Dealing with asthma the Ayurveda way - Health Analytics Asia

By Dr. Ajay Goplani
July 23, 2020

Asthma does not have a cure. However, it can be managed to a great extent with lifestyle and diet modifications, thereby reducing dependence on inhalers and other drugs. 

In classical Ayurveda texts, Asthma is described as Shwaas – which literally translates to breath. As a disease characterised by difficulties in breathing, Ayurveda classifies asthma into various categories depending on the different combinations and severity of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Bronchial asthma is generally understood in Ayurveda as Tamak Shwaas.

Causes and treatments 

According to Ayurveda, the causes of asthma are dust, smoke, wind, cold climates, consumption of cold or ice water, excessive exercise, intake of oil-free foods, irregular food habits, malnutrition, weakness, and grievous injuries, among other factors. Excessive consumption of foods like black gram, sesame seeds, cereal flour, raw milk, curd, foods causing constipation, and increased cough are also known to be the triggering factors. Similarly, health conditions like diarrhoea, fever, vomiting, upper respiratory infections, digestive disorders, anaemia, heart disease, and poisoning are believed to cause asthma or dyspnoea (difficult or laboured breathing).

Asthma is difficult to treat. The treatment depends upon the patient’s immunity, activities, occupation, area of residence, and the balancing of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha of the body. Generally advocated processes of purification measures include Panchkarma therapies such as Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (therapeutic purgation), Nasya (nasal drug administration), Vasti (therapeutic enema), along with certain pacifying and immuno-developing drugs.

Generally, a diet that is useful in pacifying Vata and Kapha – hot and laxative in nature – is advocated for asthma patients. Foods beneficial in tackling asthma include aged rice, horse gram, wheat, barley, bathua, amaranthus, garlic, dry ginger, black pepper, honey, aged ghee, goat milk, and lukewarm water. Foods to avoid include black gram, maize, potato, gram flour, mustard, banana, curd, freshly prepared ghee, buffalo milk, deep-fried foods, fast foods, and cold water, among others. 

Yoga and exercises 

Simple, easy, comfortable exercises, meditation, yogasanas and Pranayam are generally advocated for asthma. This includes standing yoga asanas – Ardha kati chakrasana, Ardha chakrasana, Hastasana; sitting yoga asanas – Vajrasana, Vakrasana , Ardha Matsyendrasana, Paschimottanasana; prone position yoga asanas – Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana; and supine position yoga asanas – Sarvangasana, Matsyasana, Halasana.