title: Improvement of Asthma and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease With Oral Pulvis stomachicus cum Belladonna, a Combination of Matricaria recutita, Atropa belladonna, Bismuth, and Antimonite: A Pediatric Case Report.
abstract: The association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and asthma, although well established in adults, is less strong in the pediatric age group. Benefits of proton pump therapy are limited across age ranges. While there is a growing body of literature on the use of complementary treatments for both asthma and GERD, few studies have focused on treatment benefits for the GERD-asthma association. We present the case of a 2-year-old boy with asthma and GERD who was not responding to inhaled, low-dose corticosteroids, beta-mimetic therapy, and a 6-week course of proton pump inhibitor treatment. We noted a gradual disappearance of symptoms when he was given an oral preparation of Pulvis stomachicus cum Belladonna, an anthroposophic medication containing Matricaria recutita, Atropa belladonna, bismuth, and antimonite. Matricaria recutita and bismuth have known gastric protective properties, and Atropa belladonna contains anticholinergic agents that have a bronchodilatory effect. These complementary medications appear promising in terms of relieving the symptoms of GERD-associated asthma.
authors.affiliation: ARCIM Institute, Filderklinik, Filderstadt, Germany; Department of Pediatrics, Fribourg Hospital HFR, Switzerland (Dr von Schoen-Angerer).
authors.forename: Tido
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von Schoen-Angerer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Filderklinik, Filderstadt, Germany (Dr Madeleyn).
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madeleyn
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Epistemology and Medical Methodology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Freiburg, Germany (Dr Kiene).
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiene
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Epistemology and Medical Methodology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Freiburg, Germany (Dr Kienle).
authors.forename: Gunver S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kienle
authors.affiliation: ARCIM Institute, Filderklinik, Filderstadt, Germany; Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany (Dr Vagedes).
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vagedes
keywords: Asthma; Atropa belladonna; Matricaria recutita; Pulvis stomachicus cum Belladonna; anthroposophic medicine; complementary medicine; gastroesophageal reflux disease