Blatta Americana: American Cockroach for Asthma

What Is Blatta Americana?

Blatta Americana is a homeopathic remedy prepared from the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), the large reddish-brown cockroach ubiquitous in tropical and subtropical environments. Like its relative Blatta Orientalis (the Oriental cockroach), it has been incorporated into homeopathy primarily as a respiratory remedy — particularly for asthma. Clarke and Allen both document its indications for bronchial asthma with copious expectoration, noting its particular affinity for obese patients with marked respiratory distress in damp conditions.

Key Characteristics

• Asthma with profuse, copious expectoration — large quantities of mucous that relieve the breathing temporarily
• Respiratory distress in obese patients — a specific constitutional affinity noted by Clarke
• Breathing worse in damp, humid conditions and in the presence of moulds or organic decay
• Marked dyspnoea with a sense of suffocation — cannot lie flat, must sit upright
• Wheezing and rattling in the chest with the copious mucous
• Worse at night and from exertion; better from expectoration
• A tendency toward respiratory distress triggered by environmental humidity and dampness

Mental Picture

Clarke does not document a strongly characterised mental picture for Blatta Americana. The remedy is primarily a respiratory prescription selected on physical indications — the asthmatic picture with copious expectoration in an obese, damp-sensitive patient — rather than on mental keynotes.

Physical Picture

Asthma with copious expectoration is the defining physical picture. The breathing is severely laboured — the patient must sit upright and cannot tolerate lying flat. Wheezing and rattling accompany the dyspnoea. Large quantities of mucous are produced and expectorated, temporarily relieving the breathing. The constitutional affinity for obese patients and the consistent aggravation in damp, humid environments are key prescribing guides. Night is worse than day for the respiratory distress.

When Is It Considered?

Homeopaths may consider Blatta Americana when:

• Asthma presents with profuse, copious expectoration that temporarily relieves the breathing
• The patient is obese and the respiratory distress is proportional to the body habitus
• Damp, humid conditions consistently trigger or aggravate the asthmatic attacks
• Severe dyspnoea forces the patient to sit upright — lying flat is intolerable
• Wheezing and rattling mucous in the chest accompany the asthmatic breathing

Note: Always consult a qualified homeopath before using any remedy. This article is for educational purposes only.