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Asthma is a condition of sudden paroxysmal, expiratory, wheezing dyspnoea produced by an abnormal response of the respiratory
center to stimulus causing hyperactivity of the vagal endings in the broncho-constricting muscles resulting in bronchial spasm;
with it, hyperaemia of the mucous membrane followed by excessive bronchial secretion is associated.
The patient has a family history and is more common in males; sometimes found in young children but more frequently occurs
in early adult life. Most of the patients have bronchitis.
The most important causes are (i) allergy, (ii) peripheral stimuli from their site of production, grouped as (a) naso-pharyngeal,
(b) alimentary, (c) endocrine (d) broncho-pulmonary (iii) constitutional disturbances.
The attack usually begins at the early hours of the morning. Warning signs may include restlessness, mental exaltation
or depression, sneezing or coryza, flatulence, the patient if asleep suddenly wakes up with a sense of suffocation. Dyspnoea
increases and he sits up in the bed fighting for breath, head low and the elbows on the knees frequently using the accessory
muscles of respiration also. But the respiratory rate is not increased. There is irritable cough with wheezing in the chest.
As the expectoration becomes free, the attack comes to an end. Large quantity of urine may be passed and the patient goes
to sleep.
The chest is full of mucus. the inspiration is short and labored and the expiration is noisy and prolonged. On auscultation,
the breath sound is feeble, and later, copious bubbling rales are heard. Pulse is often quick and feeble and systolic BP may
be lowered. Jugular veins may be prominent.
If the attacks are repeated for years, it becomes chronic asthma. The patient is thin, long neck, and barrel shaped chest
with a forward stoop and he is easily out of breath: a chronic cough is often present. He develops anxiety neurosis being
always in the fear of a paroxysm.
Allopathic medicines can do little help to children with asthma. Most of the medicines produce only a temporary effect.
Whereas home made remedies can be vary helpful, not only in decreasing the attacks but also make the lungs and immune system
strong.
HOME REMEDIES FOR ASTHMA
· Some important vitamins essential to treat asthma are Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. These decrease the inflammation in
the lungs.
· Ginkgo biloba, a herb contains ginkgolide B that is very helpful. Ginkgo biloba decreases the frequency of asthma attacks.
· Mullein oil is also helpful in fighting against the respiratory congestion, and is very important when used as a tea.
· In china a powerful mixture of herbs called Shuan Huang Lian is being used in hospitals to treat respiratory disease.
It is very important medicine used to treat asthma and acute bronchitis.
· Make a tea using: 2 tsp. powdered Indian root. 2 tsp. granulated Echinacea root. 2 tsp. elecampane root. 2 cups of water.
Mix all ingredients and keep them for 2 hours.
· Another tea, which can be helpful in improving the symptoms of asthma, can be prepared by adding: 1 quart boiling water.
1 tsp. chamomile flowers. 1 tsp. Echinacea root. 1 tsp. mullein leaves. 1 tsp. passionflower leaves.
· Take a teaspoon of fresh ginger juice mix it with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste. This mixture acts
as an excellent expectorant in the treatment of asthma.
· Honey is one of the most effective home remedies for asthma. Honey brings relief, in whatever from it is taken. The
air flowing over it is inhaled or whether it is eaten or taken either in milk or water it gives relief. It helps to cough
out accumulated mucus and helps its discharge from the respiratory passage.
· Garlic is another effective home remedy for asthma. Ten cloves of garlic should be boiled in 30 ml of milk. This makes
an excellent medicine for the early stages of asthma.
· Turmeric is valuable in asthma. The patient should be given a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a glass of milk, two
or three times daily. It acts best early in the morning when taken on an empty stomach.
· Take a teaspoon of the root paste (Bitter Gourd) Karela Root, mix it with an equal amount of honey or juice of the holy
basil, it acts as an excellent expectorant, and is a remedy for asthma. It should be taken once every night for a month.
· Dry figs can be used to clear mucus from bronchial tubes and are therefore a valuable remedy for asthma. They should
be taken in the morning in an empty stomach, along with the water in which they are soaked. This treatment may be continued
for about two months.
· Indian Gooseberry (Amla) is proved to be a very valuable home remedy in asthma. Five grams of gooseberry mixed with
one tablespoon of honey, forms an effective medicinal expectorant and tonic for asthma.
· A decoction made from linseed (Alsi) is considered useful in curing congestion in asthma and to prevent recurrence of
attacks.
· Mix together mashed garlic and horseradish (100 g of each), 150 g of butter and 600 g of honey. Heat this mixture till
honey dissolves. Keep in dark cool place tightly covered. Take 1 tbsp 1 hour before meal for 2 month's. If needed, repeat
the treatment after 1 months rest.
· During the attack, mustard oil mixed with little camphor should be massaged over the chest. This will loosen up phlegm
and help in breathing.
· Lemon is another fruit useful in the treatment of asthma. The juice of one lemon, diluted in a glass of water and taken
with meals, will bring good results
· A soup prepared from drumstick leaves, and taken once daily, has been found beneficial in the treatment of asthma.
· The herb bishop's weed is also an effective remedy for the treatment of asthma. Half a teaspoon of bishop's weed should
be mixed in a glass of buttermilk and taken twice daily.
· Safflower seeds are also useful in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Half a teaspoon of powder of the dry seeds, mixed
with a tablespoon of honey, can be taken once or twice a day in treating this disease.
· In 1 cup of water soak 1 tspn of Fenugreek seeds overnight. Add 1 tspn of Ginger juice and 1 tspn of honey to this.
This should be taken morning and evening.
· Steam inhalation with ajwain seeds two times daily proves helpful in treating asthma.
· 1tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp. asafetida, 1tsp small onion juice, 1tbsp drumstick leaves juice. Mix all and have two times a
day.
· Take 100 g of dry rose petals, 500 g of raw mashed pumpkin, 5-7 dry plantain leaves, 4 tbsp of honey and 1 L of red
wine. Mix it in a pot and bring to boil (do not boil). Let stand for 24 hours and filter, take out juice from the mash. Take
1 tbsp 5-6 times a day.
· Mix together equal parts of coltsfoot, wild rosemary and plantain. Put 1 tbsp of the mix in a cup and add boiling water.
Keep it for a minute. Drink 1/3 of a cup 3 times a day 30 min before meal.
· Take 40 leaves of coltsfoot. Boil 1 leaf for 15 min in a cup of water. Drink in the morning before breakfast. Repeat
for 40 days.
· 5 g of dry crushed quince leaves put in 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 1 hour. Strain and take 2 tbsp 3-4 times
a day before meal. The remedy can reduce asthma attack.
· 2 tbsp of mashed turnip put in 1 cup of boiling water and boil for 15 min. Filter and drink ¼ cup 4 times a day or 1
cup before bed.
· Licorice a herb acts an expectorant, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, immune stimulator, and antiviral.
· Coleus is used in Ayurvedic remedies in India. It contains forskolin, a substance that relaxes the airways; which makes
the breathing easy.
· Reishi is a mushroom that has the ability to reduce allergies. Reishi stops chemicals that cause inflammation including
histamine. It is also can be used as an immune tonic.
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