Pranayama in Asthma Along with Ayurveda Treatment

What is Asthma?

Respiratory diseases are very common in people of all age groups. Asthma is one of them. Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease of lungs which is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, resulting in difficulty in breathing. Clinical features include – difficulty in breathing, cough, chest pain and wheezing. There is no cure for Asthma in Allopathy, only its symptoms can be reduced.

Ayurvedic Perspective for Asthma

According to Ayurveda, there are three energies – Vata, Pitta and Kapha, when the imbalance occurs between any of them, disease occurs. Asthma starts from Pitta dosha but later aggravation of Vata and Kapha occurs. According to Ayurveda, Asthma is categorized into “Svas Roga”, in which “Svas” stands for inhaling and exhaling and “Roga” stands for disease. In Asthma there is narrowing of the airways which results in increased production of mucus, leading to symptoms related to Asthma which are – difficulty in breathing, indigestion, constipation, coughing, chest pain, chest tightness, wheezing.

How Pranayama is Helpful in Asthma?

Pranayama is a Sanskrit word and is made up of two words – Prana + Ayama. The word “Prana” stands for life force and “Ayama” stands for extension. So Pranayama stands for life force which relaxes and energies our mind and body. Pranayama is an integral part of Yoga and mainly involves breathing exercises which relax our mind and body. Following are the Pranayama exercises –

1. Deep Breathing Exercise
2. Anuloma-viloma
3. Omkara
4. Sasankasana
5. Bhramari

1. Deep Breathing Exercise

Sit or stand with your elbows slightly back and expand your chest fully. Now take a deep breath through your nose. After that, hold your breath, while counting from 1 to 5. Now slowly release the air through your nose, until you feel your inhaled air has been released through your nose.

These relax our mind and body and are useful in decreasing stress. These are very useful in Asthma as they help in relieving shortness of breath and also help to cut down your asthma medication doses.

2. Anuloma-Viloma

It is also known as “Alternate nostril breathing”. Sit comfortably, with your spine straight and shoulders relaxed and legs crossed at ankles. Now start taking deep breaths through your nose while closing your eyes. Now bring your right hand to a Vishnu mudra – curl the small finger and ring finger into the palm by leaving the index, middle finger and thumb free. Take 3 deep breaths in and out. When you exhale for the 3rd time, bring your hand to your face and place your thumb into your right nostril and occlude it and inhale through the left nostril only while counting from 1 to 4. Now hold your breath. Now keep your right thumb on your both nostrils and occlude them and on the left through your index and middle fingers while maintaining steady and constant pressure on the nostrils. Keep your shoulders relaxed and hold the breath while counting from 1 to 16. Now slowly exhale on the right by releasing your thumb till the lungs become completely empty by the end of 8 counts. Now Inhale on the right with the same hand position and apply gentle pressure on the left nostril with the middle finger and index finger. Now inhale on the right while counting to 4. Now hold your breath, repeat the same on the right side.

This exercise helps in treating asthma by reducing its symptoms. Dyspnea is its main feature so this exercise reduces dyspnea in chronic bronchial asthma patients, hence helpful in treating asthma.

3. Omkara

Sit in a comfortable place and take a quick deep breath through your nose or mouth. Begin saying “AUM”and extend it for as long as possible. Relax your muscles, while doing this exercise. Start imagining that the air is flowing out from your body and a wave of relaxation is coming down into your body.Repeat the process for around 5-10 minutes a day.

These exercises are very useful in treating bronchitis as these help the muscles to relax and help them in obtaining fresh air.

4. Sasangasana

Sit on the ground with your hands back. Now hold your right wrist with your left arm. Now start inhaling and bend backward start exhaling and bend forward, your forehead should touch the ground during this process,

This exercise exposes the lungs to warm and moist air and it builds up the breathing muscles, thus helpful in treating asthma.

5. Bhramari

Sit comfortably on the ground and start inhaling through your both nostrils. Now exhale from your both nostrils producing the sound of a female humming bee.

This exercise helps in improving pulmonary function in healthy individuals along with that it also helps in increasing respiratory stamina. It also helps to relax the chest muscles, thus helping in treating asthma.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Asthma

Planet Ayurveda offers the best herbal treatment for Asthma in the form of Asthma Care Pack. All these products are natural, pure, vegetarian, safe to use and are free from side effects. They are prepared by using the best herbs by strictly following the Principles of Ayurveda.

1. Tulsi Capsules

This is a powerful natural Product by Planet Ayurveda. They are a combination of pure herb Tulsi.It is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in nature, useful in respiratory conditions like rhinitis and
sinusitis.

Dosage – 2 capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.

2. Praanrakshak Churna

It is a powerful natural product by Planet Ayurveda which is a combination of various herbs like Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum), Dalchini (Cinnamomum zeylinca) and Annamool (Hemidesmus indicus). The herbs used are having antihistaminic property so are useful in allergy and acute and chronic asthmatic attacks. These herbs break mucous plugs and eases breathing in respiratory diseases.

Dosage – 1 teaspoonful twice daily with plain water after meals.

3. Aller-G Care

These are combinations of best known herbs like – Neem (Azadirachta indica), Shirish (Albezzia lebbock), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), and Haridra (Crucmua longa).

Dosage – 2 capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.

4. Shwas Kuthar Ras

Shwash Kuthar Ras is a Herbo mineral classical formulation. This formulation is really effective in almost all the respiratory problems but has it’s best result in Asthma.

Dosage – 1 tablet twice daily with warm water after meals.

Conclusion

From above discussion it is concluded that asthma and other allergic conditions of respiratory tract can be managed by using natural formulations. Planet Ayurveda offers a tremendous pack to treat and prevent further progression of asthma.