Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by attacks of spasm in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It is usually connected to allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity.



















TYPES OF ASTHMA :















Bronchial Asthma is classified into :

I. Atopic or Extrinsic Asthma (Early onset Asthma)
* Usually begins in childhood
* It generally occurs in atopic (hereditary predisposition toward developing certain hypersensitivity reactions) individuals i.e.individuals who are prone to allergy like cold, sneezing, skin rashes.
* External factors (like smoke, dust, pollen) are responsible for causing the asthmatic attacks. Hence also called extrinsic asthma.

II. Non-Atopic or Intrinsic Asthma (Late onset Asthma)
* Often begins in adult life.
* History of allergy is usually absent.
* Family history of allergies or asthma is usually absent.
* As there is no involvement of external allergens in causing this type of asthma it is known as Intrinsic
Asthma.

III. Occupational asthma
Certain occupations can be harmful for people with an allergic background for e.g. bakers, farmers, and poultry-men are exposed to large amounts of fungus. Farmers and gardeners are exposed to pollens, mattress renovators to house dust, beauticians and barbers to dyes and animal dander (skin scales or fur of animals).

Main Symptoms Of Asthma :















The most common symptoms of both extrinsic and intrinsic asthmas are the following:
* Coughing
* Wheezing
* Shortness of breath
* Rapid breathing
* Chest tightness

Causes or Triggers Asthma : 

People with asthma have inflamed airways which are sensitive to things which may not bother other people. These things are “triggers.”
Asthma triggers vary from person to person. Some people react to only a few while others react to many.
If you have asthma, it is important to keep track of the causes or triggers that you know provoke your asthma. Because the symptoms do not always occur right after exposure, this may take a bit of detective work. Delayed asthma episodes may occur depending on the type of trigger and how sensitive a person is to it.

The most common asthma triggers include :

Allergies (Allergic Asthma)-
Substances that cause allergies (allergens) can trigger asthma. If you inhale something you are allergic to, you may experience asthma symptoms. It is best to avoid or limit contact with known allergens to decrease or prevent asthma episodes. Common allergens that cause allergic asthma include:
* Dust mites
* Cockroach
* Pollen
* Molds
* Pet dander
* Rodents

Irritants in the Air-
Irritants in the environment can also bring on an asthma episode. Although people are not allergic to these items, they can bother inflamed, sensitive airways:

* Smoke from cigarettes
* Air pollution such as smog, ozone and others
* Wood fires
* Charcoal grills
* Strong fumes, vapors or odors (such as paint, gasoline, perfumes and scented soaps)
* Dust and particles in the air
* Chemicals

Respiratory Illness-

* Colds
* Flu (influenza)
* Sore throats
* Sinus infections
* Pneumonia
* Respiratory infections are the most common asthma triggers in children.

Exercise-
Exercise and other activities that make you breathe harder can affect your asthma. Exercise – especially in cold air – is a frequent asthma trigger. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a form of asthma that is triggered by physical activity. It is also known as exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Symptoms may not appear until after several minutes of sustained exercise. (If symptoms appear sooner than this, it usually means you need to adjust your treatment.) With proper treatment, you do not need to limit your physical activity.

Weather-
Dry wind, cold air or sudden changes in weather can sometimes bring on an asthma episode.

Feeling and Expressing Strong Emotions-

1. Anger
2. Fear
3. Excitement
4. Laughter
5. Yelling
6. Crying

When you feel strong emotions, your breathing changes – even if you don’t have asthma. It may cause wheezing or other asthma symptoms in someone with asthma.

Medicines-
Some medicines can also trigger asthma:

* If you are sensitive to aspirin and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
* If you take medicines known as beta blockers – they can also make asthma harder to control

Other Asthma Triggers-
Other triggers to consider and discuss with your healthcare provider are:

* Sulfites in food
* Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle
* Other medical problems like reflux (GERD)

Talk to your health care provider about your asthma and your triggers. Be sure to discuss any changes in your asthma management.

Ayurvedic view :

A detailed description and differential diagnosis of a group of disorders involving respiratory distress (dyspnea) is given in all three of the major Ayurvedic compendiums. These diseases are collectively known as Swasa Roga, of which five varieties are described. These include: maha swasa, urdhva swasa, chinna swasa, ksudra swasa, and tamaka swasa. The last variety, tamaka swasa, corresponds to chronic persistent bronchial asthma of allopathic medicine. In Ayurveda, it is considered the only type of respiratory distress which can be controlled, and then only with diligence on the part of the patient and physician. In striking similarity to the modern allopathic description, tamaka swasa is defined in Ayurveda as a chronic and recurring condition characterized by dyspnea, cough, airflow obstruction, and wheezing. Although the concept of atopy and hyperreactivity were unknown, Ayurveda was clear on its understanding of this condition as multifactorial, including environmental and emotional factors.

Pathogenesis according to Ayurveda :

In Ayurvedic texts, asthma is known as tamaka svasa, one of the kaphaja diseases in the category of svasa or dyspnoea (shortness of breath). 
Initially in the samprapti (pathogenesis) of asthma, vata is provoked with urdhva gati (upward vector). Entering prana vaha srota, the respiratory tree, it aggravates kapha in the bronchial mucus membranes.
The purva rupa or premonitory signs outlined in the texts include headache, cough, chest pain, mood swings, running nose and thirst."Vata, getting aggravated, begin to move in the respiratory channels, aggravating kapha and producing breathlessness with catching pain in the head, neck, chest and flanks, cough accompanied with cracking sound, delusion, loss of appetite, running in the nose and thirst." 
The disease process, moving through astayi rasa dhatu, can swiftly proceed to rupa, cardinal signs and symptoms of a full blown asthma attack: cough, wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, rapid breathing and orthopnoea (difficulty breathing when lying down).

