Asthma is a chronic lung disorder which is caused due to inflammation in the airways. The airways become narrower and are filled with mucus, blocking the airflow which then results in short gasping breaths, recurring periods of wheezing, coughing and chest tightness. If an asthma attack is not controlled in time, it can leave a person breathless. An attack could be triggered due to allergic reactions to irritants, or some other triggers or stimuli like dust, smoke, fumes or chemical allergens like pollen, grass. According to ‘The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies’ by Dr. Vasant Lad, “The underlying cause of all asthmatic conditions is increased Kapha dosha in stomach. From there it moves into the lungs , trachea and bronchi. The increased kapha blocks the natural flow of air, creating spasm in the bronchial tree and resulting in asthma and wheezing.” Kapha is one of the three energies or doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) responsible for maintaining balance of overall health. Ayurvedic treatments for asthma focus on wiping out the Kapha lodged in the lungs .Dr. Ashutosh Gautam, Ayurvedic Expert and Clinical Operations and Coordination Manager at Baidyanath, tells us, “Herbal remedies taken on a regular basis in the long run. Herbs like vasa, pushkarmula and yastimadhu have been known to control the symptoms of asthma”
Here are some Ayurvedic home remedies that could help in reducing the symptoms of asthma and controlling the frequency of asthma attacks.
asthma asthma treatment fishMucus collected due to severe cold and flu can also result in an asthma attack.
1.Ginger and Garlic Cloves:
Ginger is one of the most trusted herb when it comes to deal with inflammation. Half cup of ginger tea mixed with 2-3 crushed garlic cloves could prove to be an effective remedy to release the kapha accumulation in the airways, thereby preventing asthmatic attacks.
ginger teaHome remedies for asthma: Ginger tea can help in preventing asthma attacks
2.Ginger and Turmeric Powder
You can also make yourself a quick ginger and turmeric tea too. Boil a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger in a glass of milk and add 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder to it. If taken twice a day, this Ayurvedic remedy could reduce the frequency of asthma attacks.
3. Cinnamon and Honey
“Mix one teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4th teaspoon trikatu into a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes and add 1 teaspoon of honey before drinking,” suggests Dr. Vasant Lad in his book on Ayurvedic remedies. Take this twice a day for maximum benefits.
cinnamon 620x350Home remedies for asthma: Cinnamon helps to alleviate the symptoms of asthma
4. Licorice and Ginger
Licorice also known as mulethi in Hindi is also loaded with anti- inflammatory properties. Dr. Lad in his book also suggests drinking a tea made with half teaspoon licorice and half teaspoon of ginger for managing asthma and it’s symptoms.
ginger teaHome remedies for asthma: Ginger tea normalizes airways to enable proper breathing.
5. Bay leaf
Pathophysiology and clinical symptoms:
During an asthma attack, airflow to the lungs is obstructed by edema and congestion in the respiratory tracts, which in turn causes narrowing of the pathway resulting in a person’s inability to exhale the required volume of air. As a result, residual air gets trapped in the lungs, preventing fresh air from entering during inhalation. The bronchioles become inflamed and the mucus coating the airways thickens narrowing the airways further. Muscle cells around the airways may hypertrophy as well also causing the respiratory tracts to narrow. The diaphragm and intercostal muscles weaken, and the shoulder muscles, the abduction scapula muscle and the approximating scapula muscle and neck muscles stiffen.
An asthma attack is characterized by symptoms such as non –productive cough, tightening in the chest, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing fits, difficulty filling the lungs and expectorating mucus, rapid heart rate, and sweating. The end of the attack is often characterized by a productive cough with thick, stringy mucus. After an acute attack, inflammation may persist for weeks without symptoms. The severity of an attack may differ from one attack to the next, from person to person ,may be life threatening and could require immediate emergency medical attention. Chronic reoccurrences of asthma may result in permanent damage to the lungs caused by narrowing of the bronchi leading to poor cardiovascular endurance and general fatigue.
Types of Asthma
Acute asthma is sudden attack cause by an inflammation of the air sacs of the lungs, that further causes the narrowing and contraction of the bronchioles causing a restriction of airflow making breathing difficult.
Chronic asthma is characterized by frequent asthma attacks which required medical management to prevent and minimize acute attacks.
Exercise-induced asthma is triggered by exercise and is characterized by coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing. . It is most common in children and young adults, occurring mostly while during exercising in cold, dry conditions. Intense symptoms usually last for 10 minutes after exercising and gradually subside over time whereas allergic asthma produces a long duration of airway activity.
Cause of Asthma
Asthma triggers may vary from person to person. The most common things in the environment that trigger asthma attacks are exercise, allergens, irritants, and viral infections. While those that have a parent or a sibling may be more likely to be affected by asthma, there is no one single cause of asthma, and there may be many contributing factors including:
Allergens: Pollen from trees, grass, indoor and outdoor mold, dander from the skin, hair, or feathers of animals, dust mites found in household dust cockroaches.
