Chronic Asthma Causes, Diet, Natural Remedies

Asthma is a chronic obstructive disease of the airway of lungs; It is a respiratory tract disorder, obstructing easy flow of air in the lungs. In Asthma, bronchial tubes get obstructed, inflamed, sometimes with swollen inner surface. This causes breathing difficulties and wheezing. According to Acharya Charaka it is a not-easily-curable chronic disease. 

Signs and Symptoms

Wheezing
Chest tightness
Recurrent breathing problem
Shortness of breath
Coughing
Dark blacks in front of eyes

Causes

Causes according modern pathy-
Exercise/ exertion
Inhaling fumes, gases, dust particles
Allergens
Drugs and preserved foods
Air irritants, smoke, strong odor, mosquito repellant, agarbatti.
Cold, flue, cold wind
Sudden changes in climate
Trauma to chest, throat

Causes according to Ayurveda:-
As per Ayurveda, it is termed as Pranavaha Sroto Vikara.
Vata Prakopa – Vitiating
Aahar (diet), Vihar (activities), accumulation of Vata inside body. Guru – heavy diet, Ruksha- dry diet, intake of cold water, excessive salts, heavy dinner, living in cold, dump and humid area, cold water bath, exposure to dust, smoke, cold air, excessive sex etc.
Kapha prakopa
Aahar (diet), Vihar (activities),heavy dietary foods, banana, black grams,, til, abhishandi (kapha producing)foods, milk, sour, curd, non vegetarian food etc.

Diagnosis

There is no any concrete specific method to make accurate diagnosis, however it is dependent on the symptoms and response to the therapy.

There are few tests to make conclusion.
Spirometry- is use to confirm the disease in the young and adults, but in the children below 7 years, it is difficult. Bronchiodilator drugs like salbutamol response is noted
Blood test to determine growth of eosinophil’s and IgE antibody.
X- Rays of lung.
Allergic test

Samprapti – Pathogenesis

Increase in kapha dosha, Strotas avarodha in pranvaha strotas (blockage of channels of respiratory system) leads to Vata Dosha obstruction.
This blocked Vata dosha moves in reverse direction, called Pratilom vayu,
Vata dosha increases dryness and the natural smooth passage of air gets disturbed. The disturbed pathway causes the difficulties in breathing.

Classifications

According to clinical way asthma is classified depending on-
Forced expiratory volume
Peak expiratory flow rate

According to clinical way asthma is classified depending on-
Forced expiratory volume
Peak expiratory flow rate

It is of two kinds-
Atopic – extrinsic – symptoms participated by allergen.
Non atopic – intrinsic= non participated by allergen

Types

Types according to Ayurveda-
Maha shwasaa – heavy breathing.
Urdhava shwasaa- prolonged upward breathing.
China shwasaa – interrupted breath.
Tamak shwasaa – darkness behind eyes.

It is also divided in two types-
Santamak – fever and dark blacks. Aggravated at night time.
Pratamak – due to physiological factors.
Kshudra shwasaa – subsides by itself.

Other types according difficulties to treat-
The air element – dry type
The fire element – infection type
The water type – congestion type

Other types according to physical factors-
Occupational:-
It is due to exposure at work place to the particular dust, soldering, welding, animals,latex, chemicals. There is a high risk includes occupation at mines, floor mills, spray job, kitchen job, hair cutting, timber cutting job etc.
Exercise induced :-
Due to heavy exercise broncho construction appears in the professional athletes, swimmers, cyclist, that leads to induce asthma. Immunity strength does not play a role.
Aspirin induced:-
Intake of aspirin for long time may exacerbate to respiratory tract disease. Infected peoples may have trouble with nasal polyp.
Alcohol induced:
Alcohol is found inducing asthma in some persons that worsen the asthmatic situation.
Diet induced:-
Excessive intake of black grams, excessive salts, raw milk, soar, fish, meat, dry food, heavy diet may induce asthma due to Kapha production.
Hereditary:
Many families have the history of asthma may transfer asthma causing genes to the next generation. 40 % patients may have this reason.
Infection:-
Childhood infection may lead asthma in adulthood.
Psychic:-
Some patients may have a psychosomatic disorder, it leads to asthma, but it is temporary related to particular trigger.

