ASTHMA WHAT TO EAT

Diet and Beverages - As has been elaborated, the patient should take a very light diet, specially at night. He should avoid rice and eat wheat instead. Refined wheat flour however is not advisable because it becomes a little constipative. Asthmatic patients should take wholemeal bread, maize, jawar and bajra (millets) which are very useful. Curd should be avoided. Fried food should be shunned. Ripe bananas, oranges, lemons, cold drinks, sour fruit juice, sour fruits and pickles should not be used. Constipative vegetables such as potatoes, arbi (colocasia) and legumes of different types are harmful for the patients. White meat, red meat and fish in small quantities may be eaten; sea-fish and eggs should be avoided. Garlic, ginger, asafoetida, cumin seed, turmeric, long pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves are recommended. Cow's milk is preferred to buffalo's. Goats milk is very useful for Asthmatics. Half a tea-spoonful of powdered long pepper or ginger added to milk, tea or coffee before boiling or straining is also advised. Alcoholic drinks can be used with moderation though ice should be avoided and the drinks themselves profusely diluted. As has been described before, curd or yoghurt should also be strictly avoided.

Exposure to cold wind, rains, dust and smoke should be avoided. Among vegetables, spinach, bitter gourd, pumpkin, green banana and green papaya are recommended. Among fruits, grapes, raisins and papaya can be eaten. The patient should do light exercises preferably those prescribed in yoga. 

ASTHMA DIETETIC RULES

Dietetic Rules - Apart from what the patient eats, what is important for an Asthmatic is how he eats and when he eats. The present day civilization has made the life of man rather mechanical. He eats and drinks at irregular intervals. Meal times are not fixed. Sometimes because of the pressure of work he is unable to eat his meals on time; at other times, because of social obligations he has to eat or drink even though he does not want to. food in the form of snacks, and beverages is consumed at all hours, irrespective of whether the hour, or the occasion demands it. This is very injurious even for normally healthy persons. For Asthmatics, irregular meals and snacks should be totally avoided. 

How the patient eats is equally important. At the dining table, where the entire family is supposed to eat together, particularly during breakfast and dinner, a peaceful atmosphere seldom prevails. The eating place is generally the place of discussion for everything in the world right from politics to social crimes. These discussions effect both the participants and non-participants because of the effect it produces on the mind. The digestion and metabolic processes are seriously affected. This is responsible for several human diseases. Therefore, a healthy person and even more so an Asthmatic, should always try to maintain a peaceful atmosphere at the dining table. It is best to eat silently and keep apart some time for discussions with friends and family members on matters of  business and domestic or social problems.

Television, radio and the telephone have aggravated this problem. It has become customary to watch TV or listen to the radio and attend to telephone calls while eating. The dining room should be absolutely free from these gadgets of civilization. Patients suffering from Asthma should strictly avoid them and arrange to attend telephone calls only after the meal is over. 

ASTHMA MENTAL PEACE A MUST YOGA HELPS

Mental Peace - A sine qua non -The process of digestion and metabolism are very closely connected with mental activities. Any form of mental strain - anxiety, worry, fear and emotional stress - affects both digestion and metabolism. This factor, in the present state of civilized society, is generally ignored. People are given to believe that the mind is entirely different from the body; this is not correct. Almost all patients of Asthma - even young patients - suffer from mental strain and emotional stress. The exact cause of stress and strain should be located and removed failing which the patient will live with Asthmatic attacks but for periodical suppression of the symptoms by anti-spasmodic. Several methods are described in yoga that help maintain mental tranquility. The best method is perhaps pranayama which is generally and erroneously translated as breathing exercises. In pranayama, the person inhales, retains and exhales breath at the ratio of 1:2:4, That is, the inhalation time should be 1, the time for retaining breath should be 2 and the time for exhalation should be 4. This is a commonly followed rule. There are however, many exceptions which one can learn from an expert yogi. Depending upon the strength of the patient, it can be done for one, two and four minutes or two, four and eight minutes. During this process the parts of which in yogic parlance are called puraka, kumbaka and recaka pranayama, the patients mind should concentrate upon a fixed point in the body preferably near his heart and he should try to avoid any diversion of the mind. If it is practised regularly after the bowels are cleared and on an empty stomach two or three times a day, it will give immense mental tranquility for the patient enabling him to overcome stress and strain and thereby successfully combat Asthmatic attacks. There are several other methods of doing pranayama but this simple method is a very good supplement for the medication and diets prescribed for Asthmatics.

