Asthma and Wheezing

Bronchial asthma is characterized by sudden attacks of short, gasping breaths accompanied by wheezing. If the attack is not stopped, the person may have increasing difficulty breathing.

The underlying cause of all asthmatic conditions is increased kapha dosha in the stomach. From there it moves into the lungs, trachea, and bronchi. The increased kapha blocks the natural flow of air, creating spasm in the bronchial tree and resulting in asthma and wheezing.

Ayurvedic treatment for asthma aims to bring the kapha lodged in the lungs and bronchi back to the stomach, from which it can be eliminated.

Asthma may be brought on by allergies, a cold, congestion, cough, or hay fever. It can be instigated by pollen, dust, animal hair, or various foods, or an increase of kapha internally. Regardless of the cause, during an asthmatic attack it is important to immediately relieve the difficult breathing and asthmatic wheezing.

To Immediately Stop Wheezing

Boil 1 teaspoon of licorice root (yashti madhu) in a cup of water for a couple of minutes to make a licorice tea. Just before drinking the tea, add 5 to 10 drops of mahanarayan oil if you have some, or use ½ teaspoon of plain ghee. Take one sip of this tea every 5 to 10 minutes.

In some instances, the licorice tea may induce vomiting. This is beneficial: It eliminates kapha and relieves the spasm of the bronchial tubes, and the person usually feels better immediately.

You can use this licorice tea not only for emergencies but, if you are prone to develop asthma, every day as a preventive. The only exception is that individuals with hypertension should not use much licorice tea, as it makes the body retain sodium. They may take it as an emergency measure to avert an asthma attack, but they should not drink it regularly.

NOTE: Prepare the tea as soon as you begin to feel an attack coming on, when there is tightness in the chest, some difficulty breathing, or whatever warning bell symptoms you recognize from past experiences. Don’t wait until you are already having serious problems breathing.

Once you prepare the tea, it can last for 72 hours and not lose its effectiveness.

HERBAL REMEDIES

The following herbal remedies can be taken on a regular basis for long-term prevention of asthma.

Mix 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon trikatu into a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes, and add 1 teaspoon of honey before drinking. You can take this tea twice a day.
A tea made of half licorice and half ginger is also beneficial for asthma prevention. Use half a teaspoon of the combined herbs per cupful of water.
Also try ½ teaspoon bay leaf and ¼ teaspoon pippali mixed into 1 teaspoon honey, taken 2 or 3 times a day.
Another remedy that can relieve congestion and alleviate breathlessness is ¼ cup onion juice with 1 teaspoon honey and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper. This remedy will also be effective for immediate relief of asthma.
This herbal formula is helpful both for prevention and immediate relief:

sitopaladi ½ teaspoon
punarnava ½ teaspoon
pippali pinch
abrak bhasma pinch

For immediate relief, take this entire mixture with honey, a little bit at a time. For long-term usage, take it once a day.

You may also find ⅓ cup spinach juice with a pinch of pippali effective. Drink this twice a day.

THREE MUSTARD SEED REMEDIES

Mustard seeds are effective in healing the bronchial system. Here are three ways to take advantage of their heating and healing power:

Rubbing a little brown mustard oil onto your chest will give some relief.
Make a tea by mixing ground mustard seeds and pippali (or black pepper if you don’t have pippali). Steep ¼ teaspoon of each for 10 minutes in 1 cup hot water, then add 1 to 2 teaspoons honey. Drink 2 or 3 times a day, or for better results sip it every 15 minutes throughout the day.
Mix 1 teaspoon of brown mustard oil with 1 teaspoon natural organic sugar. Take 2 or 3 times a day on an empty stomach.

OTHER APPROACHES

IF YOU HAVE AN INFECTION. In some people, the underlying cause of asthmatic wheezing may be an infection descending from the nose and sinuses. If this is the case, putting 5 to 10 drops of warm ghee in each nostril will help.

TRY TO AVOID ALLERGENS. If your asthma and wheezing are due to a food allergy, then avoid the problematic food. Similarly, avoid any object that may provoke your condition, such as dusty books, moldy basements, and some chemicals.

FOODS TO AVOID. Avoid most dairy products, including all cheeses. Avoid fermented foods and all hydrophilic food substances such as salty items, cucumber, and tuna fish. Some people need to avoid mushrooms, peanuts, walnuts and other nuts, and yeast. The reaction may be immediate, for people extremely sensitive to these substances, or it may take several hours to develop.

FOR CHRONIC BRONCHIAL ASTHMA. If you have chronic bronchial asthma, try this remedy. Insert about 7 cloves into a peeled banana, and keep it overnight. Next morning eat the banana and the cloves. Don’t eat anything for an hour, then drink 1 cup of hot

TIME TO SEE THE DOCTOR

Asthma can ordinarily be controlled using these Ayurvedic remedies. However, if you find that medicines that ordinarily help you breathe more comfortably no longer seem to be working, or if, along with your difficulty breathing, you have chest pain, swollen feet, and profuse sweating, and you have a history of heart problems, you need to seek immediate medical attention.

water with 1 teaspoon of honey. This will energize the lungs and should reduce asthmatic wheezing.

YOGA FOR ASTHMA. Effective yoga asanas to help relieve asthma are the Bow and Cobra poses, sitting in the Vajrasana, and the inverted poses including Shoulder Stand and Plow. (Illustrations of yoga postures appear in appendix 4.)