The Pinocchio's Nose

Why did author Carlo Collodi choose Nose as the fictitional character Pinocchio’s special gift? Why not fingers or ear? Nose is a special organ which other than its physical and physiological importance has a symbolic significance. Nose has always been linked to a person’s self esteem, his pride. So with each belittling lie of Pinocchio his nose would grow. The added exposure which nose has received in this tale brings to our notice the Importance of Nose for a human.

Nose is an organ of special senses responsible for smelling; other than this it also provides a passage for respiration. It filters the air we breathe, removing dust, germs and irritants. It even conditions the air to keep our lungs and tubes from drying out. Alongwith the paranasal sinuses it helps in reducing weight of the head. Being one of the special gifts of nature it needs special care and protection. A major chunk of acute cases in our clinic come with ENT complaints which also included nose diseases. Some of the common complaints of nose which torment an individual include:

Epistaxis

Bleeding from Nose: This comes as a emergency case when there is excessive bleeding and the patient gets panicky. In such cases ask the patient to sit, not to lie down, and close the nose by pinching its sides. Give ice drinks, sprinkle ice water or cold water over the face and head. Homeopathy has a great role to play here. Medicines like Arnica, when there is a history of injury, Phosphorus when fresh bright red blood flows; Hamamelis when there is Blackish blood; Belladona in clotted blood. Others include:

Aconite: approach to nosebleed heralded by marked anxiety and restlessness, with fullness of head, in young and plethoric persons.
Belladona: Nosebleed of little children at night, with congestion to head; blood flows freely, even from both nostrils, drop by drop; nosebleed when in bed or on waking in the morning.
Ferrum met: Profuse and repeated bleeding, nostrils continually full of clotted blood, especially in anaemic persons, subject to ebullitions, with an ashy pale face, flushing easily, who are always cold, even in bed; epistaxis in children with frequent changes in colour of face; blood light or lumpy, coagulates easily (Merc. Puls.).

Rhinitis, Sneezing, Cold

Rhinitis is defined as inflammation of the nasal membranes and is characterized by a symptom complex that consists of any combination of the following: sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and rhinorrhea. The eyes, ears, sinuses, and throat can also be involved.

Allergic rhinitis is a condition in which an allergen (something that causes an allergic reaction) causes inflammation of nasal mucosa. This can cause cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, itchiness and a blocked or runny nose. Some of the commonly indicated remedies are:
Arsenicum which produces a good deal of prostration, with free, irritating, thin discharge from nose and eyes. Allium cepa: Fluent coryza; tightness at root of nose; constant sneezing; pain in back, and chills; melancholy, anxiety, restlessness. Symptoms worse in a room, better out of doors.
Pulsatilla.----Discharge of yellowish-green fetid mucus from the nose; loss of appetite and sense of taste; head heavy and embarrassed, especially in the evening and by the warmth of a room; with stoppage of the nose, no thirst; tearful humour; chilliness all the evening; amelioration in the open air.
Nux Vomica is the remedy when the cold is “dry” and the nose blocked; or it may be dry in the morning and fluent in the evening. There is heaviness of the forehead. An angry, quarrelsome humour is characteristic of Nux. Aggravation of symptoms occurs from mental exertion; in the morning; after retiring, especially after dinner; from motion; from slight touch; in the open air (in this contrasting with Pulsatilla, as it does in so many points); and in dry weather.

Deviated Nasal Septum

Usually, the nasal septum is straight, lying about in the middle of the two nostrils. Occasionally, it may be bent (deviated) because of a birth defect or injury and positioned so that one nostril is much smaller than the other. Most people have some minor deviation of the septum so that one nostril is tighter than the other. A minor deviation usually causes no symptoms and requires no treatment. However, if severe, a deviation may block one side of the nose, making a person prone to inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis), particularly if the deviated septum blocks drainage from a sinus into the nasal cavity. Also, a deviated septum may make a person prone to nosebleeds because of the drying effect of airflow over the deviation. Other symptoms may include facial pain, headaches, and noisy night breathing. A deviated septum that causes breathing problems can be surgically repaired.

Foreign Body in the Nose

Usually children insert things like paper, marbels, grains, beads in the nose, subconsciously while playing. In such cases child should be taken to an experienced doctor where foreign body is removed under anaesthesia. Unsuccessful attempts to extract the article can push it deeper causing further injury.

Nasal Polyp

They are soft growths that develop on the linings of nose or sinuses. Polyps may develop during infections and may disappear after the infection subsides, or they may begin slowly and persist. Many people are not aware that they have nasal polyps, although they may have sneezing, nasal congestion, obstruction, drainage of fluid down the throat (postnasal drip), facial pain, excessive discharge from the nose, loss of smell (anosmia), reduced ability to smell (hyposmia), itching around the eyes, and chronic infections.
Sanguinaria nit: Is useful in acute and chronic catarrh with polypus in the nose. It cures acute pharyngitis. Nose feels obstructed. There is profuse, watery mucus with burning pain. Enlarged turbinates at the beginning of hypertrophic process. Small crusts in the nose which bleed when removed. Dry and burning nostrils. Sneezing. Lemna minor: Cures nasal polypi with swollen turbinates. It is a very useful medicine in atrophic rhinitis. It removes oedematous condition of the polypi thereby relieving the obstruction.

These are some of the most common diseases or complaints of Nose and their Homeopathic therapeutics. Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat comprise a major portion of our day to day practice – almost 50% of acute cases fall in this category. Only a few of us understand the seriousness of ENT cases. Many of us forget to examine the ear (acute Otitis media) in febrile cases of children; sometimes we prove ourselves incompetent in cases of epistaxis, even sometimes we dismiss a simple case of nasal turbinate inflammation as nasal polyp.

So we are dedicating the December Issue of Homeopathic Horizon on DISEASES OF NOSE AND HOMEOPATHY. The importance of this Issue hence cannot be overemphasized. This issue will not only discuss common Nose Diseases but also discuss their prevention. With this we present to you the December Issue.

In the mean time I wish you a Peaceful and Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Homeopathic New Year 2012

Happy Reading!!