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Herbal &
homeopathic remedies useful in Altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness (AMS),
high altitude sickness or soroche)
Altitude Sickness
HEALTH HERBS & NUTRITION
- REMEDIES - BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM - ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS),
high altitude sickness or soroche, is a pathological condition that is
caused by acute exposure to low air pressure (usually outdoors at
high altitudes). It commonly occurs above 2,400 metres
(approximately 8,000 feet). Acute mountain sickness can progress to
high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high altitude cerebral edema
(HACE).
Altitude sickness is caused by reduced partial pressure of oxygen.
This means that although the percentage of oxygen in air remains
essentially constant with altitude at 21 percent, the air pressure (and therefore the
number of oxygen molecules) drops with altitude. Altitude sickness
usually does not affect persons traveling in aircraft because modern
aircraft passenger compartments are pressurized.
A related condition, occurring only after prolonged exposure to high
altitude, is chronic mountain sickness, also known as Monge's
disease.
An unrelated condition, although often confused with altitude
sickness, is dehydration, due to the higher rate of water vapor lost
from the lungs at higher altitudes.
Introduction
High altitude or mountain sickness is defined when someone feels
sick at high altitudes, such as in the mountains or any other
altitude-related sicknesses. It is hard to determine who will be
affected by altitude-sickness as there are no specific factors that
compare with this susceptibility to altitude sickness. However, most
people can climb up to 2500 meters (8000 feet) normally.
Generally, different people have different susceptibilities to
altitude sickness. For some otherwise healthy people, Acute Mountain
Sickness (AMS) can begin to appear at around 2000 meters (6,500
feet) above sea level, such as at many mountain ski resorts,
equivalent to a pressure of 80 kPa. Symptoms often manifest themselves
6-10 hours after ascent and generally subside in 1 to 2 days, but
they occasionally develop into the more serious conditions. Symptoms
include headache, fatigue, stomach illness, dizziness, and sleep
disturbance. Exertion aggravates the symptoms.
High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and cerebral edema (HACE) are
the most ominous of these symptoms, while AMS, retinal hemorrhage,
and peripheral edema are less severe forms of the disease. The rate
of ascent, altitude attained, amount of physical activity at high
altitude, as well as individual susceptibility, are contributing
factors to the onset and severity of high-altitude illness.
The word "soroche" came from South America and originally meant
"ore", because of an old, incorrect belief that it was caused by
toxic emanations of ores in the Andes mountains.
Headache
is a primary symptom used to diagnose altitude sickness, although
headache is also a symptom of dehydration. A headache occurring at
an altitude above 2,400 meters (8000 feet = 76 kPa), combined with
any one or more of the following symptoms, can indicate altitude
sickness:
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Lack of appetite, nausea, or vomiting |
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Fatigue or weakness |
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Dizziness or light-headedness |
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Insomnia |
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Pins and needles |
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Shortness of breath upon exertion |
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Persistent rapid pulse |
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Drowsiness |
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General malaise |
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Peripheral edema (swelling of hands, feet, and face). |
Symptoms that may indicate life-threatening altitude sickness
include:
Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs):
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Persistent dry cough |
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Fever |
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Shortness of breath even when resting |
Cerebral edema (swelling of the brain):
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Headache that does not respond to analgesics |
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Unsteady gait |
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Increased vomiting |
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Gradual loss of consciousness. |
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The most serious symptoms of altitude sickness are due
to edema (fluid accumulation in the tissues of the
body). At very high altitude, humans can get either high
altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), or high altitude
cerebral edema (HACE). The physiological cause of
altitude-induced edema is not conclusively established.
It is currently believed, however, that HACE is caused
by local vasodilation of cerebral blood vessels in
response to hypoxia, resulting in greater blood flow
and, consequently, greater capillary pressures. On the
other hand, HAPE may be due to general vasoconstriction
in the pulmonary circulation (normally a response to
regional ventilation-perfusion mismatches) which, with
constant or increased cardiac output, also leads to
increases in capillary pressures.