Treatment according to Ayurveda :

While an individual's constitutional type must always be kept in mind when developing a treatment plan for any disease, asthma is nevertheless generally treated by pacifying Vata and Kapha doshas. The treatment will always include two main strategies:
a) purification therapies (panchakarma) to eliminate the vitiated doshas.
b) herbal therapies to help re-establish normal physiological function in the affected tissues and organs.
However asthma is highly variable in its course and clinicians need to tailor their treatment plans to the needs of each individual patient. The general Ayurvedic principle is to initially gain control of the disease as quickly as possible with strong Vata and Kapha purification measures which are then followed with appropriate herbal therapies.

Ayurvedic Herbs and Herbal formulations used are :















 

1. Kanskasva.
2. Vasarishta.
3. Khadiradi vati.
4. Sitopaladi churna.
5. Talisadi churna.
6. Vasavaleha.
7. Turmeric.
8. Dasamoola kashayam.
9. Shwas kuthar ras
10. Shringyadi churna

Yashtimadhu (Licorice):- Use of Licorice root is one of the oldest remedies used for cough and cold. It works as an imperative herbal demulcent that shields the respiratory system.It provides soothing effect in the throat and provides relief from the irritation of the throat. It is an effective herb that secrete healthy mucus and releases the phlegm and clears the nasal passage and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Turmeric :- Haridra or turmeric is a spice that we’re all familiar with, but it’s also an important Ayurvedic herb. Commonly used to treat respiratory infections, inflammation, and wounds, the herb can also help in the management of asthma. Its anti-inflammatory properties, which are linked to curcumin, have been shown to reduce airway obstruction.

Black pepper :- This herb is enriched with the properties like antioxidant, antimicrobial potential and gastro-protective effects. Black pepper contains an alkaloid called piperine. This alkaloid shows many effects to the body. It acts as a Bronchodilator, reduces pain, improves breathing, and reduces the inflammation.

Dry ginger :- Sunth or dried ginger is another herb that is highly valued in Ayurveda for its therapeutic potential. Aside from aiding digestion, sunth is also used to treat asthma and other respiratory ailments, often a primary ingredient in the most effective Ayurvedic medicines for asthma. Modern clinical studies have affirmed the efficacy of sunth, with research showing that it can reduce allergic symptoms through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, even working directly on the smooth airway muscles as a natural bronchial-relaxant.

Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica)- The leaf has been used for centuries to treat asthma where it works as a bronchodilator and mild expectorant. Adhatoda also works by decreasing the viscosity of mucus to assist with expectoration. Key constituents of adhatoda leaf are the quinazoline alkaloids (0.5–2%). The major alkaloid is vasicine present at levels of 45–95% and is the original source of the drug bromhexine, which is often still used to assist expectoration.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera):
Ashwagandha helps in treating a wide range of health conditions, including asthma. One of the widely recognised benefits is that it modulates and boosts the immune system. It can also escalate the amount of pathogen-fighting agents and alter the bad effects of anti-cancer drugs on the immune system.

Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata): Kalmegh is used in Ayurveda for upper respiratory health during seasonal stress symptoms of headache, tiredness, earache, sleeplessness, sore throat, nasal secretion, phlegm, and frequency and intensity of cough. Andrographis is beneficial and safe for relieving acute respiratory tract infection symptoms and shortening time to symptom resolution.

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) : Holy Basil is an effective herbal remedy in ayurveda for asthma, bronchitis, cough, cold, and also heals the damage caused to the lungs due to cigarette smoke. Studies have revealed a variety of actions including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory, anti-asthmatic, and adaptogenic activities, which can also help in dealing with asthma. 
Neem (Azadirachta indica): In ayurveda it is believed that neem has excellent properties to treat various inflammations and allergies. Taking a few drops of neem for a specific period of time is quite effective for treatment of asthma. It is also useful in cases of cough, breathing and phlegm.

Tylophora (Tylophora asthmatica): It has been found that tylophora has wonderful properties in providing relief to asthmatic patients. It is useful to increase the lungs' efficacy for oxygen intake and decrease the breath shortness at night. Chewing tylophora leaves provides pleasing results in patients who are suffering from asthma.
 

 Jaypatri (Myristica fragrans): Jaypatri has a bitter pungent taste and is used as alexiteric, as medicine in bronchitis, asthma, thirst and to improve appetite.

Kantkari (Solanum xanthocarpum): Kantakari is good for asthma due to its cough-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. It decreases inflammation and the production of mucus in the air passages which is considered to be useful in asthma. Kantakari also has anti-allergic properties due to which it inhibits allergic asthmatic reactions.

 

Diet and other Regimen : 

* Foods which are easy to digest should be preferred. Maximum amount of green leafy vegetables should be included in the diet.
* Alcohol and Tobacco should be avoided.
* Curd, Pickles, cold drinks, ice creams, banana should be avoided.
* Exposure to cold wind and rain should be avoided.
* Heavy physical exercises should not be done.
* Avoid exposure to dust, pollens and excess humidity.











At Life Line Ayurvedic Herbal Clinic, you can consult specialist Ayurvedic doctors that have immense knowledge and experience in managing Asthma with specialized natural remedies without any adverse side effects.