Homeopathy Treatment for Epistaxis
Epistaxis/Nose Bleeding
Epistaxis is a medical term for Nose bleeding. The nose is a part of the body that is very rich in blood vessels (vascular) and is situated in a vulnerable position on the face. Nosebleeds can occur spontaneously when the nasal membranes dry out, crust, and crack.
It has been estimated that up to 60% of the population has had at least 1 episode of Epistaxis throughout their lifetime. Approximately 5-10% of the population experiences an episode of active nasal bleeding each year. Fortunately, fewer than 10% of these patients visit a physician for this problem and only one of those ten will require hospitalization. The incidence increases with advancing age, during the winter months, and Epistaxis is more common in males. Usually, in pregnancy, the bleeding of Epistaxis is in small quantity and self-limiting, but at times it can be severe & life threatening. That is why Epistaxis should never be treated as a harmless event either from the diagnostic or therapeutic point of view.
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Types of Nose Bleeding
There are two types of Nose bleeding:-
Anterior Epistaxis:
- Accounts for approximately 90% of nosebleeds.
- Usually originates from the Kiesselbach plexus located at the anterior nasal septum; this region is called Little’s area.
Posterior Epistaxis:
- Originates from the posterior nasal cavity or nasopharynx.
- Posterior nasal and nasopharyngeal vessels often have a larger caliber and may produce more active bleeding.
Causes of Nose Bleeding/Epistaxis
Local factors
Most common factors
- Trauma- usually a sharp blow to the face results in Epistaxis. This may be associated with nasal fracture.
- Foreign bodies -such as fingers during nose-picking
- Inflammatory reaction –g. acute respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis or environmental irritants
Other factors
- Anatomical deformities –g. septal spurs or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
- Insufflated drugs particularly cocaine
- Intranasal tumors –g. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma or nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
- Low relative humidity of inhaled air particularly during cold winter seasons
- Nasal cannula O2 tending to dry the olfactory mucosa
- Nasal sprays particularly prolonged or improper use of nasal steroids
- Otic barotrauma such as from descent in aircraft or ascent in scuba diving.
- Surgery g., septoplasty and Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Systemic factors
Most common factors
- Allergies
- Infectious diseases (g. common cold)
- Hypertension also allergic to aspirin
Other factors
- Drugs — Aspirin, Fexofenadine/Allegra/Telfast, warfarin, ibuprofen, clopidogrel, isotretinoin, desmopressin, ginseng and others
- Alcohol (due to vasodilation)
- Anemia
- Connective tissue disease
- Bleeding disorders
- Envenomation by mambas, taipans, kraits, and death adders
- Heart failure (due to an increase in venous pressure)
- Hematological malignancy
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
- Pregnancy (rare)
- Vascular disorders
- Vitamin C or Vitamin K deficiency
- von Willebrand’s disease
- The consumption of hot foods and drinks e.g., sugar, salt, nuts, coke (googka) etc.
Complications of Nose-Bleeding
Epistaxis is relatively benign in nature, but it can produce a serious, life-threatening situation. Complications of Epistaxis/nose-bleeding include: –
- Nausea and vomiting due to the swallowing of blood.
- More serious complications can include anemia, hypovolemic shock, airway obstruction and very rarely, death.
- The underlying disorder, disease or conditions can also cause complications.
Symptoms and signs of Nose Bleeding
Symptoms include: –
- Bleeding which is seen usually from one nostril in anterior nosebleed however posterior nosebleed causes bleeding down the back of the mouth and throat. When the patient leans forward, the blood may flow from the nostril.
- Nose pain
- Nose swelling
Signs of excessive blood loss include:
- dizziness,
- weakness,
- confusion, and
- Fainting
Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors for nosebleed include:
- Irregularity in the structure of the nose
- Abnormalities of the blood vessels in the nose (angiomas)
- Dry climate
- Winter, with dry, heated indoor air
- Allergies
- Colds
- Sinusitis
- Infections like
- Chickenpox
- Malaria
- Influenza
- Scarlet fever
- Typhoid fever
- High blood pressure
Diagnosis of Nose-Bleeding/Epistaxis
The doctor takes a detail of your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical exam. Your pulse and blood pressure will be taken carefully because severe bleeding can cause these to become dangerously low.
Tests may include:
- Sinus x-rays —to identify abnormalities or a mass in the nasal region
- Endoscopy—using a thin, lighted tube to examine nasal tissues not visible from the front of the nose
- Blood tests—to check for anemia, low blood platelets, or clotting problems
Treatment of Epistaxis
Homeopathy had many miraculous cures in last 2 centuries. Our touch with homeopathy was not for rare miracles to make happen, but for mass cures.
Unlike allopathic treatment homeopathy provides safe, gentle, and permanent cure for Epistaxis.
Homeopathic medicines prescribed after a complete case taking firstly act on the affected area of the nose resulting in the stoppage of bleeding, removes swelling, reduces the pain, heals the injured tissues and then acts on the underlying cause of Epistaxis like infections, bleeding disorders, etc. The need of the other medicines patient is on like aspirin, medicine for blood pressure etc also reduces slowly as homeopathic medicines act holistically addressing all the complaints of the patient.
In homeopathy there are special anti- hemorrhagic medicines which give marvelous results during the acute attacks of Epistaxis to prevent severe blood loss.
In short homeopathic treatment is targeted towards the root cause of the illness and hence the disease is treated from the core. Homeopathy believes in treating the patient and not just the disease.
How to stop a nosebleed at home and self-care
- Remain calm
- Sit up straight
- Lean your head forward. Tilting your head back will only cause you to swallow the blood.
- Pinch the nostrils together with your thumb and index finger for 10 minutes.
- Spit out any blood in your mouth. Swallowing may cause vomiting.
- Once the bleeding stops do not pick or blow your nose.
- Avoid straining, bending, or lifting.
- Sit up. If the bleeding starts again, try to remove clots.