Asthma

Asthma is one of the most prevalent health complaints. It is a condition wherein the patient has repeated attacks of wheezing, which usually clear up completely with medical treatment. Attacks produce a variety of disabilities from mild distress to severe incapacity.

Asthma can develop at any time in life but mostly starts in childhood.

Asthmatic Triggers

• First attack is usually set off by a lung infection.
• Subsequent attacks are brought about by similar infections as even an ordinary cold.
• Allergies. Drugs which the patient is allergic to may set off an attack.
• Exercise.
• Emotional trauma like anger, sorrow etc.
• Sudden fluctuations in weather and temperature.

Causes

• In asthmatics, the bronchial tube muscles which take air to the air­spaces in the lungs become narrow due to contraction, and air cannot move freely in or out of the lungs.
• Bronchial tubes also produce more mucous than usual thereby further reducing air movement.

Sings & Symptoms

• Wheezing is a characteristic symptom of asthma.
• Cough sometimes accompanies.
• Pulse rate rises.
• Inability to speak due to breath­lessness.
• Typical difficulty in breathing out rather than breathing in.

Herbal Medicines

NOTE: Asthma home remedies are found useful in mild attacks. However, in severe attacks, medical intervention or hospitalization may be necessary.

1. The juice of one clove of garlic (after removing the outer layer) is mixed with a tsp of honey and taken twice a day, to dilate the contracted bronchial tubes.

CAUTION: Patients of ulcers and bleeding disorders should abstain from the above remedy.

1. ½ tsp of hing (asafoetida) 50ml of sesame oil and a pinch of camphor are mixed and applied on the chest to relieve congestion and uneasiness.
2. 1 tsp full each of:
   (a) green ginger juice (b) betel leaf juice, and (c) juice of one clove of garlic are mixed and taken thrice a day, 1 tsp each time.
3. Some camphor (karpur) and hing (asafoetida) are mixed well and pills of pea size are made. 1-2 pills taken with some hot water, 3 to 4 times a day, give relief.
4. Tulsi leaves' juice with honey is also beneficial. 1 tsp of tulsi juice & 1 tsp of honey should be taken 3 times a day.
5. Onion juice also can be taken similarly.
6. Pipal, amla and sonth are taken in equal quantities crushed in the form of churana and taken with honey, mishri (sugar candy) and ghee give good results in mild attacks.
7. Gur mixed with equal quantity of mustard oil taken for 21 days gives almost permanent relief.
8. The powder of pipal taken along with sendha namak (rock salt) and mixed with the juice of ginger gives results in 7 days.

Ayurvedic Remedies

1. Sitopaladi choornam: 5gm (1 tsp) of powder mixed with 2 tsp of honey, should be taken twice a day. (To be avoided by diabetics)
2. Vasa Kantakari Lehyam: 2 tsp of this semi-solid preparation may be taken followed by some warm milk.
3. Dab-Dama, liquid (Dabur) taken in the dose of 6 to 18 drops depending upon age and severity of disease along with water gives very good results.
4. Chavanaprasa is a rich source of vitamin C and is used as a tonic especially for bronchial asthma in a dose of 5-10gm with milk at bed time.
5. Agastya rasayana is usually given to people who are asthmatics with constipation, sneezing, blocking of nostrils and congestion of throat. Doses are same as above.

Care should be taken to see that the normal appetite is maintained.

Do's & Don'ts

AVOID:

1. All Cold items: Ice cream, yoghurt, butter milk, cold drinks, lemon etc.
2. Allergy-triggering factors known to the patient.
3. Eggs, guava, cucumber.
4. Sleeping during the day.
5. Use garlic, hing, tea, warm water in plenty.
6. Take hot water bath only.
7. Protect the body with warm clothing in chilly weather.