HAPE occurs in ~2% of those who are adjusting to
altitudes of ~3000 m (10,000 feet = 70 kPa) or more. It
can progress rapidly and is often fatal. Symptoms
include fatigue, severe dyspnea at rest, and cough that
is initially dry but may progress to produce pink,
frothy sputum. Descent to lower altitudes alleviates the
symptoms of HAPE. |
There are a number of allopathic medications that are commonly used
to treat and prevent altitude sickness. These drugs do have side
effects and may not agree with everyone, so it is advisable to
consult your physician before use. Hospital treatment may be
required where oxygen, rest and drugs will be administered, and
usually full recovery is made.
Herbal
and homeopathic remedies have been used traditionally for many
years. They are all natural, fast-acting and non-addictive. They
contain ingredients such as Zingiber officinalis, Mentha piperita,
Kali. phos., Ferrum phos., Cocculus and Pulsatilla vulgaris.
These remedies in combination may help to minimize shortness of
breath, disorientation and speed recovery. Consult a doctor,
homeopath or naturopath about a treatment that suits your needs.
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Zingiber officinalis (ginger) - This has a long
history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese and
Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine. The aromatic oils present
in ginger rhizome are the active constituents medically.
They are the ones responsible for the characteristic
aroma and flavor. They include sesquiterpenes,
specifically zingiberene, as also aldehydes and
monoterpenes. Together, these constituents have an
excellent effect of fighting out one of the most common
cold viruses. Gingerols are another
components present which give ginger its pungent
characteristics and thus make ginger a fantastic remedy
as an anti nausea agent. Its effects are comparable to
the best conventional medicines, like metoclopramide.
Ginger is a known circulatory stimulant and has strong
anti-clotting effect. |
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Mentha piperita (Mint) - This is one of the most
effective of the mint herbs, and has been used for centuries
to relieve indigestion, nausea and heartburn. Mentha piperita
is widely cultivated for medicinal uses and also has
anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties. It
relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract and
stimulates the flow of natural digestive juices and
bile, thereby assisting healthy digestion. |
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Kalium phosphate (Kali. phos.) - This is a
biochemic tissue salt which is very effective in the
treatment of anxiety and stress and is often referred to
as a natural tranquilizer. It has many benefits, among
them the relief of a 'nervous stomach'. |
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Cocculus C30 - This is a homeopathic remedy well
known for its ability to relieve travel sickness,
vertigo, nausea and vomiting. |
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Pulsatilla vulgaris C30 - This is used
homeopathically in the treatment of nausea and vomiting
and also helps to calm and soothe the sufferer of travel
sickness, particularly when there is an aversion to the
enclosed space and a need for fresh air. |
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Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) is prepared
from the leaves of the lemon balm plant, which, when
rubbed between fingers, release a tart and sweet smell,
like lemons. Its hairy leaves, which have round
indentations and deep veins, consist of flavonoids,
rosmarinic acid and tannins. Its essential oil is one of
the costliest oils due to very low yield. Lemon balm is
usually prescribed for intestinal problems like
indigestion, stomach spasms, flatulence and belching, as
also dyspepsia. This herb benefits people in sleep
problems, depression and nervousness. |
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Lavandula augustifolia (Lavender) - The essential
oil of lavender’s purple flowers appearing on the spikes
is rich in a lot of constituents having medicinal
properties, mainly linalool, terpinene-4-ol and linalyl
acetate. Lavender is a well known herbal remedy for
treating mental stress, depression, anxiety and tension
headaches. It is due to the calming and sedative effects
of its constituents. It is of great help in relieving
from digestive problems like flatulence, easing spasms,
bile stimulation and improving digestion. |
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Ars. alb. (30C) is made by extracting the ingredient
from the crystalline mineral ore Arsenopyrite that is
found in many countries of the Northern Hemisphere. In
this form, Ars. alb. helps treat symptoms of restless
fear and emotional drainage. |
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Easy AirTravel
Homeopathic remedy temporarily relieves
nervousness; anxiety and fear of flying.
