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Epistaxis

Epistaxis, commonly known as the nosebleed, is an acute hemorrhage from the nostril, nasal cavity or the nasopharynx.

Epistaxis can be divided into 2 categories, anterior bleeds and posterior bleeds, on the basis of the site where the bleeding originates.

Anterior epistaxis

• Accounts for about 90% of the nosebleeds
• Usually originates from the Kiesselbach Plexus, located at the anterior nasal septum, often known as Little’s area

Posterior epistaxis

• Originates from the nasopharynx
• This may result in more active bleeding than anterior epistaxis

Symptoms

Nosebleeds usually involve only one nostril, but occasionally, if one nostril is blocked by a blood clot, the blood comes out through the other nostril or down the back of the throat.

The amount of bleeding varies, with posterior bleeds normally having the maximum amount of blood loss.Vomiting and nausea are also symptoms if there is excess blood flow, leading to swallowing.

Causes

Though most nosebleeds do not have a common or easily identifiable cause, trauma is one of the biggest contributors to epistaxis. Nose picking and repeated use of nasal sprays give rise to many anterior bleeds. Other causes include sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infections, and allergies that can potentially damage the respiratory lining, resulting in nosebleeds.

Some of the other factors that cause nosebleeds are:

• Exposure to dry, hot air for prolonged periods of time
• Foreign body in nasal cavity
• Vigorous nose blowing
• Nasal surgery
• Deviated septum
• Drug abuse

Hypertension

Bumps Or Falls

Headache, Flu Or High Fever

Treatment

Homeopathic treatment starts first with understanding the case history of the patient. Post case analysis, the treatment first acts on the affected area and works on stopping the bleeding, removing the swelling, reducing the pain, and healing the injured tissues. Once this is done, the underlying cause of epistaxis is identified and worked upon.

There are special anti-hemorrhagic medicines like hammemalis and millifolium which work beautifully to prevent severe blood loss during acute attacks of epistaxis.

In homeopathy, there are over 300 medicines which provide relief to epistaxis. However the combinations of the concoctions vary from patient to patient, and is determined by the clinician at the time of case analysis.

Authored By Dr. Sanjay Panicker