An outcome study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of homoeopathy and phytotherapy in combination in the treatment of asthma. Homoeopathic treatment consisted of both individual and combination remedies prescribed according to the patient's unique symptom picture while the herbal intervention consisted of an Ephedra compound called Bromelain and a compound herbal cough mixture. Fifty-one patients took part in the study, divided into two groups, those under twenty-one (n=27), and those over 21 (n=24) and their clinical outcome was measured using a set of classification criteria belonging to three broad groupings - "Probable improvement", "Possible improvement" and "No improvement". Homoeopathic remedies used most frequently were Pulsatilla nigricans, Arsenicum album and Kalium carbonicum. Unfortunately twenty-two subjects dropped out of the study but of the remainder 86.2% reported an improvement while 13.8% reported no improvement. Analysis of figures from the two groups showed that 94% of the under-21s reported improvement in contrast to 75% of the older group. These results indicate that combined homoeopathic and phytotherapeutic treatment of asthma can be effective though further evaluation including double-blind studies is required.

A case of a 9 year old boy suffering from allergic asthma is analysed in detail. The child had family problems because he was considered lazy and weak. The seaside aggravated his asthma and he had had mononucleosis. Repertorisation indicated Aqua marina, which caused an aggravation of swelling of the cervical glands and a high temperature. This was allowed to run its course and after 2 days the boy recovered fully, with great improvement in his asthma since then.

The effect of a homeopathic preparation on the clinical condition of patients with corticosteroid-dependent bronchial asthma.

Due to the adverse effects experienced by patients suffering from corticosteroid-dependent asthma, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of the homoeopathic complex preparation Engystol was undertaken on 40 patients between June and December 1993. Only patients whose FEV1 (forced expiration volume in the first second) exceeded by 50% the normal expected value and whose PEFR (peak expiratory flow rate) was 80% below the normal afternoon value were included in the study. Twenty patients received one ampule of Engystol subcutaneously every five to seven days while the remaining patients received placebo. A number of clinical parameter tests were conducted before and after the study, including granulocyte function tests conducted using the methods of Clausen, Matusiewicz and Brzenzinska, Park and Bellavite et al. The author describes briefly each method. Results showed that administation of Engystol led to statistically significant improved PEFR values, FVC values, and FEV1 values when compared to placebo where these values were reduced, and a statistically significant reduction in corticosteroid dosage was made possible for those within the Engystol group. Granulocyte funtion tests similarly showed a positive outcome in favour of Engystol. The authors conclude that Engystol is an effective therapy for bronchial asthma enabling a reduction in corticosteroid usage and reduced adverse effects.