Asthma occurs due to obstruction in the respiratory channels. The airways in the lungs tighten up which leads to difficulty in breathing, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Asthma is a chronic condition. People suffering from it, feel it every day and many suffer for the rest of their lives. While there are many prescription remedies with possible side effects, Ayurvedic approach can minimize asthmatic symptoms or eliminate completely with natural asthma treatment.

In Ayurvedic system asthma is mostly Kapha related aggravation. During period of life, many children exhibit asthma symptoms. However, many grow out of these as they leave Kapha period and enter the Pitta period of their life. If you need to, you can use the following approach to comfort the children going through this phase as well.

To follow the Ayurvedic approach, you need to first recognize and remove the causes from your diet and lifestyle:

• eating cold, dry, heavy, or fried foods
• overeating or  sometimes missing meals altogether
• eating excessive sweets or dairy products
• drinking cold or icy cold water and drinks
• living in dusty, smoky, or polluted area
• living in cold and damp environment
• doing excessive travel
• living with stress, anxiety and negative emotions

Carefully look at your diet and lifestyle. Do your best to eliminate any of the causes listed above in your diet and makes changes to your lifestyle accordingly. And then implement the natural Ayurvedic approach. The following diet, herbs, and lifestyle recommendations are for the long term asthma treatment:

• Your diet should include warm, moist, light, and cooked foods. Use chilies, onions, ginger, and garlic in your recipes every day. These are all heating anti-allergy herbs that break down mucus and open channels. Adding these herbs to your food in moderation is great long-term solution for asthma. If you cannot take them in your food, take in capsules with your food.
• Make effort to always drink warm water and warm teas with warming herbs like cinnamon, licorice, ginger, holy basil, or cloves.
• Add peppercorns (black pepper) to your regimen. Peppercorns are warming, break down mucus, detoxify, and support formation of healthy lung tissues. It does a great job of keeping your airways open. You can take them in a capsule form or in your tea throughout the day. Peppercorn is perhaps one of the best herbs for asthma. However, use it in moderation if you have high Pitta energy in your constitution.
• Take turmeric to reduce inflammations in the airways. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory property reduces inflammations in the respiratory channels. You can take turmeric in capsules after the meals.
• Take licorice to support healthy lung functions. It also aids mucus expectoration without increasing Pitta energy, especially good for constitution with high Pitta.

If you find it difficult to work these herbs into your daily regimen, simplify by getting the Protection Plus in our herbal store. It is an Ayurvedic formula that combines multiple herbs in one tablet for respiratory system. Besides simplifying in taking the herbs, the herbal formula is keeps your energies balanced.

Make your lifestyle as stress-free as possible. This is very important. Talk to a practitioner to release stress and remove any mental blocks. Negative state of mind can often trigger an attack. There are mind calming and nerve tonic herbs like Valerian, Shankhpushpi, and Ashwagandha to support you temporarily. Do not overexert. Add light exercises into your routine. Try to stay in warm and dry environment. Wear warm clothes.

The above recommended diet, lifestyle, and herbal support are natural solutions for the long term. Follow them and you will minimize the symptoms. But don’t be surprised, you might completely eliminate the asthma altogether.

Tags: Natural Remedies