Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia is a disorder of the blood caused by inherited abnormal hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein within the red blood cells). The abnormal hemoglobin causes distorted (sickled appearing under a microscope) red blood cells. The sickled red blood cells are fragile and prone to rupture. When the number of red blood cells decreases from rupture (hemolysis), anemia is the result. This condition is referred to as sickle cell anemia. The irregular sickled cells can also block blood vessels causing tissue and organ damage and pain.

Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia is one of the most common inherited blood anemias. 

Sickling of the red blood cells in patients with sickle cell anemia results in cells of abnormal shape and diminished flexibility. The sickling is promoted by conditions associated with low oxygen levels, increased acidity, or low volume (dehydration) of the blood. These conditions can occur because of injury to the body’s tissues, dehydration, or anesthesia.

Certain organs are predisposed to lower oxygen levels or acidities, such as when blood moves slowly through the spleen, liver, or kidney. In addition, organs with particularly high metabolism rates (such as the brain, muscles, and the placenta in a pregnant woman with sickle cell anemia) promote sickling by extracting more oxygen from the blood. These conditions make these organs susceptible to injury from sickle cell anemia.

Virtually all of the major symptoms of Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia are the direct result of the abnormally shaped, sickled red blood cells blocking the flow of blood that circulates through the tissues of the body. The tissues with impaired circulation suffer damage from a lack of oxygen. Damage to tissues and organs of the body can cause severe disability in patients with sickle cell anemia. The patients endure episodes of intermittent “crises” of variable frequency and severity, depending on the degree of organ involvement.

The major features and symptoms of Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia include:

• Fatigue and anemia
• Pain
• Dactylitis (swelling and inflammation of the hands and/or feet) and arthritis
• Bacterial infections
• Sudden pooling of blood in the spleen and liver congestion
• Lung and heart injury
• Leg ulcers
• Aseptic necrosis (severe infectious diseases) and bone infarcts (death of portions of bone)
• Eye damage

Some features of sickle cell anemia that can occur at any age include:

• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Pain crises
• Bone infarcts

Many features typically occur in certain age groups.

Infants with sickle cell anemia do not develop symptoms in the first few months of life because the hemoglobin produced by the developing fetus (fetal hemoglobin) protects the red blood cells from sickling. This fetal hemoglobin is absent in the red blood cells that are produced after birth so that by 5 months of age, the sickling of the red blood cells is prominent and symptoms begin.

Infants and younger children can suffer signs and symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Pneumococcal bacterial infections
• Painful swellings of the hands and feet (dactylitis)
• Splenic sequestration.

Adolescents (preteens and teens) and young adults more commonly develop the following symptoms:

• Leg ulcers
• Aseptic necrosis
• Eye damage

Symptoms in adults typically are intermittent pain episodes due to injury of bone, muscle, or internal organs.

Sickle cell anemia is suggested when the abnormal sickle-shaped cells in the blood are identified under a microscope. Testing is typically performed on a smear of blood using a special low-oxygen preparation. This is referred to as sickle prep. Other prep tests can also be used to detect abnormal hemoglobin S, including solubility tests performed on tubes of blood solutions. The disease can be confirmed by specifically quantifying the types of hemoglobin present using hemoglobin electrophoresis.

Prenatal diagnosis (before birth) of sickle cell anemia is possible using amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. The sample obtained is then tested for DNA analysis of the fetal cells.

The hemoglobin electrophoresis test precisely identifies the hemoglobin in the blood by separating them. The separation of the different hemoglobin is possible because of the unique electrical charges they each have on their protein surfaces, causing them each to move characteristically in an electrical field.

Fatigue is a common symptom in persons with Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia causes a chronic form of anemia, which can lead to fatigue. The sickled red blood cells are prone to breakage (hemolysis) which causes reduced red blood cell life span (the normal lifespan of a red blood cell is 120 days).

Typically, the site of red blood cell production (bone marrow) works overtime to produce these cells rapidly, attempting to compensate for their destruction in the circulation. Occasionally, the bone marrow suddenly stops producing red blood cells, which causes a very severe form of anemia (aplastic crises). Aplastic crises can be promoted by infections that otherwise would seem less significant, including viruses of the stomach and bowels and the flu (influenza).

Allopathic treatments for Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia tends to stabilize without specific treatments. The degree of anemia is defined by the measurement of the blood hemoglobin level. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. Blood hemoglobin levels in persons with sickle cell anemia are generally between 6 to 8 gms/dl (normal levels are above 11 gms/dl).

Occasionally, there can be a severe drop in hemoglobin requiring a blood transfusion to correct the anemia (such as in patients suffering splenic sequestration). Blood transfusion is usually reserved for those patients with other complications, including pneumonia, lung infarction, stroke, severe leg ulceration, or late pregnancy. (Among the risks of blood transfusion are hepatitis, infection, immune reaction, and injury to body tissues from iron overload.) Transfusions are also given to patients to prepare them for surgical procedures.

