Asthma

Asthma is a condition in which a person’s airways become inflamed, narrow and swells up, and produces extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe. Asthma can be minor or it can interfere with daily activities. In some cases, it may lead to a life-threatening attack. It is the disease of respiratory system.

Diagnosis

• Medical history.
• Physical exam. 
• Breathing tests –  The  doctor may use  pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to measure airflow into and out of the lungs. The most common test, spirometry, requires the patient to blow into a device that can measure the speed of the air.
• Blood Test – CBC including ESR
• Allergy Test

Types of Asthma

• Childhood asthma –  It is a type of asthma which is mostly caused by Cesarean delivery, premature delivery and low immunity.
• Adult-onset asthma – When asthma symptoms appears and are diagnosed in adults older than age 20, it is typically known as adult-onset asthma. About half of adults who have asthma also have allergies.
• Allergic Asthma – It is triggered by allergies such as pollen, pets and dust
• Asthma COPD – It happens when the person suffers from both the diseases(Asthma and COPD). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a collection of lung diseases that cause breathing problems and obstruct airflow.
• Non- allergic asthma – Illnesses, medications, and environmental factors are common triggers for non – allergic asthma.
• Occupational Asthma – Occupational asthma is a type of asthma which is caused by, or worsened by, exposure to substances like dust, chemical fumes etc in the workplace.

Symptoms

• Early warning signs of an asthma attack
  • severe coughing
  • wheezing
  • shortness of breath
  • chest tightness
  • fatigue
  • itchiness
  • nervousness
  • Irritability
  • Allergy caused by weather, food, drugs, perfumes, dust, animal hair, fungi and insects.
• If an asthma attack is severe, it can be a life-threatening emergency. An adult or child having an asthma attack should go to the emergency room if quick-relief medication fails to work after 10 to 15 minutes, or if any of the following symptoms appear:
  • discoloured (blue or grey) lips, face, or nails, which is a symptom of cyanosis
  • extreme difficulty breathing, in which the neck and chest may be “sucked in” with each breath
  • difficulty talking or walking
  • mental confusion
  • extreme anxiety caused by breathing difficulty
  • fever of 100°F (37.7°C) or higher
  • chest pain
  • rapid pulse

Causes

No single cause has been identified for asthma. Instead, researchers believe that the breathing condition is caused by a variety of factors. These factors include:

• Genetics – If a parent has asthma, the patient is more likely to develop it.
• History of viral infections – People with a history of viral infections during childhood are more likely to develop the condition.
• Hygiene hypothesis – This hypothesis proposes that babies aren’t exposed to enough bacteria in their early months and years. Therefore, their immune systems don’t become strong enough to fight off asthma and other conditions.
• Early allergen exposure – Frequent contact with possible allergens and irritants may increase your risk for developing asthma.
• Vitamin D Deficiency
• Cesarean Birth
• Premature delivery of child.
• Mental Illness

Naturopathy Treatment

• Mud pack on stomach
• Mud pack on chest
• Enema
• Alternate fomentation of stomach , chest, liver, kidney and upper back.
• Full body Massage with targeting all marma points.
• Massage of feet palm and head with til oil.
• Whole body wet sheet pack
• Chest pack (woollen cotton bandage)
• Wet friction bath before bed.
• Dry friction bath before daily bath.

