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Asthma
and Bronchitis
It is
a widely prevalent disease, affecting the young, old and even the
children. Today millions people suffer from this disease. The most
disheartening aspect of asthma is that it does not get completely cured
through medication.
Asthma is defined as a disease characterized by an increased
responsiveness of the trachea and bronchi to various stimuli, and is
manifested by widespread narrowing of the airway passage that changes in
severity either spontaneously or as a result of treatment. Attacks are
brought on by the spasms of the smooth muscles that lie in the walls of
the smaller bronchi and bronchioles, causing the passageways to close
partially. The patient has trouble exhaling and 'the alveoli may remain
inflated during expiration.
Usually the mucus membranes that line the respiratory passageways become
irritated and secrete severe excessive amount of mucus that may clog the
bronchi and bronchioles and worsen the attacks.
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Signs and
Symptom
Asthma and Bronchitis
Airway narrowing causes
symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath (difficulty
in breathing),
chest tightness, and coughing,
strain in exhaling the air. The asthmatic has to try hard for just getting
a breath. In severe cases, the life of the patient becomes miserable and
it makes him almost invalid. In medical terms the complicated condition of
asthma is called Emphysema.
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Cause for
Asthma and Bronchitis
Asthma might also have a
psychosomatic origin.
Attacks
of asthma involve both physical and psychological factors. It may be
triggered by
emotions,
environmental extremities (cold air,
exercise or exertion, allergen) and viral infections.
Asthmatic attacks
may also be generated and triggered in brain itself.
If
a person is allergic to particular thing, merely looking at such things
brings asthmatic attack. In children,
the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the
common cold.
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Facts about Asthma
More than 6% of children
in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma, a 75% increase in
recent decades. The rate soars to 40% among some populations of urban
children. Asthma is usually diagnosed in childhood.
Stimuli in
Asthma
and Bronchitis
The airways of
asthmatics are "hypersensitive" to certain triggers, also known as
stimuli
There are about ten different
categories of stimuli as follows,
* Allergenic air pollution, from nature, typically inhaled, which include
waste from common household pests, such as the house dust mite and
cockroach, grass pollen, mould spores, and pet epithelial cells;
* Medications, including aspirin, β-adrenergic antagonists (beta
blockers), and penicillin.
* Food allergies such as milk, peanuts, and eggs. However, asthma is
rarely the only symptom, and not all people with food or other allergies
have asthma.
* Use of fossil fuel related allergenic air pollution, such as ozone,
smog, summer smog, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, which is thought
to be one of the major reasons for the high prevalence of asthma in urban
areas;
* Various industrial compounds and other chemicals, notably sulfites;
chlorinated swimming pools generate chloramines—monochloramine (NH2Cl),
dichloramine (NHCl2) and trichloramine (NCl3)—in the air around them,
which are known to induce asthma.
* Early childhood infections, especially viral respiratory infections.
However, persons of any age can have asthma triggered by colds and other
respiratory infections even though their normal stimuli might be from
another category (e.g. pollen) and absent at the time of infection. 80% of
asthma attacks in adults and 60% in children are caused by respiratory
viruses.
* Exercise, the effects of which differ somewhat from those of the other
triggers;
* Allergenic indoor air pollution from newsprint & other literature such
as, junk mail leaflets & glossy magazines (in some countries).
* Hormonal changes in adolescent girls and adult women associated with
their menstrual cycle can lead to a worsening of asthma. Some women also
experience a worsening of their asthma during pregnancy whereas others
find no significant changes, and in other women their asthma improves
during their pregnancy.
* Emotional stress which is poorly understood as a trigger.
Alternative
and complementary medicine
in
Asthma
and Bronchitis
A study of "manual
therapies" for asthma, including osteopathic, chiropractic,
physiotherapeutic and respiratory therapeutic manoeuvers, found there is
insufficient evidence to support or refute their use in treating asthma;
these manoeuvers include various osteopathic and chiropractic techniques
to "increase movement in the rib cage and the spine to try and improve the
working of the lungs and circulation"; chest tapping, shaking, vibration,
and the use of "postures to help shift and cough up phlegm." On the other
hand, one meta-analysis found that homeopathy has a potentially mild
benefit in reducing symptom intensity; however, the number of patients
involved in the analysis was small, and subsequent studies have not
supported this finding. Several trials have suggested some benefit from
various yoga practices, ranging from integrated yoga programs —"yogasanas,
Pranayama, meditation, and kriyas"—to sahaja yoga, a form of meditation.
Ayurveda recommends use of herbs such as Ajwain, Harad, Hing, Ajamoda,
Lavanga, Sunthi and others.
Yoga treatment for
Asthma and Bronchitis
By regular exercise of Yogasana and Pranayama the constriction of the
bronchial tubes gets very much reduced. Slowly the capacity of bronchial
tubes increases to a great extent. By this type of performance one can
control the attack of asthma to a great extent and subsequently gradually
asthma can be cured from the roots.
