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20 de mayo de 2010



Asthma -(Shwas roga)



In today's stressful modern urbanised living, incidence of Asthma is considerably increasing. The rapid industrialisation , excessive crowding , Increasing pollution are some of the factors responsible for this increase in incidence of Bronchial Asthma.It has been stated that 15% of Indian population suffers from Asthma and in developed countries like USA every year there is 10% increase of Asthmatic patientsEvery now and then we come across patients of Asthma seeking Ayurvedic treatment and advice. This is because of the versatile approach of Ayurveda to root cause of the problem and it's belief in preventing the disease rather than treating it.


Ayurvedic Concept : In Ayurveda, Asthma is known as 'Swas Roga'Samprapti (Pathogenesis) : The vitiated 'Pranvayu' combines with deranged 'Kapha dosha' in the lungs causing obstruction in the 'Pranavaha srotasa'(Respiratory passage). This results in gasping and laboured breathing. This condition is known as 'Swas Roga'Types :

Five types of 'Swas Roga' are described in Ayurvedic texts1]Maha-shwas2]Urdhva-shwas3]Chinna-shwas4]Tamak-shwas5]Kshudra-shwasAmong these five types first three are not curable. 'Tamak-shwas is 'yapya'(Controllable) and is difficult to cure. The last one is curable. More than 75% of the cases belong to last two catagories.
Cause :A] Factors related to diet:Excessive indulgence in lablab beans ,black grams, raw milk, soar curd, excess salt, flesh of aquatic and wet land animals.Excessive use of 'Ruksha'(dry) and 'Guru'(heavy) diet, excessive use of cold water and cold drinks.Excessive use of 'Abhishandi'(Kapha producing) diet, Excessive use of not easily digestible and irritant food.B] Factors related to work :Excessive exposure to dust and smoke.Excessive wind, cold, cold bath or excessive heat, sun bath.Exhaustive exercise, walking, excessive sexual activities.Supression of natural urgesPsychological factorsC] Other Factors :Trauma to vital organs viz. - chest, throatAsthma may be as a sequaelae in other diseases like -Fever, Long standing common cold, Tuberculosis , Anaemia, Heart disease, Poisoning etc.Preventive Tips :
Avoid cold and damp places.
Go for morning or evening walk, do yoga mainly 'Pranayama'
Avoid over eating . Take light dinner one hour before going to bed
Avoid Tobacco, wine and smoking
Keep rooms well ventilated . Avoid air conditioners, coolers and direct air of fan
Avoid perfumes , Agarbatti. Mosquito repellents
Drink boiled water in plenty
Avoid over exercise and over indulgence in sex

Treatment :A] During attacks - Apply warm 'Til tail' over chest and back .Apply fomentation Take 'sunth powder'1/4 tea spoon+'Kali mirch' 6+'Kala namak 1/4 teaspoon+ 5 leaves of 'Tulsi' Boil this mixture in 200 ml water reducing it to 50 ml. Filter and sip it. Medicines -Ayurvedic medicines are very safe and cure the problem to a great extent. Few common medicines are -Swaskuthar ras, Sitopaladi choorna, Vasavleha etc.B] Treatment in between Attacks - 'Rasayan -chikitsa is advocated for'Pranvaha shrotasa'(Respiratory system). For example -'Vardhaman pippali rasayana.' Lung Tonic - Make paste of Black resin,dates, long pippali and honey,in equal quantity.Take one teaspoonful of it morning and evening with warm milk. Panchakarma especially 'Vaman' is advocated before rainy season
Simple Home Remedies :
Express the juice from garlic. Mix 10 to 15 drops in warm water and take internally for asthma relief.
Mix, onion juice ¼ cup, honey 1 tablespoon and black pepper 1/8 tablespoon.
Mix licorice and ginger together. Take ½ tablespoon in 1 cup of water for relief from asthma.
Drink a glass of 2/3 carrot juice, 1/3 spinach juice, 3 times a day .
Add 30-40 leaves of Basil in a liter of water, strain the leaves and drink the water throughout the day effective for asthma.




