Asthma patients: say bye to steroid pump

[Guest guest]

Bye to steroid pump

 

In Mumbai, hotest topic today for discussion is health. Whatever

simple remedies people read or listen, they start practicing, at

least on an experimental basis; whether it is really needed by their

body or not. Some drink few glasses of copper water early morning,

take tea, milk or coffee after an hour, and take wheat seedling juice

or amalki/karela juice at breakfast time to keep diabetes away. Some

proceed to garden for enjoying fresh morning air and take some fresh

juices if available there. A light breakfast of fruits, bread, idlis

etc before proceeding to `nine to nine' schedule for livelihood.

Health is a favourite topic of discussion amongst white collr babus,

stock market players, housewives, college girls, in suburban train,

temple or vegetable market, making these lively experiences for a

Vaidya.

 

The stomach is made to accept everything `healthy' within a span of

two hours in morning. Taking anything, no matter how light or how

easy to digest, when previous food is not digested, causes

indigestion. The ama or undigested food prevents the inflow of

digestive enzymes entering the stomach. Storage of such ama in

digestive system space for a long time creates amavisha, which

circulates in whole body through through rasa-rakta, the movement

caused by forces of Vata. When amavisha reaches and circulates

through channels (strotas) carrying prana, Shwas-roga termed asthama

results. Chakrapani, while offering comments on Charak Sanhita, has

stated that Asthma is caused by ama getting generated in amashya

(stomach). Bray, a western scientist supports this view. He sucked out

digestive juices from the stomach of several patients suffering from

asthma and analysed them. He found that these juices had less

quantity of Hydrochloric acid (Lavanaml in Sanskrit) than those of

normal people. When the patients were given treatment to increase the

digestive juices, their hunger and digestion improved. Sleep

increased in quality and time. The breathing rate reduced and the

intensity of asthma attacks decreased. In three to four months, total

control on asthma was achieved. What a benefit western scientist

could derive by studying ayurvedic theory! On the other hand, certain

modern science medicines bring allergies to various pollen grains,

smokes, vegetables, insects etc.

 

For people who can obtain ayurvedic medicines easily, let us discuss

traditional formulations mentioned in ancient texts.

 

Shankhvati is a well known medicine, made from trikatu, asfoetida,

soda-bi-carbonate, black salt, shankh bhasma, sea salt, saindhav

salt, Vachnag, mercury and sulphur mainly. The formulation is

available as tablets. It increases digestive enzymes, reduces raw

ama, reduces gas, acidity and stomach pain. Contains heavy metals,

please note. Generally digestive juices increase when salts (Kshars)

are increased in the food. A well known medicine termed 'Lavan Bhaskar Churna'

gives appetiser effect. For the same reason, various fast foods, crunchys,

kukures are given a light coating of

Aamchur powder, black salt etc for appetiser effect.

 

Saman Vata, according to ayurveda, plays the role of creating,

sustaining agni and digestion. To increase the efficacy of saman

vata, this medicine should be taken in the middle of meal, according

to Vagbhata.

 

Gomutra Ghanvati

When cow urine is distilled on slow heat, the distillate

becomes `Arka' and the residue is made into small pea sized tablets.

These are termed Ghanvati. Vitamin B-12 and heavy metals part of cow

urine, such as Iron, copper, gold etc pass into Ghanvati, while light

minerals go to Arka. For asthmatic patients a special version of

Ghanvati is created termed `Kshar Vati' which contains some of the

minerals of Shankhvati. For purification of channels carrying Prana,

(Broncho channels) Ksharvati has been a proven PanchGavya medicine.

In order to increase the digestive juices, Panch Gavya ayurved

prepares Gomutrasava, essentially a wine made from cow urine, jaggery

and some other ingredients of `Shankhvati'. Panch Gavya medicines

made from Cow urine are best for strota shuddhi and give the effects

of Panch Karma, a traditional method for strota shuddhi.

 

Some well known formulations were mentioned in earlier message no.

2837 (can be accessed by clicking on the link given at the end of

this message), mainly used for broncho dilation. One of them, Swas

Kas Chintamani ras is a traditional medicine made from suvarna

bhasma, and gives dramatic relief from breathing difficulties brought

in by constriction of bronchi tube in asthma. Coughing bouts also

stop with this medicine. Makes lung muscles stronger; but being a

medicine based on suvarna bhasma and a costly one, should be taken

under supervision of experienced Vaidya. This is true for all heavy

metal medicines of ayurveda.

 

Madhav Nidan mentions the exclusion of "Vidahi Bhojan". Means food

causing acid reflux (hyoperacidity) or inflammation of oesophagus. In

todays fast life, many eat this type of food containing excess

spices. In Mumbai life, it becomes essential if both husband and wife

go to work. Idli, dosa, pizza, Vada Pav, Panipuri, Dahivada, Chat,

Jain dabeli, Punjabi food containing gravies of onion, garlic,

tomato, Chinese food, pakoda, potato vada are various mouth watering

dishes which invite asthmatic attacks. But only these are available

in mid-day eating joints. Why people can not take fruits or fruit-

juices is a question to which author never found an answer. Some

businessmen who visit some lanes of Mumbai around mid-night to taste

these spicy dishes are patients of author. Hence, Mumbai has enough

room for Vaidyas!!

 

Treatment discussed here can be taken with patience and for long term

by asthmatic patients. Slowly, say within a year and half, the

dependance on steroid pumps will reduce, relieving body of steroid

burden. Asthma attacks will reduce in intensity and frequency,

without any side effects whatsoever. Do not treat yourself, however.

 

Along with treatment, if certain breathing exercises are carried out

on a regular basis, the relief is obtained faster and with less

expenditure on medicines.

 

Dr Bhate

 

Earlier message

ayurveda/messages/2837