People with asthma need to take more care during the Spring/Summer season. There can be many reasons behind asthma, such as air pollution, increased mould growth, high humidity environment; all these can trigger asthma conditions in adults as well as children.
According to Ayurveda, asthma is caused by an accumulation of impurities that disrupt the delicate biochemistry of the tissues.
Toxins build up in the body as the result of poor diet and digestion, compromised elimination, sluggish metabolism, stress and environmental factors. The impurities get carried through the body’s channels to the chest and lung area, where they irritate the linings of airways, triggering an inflammatory response that harms the epithelial lining of airways.
Once harmed, the epithelium can no longer create chemicals to inhibit broncho-constriction. Inflammation and excess fluid secretion are natural mechanisms that help wash away impurities in tissues. But when the body’s defense mechanisms become overactive, the lungs fill up with fluid and airwaves become constricted.
By eliminating deeply imbedded impurities, the physiology can begin to function normally. In our last blog post we gave you some tips to detox and remove impurities (called Ama in Ayurveda).
You must have noticed it’s very common to give inhalers to get relief. Many patients get asthma type of signs even after viral respiratory congestion, and it can take ages to recover. It is definitely important to understand at what stage you can offer natural remedies.
Its always better to take precautions at an early stage to avoid complications.
Symptoms of asthma
- Wheezing breathing sounds
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tightness in the chest
- Frequent coughing
- Breathless when lying down or even climbing steps or running
Seek immediate medical treatment if the symptoms are severe.
Ayurvedic dietary treatments for asthma
Try to avoid dry, cold and heavy food, fermented foods, aerated cold drinks, and seafoods.
- Do not have fried and processed foods.
- Avoid consuming heavy food such as rice, sugar, lentils, curds, buttermilk, and heavy milk products like cheese, paneer etc, which has natural tendency to produce congestion.
- Drink plenty of boiled water.
- Take light dinner.
- Do not over eat at night time.
- Fruits such as guava, banana, watermelon and papaya should be avoided.
- Have fruits like figs, dry grapes (raisins), pomegranate and fruits full of vitamin C such as oranges, blueberries, strawberries etc.
Ayurvedic home remedies for asthma treatment
- Consume 2 tablespoon of lemon juice mixed with honey and half glass of warm water and crushed ginger 1 teaspoon.
- Using black pepper and Ajwayan (celery seeds) on soups.
- Basil-mint teas.
- Licorice tea to ease symptoms.
- Applying warm mustard oil externally on chest.
- Steam inhalation with Ajwayan, mint, camphor, eucalyptus oil.
- Ayurvedic treatment and suggestions: Some Ayurvedic kriyas such as jala neti and suta neti can help in cleansing the upper respiratory congestion.
- Different types of pranayama also keep lungs healthy by allowing free fresh air flow.
- Moderate exercise helps build up breathing capacity.
- There are many Yoga poses that help with asthma. Consult a qualified Yoga Therapy teacher.
- Many popular ayurvedic products have shown very good results.
Consult a practitioner
Asthma is a serious condition. If you or a family member have asthma, it is advisable to see an ayurvedic practitioner who can prescribe a treatment that suits the patient. Ayurvedic treatment may help many patients reduce dependency on inhalers and other drugs.
Contact Dr Priya Punjabi for further information and advice. Call on (09) 829 2045 or email now.
Top photo: Mike Wilson