Folic acid is given as a supplement. Sometimes a red blood cell exchange is performed. This process removes some of the sickle blood cells and replaces them with normal (non-sickle) blood cells. It is done when the sickle cell crisis is so severe that other forms of treatment are not helping.

Pain crises

Pain crises in persons with Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia are intermittent painful episodes that are the result of inadequate blood supply to body tissues. The impaired circulation is caused by the blockage of various blood vessels from the sickling of red blood cells. The sickled red blood cells slow or completely impede the normal flow of blood through the tissues. This leads to excruciating pain, often requiring hospitalization and opiate medication for relief.

The pain typically is throbbing and can change its location from one body area to another. Bones are frequently affected. Pain in the abdomen with tenderness is common and can mimic appendicitis. Fever frequently is associated with the pain crises. A pain crisis can be promoted by preceding dehydration, infection, injury, cold exposure, emotional stress, or strenuous exercise.

As a prevention measure, persons with sickle cell anemia should avoid extremes of heat and cold.

Pain crises require analgesia for pain and increased fluid intake. Dehydration must be prevented to avoid further injury to the tissues and intravenous fluids can be necessary. Other modalities, such as biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and/or electrical nerve stimulation may be helpful.

Hydroxyurea is a medication that is currently being used in adults and children with severe pain from sickle cell anemia. It is also considered for those with recurrent strokes and frequent transfusions. This drug acts by increasing the amount of fetal hemoglobin in the blood (this form of hemoglobin is resistant to sickling of the red blood cells).

The response to hydroxyurea is variable and unpredictable from patient to patient. Hydroxyurea can be suppressive to the bone marrow.

Dactylitis and arthritis

Swelling and inflammation of the hands and/or feet is often an early sign of sickle cell anemia. The swelling involves entire fingers and/or toes and is called dactylitis. Dactylitis is caused by injury to the bones of the affected digits by repeated episodes of inadequate blood circulation. Dactylitis generally occurs in children with Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia from age 6 months to 8 years.

Joint inflammation (arthritis) with pain, swelling, tenderness, and limited range of motion can accompany the dactylitis. Sometimes, not only the joints of the hands or feet are affected, but also a knee or an elbow.

The inflammation from dactylitis and arthritis can be reduced by anti-inflammation medications, such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

With allopathy, the life expectancy of persons with Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia is reduced. Some patients, however, can remain without symptoms for years, while others do not survive infancy or early childhood. Nevertheless, with optimal management patients can now survive beyond the fourth decade. Homeopathy treatment for Sickle Cell Disease, Sickle Cell Anemia has good results and prognosis.

Most patients suffer intermittent pain crises, fatigue, bacterial infections, and progressive tissue and organ damage. Impaired growth and development are the result of the physical and emotional trauma that is endured by children with sickle cell anemia.

Causes of death include bacterial infection (the most common cause), stroke or bleeding into the brain, and kidney, heart, or liver failure. The risk of bacterial infections does diminish after three years of age. Nevertheless, bacterial infections are the most common cause of death at any age. Therefore, any signs of infection in a person with sickle cell anemia must be reviewed with a doctor to prevent damage and save lives.

Interestingly, the sickle cell gene somewhat protects against malaria infection. This makes those with sickle cell trait (gene carriers) at least partially resistant to malaria. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of the sickle cell gene is similar to that of malaria infection. Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia is a lethal condition that threatens life. However, there may be a selective advantage to being a sickle cell carrier (trait) if the person resides in an area of the world where malaria is very common. The advantage a person with sickle cell trait has over a non-carrier of the gene may explain why sickle cell anemia did not disappear from the world even though it is lethal.

The sickle cell gene is not a “black gene.” It just happens to disproportionately occur in the black population. When a black person who carries a sickle cell gene has children with a non-black person, the children may inherit the sickle cell gene regardless of race. There are also people of all races who carry the sickle cell gene.

Recent research is examining further ways to promote the development of fetal hemoglobin that delays the development of sickle cell in the newborn. Bone marrow transplantation is being used for patients with severe sickle cell anemia who have a sibling donor. Future treatments may involve genetic engineering where cures might be achieved.

Finally, genetic counseling can be helpful for parents and families to prevent sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited illness. Both parents must be carriers of the sickle cell gene for a child to be affected with sickle cell anemia. If each parent is a carrier, any child has a 1 in 2 chance (50%) of also being a carrier and a one in four (25%) chance of inheriting both genes from the parents and being affected with sickle cell anemia.

Homeopathic Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia

Studies demonstrated that the medication induces an increase in leukocyte number. If an underlying illness is responsible for patient’s symptoms, treating and managing the underlying condition should help keep anemia and Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia. symptoms at bay. Cancer, kidney disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other illnesses may be to blame.

