Homeopathic Treatment for G6PD

G6PD is a genetic, X-linked, metabolic disorder, passed on from mother to mostly the male child (females are usually healthy carriers of the gene defect). G6PD is an enzyme that keeps the red blood cells (RBCs) healthy and plays an important role in oxidizing processes. A deficiency can lead to the sudden destruction of red blood cells.

Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein in the blood. It is a major component of all red blood cells and gives them their red color. This protein picks up oxygen from the lungs, carries it throughout the body and delivers it to all your cells. In addition, hemoglobin also picks up some of the carbon dioxide produced by the cells and transports it to the lungs from where it is exhaled out.

Cells need oxygen for their basic functions and to keep them alive. Hence, without enough red blood cells to transport oxygen to your cells and carbon dioxide away from your cells, it is like literally suffocating every tissue and organ system in the body. When glutathione levels are very low, the hemoglobin in the RBCs is unable to bind with oxygen. This breaks down the cell wall, spilling out all its contents.

Symptoms of G6PD deficiency

• Fatigue  
• Appearing very pale 
• Sudden rise in body temperature   
• A headache  
• Dizziness
• Rapid heartbeats    
• Shortness of breath   
• Pain in the back or abdomen  
• Urine appears very dark, red, red-brown, brownish or tea colored
• Yellow coloring of the eyes and skin (jaundice)  
• Spleen may be enlarged

The symptoms usually disappear when the offending food or drug is stopped.

Diagnosis of G6PD deficiency

When any of the above-mentioned symptoms present themselves in a person of ethnic groups susceptible to the condition then, G6PD deficiency is suspected. In children, most cases go undetected until the child develops a health problem.

Some laboratory investigations asked for are: 

• Complete blood count: active G6PD shows the presence of "Heinz bodies" (protein aggregates) within the red blood cells. 
• Liver Function Tests: done to rule out other causes of liver damage and jaundice.   
• Coomb's Test: to check for the presence of direct antiglobulin. The results should ideally be negative as RBC breakdown isn't an auto-immune condition.    
• Haptoglobin: reduced in RBC breakdown (hemolysis).   
• Beutler Fluorescent spot test: The conversion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) to its reduced form in RBCs is the basis of diagnostic testing for the deficiency.