a homoeopath.