Due to today’s modern urbanized lifestyles, excessive pollution and rapid industrialization the number of patients suffering from Asthma is fast increasing. Reports suggest that at least 15% of Indian population and 10% of U.S. population suffer from Bronchial Asthma every year. These days more and more of such patients are turning towards Ayurveda remedies, due to the holistic approach followed by Ayurveda wherein apart from treating the disease without any side effects, measures are taken to find the root cause of the disease and prevent it.

Asthma is referred to as “Swas Roga” in Ayurveda. From an Ayurvedic perspective, the kapha dosha combines with ‘pranavayu’ leading to obstruction in the respiratory passage (called ‘pranavaha srotasa’ in Ayurveda) causing a condition called as ‘Swas Roga’ or “Asthma”.

There are various non-allergic and allergic factors that cause Asthma like diet, excessive exposure to smoke and dust, working in excessive cold or hot temperatures, over-exercising, emotional tensions, other disorders in lungs or throat or hereditary factors.

A few Ayurvedic remedies and home preventive tips are mentioned here:

1. A few common medicines as suggested in Ayurveda are Sitopaladi choorna, Vasavleha, Swaskuthar ras etc. During Asthma attacks, “Rasayana Chikitsa” is given to the patient. It is also advised that Asthmatic patients can go in for a Panchakarma, especially vaman chikitsa before the onset of monsoon.
2. Honey is one of the most effective remedies used for treatment of Asthma. During bouts of Astma, just holding a jug of honey beneath the nose and inhaling the air in contact with honey helps in easier breathing and provides temporary relief from Asthma. When consumed internally with equal parts of dates, black resins and pippali, it acts as a good lung tonic by thinning out the accumulated mucus and eliminating it from the respiratory system.
3. When five grams of Indian gooseberry or Amla is mixed with one table spoon of honey and consumed, it acts as an expectorant, and is an effective medicine for Asthma.
4. During Asthmatic attacks, massaging mustard oil with camphor over the chest will loosen the mucus and help easy breathing. Simultaneously, inhaling steam with a few caraway seeds added to boiling water will help in dilation of bronchial passage.

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Tags: Asthma, Ayurveda remedies, Ayurveda, Sitopaladi choorna, Rasayana Chikitsa, Panchakarma, treatment of Asthma, massaging