ASTHMA - NO BANANA ICE CREAM FRUIT JUICE

Asthma :- Ripe banana is a poison for Asthmatics -- Ripe banana is a nourishing food but for Asthmatics, It acts as a poison because it is difficult to digest and produces more kapha or phlegm. Because it is considered a heavy food, it produces a lot of waste products both at the level of gastro-intestinal tract and the tissues; and because of its phlegm-producing properties, it causes more spasms or constrictions in the bronchial tubes. The patient struggles to throw out the phlegm from the lungs by way of coughing but because of constrictions in the tubes, he is unable to do so. Thus he suffers from agonizing discomfort. Raw green bananas and plantains are, however, exceptions. These can be used as vegetables without creating any problems.

Cold drinks and sour fruit juices - To a healthy person, cold drinks, ice-cream and fruit juice are refreshing and nourishing. But for Asthmatics, they create a lot of pain because of their property to cause inflammation and constriction in the bronchial tubes. This they do, by suppressing the power of digestion and metabolism as a result of which more ama (explained earlier) is formed. The patient should, therefore, strictly avoid cold drinks, ice-cream and fruit juice, particularly, the juice of citrus fruits if he wants be cured of Asthma.  

ASTHMA - FASTING HELPS

Asthma - Fasting and use of digestive and metabolic stimulants :- Asthma is essentially a disease of over nourishment that is intake of food much in excess of one's ability to digest and metabolise. Therefore, patients of Asthma should generally observe periodic fasts. Instead of a heavy meal, the patient should take very light meals. At night, particularly, because of inactivity, when the body is at rest the power of digestion and metabolism become very sluggish. So Asthma patients should as a rule be careful to take very light food at night or even avoid taking any food at all. Apart from ginger as described before, he should use some other digestive stimulants such as black pepper and long pepper. A lighter load on the digestive enzymes and enzymes responsible for metabolism is better for Asthma patients. Whenever and whatever he needs for sustenance should be properly, and as far as possible, quickly digested and metabolised. 

Why one must avoid curd or yoghurt :- Curd or yoghurt is considered to be abhisyandi, that is, it obstructs the channels of circulation. Ayurveda therefore prohibits the use of  curd or yoghurt at night even for healthy persons. At night, the process of circulation becomes very slow because of general inactivity and curd or yoghurt, if consumed, may further slow down the process of circulation thereby impairing the process of nourishment of the body. It also causes disturbance in sleep. Even though curd or yoghurt is very good for the stomach, it is like a poison for patients of Asthma where the process of circulation is already slow, as a result of which there is inflammation and spasms or constriction in the bronchial tubes. It is, therefore, strictly prohibited.

