Alternative Therapies For Asthma

There are a number of alternative treatments available today,

however the most commonly used treatment and the one that encompasses many strands is Ayurveda. The word Ayurveda comes from two Sanskrit words: Ayur meaning Life and Veda meaning Knowledge. Thus the word is defined as ‘the Knowledge or Science of Life’.

The principles of Ayurveda have been used by practitioners in India to treat many chronic diseases such as asthma for over 5000 years with very positive results. It is described as a multi-factorial discipline that uses natural herbal and mineral remedies, in addition to a number of other forms of treatment including diets, exercise regimes, yoga and breathing exercises, numerous forms of meditation, and life changes to rebalance what are called the Doshas, of which the body has three. Ayurvedic practitioners hold that when any or all of the Doshas are out of balance the body, mind and spirit are no longer harmonious and the physical body becomes ill. Hence the overall mission of Ayurvedic medicine is to realign the Doshas and dispel physical illness.

During a consultation, an Ayurvedic practitioner will conduct an in-depth interview with you where your history and life style are examined and a unique set of causative agents for your asthma will be defined. From this the practitioner will then prescribe a unique program of Ayurvedic treatment which may consist of numerous strands, each of which must be strictly followed if the best possible results are to be achieved.

This treatment will ultimately depend on which of the three Doshas are found to be unbalanced, and this in turn will be deduced from your reported symptoms. For example:

* An irritated throat with a feeling of dryness that affects the bronchial trees will lead to a decrease in air circulation around the lungs. These are the symptoms caused by an imbalance in the Vata Dosha.
* An over-reactive bronchi which creates an abundance of toxins, and then goes on to clog the bronchial system leads to a difficulty breathing and excessive thirst. These symptoms are caused by an imbalance in the second Dosha; the Pitta.
* Excessive lubrication and imbedded impurities lead to an over-production of mucus and clogging of the bronchial system, and these are the symptoms associated with an imbalance of the third Dosha, the Kapha.

A qualified practitioner will be able to turn your reported symptoms into a full regime that will include a strict diet, an exercise program, and nutritional supplements if he or she thinks you need them.

Because you have asthma your exercise program will probably incorporate a mixture of yoga, Pilates, meditation and breathing exercises so that you strengthen and tone your muscles, including your lungs, before attempting anything more strenuous. In addition you will be given a strict diet to follow that only contains food which is complementary to your body type and your Dosha imbalance.

It is vitally important that this diet and exercise plan are followed for up to six months, because breaking it at any point will just take you back to where you were before you began the treatment. 

The good thing about Ayurvedic medicine is that it can be integrated with your conventional prescribed medications so while you are following your Ayurvedic regime for six months, you will still be protected from potential asthma attacks. Over time you may find that your symptoms improve and you can slowly reduce the prescribed daily dosages of you prescription medications. However, you shouldn’t do this without consulting your family doctor.

In addition to a change in diet and an exercise program, an Ayurvedic practitioner may also prescribe a number of herbal supplements which shouldn’t interact with any of your prescription medications. It may be worth checking with your family doctor first, however.

You may also be advised to make some lifestyle changes. For example, if you have a stressful job or home life then meditation and relaxation methods could be used to calm your nerves and loosen up your muscles. Similarly if you drink alcohol or caffeinated coffee you will probably be told to abstain from these, just to see if they have an effect on your symptoms.

Ayurvedic medicine is an alternative therapy that revolves around leading a healthy balanced life, each strand of which is unique to you. Many millions of people in India use the principles of Ayurveda on a daily basis to treat a multitude of chronic diseases. Over the last few decades, people in Western civilizations, and especially America, have also started to turn to this way of life. 

Although this is a strict way of life, it has been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of many chronic diseases, including asthma. However, because of the lack of scientific data regarding Ayurvedic processes, many family doctors still won’t refer potential patients to Ayurvedic practitioners. If you want to try this type of therapy for your condition, you may have to find a private practitioner and go from there. Even though there is very little conclusive evidence that alternative therapies work, it has to be asked ‘would they have lasted over 5000 years if they didn’t in fact have an effect?’