Ayurvedic Treatment for Bronchial Asthma

ABOUT BRONCHIAL  ASTHMA

As per the research conducted by the Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology the prevalence of asthma in children is 5.14%. The prevalence of asthma is more in males as compared to females and slightly more in 6-9 years than those in 10-14 years of age.  The significant risk factors are allergic rhinitis and a family history of asthma, specifically maternal asthma.

It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways linked with Airway hyperreactivity (AHR) that leads to repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing specifically at night or in the early morning.  In Ayurveda, this disease is considered under the heading “Kaas” and is differentiated into five types as per Acharya Charaka ‘.  Ayurvedic treatment allows the management of the condition based on Dosha, Dhatu, and Dushyant. As per Ayurveda, this condition is easily treatable and with the proper course of treatment, the quality of life of the patient improves drastically.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

1. Recurrent wheezing
2. Chest tightness
3. Breathlessness
4. Excessive Coughing
5. In severe asthma attack, the patient may lead to confusion, lethargy, and cyanosis.

Asthma characteristically shows a diurnal pattern with symptoms and lung function being worse in the early morning. But when poorly managed symptoms such as cough and wheeze disturb the sleep known as nocturnal asthma

CAUSES OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Asthma is caused by factors/triggers that have little or no effect on normal individuals. Asthma that starts before the age of 12 years old is more likely due to genetic influence, while onset after the age of 12 is more likely due to environmental influence.

Classical precipitants include extreme exercise particularly in cold weather, emotional stress, viral upper respiratory tract infections, etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

1. Allergen exposure
2. Poor air quality
3. Raised Ozone levels
4. Pesticides
5. Indoor pollution (eg. formaldehyde)
6. Active or passive smoking
7. Exposure to pets in early life

In some patients, it is seen that asthma appeared after the use of specific medications. For example Beta-blocker induced bronchospasm or wheeze after aspirin intake.

GENETIC FACTORS AFFECTING BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Family history is a risk factor for asthma, involving different genes. As of now, 25 genes had been linked with asthma including GSTM1, IL10, CTLA-4, SPINK5, LTC4S, IL4R and ADAM33

Most of the genetic variants only trigger asthma when they are exposed to a specific environment.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT MAY CAUSE BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Asthma occurs at the greatest rate in those patients who have atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis, urticaria or hay fever. Obesity also predisposes to Asthma in certain patients.

CLASSIFICATION OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Clinically asthma is classified according to the frequency of symptoms, forced expiratory volume in one-second peak expiratory flow rate

Asthma is also classified as atopic (extrinsic) or non-atopic (intrinsic), based on whether symptoms are triggered by allergens (atopic) or not (non-atopic).

Occupational asthma

It is the most common form of occupational respiratory disorder and should be considered in all adult asthmatics. It is found mostly in painters, hospital staff, factory workers, animal caretakers, welders,food processing workers, and carpenters.

DIAGNOSIS OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

The diagnosis is predominantly clinical and history based.

Investigations include

1. Spirometry
2. Peak flow meter

3. Measurement of allergic status

• A. Skin prick test
• B. Measurement of total and allergen-specific IgE
• C. CBC
• D. Hb
• E. AEC (Absolute Eosinophil Count)

4. Radiological examination

• A. Chest X-ray
• B. HRCT scan

5. Pulmonary function Test

AYURVEDIC  VIEW FOR BRONCHIAL ASTHMA:

कास की निरुक्ति / Definition of Kasa

When the foreign particle gets stuck up in the respiratory tract, the Vata tries to expel it out. During that process of expelling out the foreign particle, the respiratory tract gets inflamed /damaged. This leads to the occurrence of abnormal breath sounds termed as KASA. Its site of origin is throat. Thus, any deformity in the Udaan Vayu leads to Kasa.

TYPES OF KASA: There are five types of kasa .

1. Vataj  kasa
2. Pittaj kasa
3. Kaphaj kasa
4. Kshataj kasa
5. Kshayaj kasa

कास के पूर्वरूप/Predormal Symptoms of Kasa

( Charak Samhita / Chikitsasthana – 18/5)

1. Feeling as if the throat is filled with wooden skewers
2. Irritation in throat
3. Blockage in the food pipe

वातजन्य कास के लक्षण / Vataj Kasa

1. Pain in lateral sides of the chest
2. Headache
3. Horseness invoice
4. Weakness
5. Dry cough

पित्तजन्यकास / Pittaj Kasa

1. The bitter taste of mouth
2. Burning sensation in the chest
3. Yellow sputum

कफजकासकेलक्षण/Kafaj Kasa

1. The sweet taste of mouth
2. Sticky mucoid cough
3. Pain in chest
4. Extreme Wheezing
5. Piloerection

क्षतजकासकेलक्षण / Kshataj Kasa

1. Cough followed by hemoptysis
2. Pain in chest
3. Squawk sounds or short wheezes

क्षयजकासकेलक्षण/Kshayaj Kasa

1. Pus filled mucous
2. Oily skin
3. Fever

चिकित्सा सिद्धान्त/ Treatment  Protocol

1. Virechan (Carminatives)
2. Kapha vata pacifiers are require
3. Rasayan (Rejuvenators)

Ayurvedic Treatment for Bronchial Asthma

Ayurveda Offers the Following Herbal formulations for the Treatment of Bronchial Asthma.

Internal Medicine

1. Vyaghradi kashayam
2. Karpoor churanam
3. Jati lavangadi churanam
4. Lavangadi vati
5. Vasa avleha
6. Vasarishta
7. Kanak asava
8. Dhanwantram gutika
9. Dashmoolarishta
10. Abhyarishta
11. Gorochanadi gutika
12. Lakshmi vilas ras

External Medicine

• Karpoor oil application on chest

Pathyam /पथ्य (Wholesome Food)

1. Yellow lentils and split chickpeas
2. Draksha, Mulethi, Honey, Luke warm water, etc.

Apathyam /अपथ्य(Unwholesome Food)

1. Excessive exposure to dust, smoking, vigorous exercise, excessive walking, and Cold.
2. Consumption of Fish, potato, milk products, sour foods, cold food items like ice creams, sweets, etc.
3. Frequently head bath in the cold and rainy season.

HERBAL TREATMENT FOR BRONCHIAL ATHMA BY PLANET AYURVEDA

Planet Ayurveda provides the best and most effective Herbal Remedies for the Treatment of Bronchial Asthma. All the products are prepared according to the Ayurvedic principles as per the ancient texts and the strict guidelines from the Ayurveda Experts. All these herbal supplements are 100% pure and natural, with no adverse effects on health. Rather, using them can help you treat the main disease as well as to prevent many other health problems as the herbs used in the products are proven for their potency on the overall health of an individual.

The Herbal Remedies Available for Bronchial Asthma are

1. Bronco Plan Syrup
2. Aller-G Care Capsules
3. Praanrakshak Churna
4. Tulsi Capsules

Conclusion

Hence, it concludes that Ayurvedic treatment is the best Management for Bronchial Asthma. There is no need to carry inhalers everywhere you go.You can maintain a healthy active lifestyle by following natural treatment.