Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by bronchial hyperreactivity with airway obstruction. Asthma may cause difficulty with breathing, chest pain, coughing, and wheezing. This disorder is more predominant in children aged 5-18 years.
It is the leading cause of hospitalization for children and one of the primary reasons for absenteeism for elementary schools.
According to Ayurveda, tamaka shwasa (bronchial asthma) is primarily a disorder of pranavaha srotas (respiratory system) but involves other vitiated srotas (channels) as well.
With this condition, vata dosha is vitiated due to the obstruction caused by morbid kapha dosha. This vitiation leads to severe episodes of breathlessness. Tamaka shwasa can be correlated to modern medical science as the same health condition as bronchial asthma.
Case Study
A 10-year-old male child was pre-diagnosed with bronchial asthma. The child is in the 5th grade, lives in New York City and had complaints of cough and cold for 10 to 15 days. There is a history of breathlessness for more than three years. Seasonal allergies were present with symptoms of runny nose, itching, and sneezing. He was having difficulty breathing due to coughing which kept him awake at night. The child has a history of recurring seasonal allergies and common cold for the past five years, and both his parents have histories of asthma.
Examination Results
- Pulse: 86 beats per min
- Height:140 cms
- Weight: 80 lbs.
- Temp: 6 F
- Cardiovascular system: Normal
- Central nervous system: Normal
- Respiratory rate: 22/min
- Respiratory system: Inspiration was shallow, and expiration was prolonged, congestion in the chest area, and generalized wheezing sound was found.
- Jivha (tongue): Sama (with toxins)
- Mala Mutra Pravrutti (urine and stool): normal
- Prakruti (body constitution): vata pradhana kapha
- Bala (strength): avara (poor)
- Jatharagni (digestive fire): avara (poor)
Assessment of Child’s Daily Routine
He was indulging in excess oily, heavy foods and drinking one glass of milk before bedtime. Yogurt and rice were included with his lunch meal and every weekend he was eating restaurant food and ice-cream. He also frequently ate foods like chocolate, biscuits, pizza and pasta.
Due to the above etiology factors, kapha dosha became aggravated. Excess aggravated kapha dosha gets accumulated in respiratory channels and eventually causes obstruction of bronchus.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes Recommended
- Reduce intake of oily and heavy foods
- Avoid all mucus forming foods like milk, yogurt etc.
- Avoid kapha aggravating foods and lifestyle factors
- Practicing yoga and pranayama
Recommended Herbal Supplements
- Triphaladi Churnam
- Dasamulakatutrayadi Kwatham
- Jiraka Arishtam
- Dashamula Arishtam
- Karpuradi Oil
- Aravinda Asavam
- Agastya Rasayana
Ayurvedic Treatment Protocol:
According to Carakaacharya, the primary goal is to remove the obstruction, which is caused by kapha and channelize the vata dosha. We need to adapt two types of line treatment in this condition.
Shamana Chikitsa (palliative treatment) and Brahman Chikitsa (nourishing treatment).
For seven days the child was prescribed mrudu shodhan (gentle laxative) with Triphaladi Churnam to remove the excess sama kapha (morbid kapha dosha). And he was also given Dasamulakatutrayadi Kwatham tablets to remove excess kapha from the chest area.
Later he was given Dasamula Arishtam and Jirka Arishtam to improve the strength of the digestive fire and to eliminate excess kapha from stomach area. Externally he was given chest massages with Karpuradi Oil, a mild steam or hot towels to breakdown the mucus. This entire protocol was followed for 30 days.
The child stopped coughing and wheezing, and his chest stopped being congested. After 30 days he was prescribed a rejuvenation and nourishment therapy for two months by taking Aravinda Asavam and Agastya Rasayana.
Now the child’s breathing pattern has greatly improved. His parents were advised to have their son continue following a proper diet and lifestyle to maintain good health.
How An In-Depth Health Consultation Can Help Relieve Childhood Bronchial Asthma
Chronic bronchial asthma is both physically and mentally draining and causes deep emotions of fear and anxiety when it’s difficult to breathe. The best option for chronic conditions is to enlist the expertise of an Ayurvedic Vaidya.
An in-depth Ayurvedic health consultation will offer you a fresh look at your child’s condition and will help you to understand the root cause. Once the root cause is known, then personalized foods, activities and herbal protocols can be recommended to bring your child’s body back into balance.
Vaidya Vishwanath Guddadar is offering Ayurvedic Consultations for all your health concerns. It’s easy and quick to book!
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