The prevalence of asthma in North America has increased markedly in recent decades. Since the 1960s, asthma and asthma symptoms among children and adolescents have increased each decade by up to 75%,.The United States and Canada have among the highest prevalences of both asthma symptoms and diagnosed asthma for both children and adults. Currently more than 1 North American in 10 has asthma, 35.5 million people overall.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by:
recurrent breathing problems
breathlessness
wheezing
chest tightness
coughing.
Asthma symptoms vary over time, and also differ in severity from one individual to another. When it is not effectively treated, asthma often leads to hospitalization, missed work and school, limitations on physical activity, sleepless nights and in some cases death.Asthma is often treated with steroids that actually weaken the lungs when used long term and come with many side effects such as:Dryness, candida or yeast infection, lowered immunity, thinning of bronchioles, rashes, psoriasis and many more.The sciences of yoga and ayurveda suggest that there are many ways to prevent asthma and treat it as well
Types of asthma. Ayurveda states that there are five types of asthma determined by their range in difficulty to treat and three types based on imbalance of:· the air element - dry type asthma, · fire element - infection type asthma · water type - congestion type asthma
Who is at risk? Dry type asthma is usually found in people who are tin, frail and who have dry skin and constipation and are sensitive to cold climates.Infection type asthma is usually found in those who are hot, who are prone to infection in general, who have red rashes on the skin or psoriasis and who are prone to bronchitis. Congestive type asthma is usually found in those who are heavier in body weight, big boned, prone to colds and sinus congestion or chest congestion and water retention and are sensitive to cold and humid climates..
Upon seeing these characteristics what can we do to reduce our chances of developing asthma?To treat dry type asthma - one should increase fluid intake. This will help to increase moisture and oxygen in the body. One should also keep the head, chest and back covered on cool days and avoid exposure to wind. Massage the body daily with sesame oil to add moisture to the body and try to eat foods that are moist and warm rather than raw, cold and rough dry foods. Avoid dairy products and nuts.For infection type asthma- one should drink plenty of water and avoid eating after 10:00 PM. Eating late in the night can cause the accumulation of toxins in the body due to improper digestion. One should also avoid deep fried foods, exertion in the cold or heat and should try to eat more fruits and vegetables rather than meats and dairy. If a person who is prone to infection type asthma he or she should try to ingest more turmeric, Echinacea in the form of tea and dandelion to prevent infections and boost the immune system. Mediation and breathing exercises are also helpful for such people as their asthma is usually related to stress and anger.For congestive type asthma - one should avoid dairy, wheat products, refined sugar and excess sweet, sour and salty foods. They should try to eat bitter, astringent and spicy foods to increase circulation and flow of mucus and to prevent congestion. They can massage the chest and back with mustard oil to promote circulation in the chest. Balm of Gilead is very effective when rubbed on the chest. It can prevent a chest cold from turning into pneumonia and can dilate the bronchial tubes to encourage deeper breathing. People who are prone to this type of asthma should exercise daily and try to do some cardio exercise for fifteen minutes per day. They should also avoid eating before 10:00am and after 9:00pm to ensure that they do not suffer from weak digestion which is the prime cause of asthma for them. They should keep the head and torso covered on cool days and avoid walking in the rain. It is important for them to drink hot water or Luke warm water rather than cold water and they should avoid iced beverages, ice cream and other cold foods to prevent mucus from becoming clogged.
In general, all people with asthma or chest problems should perform deep breathing exercises daily and can add a few simple spices to their diets to help keep their chests clear.Ginger, turmeric, black pepper cumin can be ground together and mixed with honey to create a paste. A teaspoon a day of this mixture is very useful in keeping the chest clear. Applying balm of Gilead, eucalyptus oil, cinnamon oil or clove oil to the chest and back also helps to improve breathing. Note, essential oils should be mixed with a base oil - sesame would be the best for those with dry or infection type asthma or mustard for those with congestion type asthma.
Below is a breathing technique than can be used to help increase lung capacity and stamina.Deep Breath
While inhaling, always remember that the body is being filled with air. When something is full it expands.
When we exhale we are emptying the body, thus, it will contract or shrink as it is emptied.
Also remember that unless otherwise mentioned, all breathing is done through the nose.
Sit in a position that is comfortable. The posture should be good. If the spine is not straight, the body cannot fill to its full capacity.
Sit with the hands on the ribs and tummy and inhale. Fill the tummy first and then feel the inhalation filling the rest of the lungs. Continue to breathe until the throat is full and then immediately begin to exhale. Exhale until the body is completely empty.
Repeat this exercise four times.
This breath can be performed anytime during the day to help you relax.
Benefits - It is very good for those who have asthma as it helps to increase lung capacity and awareness of the lungs and the breathing process. It also helps to soothe both body and mind.Many ailments can be treated with this breathing exercise because it increases the flow of oxygen to all parts of the body.
Note, for chronic conditions or severe cases of asthma it is always better to consult a qualified helath practitioner, but we have tried to provide you with some simple tips to help improve your quality of living.

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