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CanTravel
Maintain digestive comfort during air,
sea, or car travel.
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Altitude acclimatization - Altitude
acclimatization is the process of adjusting to
decreasing oxygen levels at higher elevations, in order
to avoid altitude sickness. Once above approximately
3,000 meters (10,000 feet = 70 kPa), most climbers and
high altitude trekkers follow the "golden rule" -
climb
high, sleep low. For high altitude climbers, a typical
acclimatization regime might be to stay a few days at a
base camp, climb up to a higher camp (slowly), then
return to base camp. A subsequent climb to the higher
camp would then include an overnight stay. This process
is then repeated a few times, each time extending the
time spent at higher altitudes to let the body "get
used" to the oxygen level there, a process that involves
the production of additional red blood cells. Once the
climber has acclimatized to a given altitude, the
process is repeated with camps placed at progressively
higher elevations.
The general rule of thumb is to not
ascend more than 300 meters (1,000 feet) per day to
sleep. That is, one can climb from 3,000 (10,000 feet =
70 kPa) to 4,500 meters (15,000 feet = 58 kPa) in one
day, but one should then descend back to 3,300 meters
(11,000 feet = 67.5 kPa) to sleep. This process cannot
safely be rushed, and this explains why climbers need to
spend days (or even weeks at times) acclimatizing before
attempting to climb a high peak. Simulated altitude
equipment that produce hypoxic (reduced oxygen) air can
be used to acclimate to altitude, reducing the total
time required on the mountain itself. |
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Oxygen enrichment - In high-altitude conditions,
oxygen enrichment can counteract the effects of altitude
sickness, or hypoxia. A small amount of supplemental
oxygen reduces the equivalent altitude in
climate-controlled rooms. At 3,400 m (67 kPa), raising
the oxygen concentration level by 5 percent via an
oxygen concentrator and an existing ventilation system
provides an effective altitude of 3,000 m (70 kPa),
which is more tolerable for surface-dwellers. The most
effective source of supplemental oxygen at high altitude
are oxygen concentrators that use vacuum swing
adsorption (VSA) technology. As opposed to generators
that use pressure swing adsorption (PSA), VSA technology
does not suffer from performance degradation at
increased altitude. The lower air density actually
facilitates the vacuum step process. |
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Increased fluid intake - Drinking plenty of water
will also help in acclimatization to replace the fluids
lost through heavier breathing in the thin, dry air
found at altitude, although consuming excessive
quantities ("over-hydration") has no benefits and may
lead to hyponatremia. Oxygen from gas bottles or liquid
containers can be applied directly via a nasal cannula
or mask. Oxygen concentrators based upon PSA, VSA, or
VPSA can be used to generate the oxygen if electricity
is available. Stationary oxygen concentrators typically
use PSA technology, which has performance degradations
at the lower barometric pressures at high altitudes. One
way to compensate for the performance degradation is to
utilize a concentrator with more flow capacity. There
are also portable oxygen concentrators that can be used
on vehicle DC power or on internal batteries, and at
least one system commercially available measures and
compensates for the altitude effect on its performance
up to 4,000 meters (13,123 feet). The application of
high-purity oxygen from one of these methods increases
the partial pressure of oxygen by raising the FIO2
(fraction of inspired oxygen). |
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For serious cases of AMS, a Gamow bag can be used to
reduce the effective altitude by as much as 1,500 meters
(5,000 feet). A Gamow bag is a portable plastic pressure
bag inflated with a foot pump. |
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The folk remedy for altitude sickness in Peru and
Bolivia is a tea made from the coca plant. |
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Easy AirTravel
Homeopathic remedy temporarily relieves
nervousness; anxiety and fear of flying.
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CanTravel
Maintain digestive comfort during air,
sea, or car travel.
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