Asthma
Asthma is a very common respiratory disease, it affects the trachea and bronchial tubes by becoming inflamed and plugged with mucus. This causes the airways to narrow, restricting the amount of air going to the lungs, and makes it very difficult to breathe. Asthma can occur in anyone but is very common in children and young adults. Typical symptoms of an asthma attack are coughing, wheezing, tight chest, difficulty breathing. Home remedies for asthma can help breathing. There are 2 types of asthma, allergic asthma and non allergic asthma. Some of the allergens that can trigger an asthma attack are: chemicals, drugs, smoke, dust, food additives, pollution, mold, etc. Non allergic asthma can be cause by anxiety, exercise, dry or humid weather, fear, laughing, stress etc. Home remedies for asthma can help these conditions as well.
The rate, in which asthma attacks have increase in the pass few years is alarming, especially in children. Scientists believe that, there is a strong link between contamination in the air we breathe and asthma, evidence suggests that the percentage of people who live in big cities, and have asthma attacks is far greater, than those of people who live in rural areas. However, this may not be the only reason; it is believed that genetic, food additives, toxins etc. could also contribute to asthma attacks.
Home Remedies for asthma:
Honey is one of the most common home remedies for asthma. It is said that if a jug of honey is held under the nose of an asthma patient and he inhales the air that comes into contact with it, he starts breathing easier and deeper.
- Among fruits, figs have proved very valuable in asthma. They give comfort to the patient by draining off the phlegm. Three or four dry figs should be cleaned thoroughly with warm water and soaked overnight.
- Lemon is another fruit found beneficial in the treatment of asthma. The juice of one lemon, diluted in a glass of water and taken with meals, will bring good results.
- Indian gooseberry has also proved valuable in asthma. Five grams of gooseberry mixed with one tablespoon of honey forms an effective medicinal tonic for the treatment of this disease. It should be taken every morning.
- The roots of the bitter gourd plant have been used in folk medicine for asthma since ancient times. A teaspoon of the root paste, mixed with an equal amount of honey or juice of the holy basil leaves, given once every night for a month, acts as an excellent medicine for this disease.
- A soup prepared from drumstick leaves, and taken once daily, has been found beneficial in the treatment of asthma.
- A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice, mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste, acts as an excellent expectorant in cases of asthma.
- Garlic is another effective home remedy for asthma.
- The herb bishop's weed has been found valuable in asthma.
- Safflower seeds are beneficial in the treatment of bronchial asthma.
The patient should avoid common dietetic errors. Ideally, his diet should contain a limited quantity of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which are 'acid-forming' foods, and a liberal quantity of alkali-forming foods consisting of fresh fruits, green vegetables, sprouted seeds, and grains. The patient should avoid foods which tend to produce phlegm, such as rice, sugar, lentils, and yoghurt. He should also avoid fried and other difficult to-digest foods, strong tea; coffee, alcoholic beverages, condiments pickles, sauces and all refined and processed foods. |