There is numerous homeopathy medicine to treat different types of anaemia Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Anemia and there cause(s), Here are some of them:

Aletris Farinosa

Anaemia. Colic. Constipation. Convulsions. Debility. Dysmenorrhoea. Dysuria. Endometritis. Fever. Haemorrhoids. Hysteric colic. Indigestion. Leucorrhoea. Menorrhagia. Myalgia. Pregnancy vomiting. Sterility. Uterus, pain in; prolapse. Appetite lost with weakness. Gastrointestinal diseases.

X-Ray

Has the property of stimulating cellular metabolism. Arouses the reactive vitality, mentally and physically. Brings to the surface suppressed symptoms, especially sycotic and those due to mixed infections. Atrophy of ovaries and testicles. Sterility. Changes take place in the blood lymphatics and bone marrow. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia. Anaemia and leukaemia. Rheumatic pains. General tired and sick feeling. Palms rough and scaly.

Electricitas

Chorea. Headache. Hysteria. Paralysis. Rheumatism. Nervous tremors; anxiety; fear; restlessness, anxiety, and anguish; violent headaches; palpitation; swelling of parts. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia.

Helonias Dioica

Sensation of weakness, dragging and weight in the sacrum and pelvis, with great languor and prostration. The menses are often suppressed and the kidneys congested. Women with prolapsus from atony, enervated by indolence and luxury. Diabetes mellitus, and insipidus. Constant aching and tenderness over kidneys. Tired and weak. Aching and burning across the lumbar region. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia.

Alumina

Old people, with lack of vital heat, or prematurely old, with debility. Sluggish functions, heaviness, numbness, and staggering, and the characteristic constipation. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia. Delicate children, products of artificial baby foods. Abnormal cravings-chalk, charcoal, dry food, tea-grounds. Heartburn; feels constricted. Aversion to meat. Arms feel paralyzed. Legs feel asleep.  Inability to walk. Spinal degenerations and paralysis of lower limbs.

Arsenicum Album

A profoundly acting remedy on every organ and tissue. Its clear-cut characteristic symptoms and correspondence to many severe types of disease. all-prevailing debility, exhaustion, and restlessness, with nightly aggravation, are most important. Great exhaustion after the slightest exertion. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia. This, with the peculiar irritability of fiber, gives the characteristic irritable weakness. Burning pains. Unquenchable thirst. Burning relieved by heat. Seaside complaints. Injurious effects. Gives quiet and ease to the last moments of life when given in high potency. Fear fright and worry. Green discharges. Infantile leishmaniasis. Degenerative changes. Gradual loss of weight from impaired nutrition. Reduces the refractive index of blood serum. Maintains the system under the stress of malignancy regardless of location. Malarial cachexia. Septic infections and low vitality.

Arnica Montana

Injuries, falls, blows, contusions. Tinnitus aurium. Putrid phenomena. Septic conditions; prophylactic of pus infection. Apoplexy, red, full face. After traumatic injuries, overuse of any organ, strains. Acts best in plethoric, feebly in debilitated with impoverished blood, cardiac dropsy with dyspnoea. A muscular tonic. Traumatism of grief, tension, depression and/or anxiety. Marked effect on the blood. Affects the venous system inducing stasis. Ecchymosis and haemorrhages. Relaxed blood vessels, black and blue spots. Tendency to haemorrhage and low-fever states. Tendency to tissue degeneration, septic conditions, abscesses that do not mature. Sore, lame, bruised feeling. Neuralgias originating in disturbances of pneumo-gastric. Rheumatism of muscular and tendinous tissue, especially of back and shoulders. Aversion to tobacco. Influenza. Thrombosis. Hematocele. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia.

Calcarea Carbonica

An effective homeopathy medicine used by doctors and conventional bone marrow treatments. According to a study, Calcarea Carbonica decreases tumour-induced suppression of T cell proliferation and avoids tumour-induced loss of effector T cell repertoire. Calcarea Carbonica prevents the adhesion and invasion of cancer cells. In other words, it stops cancer cells from attacking.

Its a best choice for impaired nutrition being the keynote of its action, the glands, skin, and bones, being instrumental in the changes wrought. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia. Increased local and general perspiration, swelling of glands, scrofulous and rachitic conditions generally offer numerous opportunities for the exhibition of Calcarea. Incipient phthisis. It covers the tickling cough, fleeting chest pains, nausea, acidity and dislike of fat. Gets out of breath easily. A jaded state, mental or physical, due to overwork. Abscesses in deep muscles; polypi and exostoses. Pituitary and thyroid dysfunction.