ASTHMA CORRECT DIGESTION

Asthma - Concept of Ama - When we eat, the food is acted upon by different digestive enzymes and reduced to simpler particles. The end product of digestion is then absorbed into the body and different enzymes located in the liver play their role to enable them to be assimilated by the tissues. At the level of the tissues, there are also enzymes which reduce the foreign particles and make them identical with the constituents of the tissues. Thus, the end product of the food is assimilated and it forms part of the tissues. All these enzymes in the gastro-intestinal tract, in the liver and at the level of the tissues taken together are called agnis in Ayurvedic parlance. If there is any disturbance in these agnis, then the digestive and the metabolic processes do not take place properly and a lot of the end product of food remains in the intestines, in the liver and in the blood stream. Similarly, during the process of digestion in the gastro-intestinal tract, some of these waste products of food come out which need to be thrown out. In the same way, during the normal process of metabolism, several waste products are produced and these are thrown out through stools, urine, sweat and so on. All these waste products of proper and improper digestion and metabolism both at the gastro-intestinal level, at the level of the liver and at the tissue level are called ama. This ama circulates in the blood and is transported through channels to the lungs where it causes obstruction of the bronchial tubes and the circulation of blood at the level of the alveoli to cause spasms or contraction as a result of which Asthma is caused. Therefore, apart from clearing the bowels, it is necessary to remove these waste products from the body and prevent their subsequent formation by the use of digestive stimulants such as ginger, for the complete eradication of Asthma.  

CONSTIPATION CAUSES ASTHMA

Asthma - Why is it essential to get rid of constipation ? - Patients of Asthma generally suffer from constipation. Most of them will tell you that their toilet habits are regular. In spite of this assertion a lot of fecal material remains inside the colon. As has been described before, the place of origin of Asthma is the stomach and the intestines. If the colon is blocked, obviously the intestines and the stomach will not function properly and the patient will continue to suffer from Asthma. The attacks may be suppressed temporarily by anti-spasmodic drugs but it can never get really cured. 

According to the conventional form of medicine, doctors are not able to cure patients of Asthma because of the lack of a holistic approach and their efforts are mostly directed to suppress the symptoms. If the patient of Asthma takes a mild laxative daily, then he does not require more medicine and is likely to be cured for ever if other conditions are satisfied. The best laxative for the patients of Asthma is haritaki (Terminalia Chebula). One teaspoonful of the powder of Terminalia Chebula should be added with a quarter teaspoonful of powdered rock salt and given to the patient at bed time. This dose may be increased or decreased depending upon the requirement of the patient. It should be insured that the bowels get cleared in the morning.  

ASTHMA AYURVEDIC VIEW

Asthma - The Ayurvedic concept :- The allergic substances which are primarily responsible for the causation of Asthma are floating in the air but not all persons who inhale these substances suffer from Asthma. It is only a few among them who are the sufferers. Why this selectivity then ? Why is it that only a few people in a given community suffer from bronchial Asthma when are equally exposed to the same type of air, food ingredients and other regimens ? According to Ayurveda, an individuals body is composed of seven categories of tissue elements and the function of the entire body are regulated by three factors called vayu, pitta and kapha. These three factors taken together are called tri dosas or simply dosas. In a healthy person all three should be in a state of equilibrium. During different parts of the day and night, during different stages, during different stages of the digestive process in different seasons, these three dosas undergo some change; but such changes should be within limits. If confined to these limits, the body has the power to bring them back to their normal state of functioning. It is only when they exceed that limit because of various reasons such as wrong diet, regimens, medicine and psychic factors, that diseases are caused.

In order to transport nourishment from the intestines to the tissues and the excretion of waste products from these tissues to different exterior opening such as the rectum, the urinary bladder and sweat glands, there are millions of channels. These channels are called srotas. A disease may be manifested in a particular organ of the body but it is not necessary for it to originate from the same organ.

Ayurveda distinctively conceives of three different parts of the pathogenic process namely (1) the site origin, (2) the channel of circulation, and (3) the site of manifestation of the disease. In the case of bronchial Asthma, the site of origin is the stomach and the intestines. The root cause of the disease is basically located there. The pathogenic substances for the manifestation of the diseases originates from these places. How do these pathogenic substances travel from the site of origin to the site of manifestation? They are carried, according to Ayurveda, through a group of channels called rasavaha srotas. Why do these channels carry these pathogenic substances to the lungs and not to any other part of the body?. It is the weakest point in the body which has the affinity to the type of morbidity already created in the stomach that is affected by this process. If the tissues of the lungs, musculature of the bronchial tube and the mucous membrane lining these tubes are weak. then they get affected. 

