Note: Homeopathic Treatment requires strict individualization. Please do not take any medicine without consulting your physician/homeopath.
Addison's disease is a severe or total deficiency
of the hormones made in the adrenal cortex, caused by a destruction
of the adrenal cortex. There are normally two adrenal glands, located
above each kidney. The adrenal glands are really two endocrine (
ductless or hormone producing ) glands in one. The inner part of
the adrenal ( called the medulla ) produces epinephrine ( also called
adrenaline ) which is produced at times of stress and helps the
body respond to "fight or flight" situations by raising
the pulse rate, adjusting blood flow, and raising blood sugar. However,
the absence of the adrenal medulla and epinephrine does not cause
disease.
In contrast, the outer portion of the adrenal, the cortex, is more
critical. The adrenal cortex makes two important steroid hormones,
cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol mobilizes nutrients, modifies
the body's response to inflammation, stimulates the liver to raise
the blood sugar, and also helps to control the amount of water in
the body. Aldosterone regulates salt and water levels which affects
blood volume and blood pressure. Cortisol production is regulated
by another hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), made in
the pituitary gland which is located just below the brain. Classical
Addison's disease results from a loss of both cortisol and aldosterone
secretion due to the near total or total destruction of both adrenal
glands. This condition is also called primary adrenal insufficiency.
If ACTH is deficient, there will not be enough cortisol produced,
although aldosterone may remain adequate. This is secondary adrenal
insufficiency, which is distinctly different, but similar to Addison's
disease, since both include a loss of cortisol secretion.
#Arsenicum [Ars]
This is the most homoeopathic of all remedies to this disease. Both
the disease and drug have nerve depression, gastric irritation,
general debility, feeble heart action and tendency to vomit. The
skin symptoms have also a curious similarity; both the burning and
the discoloration have been found in several cases of poisoning
by Arsenic.
The disease, though considered an incurable one, may have its development
arrested by the proper remedy. Among other remedies to be thought
of are: Thuja; Natrum muriaticum, which especially corresponds to
the languor, muscular fatigue, indigestion, melancholia, etc., so
often present at the onset of the disease; Belladonna,
Calcarea carbonica, Iodine and Phosphorus. Arsenicum iodatum
is also especially worthy of a trial. Tuberculinum may also be well indicated.Boenninghausen gives Antimonium crudum,
Nitric acid, Secale and Spigelia as remedies producing a bronzed
skin. Argentum nitricum is a promising
remedy and has greatly benefited one case. It produces loss of appetite,
chronic wasting and diarrhoea. The fact that it stains the skin
by its chemical action is of no therapeutic value. Argyria is not
Addison's disease. |
