Asthma is described in Ayurveda by the name Swasa Roga, literally meaning, “illness related to breathing.” Description of Asthma dates back to the earliest literature known to the world, the Vedas. Through the ages lot of research has been done on this subject in Ayurveda, as a result of which today we have a scientifically presented detailed description of its various forms with differential diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. The recent years have seen a greater interest in Pharmacological research of medicinal plants used for the treatment of Asthma.
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Ayurveda describes 5 types of Swasa roga. One of these, Tamaka Swasa, can be correlated with Bronchial Asthma. Tamaka Swasa literally means that the person who suffers from this sees darkness in front of his eyes when there is an acute attack.
Asthma is characterized by recurrent shortness of breath and wheeze caused by increased resistance to the flow of air through the narrowed airway lumen. According to Ayurveda this is triggered by various factors like cold food and drinks, dry food, irregular dietary habits, heavy food, exposure to atmospheric pollution, cold air, dust, pollen, etc. There is also a mention of familial inheritance of this condition. Lot of importance has been given in Ayurvedic literature to the prevention of Asthma. This can be achieved by avoiding the triggering factors, other known allergens, dust, pollen, fumes, cold air, excess humidity, and excessive intake of food items like yogurt, raw milk, sweets, cold water and cold beverages, fish and other sea food, black gram, oily food, etc.
Ayurveda also advocates a healthy lifestyle by avoiding suppression of natural urges and overindulgence in sexual intercourse, and by maintaining a proper pattern of sleep. Smoking, overexertion, stress, prolonged indigestion and excessive eating prior to the complete digestion of the previous meal have also been mentioned as triggering factors of Asthma.
The food items that can be included in the safe list are barley, horse-gram, drumstick, unpolished rice, bitter gourd, ginger, garlic, buttermilk, herbal teas, hot water, black pepper, spinach, etc.
Apart from the conventional approach of dilating the narrowed airway and reducing the inflammatory response, Ayurvedic treatment of Asthma also aims at preventing the recurrence of attacks by initially reducing the intensity and frequency of attacks, increasing the immunity and improving the general condition of the person.
Mode of treatment depends upon various factors like physical and mental constitution of the person, age, duration and severity of the illness. The Ayurvedic scriptures recommend the process of treatment in which initially medication is given to expel the accumulated toxins from the body either orally or through the rectum or the sweat pores, without producing any discomfort in the body. Once this is achieved, the person is administered gentle, purifying herbal preparations that act both locally and systemically, treating the condition and also improving the general health. The medication prescribed varies from person to person depending on the factors mentioned above.
All the herbs used in Ayurveda are known to act in accordance with the body nature and are thus well tolerated, and, taken in the right form, right proportion and right time, do not produce any harsh adverse effects on the body.
Some common household remedies that can be used with benefit in a mild condition are black pepper, ginger powder and juice, long pepper, liquorice, turmeric, onion and honey.
Daily consumption of tolerably hot water in the night before retiring to sleep produces a beneficial effect over a period of time.
In conclusion, Ayurveda has a lot to offer in terms of natural and gentle, yet effective and long-lasting treatment, and dietary and lifestyle guidelines, leading to a stable and healthy physical and mental condition.
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