Thus, according to Ayurveda. the site of origin of bronchial Asthma is the stomach and the intestines. The channels of circulation of the waste products of the body are rasavaha srotas, that is, channels carrying plasma, and the site of manifestation of the disease are the lungs. It is only because of wrong diet, mental strain and unusual climatic conditions that these three factors are affected and the person suffers from bronchial Asthma. According to Ayurveda, allergy is not the primary cause of the disease : the primary causes are wrong food habits, mental strain and bad weather. Allergic factors are only secondary causes which precipitate the disease. 

ASTHMA CAUSES AND ALLERGY

Asthma - Causative Factors:- In spite of worldwide research, the exact cause of Asthma is not known to modern medicine. It is considered to be caused by certain substances which taken together are called allergens. These allergens range at times from fine dust particals, pollen, to tiny fragements of fur which float in the air and which fall off moulting animals and birds. Asthma patients are often very sensitive to irritating fumes such as cigarette smoke or the smell of lime which is often used for white-washing walls. Some patients a re also allergice to medicines such as penicillin, aspirin and some preservatives used in tinned food and drinks. 

What is Allergy ?:- Allergy is a kind of reaction of the body to external substances which may or may not be otherwise harmful. A healthy body is guarded against the invasion of germs by some special cells which are collectively called the immune system. As a reaction to any foreign body, an antibody is produced inside the individual which envelopes and destroys the former. Sometimes this immune system over reacts to some apparently harmless substances such as pollen, pieces of hair, dust particals and even perfume. The allergy is considered to be a cause of bronchial Asthma and bronchitis in modern medicine.  

ASTHMA MORE ABOUT IT

More about Asthma :- Like all other muscles in the body, the opening and closing of the muscles surrounding these tubes are controlled by two groups of nerves called sympathetic and para-sympathetic. It is the sympathetic nerve that helps in the opening of the bronchi and bronchioles and the para-sympathetic nerves that cause their contraction. The action of the para-sympathetic nerve gets support from another chemical substance called histamine. This histamine causes infllamation of the internal lining membrane of the bronchial tubes thereby causing obstruction in the passage of air. The activities of the para-sympathetiv nerve and histamine get additional support from infections, dust, smoke, air pollution, dampness and cold weather.

Along with the changes in the lungs, the patient may also suffer from congestion and infllamation of the mucous membrane of the nose, sinusitis, tonsilitis and pharyngitis. In fact , in classes cases of Asthma, the ailment starts from the nose. The patient suffers from cold, a few bouts of sneezing, watering from the nose and eyes and heaviness of the head. They may get headaches, soar throat and even tonsilitis. This reaction in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract spreads gradually after a few days to the bronchioles. To start with, there may be bouts of caugh with or without expectoration. Because of the treatment or otherwise, the ailment from the nose may disappear, but will con tinue to effect the tubes of air passage. A few bouts of this attack may be ignored by the patients as ordinary bronchitis. But subsequently, this causes breathing problems thereby manifesting clear signs and symptoms of Asthma.   

WHAT IS ASTHMA

What is Asthma :- There are hundreds of small and big tubes in the lungs, which carry the breath inside along with the inhaled air.Oxygen enters the body through these tubes and carbon-dioxide comes out of the body through them. The bigger tubes are bronchi and the smaller  ones are bronchioles. These bronchioles and bronchi are surrounded by thin muscles which make them open and close during the process of respiration. At the end of these bronchioles, there are millions of alveoli which are tiny balloon-like sacs spreading out in periphery of the lungs. These alveoli have very thin walls and they allow oxygen from the freshly inhaled air to pass into the blood. Similarly, at the same time, the waste product of the body, namely carbon-dioxide, comes out of the blood stream through these sacs which are breathed out.