Irritants: Cold air and changes in weather, air pollutants, cigarette smoke, chemical fumes in household products and paint, odors from cooking, scented products,
Diet: Dietary habits that include junk food, fast foods, foods such as shrimp, dried fruits, processed potatoes, beer and wine that may include sulfites, preservatives and additives, a diet with insufficient fruits, vegetables, fiber, minerals, and other nutrients. Gastro esophageal reflux disease may also worsen asthma symptoms, especially at night.
Others: Medicines such as aspirin and beta-blockers. Other triggers may include crying, laughing hard, emotions such as fear or anger, physical exercise, menstrual cycle in some women and general stress.
Facts About Asthma
• According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 13 people in the Unites States have asthma.
• About 24 million Americans have asthma. 17.71 million (7.4%) adults and 6.29 million (8.6%) children.
• From 2001 to 2011, the CDC says the number of Americans with asthma grew by 28 percent.
• Amongst children, asthma is the leading chronic disease. It is more common amongst women than men and 47 percent higher in African Americans than in whites.
• The annual cost of asthma is about $56 billion with hospital stays accounting for the majority of the direct costs.
Modern Medicine and Asthma
While there is no medication that can fully cure asthma, there are two general classes of asthma medications: quick-relief and long-term control medications. Generally short-acting, inhaled bronchodilators and anti-inflammatories are used to relieve occasional mild asthma symptoms as they occur. Bronchodilators work by opening up or dilating constricted airways, while anti-inflammatories reduce inflammation. The strategy behind taking anti-inflammatories is to reduce the underlying inflammation of the airways so that the bronchi may become less hyper-reactive, making future attacks less likely. Such anti-inflammatory therapy, however, must regularly be taken to be effective. Anti-inflammatory medications function mainly by interfering with the activity and chemistry of immune cells, which cause the inflammation of the airways. Anti-inflammatory medications work by relaxing the muscles in the airways that constrict during a bronchospasm. Corticosteroids suppress the immune response. “Side effects of long-term use of oral corticosteroids include weakening of bones, cataracts, and clouding of the lens of the eye.”
Ayurveda and Asthma
Ayurvedic Perspective of Asthma & Pathogenisis
The Charak Samhita goes on to describe the origin of svasa, “ Both of these diseases originate at the site of Pitta, (in the stomach) and are caused by the simultaneous aggravation of Kapha and vayu. They adversely affect the cardiac region and all the tissue elements.” Kledaka Kapha accumulates and moves to the lungs. Kapha is cold, heavy, slimy and unctuous in nature and Vata has dry, cold rough and mobile qualities. In the lungs, the two intermix and the mucous in the lungs becomes sticky and thick, adhering to the walls of the bronchi, causing narrowing of the bronchial tubes, leading to breathlessness or an asthmatic attack. The Charak Samhita notes, “ If vata predominantly associated with Kapha obstructs the channels of circulation, and circulates all over the body, then being obstructed (in the circulatory course), this aggravated vayu causes svasa.” The text describes retrograde vata, “ moving in reverse pervades the channels of vital breath, afflicts the neck and head and stimulates phlegm to cause rhinitis.”
Asthma and the Koshas
“Body, mind, and spirit are interconnected, interrelated and interpenetrating.” The Taittiriya Upanishad describes the five koshas. The first is the anamaya kosha, the physical body. The second is the pranaymaya kosha, the breath body. The third is the manomaya kosha, the mind. The fourth is the vijnanamaya kosha, the psyche and the fifth is the anandamaykosha, the bliss body. Once we understand imbalances and health through the five kosha systems, it provides us with a model and a road map through the interrelationship between the body, mind, emotional, energetic, psycho-neuro-physiological, and belief system and of the processes of disease and healing. Not only does it provides a road map, but a truly holistic view of health that is focused on all aspects of our being: the physical body, the mental and spiritual Once we bring these aspects into balance, we can truly experience profound healing and the full expression of our higher divine nature.
Pranamayakosha – Contrary to popular belief, an asthmatic’s main problem is not inhalation but exhalation. It is the entrapment of carbon dioxide in the lungs that leads to the asthmatic’s inability to breathe. During an asthmatic attack, the muscles encircling the smallest bronchial tubes in the lungs begin to constrict.
Ayurvedic Interpretation of Symptoms
In Ayurveda, no two people are treated in the same way, so it is important to understand the different characteristics, which may manifest according to Vata type, Pitta type, and Kapha type symptoms.
Vata Type Asthma presents itself with dryness and wheezing. Other symptoms may include thirst, dry mouth, dry skin, constipation, anxiety, and craving warm drinks. Vata type attacks occur during Vata times at dawn and dusk.
