Facts about Asthma
Nowadays very commonly we come across patients of asthma seeking Ayurvedic treatment and advice This is because of the versatile approach of Ayurveda to root cause of the problem and it's belief in preventing the disease rather than treating it.
Risk factors
According to the World Health Organization, the strongest risk factor for developing asthma, besides a family history of asthma, is exposure, especially in infancy, to indoor allergens such as dust mites, cats, pollen, indoor molds, and cockroaches. Exposure to tobacco smoke and chemical irritants in the workplace also put people at risk for asthma, as do certain drugs (specifically aspirin and other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), low birth weight, respiratory infection, and possibly breathing city air. Cold air, extreme emotional expression, and physical exercise can also exacerbate asthma.
The increase in the use of air conditioners may be a contributing to the rise of asthma. It has been suggested that air conditioners exacerbate the condition by spreading dust into carpets in rooms where the windows remain closed. In addition, when the tubes of central air conditioners are dirty, they may spread the disease.
Coping with all the stresses of modern day life and also eating of the wrong foods at the wrong time.
Main dietary Causes
- Excessive intake of beans ,black grams, raw milk, sour yogurt or curd, excess salt, animal meat and fish or sea food.
- Excessive use of 'Ruksha'(dry) and 'Guru'(heavy) diet, excessive use of cold water and cold drinks.
- Excessive use of 'Abhishandi' (Kapha producing) diet, Excessive use of not easily digestible and irritant foods.
- Excessive exposure to dust and smoke. Excessive wind, cold, cold bath or excessive heat, sun bath. Heavy exhaustive exercise, walking, excessive sexual activities. Supression of natural urges. Also psychological factors.
- Injury or Trauma to vital organs viz. chest, throat Asthma may be as a result of other related diseases like fever, long standing common cold, tuberculosis , anaemia, heart disease, poisoning etc.
Symptoms
Sudden episodes of wheezing at night or early in the morning. Wheezing in response to cold air, or during or after exercising, frequent coughing, or experience shortness of breath while doing exercise or walking. While breathing the skin between the ribs gets pulled in. These are the symptoms of asthma for which one needs to go to the physician. Some of the emergency symptoms include extreme difficulty breathing, having your face or lips turn blue, severe anxiety, rapid pulse, sweating, and severe drowsiness or confusion during an asthma attack. For such symptoms immediate medical attention should be seeked.Nasal flaring, chest pain or tightness, an abnormal breathing pattern (breathing out takes more than twice as long as breathing in), a temporary lapse in breathing, or coughing up blood are some other symptoms that may be associated with asthma.Precaution: As per example, if your symptoms are brought on only by physical exertion, you may have exercise-induced asthma. Rather than avoiding exercise—which offers many benefits—make sure to warm up and cool down properly before beginning and after ending an exercise session. You also may be better off choosing sports and activities that involve short bursts of exercise, such as tennis and football, rather than duration sports such as long-distance running. Breathing through a scarf or your nose on cold days helps warm the airways. And limiting dietary salt appears to help some people with this condition. If your trigger is an allergen, or several allergens, try to limit your exposure to these things.
Asthma is a disease of the immune system.
In an asthmatic, the immune system overreacts to the presence of an external agent and ends up doing more harm than good. The bronchial tubes (which connect the throat to the lungs) become inflamed, produce excessive mucous, and also may constrict by muscular spasm. As a result, the person feels like drowning for lack of air, which is in fact the case. It is a nasty, debilitating disease.
According to Ayurveda causing obstruction in the 'Pranavaha srotasa'(Respiratory passage). This results in gasping and laboured breathing. This condition is known as 'Swas Roga'
Classification:
Five types of 'Swas Roga' are described in Ayurvedic texts Maha-shwas, Urdhva-shwas, Chinna-shwas, Tamak-shwas, Kshudra-shwas Among these five types first three are not curable. 'Tamak-shwas is yapya' (Controllable) and is difficult to cure. The last one is curable. More than 75% of the cases belong to last two catagories.
Do’s and Dont’s |
1. Try to avoid cold and damp places. |
| 2. Daily, go for morning or evening walk, do yoga mainly 'Pranayama' |
| 3. Avoid overeating. Take light dinner one hour before going to bed |
| 4. Say no to smoking, tobacco chewing, alcoholic and drinks flavored with artificial sweeteners and flavors. |
| 5. Keep all the rooms well ventilated. Avoid air conditioners, coolers and direct air of fans. |
| 6. Avoid perfumes, Agarbatti. Mosquito repellents, other irritant substances |
| 7. Drink boiled water in plenty preferable with a piece of ginger boiled in the water. |
| 8. Avoid over exercise and over indulgence in sex. |
Apply warm 'til tail' over chest and back . Apply fomentation
Take 'sunth powder'1/4 tea spoon,'kali mirch' 6 seeds,'kala namak 1/4 teaspoon+ 5 leaves of 'Tulsi' Boil this mixture in 200 ml water reducing it to 50 ml. Filter and sip it.
Ayurvedic medicines are very safe and cure the problem to a great extent. Few common medicines are - Swaskuthar ras, Sitopaladi choorna, Vasavleha etc.
Treatment in between Attacks - 'Rasayan -chikitsa is advocated for'Pranvaha shrotasa'(Respiratory system). For example -.'
Lung Tonic - Make paste of Black resin,dates, long pippali and honey,in equal quantity.Take one teaspoonful of it morning and evening with warm milk.
Before rainy season 'Vardhaman pippali prayog”- please ask the physician and do this “prayog” under the pysician’s advice.
Some Home Remedies :
- Take seven piper longum, express the juice from seven garlic. Mix 10 to 15 drops in warm water and take internally for asthma relief.
- Mix, onion juice ¼ cup, honey 1 tablespoon and black pepper 1/8 tablespoon.
- Mix licorice and ginger together. Take ½ tablespoon in 1 cup of water for relief from asthma.
- Drink a glass of 2/3 carrot juice, 1/3 spinach juice, 3 times a day .
- Add 30-40 leaves of Basil in a liter of water, strain the leaves and drink the water throughout the day effective for asthma.