During an attack of Asthma, there is a contraction of these tubes when the patient wants to breath out the polluted air from the body. Because of this contraction or spasm, the patient finds it very difficult and looks for fresh air spots such as windows or outside the house under the wrong impression that the feeling of suffocation is because of lack of air inside the room. A sleeping position makes the condition worse and the patient spends night after night sitting up in bed. When the air passes out through these contracted or spasmed tubes,there is a characteristic wheezing sound. This condition worse when large amounts of mucus, produced in the tubes, obstruct the passage of air.  

ASTHMA BRONCHITIS

Facts about the thought of modern treatment & counter view of old traditional medicine practice :-Medical science has made tremendous progress in various fields. The era of specialisation and the tendency to see man as a chemo-physical conglomeration of many separate parts is giving place to a new genre of biological thinking. This new school of thought is directed towards the concept of man as a whole person with his physical, emotional and spiritual aspects inseparably unified in one living individual. The place of man as an organic part of the biological and cosmic universe, subject to all the immutable and irrevocable laws of nature, is being increasingly being recognised. in this context, the role of nutrition in preventive and curative medicine has become increasingly evident. In spite of these profound changes taking place in medical thought, today's conventional drug approach is unable to solve the problem of a catastrophic increase in such diseases as cancer, cardio-vascular disorders, diabetes, asthma, arthritis and so forth. Many of these ailments are thought of as "incurable". Practitioners of ancient indigenous system of medicine which, in fact. do have cure of ailments such as arthritis and bronchial asthma are derided as quacks. Systematic denunciation of such cures is being done through the new found audio-visual media. People are made to believe that constant use of bronchodilators and cortisone which give temporary relief from acute discomfort and whose continued use renders them ineffective are the only way out. In fact, there are serious side toxic effects as a result of prolonged use of these conventional drugs. The net result of this criminal negligence of these arthritis and asthma patients has left thousands of crippled and unproductive men, women and children all over the world. 

The other side of the story is that in several parts of the world, particularly in the cradles of ancient civilization, there are HERBAL remedies which have been in use for thousands of years for the treatment of ASTHMA and BRONCHITIS. These Herbs are not just used empirically: the enlightened practitioners of traditional medicine in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), China, Bangladesh and Pakistan will also provide the rationale behind the use of these Herbs in the treatment of ASTHMA and BRONCHITIS. The traditional system of medicine prevalent in India and its neighbouring countries is a repository of such well tried Herbal drugs. Some of these drugs have been scientifically tried on animals and human beings under controlled conditions and proved to be effective. Some such Herbal remedies are posted here for the benefit of suffering patients. Perhaps some day in the foreseeable future the West will learn from the wisdom of the East.  

   

ASTHMA & MODERN MEDICINE

ASTHMA--Description of the Ailment :- People who look apparently healthy suffer from Asthma & bronchitis all of a sudden because of exposure to cold wind, rain, dietetic irregularities & mental strain. Sometimes an attack of Asthma becomes so acute that the patient cannot sleep or walk or even talk. This creates an alarming situation among his family members and relations. Asthma can be caused by afflictions of the lungs, the heart, liver and the kidneys. In spite of phenomenal progress in the medical sciences, the treatment of Asthma has remained obscure except for some palliative symptomatic remedies. Powerful drugs have been discovered to dilate the bronchial tree and cause expectoration. But all their effects are temporary and the patient gets the attack regularly and repeatedly.Day by day the patient who, in the beginning, appears absolutely healthy becomes weak and emaciated. He loses his productive capacity and energy. With the progress of age, he develops bronchiectasis, a condition in which phlegm accumulates at the terminal point of the bronchial tree in the lungs. In some patients, the alveoli get dilated and remain as such thereby interfering with the exchange of carbon-dioxide and oxygen in the capillaries of the lungs. In order to get relief, the dose of medicine is increased and ultimately it is the adverse effects of these medicines rather than the disease itself which lands the patient in a serious condition.