Raised blood coagulability. Is a definite stimulant to the periosteum. Is a haemostatic and gives this power probably to the gelatine injections. Easy relapses, interrupted convalescence. Persons of scrofulous type, who take cold easily, with increased mucous secretions, children who grow fat, are large-bellied, with large head, pale skin, chalky look, the so-called leucophlegmatic temperament; affections caused by working in water. Great sensitivity to cold; partial sweats. Children crave eggs and eat dirt and other indigestible things; are prone to diarrhoea. Calcarea patient is fat, fair, flabby and perspiring and cold, damp and sour.

Calcarea Phos

It has many symptoms in common with Calcarea carb. One of the most important tissue remedies, there are some differences and characteristic features of its own. It is especially indicated in tardy dentition and troubles incident to that period, bone disease non-union of fractured bones, and the anaemias after acute diseases and chronic wasting diseases. Anaemic children who are peevish, flabby, have cold extremities and feeble digestion. It has a special affinity where bones form sutures or symphyses, and all its symptoms are worse from any change of weather. Numbness and crawling are characteristic sensations, and tendency to perspiration and glandular enlargement are symptoms it shares with the carbonate. Scrofulosis, chlorosis and phthisis. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia.

Natrum Muriaticum

The prolonged taking of excessive salt causes profound nutritive changes to take place in the system, and there arise not only the symptoms of salt retention as evidenced by dropsies and oedemas, but also an alteration in the blood causing a condition of anaemia and leukocytosis. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia. There seems also to be a retention in the tissues of effected materials giving rise to symptoms loosely described as gouty or rheumatic gout. The provings are full of such symptoms. A great medicine for certain forms of intermittent fever, anaemia, chlorosis, many disturbances of the alimentary tract and skin. Great debility; most weakness felt in the morning in bed. Coldness. Emaciation most notable in neck. Great liability to take cold. Dry mucous membranes. Constrictive sensation throughout the body. Great weakness and weariness. Oversensitive to all sorts of influences. Hyperthyroidism. Goitre. Addison’s disease. Diabetes.

Kalium Carbonicum

Soft pulse, coldness, general depression, and very characteristic stitches, which may be felt in any part of the body, or in connection with any affection. All Kali pains are sharp and cutting; nearly all better by motion. Never use any Salts of Potash where there is fever. Sensitive to every atmospheric change, and intolerance of cold weather. One of the best remedies following labor. Miscarriage, for consequent debilitated states, for sickle Cell Disease or sickle Cell Anemia. Early morning aggravation is very characteristic. Fleshy aged people, with dropsical and paretic tendencies. Sweat, backache, and weakness. Throbbing pains. Tendency to dropsy. Tubercular diathesis. Pains from within out, and of stinging character. “Giving-out” sensation. Fatty degenerations. Stinging pains in muscles and internal parts. Twitching of muscles. Pain in small spot on left side Hypothyroidism. Coxitis.

Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla is known for its anti-cancer effects on diverse cancer tumours. Mild, gentle, yielding disposition. Sad, crying readily; weeps when talking; changeable, contradictory. The patient seeks the open air; always feels better there, even though he is chilly. Mucous membranes are all affected. Discharges thick, bland, and yellowish-green. Often indicated after abuse of Iron tonics, and after badly-managed measles. Symptoms ever changing. Thirstless, peevish, and chilly. When first serious impairment of health is referred to age of puberty. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia. Great sensitiveness. Wants the head high. Feels uncomfortable with only one pillow. Lies with hands above head.

Nitricum Acidum

Blisters and ulcers in mouth, tongue, genitals; bleed easily. Fissures, with pain during stool, as if rectum were torn. All discharges very offensive, especially urine, feces, and perspiration. Persons who have chronic diseases, and take cold easily and disposed to diarrhoea. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia. Excessive physical irritability. Cachexia, due to syphilis, scrofula, intermittent fever with liver involvement and anaemia, etc. Gravel; arthritis. Capillary bleeding after curettage.

Arsenicum Hydrogenisatum

The general action of Arsenic more accentuated. Anaemia. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia. Anxiety; despair. Hematuria, with general blood disorganization. Haemorrhages from mucous membranes. Urine suppressed, followed by vomiting. Prepuce and glans covered with pustules and round superficial ulcers. Collapse. Coldness; prostration. Sudden weakness and nausea. Skin becomes dark brown. Acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

Ferrum phosphoricum

 The early stages of febrile conditions. Common bone marrow disorders, including leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and aplastic anaemia. Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Anemia. Nervous, sensitive, anaemic with the false plethora and easy flushing of Ferrum. Prostration marked; face more active than Gels. The superficial redness never assumes the dusky hue of Gels. Pulse soft and flowing; no anxious restlessness of Acon. Susceptibility to chest troubles. Bronchitis of young children. In acute exacerbation of tuberculosis, a fine palliative of wonderful power. Corresponds to Grauvogl Oxygenoid Constitution, the inflammatory, febrile, emaciating, wasting consumptive.