Asthma, Allergies and Healing Herbs

Allergies

Just came back from Mexico. Had a nice vacation but couldn't stop to think about what I've seen during my trip. In every airport, you can hear sneezing. People are complaining of red eyes and runny noses, itching and many others. I know, fall is coming and airports are not the best environment. It's supposed to be like this...No, it doesn't have to be like this. None of us has to suffer.

If you don't have any allergies, you still have at least one friend that is struggling with this problem. Many years ago I was having some allergy problems. I started looking into a remedy and some of them worked really good.

For me, one of the best was Sitopaladi Churna - a traditional ayurvedic herbs mixture. The combination works for all three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. It is recommended for: colds, flu, fever, congestion and bronchial conditions. It's working really fast and acting like an anti-allergic. You can also use it for strengthening the body and for coughing conditions (dry or not).

What does it contain? It's a combination between: Bambusa Arundinacea (sort of a bamboo), Cinnamonum Zeylanicum (cinnamon), Elettaria Cardamomum (cardamom), Piper Longum (pippali) and Sugar candy.

Bambusa Arundinacea has anti-inflammatory properties. Cinnamon has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It helps with breathing difficulties. Cardamon reduces mucus and helps in asthma cases. Piper longum works on strengthening the immune system and has analgesic and expectorant properties.

In Ayurveda is one of the best supportive in allergic and viral respiratory infections.

You can find it in Indian stores or even online. I wouldn't recommend you to make the mixture yourself because you might not add the right quantities. You might make it too spicy or too sweet.

It can be taken twice per day - 2 teaspoonfuls, before the meals, usually with warm water or honey.

Asthma

Asthma is a combination of many factors, including an immunological reaction and overstimulation of the parasympathetic nerves to the lungs, constricting the bronchial tubes.

Parasympathetic nerves originate in the hypothalamus, which is directly under the control of higher emotional centers. Emotions are playing an important role in the asthma attacks.

The emotion acts like a trigger. It activates the hypothalamus which is sending stimuli down the parasympathetic nerves and here you go, you're already having an asthma attack. You have an emotion, you're pushing the button on the hypothalamus. Don't push it too hard!

Easiest cure would be to control your emotions and you will never have another asthma attack. Not so easy to do for some of us, right?

Then, let's see what else you can do about these attacks.

One of the first things I would recommend would be: Chyavanprash.

This is an Ayurvedic combination made of: cane sugar, amalaki, honey, ghee, bilva, haritaki, gokshura, pippali, ashwagandha, shatavari, guduchi, musta, punarnava, cardamom, cinnamon, bamboo, brhati, bhumyamalaki, sati, patra, vasaka, nagakesara.

It is an excellent rejuvenative for both mind and body, strengthens the immunity, stimulates metabolism, works against effects of a stressful lifestyle but most of all has a special affinity for the lungs. It is used for conditions like: colds, flu, asthma, allergies, chest congestion and coughs.

Chyavanprash balances all three doshas: Vata, Pita, Kapha. You can take 1 teaspoon once or twice daily or as directed by your health practitioner. You can buy it in many natural or Indian stores or even online. I would recommend to read the label to be sure it doesn't have any other things (like preservatives) added to the combination because some of the brands do that.

It looks and tastes like a fruit jam so don't worry it won't be something bad to taste.

Another easy thing that you could try is to mix fresh ginger juice with water and cane sugar. You boiled it until you obtain a syrup and add saffron, cardamom, nutmeg and cloves. The mixture is good for fever, colds, coughs, asthma but also for indigestion, colic, spasms and stomach pains.

Other healing herbs and spices that you could use for respiratory conditions are:

Indian Nightshade for: asthma, dry and spasmodic cough and chest pain. Turmeric for: chronic bronchial asthma. Do not use if pregnant, have excess Pitta or hepatitis. Black pepper for: asthma and sinuses congestion. It acts as a stimulant, expectorant and carminative. Use it in a milk decoction. Malabar Nut for: asthma, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, cough, voice, TB and flu.

As a general guideline, you can use two types of herbs: herbs with a drying effect - ginger, calamus, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, dry ginger, pippali, sage and herbs with a moisturizing effect - licorice, comfrey root, eucalyptus, thyme and wild cherry.

Don't forget about fresh lemon juice that provides you with high doses of vitamin C and also garlic or onion juice (I know, not the best juice in the world but you can give it a try and you'll feel much better).

Like always, please check with your physician before trying any of the things above.

If you have a symptom or illness and you'd like to read an article about that, just let me know and I'll do my best. I will continue with these series of articles with advices on healing herbs for different conditions.

Enjoy the fall and Happy Halloween!