Yoga

1. Mudras
   • Gyana Mudra
   • Vayu Mudra
   • Apana Mudra
   • Prana Mudra
   • Mukul Mudra ( keeping fingers on the chest region)
   • Asthma Mudra.
2. Pranayam
   • Nadishodhan
   • Anulom vilom
   • Bhastrika
   • Kapalbhati
   • Ujyayi
   • Bhramari
3. Sukshma vyayam of legs, hands griva chalan and eye movement.
4. Vajrasana samooh
   • Thunderpose(vajrasana)
   • Cat pose (marjari asana)
   • Tiger pose (vyaghra asana)
   • Frog pose (Mandookasana)
   • Camel pose (Ushtrasana)
   • Rabbit pose(shashank asana)
5. Yogasanas laying down on back
   • Suptaudrakarshanasan
   • Setubandha asana
   • Suptatadasana
6. Asanas laying down to stomach
   • Makrasana
   • Bhujangasana
   • Tiryakbhujangasana
   • Dhanurasana
7. Sitting pose
   • Nauka chalan
   • Chakki chalan
   •  Pashchimottanasan
   • Meru vakrasana
   • Padmasana
8. Standing pose
   • Tadasana
   •  Triyaktadasana
   • Katichakrasana
   • Vrikshasana
9. Suryanamskar completing with Shithalikaran.
10. Shatkarma
    • Kunjar kriya
    • Shankh Prakshalan

Key Notes

1. Patient should always take care of its own capacity. Capacity of movement, holding the posture and capacity of repetition
2. Always take care of heart beat while doing yoga it should be normal not so fast.
3. Yoga should be done with full consciousness on inner body and breathing, to get faster and positive results.
4. Yoga doesn’t have any negative effect but it is  necessary to make a proper yoga chart for a speedy recovery.
5. Sukshma vyayam, mudra and shithalikaran is equally necessary and beneficial so it shouldn’t  skipped.
6. Concentrate more on pranayama and avoid all kind of fast yoga and exercises.

Diet

First three weeks

The patient should take food which is easily digestible. The patient should be on liquids for atleast 3 weeks if the condition is very serious.

After three weeks

• In morning: 6am to7am
  • 10 pieces- Raisins, 2 pieces- Dates, Anjeer (soaked in water and grinded to make a solution).
• At 9am
  • One bowl of Daliya ( liquid)
  • One bowl of mix vegetables soup.
  • One Pulpy fruit
• 12 pm
  • One tablespoon of curd mixed with a glass of water
• 1.30 pm to 2 pm
  • Boiled Vegetable, soupy brown rice and one bowl of salad chopped minutely into pieces.
• 4pm
  • A glass of citrus juice. Sweet lime juice is always the best .
• 7pm to 8pm
  • Fox nuts(taal makhana), Daliya/ porridge, soup.
  • One Pulpy fruit ( mango is best in other season, chikoo or papaya or other pulpy fruit can be taken).
  • Before bed take a cup of warm water and a one inch piece of jaggery.

Myths and Truths

1. Myth – Asthma is incurable.
Truth – Asthma is curable, when Yoga and Naturopathy treatment is taken.
2. Myth – Eating Fruits or fruit juice makes the condition worse.
Truth – Sweet pulpy fruit and Citrus juice improves immunity and helps in fighting asthma.
3. Myth – Dry ginger, ginger, black pepper, are good for patient.
Truth – It makes the asthma worse. Consuming bitter things damages Mucus Membrane.
4. Myth – Hot compress is good and cold is bad.
Truth – Hot compress dilates the vein that improve the blood flow and remove toxins whereas after giving cold compression vein comes in its own shape, otherwise dilated vein will accumulate more toxin.

Do’s and Don’ts

Say Yes to:

• Wake up before sunrise.
• Take proper rest.
• Pray and have positive and generous thoughts.
• Take pure natural satwik food.
• Milk, butter milk, sprouts, fox nuts dates, raisins, fig, honey, jaggery, and sweet pulpy fruits.
• Fruit juice and vegetable’s soup.

Strictly Prohibited

• Dairy products
• Bakery items
• Processed Food.
• Food that contains excessive of roughage, white rice, tea, coffee, pickles and watermelon.
• Ginger, Black pepper and Red chilly.
• Avoid to eat without hunger and over eating.

All the information available on this website is for education and awareness purposes only. Follow these practices only under the guidance of a trained Yoga and Naturopathy practitioner. Punam Agarwal and her Yoga and Naturopathy initiatives are not liable for any injuries caused during the process.