Homeopathy Remedies for Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis is a disease
characterized by progressive weakness and exhaustibility of voluntary muscles
without atrophy or sensory disturbance and caused by an autoimmune attack on
acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.
A chronic progressive disease characterized by chronic fatigue and muscular
weakness (especially in the face and neck); caused by a deficiency of
acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junctions In early stages, myasthenia gravis primarily affects muscles that control eye movement (extraocular muscles) and those that control facial expression, chewing, and swallowing. If untreated, the disorder may affect muscles that control breathing (respiration), causing acute respiratory failure.
Types-
Myasthenia gravis can be classified according to which skeletal muscles are affected. Within a year of onset, approximately 85?90% of patients develop generalized myasthenia gravis, which is characterized by weakness in the trunk, arms, and legs.
About 10?15% of patients have weakness only in muscles that control eye movement. This type is called ocular myasthenia gravis.
Other types of MG include congenital, which an inherited condition is caused by genetic defect, and transient neonatal, which occurs in infants born to mothers who have MG. Congenital MG develops at or shortly after birth and causes generalized symptoms.
Transient neonatal MG is a temporary condition that develops in 10?20% of infants born to mothers who have MG. Transient neonatal MG is caused by circulation of the mother's antibodies through the placenta and it lasts as long as the mother's antibodies remain in the infant (usually a few weeks after birth).
Symptoms-
The
list of signs and symptoms in Myasthenia Gravis includes:
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Muscle weakness
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Eye muscle weakness
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Drooping eyelids
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Double vision
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Facial muscle weakness
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Facial expression difficulty i.e. Flat
expression
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Difficulty in chewing, talking, swallowing
etc...
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Slurred speech Fig: Drooping of eyelid in
Myasthenia Gravis
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Difficulty breathing
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Neck muscle weakness
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Limb muscle weakness
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Muscle weakness on exertion
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Nasal voice
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Weak voice.
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Complications-
The
list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources for
Myasthenia Gravis includes:
- Myasthenic crisis - acute muscle weakness leading to respiratory failure
- Respiratory paralysis
- Acute respiratory failure- if the breathing muscles adversely affected.
- Neonatal myasthenia - a syndrome in babies of autoimmune myasthenia gravis mothers.
- Limb paralysis
Following homeopathic medicines have
been found effective in many cases of Myasthenia gravis:
1. Alumina
[Alum]
A
very general condition corresponding to this drug is dryness
of mucous membranes and skin, and tendency to paretic
muscular states. Sluggish functions, heaviness, numbness, and
staggering, and the characteristic constipation find an excellent remedy in
Alumina. Worse, in morning on awaking; warm room. Better, in open air; from
cold washing; in evening and on alternate days. Better damp weather.
2. Conium Maculatum
[Conium]
One
of the most important homeopathic remedies for paralysis. The ascending paralysis it produces, ending in death by
failure of respiration, shows the ultimate tendency of many symptoms produced
in the proving, for which Conium is an excellent remedy, such as difficult
gait, trembling, sudden loss of strength while walking, painful stiffness of
legs. Etc... Worse from lying down, turning or rising in bed; celibacy; before
and during menses, from taking cold, bodily or mental exertion. Better, while
fasting, in the dark, from letting limbs hang down, motion and pressure.
3. Gelsemium Sempervirens
[Gels]
Gels
center its action upon the nervous system, causing various degrees of motor paralysis. General prostration. Dizziness, drowsiness,
dullness, and trembling. Slow pulse, tired feeling, and mental apathy. Paralysis of various groups of muscles about the
eyes, throat, chest, larynx, sphincter, extremities, etc. Muscular
weakness. Complete relaxation and prostration. Lack of muscular co-ordination.
Worse, damp weather, fog, before a thunderstorm, emotion, or excitement, bad
news, tobacco-smoking, when thinking of his ailments; at 10 am. Better, bending
forward, by profuse urination, open air, continued motion, stimulants.
4.
Zincum metallicum [Zinc Met]
The
most important keynote for this remedy is: "Incessant and violent fidgety
feeling in feet or lower limbs; must move them constantly; cannot keep them
quiet." Weakness and trembling of feet. Paralysis of feet:
from spinal or chronic nervous disease, softening of brain or cerebral
hæmorrhage; from suppressed foot-sweat. Feet sweaty and sore
about toes; fetid suppressed foot-sweat with much nervous excitement. Coldness
of the feet at night. Nervous, fidgety movement of the feet;
after retiring and during sleep.
5.
Curare [Curare]
Muscular
paralysis without impairing sensation and consciousness is the key note
indication of the remedy. Paralysis of respiratory muscles is very important. Reflex action diminished. Debility of the aged and
from loss of fluids.
The following medicines may also
prove useful according to the indications:
Cabo-an, Niccolum, Psorinum, Sepia, , Cadmium, Graphites, Cocc.