ASTHMA BEYOND DRUGS: Home Remedies and science behind them !!!!
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways. When this inflammation is long-standing and uncontrolled, it causes narrowing in airways and thus patients feel difficulty in breathing and may feel tightness in the chest and they may also hear whistling sounds, especially at night. The irritation in the airways is caused by an allergen, a harmless substance to which a sensitized individual produces an inflammatory response. There have been many theories that why only particular individuals react to allergens and most depend upon interaction between a person’s genetic makeup and environment.
Asthma is a complex disease and more difficult is to generalize any notion regarding its treatment. The therapy for such a variable disease always comes as a challenge for the doctor who needs to sit with the patient and make a personalized treatment plan. The cornerstone for therapy in patients with asthma is inhaler therapy for which one needs to sort out the apprehensions and beliefs of the patient. Sometimes patients feel and ask about things other than therapy like what could be the diet or precautions which need to be taken care of. In this section we will be discussing some of the food items which have medicinal value and can be found useful in asthmatic patients, especially during winters:
- Turmeric (Haldi): which is a common food additive scientifically contains curcuminoids as well as volatile oils, sugars, proteins, and resins. Research shows curcumin is a highly pleiotropic molecule capable of interacting with numerous molecular targets involved in inflammation. It decreases the production of inflammatory cytokines by blocking gene expression. Its role to suppress inflammation has been well studied in Arthritis and diabetes. Research in asthmatics is scarce and still needs further validation but it shows great promise. Anyways the traditional Indian “Haldi wala doodh” can come to the rescue as home made remedy to aid asthmatics to decrease their inflammation.
- Ginger (Adrak): includes volatiles like sesquiterpene and monoterpenoid hydrocarbons providing the distinct aroma and taste of ginger. On the contrary, non-volatile pungent compounds include gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and zingerone. The bioactive molecules of ginger have shown antioxidant activity. It helps to counteract oxidative stress which has been postulated as one of the major causes of asthma. Moreover, it can impart good flavor to the foods like soups and tea.
- Tulsi: Eugenol the active constituent in tulsi also called Holy Basil has been found to be largely responsible for the therapeutic potential of Tulsi. In context to chest-related ailments, it helps in counteracting seasonal chest infections and building immunity in the lungs thus ameliorating seasonal worsening in asthmatics.
- Honey: mainly there are three different types of honey i.e. Manuka (only found in Australia and New Zealand) jelly bush and pasture honey. It has its anti-Inflammatory effects due to compounds such as flavonoids and other polyphenols which may function as anti-oxidants. When applied topically, honey has been found to have good antibacterial properties even against multi-drug-resistant hospital-acquired bacterias. It can be extremely helpful to soothe during seasonal allergic or infection-related episodes of sore throat in asthmatic patients.
At last, I can sum up that during this season the time-tested ginger, tulsi, and honey tea can help patients with asthma counter their symptoms and ailment. It was nothing new I was able, to sum up rather old time-tested home remedies during winters only with new scientific knowledge about them.
