Treating Asthma With Ayurveda
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes recurring episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. It’s one of the most common diseases in kids with around 300 million people suffering from asthma globally. The good news is that there are many natural remedies for asthma. These can help alleviate the symptoms while also reducing flare-ups- including Ayurveda! Using herbs such as licorice root and ginger to calm inflammation and lavender or peppermint essential oils to relax the lungs. Ayurvedic treatments can be used both internally and externally to relieve symptoms. In this blog post, we’ll talk about how you can use these techniques at home and the method about treating Asthma With Ayurveda
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in humans that affects 26 million people alone. In India, it is the fourth leading cause of hospitalization. And 10% of total visits to outpatient departments in hospitals are by patients with asthma. The condition results from an immune hypersensitivity disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to narrow up (bronchospasm). When you come into contact with something that triggers an allergic reaction or irritates your body.
Is Ayurveda a good alternative for Asthma treatment?
Yes. Presently we use Western therapies for control and management. But they often have strong side effects. Especially long-term steroid use is detrimental to health in general and so chronic usage can lead to various problems like osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. On top of these, when stop using the medicines, side effects flare up and they have to restart using them again.
Conditions that Ayurveda treats for Asthma:
- Bronchitis
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Interstitial lung disease
- Sinusitis
- Cystic fibrosis and
- Sarcoidosis
Treating Asthma With Ayurveda
In our treatment of asthma, we give equal importance to all 3 doshas. And do a thorough examination to determine which dosha is more aggravated in the person. So depending on that we treat it as follows:
Vata – Pranayama(breathing exercises) along with ayurvedic medicines like bhringaraj powder, yogaraj guggulu paste and kutki are given to pacify vata. Vataghna herbs and Panchkarma procedures- perform tarpana (purificatory procedures) with a good diet.
Kapha – Perform steam therapy, basti and give food which is rich in vatu reducing properties like ginger, black pepper etc.
Pitta – Avoid sour foods, bitter foods or even chocolates and fatty foods to pacify pitta aggravation. And do all the above methods as well.
Managing The Asthma attack
Before you consult for treating Asthma With Ayurveda, here are some tips to relieve asthmatic attacks.
[IF YOU HAVE A SEVERE ATTACK IMMEDIATELY CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR]
The first step is to induce sweating by steam therapy followed by hot water bath. At the end for 10 minutes make sure you drink plenty of water after that.
Then take 1 cup of lukewarm saltwater take 5gms each of cinnamon powder, licorice powder mix them well with the water then drink this mixture. This will help to relieve asthma attacks and bring down mucus as it acts on the respiratory tract, intestinal walls, urinary tract, and also on lymphatics to improve circulation.
Now either go for a brisk walk or start pranayama (breathing exercises). Start with just 5 minutes of your comfortable breathing and after that gradually increase up to 25-30 minutes do it on an empty stomach in the early morning before breakfast at least twice a week.
You can include all forms of breathing practices like kapalabhati, bhastrika, nadi shodhan(alternate nostril breathing), ujjayi etc along with meditation too. This will keep away from more attacks when you are not prepared.
Ayurvedic Preparations for Management of Asthma
Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa), Yograj Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) , Bhringaraj powder (Eclipta alba) 1/2 tsp each should be taken after meals- one in the morning and another before going to bed at night.
Another Ayurvedic medicine that can be used for Asthma is Vacha (Acorus calamus). It acts on the respiratory tract, regulates oils in the body and restores proper lung function. Since it also has a strong anti-inflammatory action, it helps to relax bronchial tissues and muscles that constrict airways of the lungs. Therefore, it can help asthma patients to breathe better and reduce coughing effectively.
Kapha pacifying diet for Asthma:
In order to bring balance between Kapha dosha which increases Kapha one should consume food items with pitta reducing properties like lemon, ginger, etc or those which are light like white rice, nonfried foods (for example availed from hotels), sprouted legumes, salads, etc.
These all things help in treating Asthma With Ayurveda
Asthma is such a debilitating condition that can stop you from living your life to the fullest. You know what it’s like when you have an asthma attack and are gasping for air, or if you’re struggling with chronic shortness of breath. Suffering through these attacks time after time will only worsen your symptoms even more over time. The best way to get rid of this cycle is by consulting our Vaidya Dr. Pardeep Sharma who has been practicing Ayurveda medicine since 2001 in India and Canada, he will provide personalized treatment plans for people suffering from Asthma and other respiratory issues so they can live medication free lives! Consult with Vaidya Dr. Pardeep for this through the link-
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