Asthma CURE

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NATURE CURE

Asthma

Asthma is an ancient Greek word meaning " panting or short- drawn

breath. " It is the most troublesome of the respiratory diseases. The asthma

patient gets frequent attacks of breathlessness in between which he is

completely normal.

Symptoms

Patients suffering from asthma appear to be gasping for breath.

Actually, they have more trouble exhaling than inhaling because the air

passages of the small bronchi become clogged and constricted with mucus,

thus making it difficult for the patient to breathe out. All asthmatics have

more difficulty at night, especially during sleep.

The onset of asthma is either gradual or abrupt. Sudden onsets are

often preceded by a spell of coughing which may be associated with itching

of the chin, the back of the neck or chest. When the onset is gradual, the

attack is usually brought on by respiratory infection. A severe attack

causes an increase in heartbeat and respiratory rates and the patient feels

restless and fatigued. There may be coughing, tightness inthe chest, profuse

sweating and vomiting. There may also be abdominal pain, especially if

coughing is severe. Foggy weather aggravates the symptoms.

An asthmatic attack begins when the bronchial tubes in the lungs

become constricted. The tubes having become narrow, the inhaled air becomes

trapped in the tiny air sacs at the end of the tubes, making the release of

breath difficult. The wheezing sound identified with asthma is produced by

the air being pushed through the narrowed bronchi.

 

Causes

Mainly bronchial in its symptoms, asthma is caused by a variety of

factors. For many it is an allergic condition resulting from the reaction of

the system to the weather, food, drugs, perfumes and other irritants which

vary with different individuals. Allergies to dust are the most common. Some

persons are sensitive to the various forms of dust like cotton dust, wheat

dust and paper dust, some pollens, animal hair, fungi and insects,

especially cockroaches. Foods which generally cause allergic reactions are

wheat, eggs, milk, chocolates, beans, potato, pork and beef.

For others, asthma may result from the abnormal body chemistry

involving the system's enzymes or a defect in muscular action within the

lungs. Quite often, however, asthma is precipitated by a combination of

allergic and non- allergic factors including emotional tension, air

pollution, infections and hereditary factors. It has been estimated that

when both parents have asthma or hay fever, in 75 to 100 per cent cases, the

offspring also has allergic reactions.

 

Treatment

Modern medical system has not been able to find a cure for this

crippling disease. Drugs and vaccines have only limited value in alleviating

symptoms. Most of these are habit forming and the dose has to be increased

from time to time to give the same amount of relief. The frequent

introduction of drugs in the system, while giving only temporary relief,

tends to make asthma chronic and incurable. Allergy - which is the immediate

cause of asthma - itself is an indication of lowered resistance and internal

disharmony caused by faulty eating and bad habits. This is the root cause

and the real cure lies in a return to nature.

The natural way to treat asthma consists of stimulating the

functioning of slack excretory organs, adopting appropriate diet patterns to

eliminate morbid matter and reconstruct the body, and practicing yogasanas,

yogic kriyas and pranayamas to permit proper assimilation of food and to

strengthen the lungs, digestive system and circulatory organs.

The patient should be given an enema to clean the colon and prevent

auto-intoxication. Mud-packs applied to the abdomen will relieve the

fermentation caused by undigested food and will promote intestinal

peristalsis. Wet packs should be applied to the chest to relieve the

congestion of the lungs and strengthen them. The patient should be made to

perspire through steam bath, hot foot bath, hot hip bath and sun bath.

This will stimulate the skin and relieve congested lungs.

The patient should fast for a few days on lemon juice with honey and

thereafter resort to a fruit juice diet to nourish the system and eliminate

the toxins. Gradually, solid foods can be included. The patient should,

however, avoid the common dietic errors. Ideally, his diet should contain a

limited quantity of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which are acid-forming

foods, and a liberal quantity of alkaline foods consisting of fresh fruits,

green vegetables and germinated gram. Foods which tend to produce phelgm

such as rice, sugar, lentils and curds as also fried and other difficult-

to- digest foods should be avoided. Breakfast may consist of prunes, orange

or berries or a few black raisins with honey. Lunch and dinner should

consist of a salad of raw vegetables such as cucumber, lettuce, tomato,

carrot and beets, one or two lightly cooked green vegetables and wheat

bread. The last meal should preferably be taken before sunset or at least

two hours before going to bed.

Asthamtics should always eat less than their capacity. They should eat

slowly, chewing their food properly. They should drink eight to 10 glasses

of water a day, but should avoid taking water or any liquid with meals.

Spices, chillies and pickles, too much tea and coffee should also be

avoidedto destroy the appetite. IN such cases, do not force the patient to

eat. He should be kept on fast till the attack is over. He should, however,

take a cup of warm water every two hours. An enema taken at that time will

be very beneficial.

Honey is considered highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma. It

is said that if a jug of honey is held under the nose of an asthma patient

and he inhales the air that comes into contact with the honey, he starts

breathing easier and deeper. The effect lasts for about an hour or so. This

is because honey contains a mixture of 'higher' alcohols and ethereal oils

and the vapors given off by them are soothing and beneficial to the asthma

patient. Honey usually brings relief whether the air flowing over it is

inhaled or whether it is eaten or taken either in milk or water. It thins

out accumulated mucous and helps its elimination from the respiratory

passages. It also tones up the pulmonary parenchyma and thereby prevents the

production of mucous in future. Some authorities recommend one year old

honey for respiratory disease.

Another effective remedy for asthma is garlic. The patient should be

given daily garlic cloves boiled in thirty gms of milk as a cure for early

stage of asthma. Steaming ginger tea with minced garlic cloves in it, can

also help to keep the problem under control and should be taken both in the

morning and evening. Turmeric is also regarded as an effective remedy for

bronchial asthma. The patient should be given a teaspoonful of turmeric

powder with a glass of milk two or three times daily. It acts best when

taken on an empty stomach.

During the attack, mustard oil mixed with little camphor should be

massaged over the back of the chest. This will loosen up phelgm and ease

breathing. The patient should also inhale steam from the boiling water with

caraway seeds, known as ajwain in the vernacular. It will dilate the

bronchial passage.

The patient should also follow the other laws of nature. Air sun and

water are great healing agents. Regular fasting once a week, an occasional

enema, breathing exercises, fresh air, dry climate, light exercises and a

correct posture go a long way in treating the disease.

The patient should perform yogic kriyas such as jalneti, vamandhouti

and yogic asanas such as ekpaduttanasana, yogamudra, sarvangasana,

padmasana, bhujangasana, dhanurasana, vakrasana, ardh-matsyendrasan,

shalabhasan, paschimottanasana and shavasana. Pranayamas like kapalbhati,

anuloma-viloma, ujjayi, surbyabhedana and bhramari are also highly

beneficial.

The patient should avoid dusty places, exposure to cold, foods to

which he is sensitive, mental worries and tensions. Asthmatic should be made

to feel that they are not sick, and with slight adjustments, can live a full

life.