What is Achalasia?

Achalasia is a disorder in which the rhythmic contractions of the esophagus (called peristalsis) are absent or impaired, the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax normally, and the resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter is increased.

How the Esophagus Works.

The esophagus is the hollow tube that leads from the throat (pharynx) to the stomach.
As a person swallows, food moves from the mouth to the throat, and just below the junction of the throat and the esophagus is a band of muscle called the upper esophageal sphincter. The upper esophageal sphincter opens so that food can enter the esophagus, where waves of muscular contractions, called peristalsis, propel the food downward and the food then passes through the lower esophageal sphincter and moves into the stomach.

When the esophagus is not in use, these sphincters close so that food and stomach acid do not flow back up the esophagus from the stomach to the mouth.

Achalasia is a serious condition that affects the esophagus.
If you have achalasia, there is a lack of peristalsis within the body of the esophagus. In addition, the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax (fails to open up) during swallowing, which it’s supposed to do. This leads to a backup of food within the esophagus. This condition can be related to damaged nerves in your esophagus. It can also be due to damage of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Causes of achalasia

Achalasia results from a malfunction of the nerves (called denervation) controlling the rhythmic contractions of the esophagus. The cause of the denervation is not usually known, but viral and autoimmune causes are suspected. Certain tumors may cause an achalasia–like disorder either by directly narrowing (constricting) the lower esophageal sphincter or by infiltrating the nerves of the esophagus.
Chagas disease, an infection that causes the destruction of clusters of nerve cells (autonomic ganglia), may also result in achalasia.

What are the symptoms of achalasia?

1. Dysphagia; people with achalasia will often have trouble swallowing or feel like food is stuck in their esophagus. This symptom can cause coughing and raise the risk of aspiration, or inhaling or choking on food.
2. About one third of people who have achalasia spit up (regurgitate) undigested food. If spitting up occurs when people are sleeping, they may inhale food into their lungs, which can cause coughing, infection of the airways, bronchiectasis, or aspiration pneumonia.
3. Weight loss; when people have significant weight loss, especially older people whose symptoms of dysphagia developed rapidly, doctors consider and usually look for a tumor at the gastroesophageal junction (the place where the esophagus connects to the stomach).
4. Pain or discomfort in the chest
5. Heartburn
6. Intense pain or discomfort after eating

What can achalasia lead to?

Achalasia cardia can present in a mild manner and is rarely life threatening. However if left untreated, the following complications may arise;

• Aspiration Pneumonia- This is a sudden complication arising due to aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs causing breathing difficulties due to bronchopneumonia.

• Esophagitis- Recurrent collection of food contents can lead to irritation of lining causing inflammation of esophagus.

• GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) – Regurgitation of gastric contents into the oral cavity due to Lower Esophageal Sphincter abnormality.

• Esophageal Perforation – Chronic inflammation and irritation can lead to ulceration and may cause perforation of the esophagus which is a medical emergency.

• Cancer of Esophagus – Adenocarcinoma of esophagus has been noted in patients treated for achalasia in the past.

• Malnutrition – Long term dysphagia can lead to weight loss affecting the nutritional status of the person suffering from achalasia

Lifestyle changes

Both before and after treatment, achalasia patients may need to

• Eat slowly

• Chew food very well

• Drink plenty of water with meal

• Avoid eating near bedtime

• Raising the head off the bed or sleeping with a wedge pillow promotes emptying of the esophagus by gravity.

HOW CAN HOMOEOPATHY HELP IN ACHALASIA?

Homeopathy is a holistic system of medicine which works at all levels of mind and body.

The Homeopathic medicines will act on the smooth muscles of the esophagus and help in strengthening and improving the overall tone of the esophageal sphincter in the treatment of achalasia.
Complaints of swallowing difficulties, vomiting and heart burn with esophageal spasms are excellently handled with homeopathic medicines with respect to achalasia.

Medicines in homeopathy work at a much deeper level and improve the overall health of the patient and prevent unnecessary complications and relapses.

Few of the amazing homeopathic remedies for achalasia include the following:

• Arsenic album: It is an excellent remedy in homeopathic treatment of achalasia with symptoms like dyspepsia, heartburn, and dysphagia. Everything patient swallows seems to have lodged in the esophagus.

• Baptisia: This is a wonderful remedy in homeopathic treatment of achalasia with dyspepsia and dysphagia accompanied with muscular soreness. Patient can only swallow liquids and often vomits due to spasm of esophagus.

• Ignatia: Patient feels a lump-like sensation in the throat that cannot be swallowed. Difficulty in swallowing with tendency to choke. Patient feels better when swallowing solids and finds liquids harder to swallow. It is a leading remedy in homeopathic treatment for achalasia.

• Asafoetida: Indicated remedy for spasmodic contraction of esophagus and stomach with impaired peristalsis.
This remedy is also indicated when one experiences a feeling of globus hystericus – sensation of a ball rising in throat with a feeling as if esophagus were driven from stomach to throat.

• Phosphorus – It is an effective homeopathic remedy for achalasia where there is a regurgitation of food. The lower end of esophagus seems contracted. The food comes up again in mouthfuls. This happens soon after swallowing the food. Nausea during the night is also common.

• Robinia; It is a very effective homeopathic medicine for treating achalasia cardia when heartburn is most troublesome. Heartburn is worse at night on lying down and is accompanied by vomiting of intensely sour fluid.

• Kali carb; it is a very good homeopathic remedy for achalasia when the food gets stuck in the food pipe. The person needing Kali Carb often complains that the food passes very slowly down the food pipe and lodges halfway there. A stinging pain may be felt in the throat while swallowing.

• Lachesis; This is useful in case of achalasia where the person experiences difficulty in swallowing. Solid food is swallowed easily but is difficult to swallow liquids. Liquids tend to back up and return through the nose. A constant sensation of a lump in the throat is present in a majority of the cases needing Lachesis.

• Alumina; People who need Alumina find it very difficult to swallow solids. They need to cut their food in very small pieces before eating it. It is also extremely difficult for the food to pass down the food pipe and reach the stomach. It seems to get lodged in the food pipe and, there is a sensation of a lump present in the throat.

There are many amazing homeopathic medicines in treating achalasia but there will be one(s) that will be peculiar to every individual’s symptoms. So, for your individualized remedy selection and treatment of achalasia, consult the Homeopath Oluwafunmise on 08028366901 or 08183554665.