Dietary treatment

Avoid sour food
Avoid deep fried and processed food having preservatives.
Avoid foods such as curd, rice, buttermilk, lentils, paneer, chese, sugar etc.
Drink warm water.
Avoid to take heavy foods like banana, over eating
Take light dinner
Maintain a gap of an hour in-between, dinner and sleep.

Home remedies

During attack
Rub Nilgiri oil or pain balm on chest and get fomentation, inhale mint and camphor.
Take black pepper, sunthi, cloves, boil it in water and take this extract.
Take 10 basil leaf, add a pinch of turmeric, boil and take it.

During times other than wheezing attacks: 
Paste together black resin, dates, long pepper, licorice. Take one teaspoon of it with honey.
Take warm milk boiled with garlic at night before sleep.
Take licorice one teaspoon with ginger in warm water.
Related: Ginger, Amla, Raisin And Honey Home Remedy For Asthma And Cough

Ayurvedic treatment, herbs

Panchakarma:-
Virechan chiktsa:- Pitta and Kapha doshas are removed.
Snehan chikitsa:- Disease causing factors – doshas are suppressed.
Shodhan chikitsa:- Disease causing factors – doshas are removed.
Swedan chikitsa:- Lubricates body.

Ayurvedic herbs useful in asthma:
Vasa (adathoda vasica), Kantakari (solanum indicum), Sunthi (zingibar officinale), Black pepper (pipper nigrum), Jatapatri (myrstica tragrans), oman (hyscoyamus niger), Tagara (trylophera indica), Madhu yashti ( glycyrrhia glabra), Rasna (alpinia galangal), Pippli (piper longum), Tulsi (ocimum sanctum), Vanaschlochan, Nagkeshar etc.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines for asthma:
Talisadi choorna, Shrungyadi choorna,
Shatayadi choorna, Haridradi choorna, Sitopaladi choorna,
Vasavleha, Pippaladi lauha,
Lauha bhasma, Mahashwasari lauha,
Shwaskuthar rasa, Swarnavasant rasa,
Shwasakaasa rasa, Chintamani rasa.
Kanakasav,
Vasarishtam,
Grihitarist, Daraksharist,
Tejovatyadi ghrita.
Shankh Bhasma, Moti Bhasma, Swarna Bhasma,
Tamra Bhasma, Shring Bhasma, Praval bhasma, Raupya Bhasma.

Kutki in Asthma – In respiratory system disorders, Kutki has a very high significance. Ayurveda says, “Tamake Tu Virechanam” – In case of asthma, Virechana treatment is best. For daily Virechana (purgation treatment) in asthma and bronchitis, Kutki – 1-3 grams, once or two times a day is advised along with honey or any such suitable co drink.
Read related: Kutki- picrorhiza kurroa Benefits, Dose, Side Effects, Research

Alternative treatments

Naturopathy & Alternative therapy for asthma: 
Air and Sunbath-
Move to morning wal for getting fresh air, soft sunrays produce vitamin D.

Hydrotherapy-
Drink a liter of fresh water in morning for pacification of accumulated toxins.
Take bath with lukewarm water.
Steam bath for improvement of blood circulation.

Wheat grass therapy-
Taking a cup of fresh wheat grass juice, it gives Vitamin A, B-12, E.

Acupressure-
Giving pressure on LU-7, SP-6, Ren 22, Ren 17, Extra 17 points.

Magnetic therapy-
Keep powerful magnets below palms and feet, medium power magnets in armpit., drink magnetic induced water.

Chromo therapy-
Drink blue sunrays induced water.

Shiwambu therapy-
Daily taking self urine will removes body toxins.

Yoga therapy-
Perform Nadishodhan pranayama, Deep breath, Kapalbhati pranayama, Ardh matsendrasana, Pavanmuktasana, Poorvottanasana.

Conclusion, experience

Conclusion & Experience:-
Tamak shwasa is controllable, Kshudra shwasa is curable. More than 70 % patients are of this types.
Maha, Urdhava and china shwasaa are rare cases and difficult to cure.
For healthy patients Sodhan, Virechan & Shaman chikitsa is given, with diet management and remedies.
For weaker patients, Vatanashak & Kaphanashak treatment is given. With anupan.
With proper diet, lifestyle and Ayurvedic remedies shwasa rog may be cured for longer time.

Dr. Mahesh Annapure M.Sc. D.N., M.D.
drmaheshannapure@gmail.com