The Asthma and Bronchitis patients have to do three things:
(i) Regular
practice of selected yoga asanas,
pranayama,
(ii) Proper
diet,
(iii)Avoid
the things which strain the nerves.
Yoga Asanas
Ekpada Uttan Asana
Tada Asana
Yoga Mudra
Ushtra Asana
Simha Asana
Sarvang Asana
Matsya Asana
Shava Asana
Pranayaman
Ujjayee Pranayama
Beside the
above mentioned asana and pranayama practice of
yoga nidra,
concentration
and
meditation
gives the best result.
Principles and Advice or Guidelines for
in
Asthma
(Asthmatics)
and Bronchitis
Asthmatics should follow the following principles and advice in their diet
and daily life for their highest good.
Have dinner at least two hours before going to bed at night.
Don’t over eat.
Eat slowly and chew the food properly.
Should drink water after half an hour of finishing their meals.
Intake ten to twelve glasses of water in a day.
Avoid hot spices, red pepper and pickles, tea or coffee.
Don’t drink water upon arising and before going to toilet.
Avoid Smoking (tobacco in any form).
know more about
Diet.
Benefits of Yoga in
Asthma
(Asthmatics)
and Bronchitis
Asanas and pranayama have corrective, curative and strengthening effects
on the condition of the lungs and the bronchiole linings.
Pranayama does the internal purification. As we know that air has some
fantastic properties like absorbing property. It absorbs certain things as
moisture, fragrance and odour. When air is kept in the body for a longer
time, it absorbs the impurities of the system and when it is expelled with
a force it carries those inner impurities out. Further, when external
pressure is given it maximizes the inner penetration of the air and
enables it to rub, activate and give inner massage to the body cells and
organs.
Research
Yoga-Asthma
References and abstract of
research papers
published in international Journals on
Therapeutic yoga.
Improvement in oxidative status with yogic breathing
in young healthy males.
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A few
Alternative Therapies |
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List of branches of
alternative and Complementary Medicine |
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Acupuncture
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Auriculotherapy
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Korean hand acupuncture
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Medical acupuncture
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Meridian therapy
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Sonopuncture
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Acupressure
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Alexander Technique
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Osteopathy
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Unani
medicine
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Traditional Chinese medicine
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Affirmations
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Affirmation Visualizations
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Applied kinesiology
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Apitherapy
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Aromatherapy
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Astrology
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Auriculotherapy
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Autogenic Training
Facial diagnosis
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Faith
healing
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Fasting
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Feldenkrais method
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Feng
shui (creating a soothing, tranquil renewing environment)
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Chinese food therapy
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Functional medicine
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Gua
Sha
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Hair
analysis (alternative medicine)
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Hand
analysis
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Hawaiian massage
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Healing touch
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Health
psychology
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Herbal
crystallization analysis
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Herbology
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Herbal
therapy
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Holistic living
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Holistic medicine
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Homeopathy
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Bach
flower remedies
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Flower essence therapy
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Isopathy
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Homeo
wave therapy
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Hypnosis
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Hypnotherapy
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Natural Health
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Natural therapies
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Diet and Food
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Dietary supplements
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Exercise
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Organic Foods
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Home
remedies
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Natural hygiene
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Naturopathic medicine
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Nutrition
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Botanical medicine
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Hydrotherapy
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Minor surgery
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Manipulative therapy
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Pharmacology
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Neuro-Linguistic
Programming
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Nutritional healing
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Nutritional supplements
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Omega-3 fatty acid
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Organic Diet
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Orgonomy
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Orthomolecular medicine
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Pilates
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Plum
blossom (Chinese medicine)
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Polarity Therapy
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Prayer
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Psychosocial interventions
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Psychic surgery
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Bates
Method
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Biologically Based Therapies
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Bates Method
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Chinese food therapy
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Macrobiotic lifestyle
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Orthomolecular medicine
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Body-Based Manipulative Therapies
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Body
work or Massage therapy
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Breathing Techniques
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Integrative medicine
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Iridology
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Journaling
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Light
Therapy
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Magnetic healing
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Medical acupuncture
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Medical intuition
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Medical Qigong
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Meditation
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Sclerology
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Seitai
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Soil
bath therapy (Mrittika snan)
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Somapractic
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Support groups
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Suseunghwagang (meditation breathing)
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T'ai
Chi Ch'uan
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Tantra
massage
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Thalassotherapy
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Therapeutic horseback riding
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Theta
Healing
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Mega-vitamin therapy
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Meridian therapy
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Moxibustion
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Music
therapy
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Five
Elements
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Seven
star
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Trigger point
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Tui na
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Zang
Fu theory
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Meridian therapy
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Shiatsu
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