Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD refers to a group of lung disease that block the airflow and makes it difficult to breath. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common conditions that make up COPD. It causes lung damage.

How is COPD diagnosed?

• Lung (pulmonary) function tests –  These tests measure the amount of air a person can inhale and exhale, and whether the lungs deliver enough oxygen to your blood.
• Chest X-ray – A chest X-ray can shows emphysema, which is one of the main causes of COPD.
•  CT scan.
• Arterial blood gas analysis.
• Laboratory tests.
• Complete blood count including ESR

Stages of COPD

• Stage I: Mild COPD – Functioning of lungs starts declining, but the person may not notice it.
• Stage II: Moderate COPD – Symptoms starts apperaing, with shortness of breath which develops upon exertion.
• Stage III: Severe COPD – Shortness of breath becomes worse and COPD exacerbations are common.
• Stage IV: Very severe COPD.

Symptoms

• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities.
• Wheezing.
• Chest tightness.
• A chronic cough that may produce mucus (sputum) which may be clear, white, yellow or greenish.
• Frequent respiratory infections.
• Lack of energy.
• Unintended weight loss

Causes

• Exposure to air pollution- A person can develop COPD if he/she is exposed to air pollution for a long term. One can also develop COPD from inhaling dust or the fumes of fuel burned for cooking or heating purposes. It can also be caused by chemicals or fumes found in the workplace.
• Genetics – COPD has a strong genetic component.
• Smoking
• Medication that effects mucus membrane.
• 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

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 – COPD is incurable.
Truth – COPD 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 COPD.
3. Myth – Dry ginger, ginger, black pepper, are good for patient.
Truth – It makes the COPD 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.