TEMPERING ASTHMA (from Ayurveda & Greek Medicine)

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Asthma is chronic inflammation of the lungs characterized by easily triggered spasms of the bronchial tubes. These spasms, inflammation of bronchial tubes, and mucus induce wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

Asthma is classified as atopic (allergic hypersensitivity) or non-atopic. Humid asthma is asthma with hypersecretion of mucus.

Asthma may be triggered by cold air, exercise, or airborne allergies, such as dust, mold, and animal dander (wool, cats, etc.). It may be worse at night. Risk factors include genetics, environmental exposure to allergens, and also lack of exposure to allergens at an early age.

Asthma is associated with higher prevalence of anxiety disorders, GERD, and sleep apnea.

Chronic asthma can cause structural changes in the lung as immune cells stimulate blood vessel growth and remodel airways. Herbs that reduce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may be beneficial.

Uncontrolled asthma causes around 180,000 deaths per year, from lung and/or associated heart pathology.

Asthma & Dosha

Kapha is generally a contributing factors in all respiratory conditions, including asthma. Asthma may involves all three doshas:

• Excess mucus in the lungs (Kapha) - Congested circulation and thick blood cause mucus buildup stressing the lungs. Expectorants, mucolytics and decongestants are favored here. Warm and dry the lungs with pungents such as thyme.
• Allergic hypersensitivty / Inflammation (Pitta) - causing constriction of the bronchial tubes & wheezing. Immune calming herbs and anti-inflammatories are favored here.
• Spasm of the bronchial tubes (Vata) - Adrenergic herbs increase such as licorice increase corticosteroids - dilating bronchial tubes and reduce inflammation. Anti-spasmodics such as cardamom, fennel, and other aromatic spices generally have a bronchodilating effect.

Reduce toxins (ama) from the colon to reduce mucus membrane sensitivity generally. Reduce Pitta hyper-reactivity with alteratives and liver support. Mahanarayan oil is a sharp, aromatic oil that acts as a penetrating antispasmodic. Licorice root increases corticosteroids which have an anti-inflamamtory and bronchodilating effect. Licorice is also antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and mucolytic.

Lung and upper body skin inflammation are related. Inflammation in either area means that heat is moving 'up and out'.

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Disclaimer: 'Asthma' could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.

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Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Asthma'. Individual results vary depending the cause of your imbalance and by constitution. Please research the ingredients below to find which are most helpful for you, and check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. Please check with your medical doctor before making any changes to your health & wellness routine, and for the proper use of these products.

These supplements are contraindicated / may aggravate 'Asthma'.

Tempering the Respiratory health - Tips & Remedies

DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

Everything you eat has an effect on your body, which Personalized Medicine Systems (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine) categorize in a simple and easy way, using biocharacteristics. Biocharacteristics are vital qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the metabolic effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Asthma', consider foods with the following biocharacteristics. Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.

Digestion:

Emetic

EMETIC

An herb that causes vomiting and nausea.

SEE ALL 'EMETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:

Antitussive

ANTITUSSIVE

Cough suppressant, particularly for dry coughs or a tickle in your throat.

SEE ALL 'ANTITUSSIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,

Bronchodilator

BRONCHODILATOR

An herb that encourages the widening or opening of the lung airways. They are helpful in wheezing and asthma.

SEE ALL 'BRONCHODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

,

Decongestant

DECONGESTANT

An herb that reduces mucus production often by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

SEE ALL 'DECONGESTANT' FOODS / HERBS

,

Expectorant

EXPECTORANT

Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract.

SEE ALL 'EXPECTORANT' FOODS / HERBS

,

Hydrotherapy

HYDROTHERAPY

Uses water in various forms (liquid, steam, or ice) to promote health and wellness. Includes baths, steam, etc.

SEE ALL 'HYDROTHERAPY' FOODS / HERBS

,

Lung Tonic

LUNG-TONIC

Strengthens the lungs. Lung tonics include antifibrotic, vessel tonic, or nourishing herbs with an affinity for the lungs. They aid recovery in acute or chronic lung conditions.

SEE ALL 'LUNG-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,

Mucolytic

MUCOLYTIC

An herb that breaks apart mucus, liquefying the mucus.

SEE ALL 'MUCOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

, Antihistamine,

Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

, Mast Cell Stabilizer,

Repairs Membrane

REPAIRS-MEMBRANE

Reduces inflammation and allergen reactivity by restoring epithelial barrier function. Repairs tight cell junction in leaky gut, interstitial cystitis, eczema, asthma, etc.

SEE ALL 'REPAIRS-MEMBRANE' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Antioxidant

ANTIOXIDANT

An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals that lead to a chain reaction causing damage or death to cells. Antioxidants terminate these oxidation reactions.

SEE ALL 'ANTIOXIDANT' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Flavonoids

FLAVONOIDS

Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect.

SEE ALL 'FLAVONOIDS' FOODS / HERBS

, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin C, Vitamin E

Subtaste:

Acrid

ACRID

Acrid taste is a combination of bitter and pungent tastes. Example include radish, turnip, and coffee.

SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS

,

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE #4

ASTHMA IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE #4 - TISSUE DISEASE

If you have symptoms in this category it means your imbalances have overwhelmed your body's resistance causing a full-fledged disease. Once imbalance reaches this stage it is more likely to cause acute or chronic conditions. You might be tempted to focus your attention on fighting symptoms in this category, but dismiss earlier warning signs of imbalance - i.e. symptoms in the stage 1 category. It is ideal to find and address the root causes weakening your system and remove them first. This ensures you are not adding fuel to the fire of disease. Once the root causes are removed, you can work on addressing the disease head on along with strengthening your body. This typically yields a quicker recovery and prevents recurrence. Ayurveda's preventative approach suggests you pay careful attention to every stage of disease development. (See all disease stages on JB)

GET MY FREE AYURVEDA BODY MAP According to Personalized Medicine Systems (Ayurveda and Greek medicine), aggravation of any of these body types and biocharacteristics may lead to 'Asthma'. Reduce the foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate these qualities (when dystempered). Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced.

Are you prone to a problem with 'Asthma'? Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Respiratory System by taking the free respiratory health quiz:

TAKE THE RESPIRATORY HEALTH QUIZ

The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Asthma'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them. On average the biocharacteristics of people reporting Asthma were more aggravated than 53% of other symptoms. From the 5,086 people who reported Asthma average deviation in biocharacteristic levels were the following:

Risk Factors of Asthma

Complications of Those Reporting Asthma

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