Dr. Subhash Soni

Food gives us the energy to carry out activities of daily living. Eating well is not only important for our survival but our mental and emotional wellbeing. Food is so much connected to our culture and reflects our lifestyles to a great extent. All cultures follow a particular method of cooking and eating. We respond to our hunger through food. Our bodies learn the specific times to eat. The satiety centre in our brain tells us how much to eat and when to stop. However, for some, eating becomes an abnormality when they respond to their emotional issues through over eating or inadequate eating. For them, eating is not just a normal response to hunger. It could be a psychological response to anxiety, stress or other behavioural and emotional difficulties.

The most common Eating Disorders are Anorexia- causing inadequate eating and weight loss, Bulimia- causing eating in excess amounts and Binge eating - characterised by eating in large amounts and at frequent intervals. Research suggests that eating disorders can develop early in life and are mainly triggered by environment. However, eating disorders are also common among people with anxiety, trauma (physical, emotional or sexual) and depression. People with eating disorders are seen to have a low self-esteem and generally avoid eating with family and friends due to their abnormal eating habits.

Eating disorders disturb the body’s equilibrium and impacts negatively on a person’s mental health. People with eating disorders are unable to socialize, impacting on their self-image and ability to deal with emotions. They often fall prey to their anxiety and depression through abnormal eating. Eating disorder is not seen as a disease in itself since it has strong emotional and behavioural issues. Thus, treatment of the disorder is not limited to drugs alone. Effective treatment of eating disorders is generally a combination of interventions ranging from counselling, psychotherapy and drugs.

Homeopathy offers a holistic approach to the treatment of eating disorders. It attempts to eliminate the signs and symptoms associated with the disorder through a step by step approach. The treatment is purely herbal and free of side effects. Homeopathy offers a range of medications designed to treat different types of disorders. However, it is important to follow the prescribed medication at regular intervals for maximum benefits. Homeopathy in addition to counselling and therapy offers a comprehensive and safe approach to deal with eating disorders.

It is extremely important to support the person suffering from this disorder and be sensitive towards his/her emotional needs. Sadly, there is a lack of proper knowledge about the disorder and its treatment which sometimes leads to its mismanagement. It’s best to consult an expert and get a medical advice. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a homeopath.

Asthma is a universal chronic airway inflammatory disease of the air passage characterized by recurring symptoms, excessive air sensitiveness and airflow obstruction. Wheezing, prolonged expiration and fast heart rate are some of the common features. Asthmatic attack generally gets exaggerated in the morning and night. The person may turn blue at severe condition.

Symptoms of asthma

Shortness of breath
Breathlessness at the time of attack
Wheezing, a hissing sound at exhalation (breathe out)
Chest tightness and pain
Suffered with severe anxiety
Itchiness to throat and chin
Frequent cough at night
Uneasy in body and increase in palpitation
Cold
Mucus production
Weakness
Tiredness after exercise and enhance pulse movement
Sign of cold like sneezing, nasal congestion and sore throat are common, and some comfort during sitting
Sleeping disorder
Recurrent coughing
Lower part of eyes may be darkening
Difficult in speaking
Moodiness, Headache, running nose, etc.
Sweating is also common
May difficult in hearing

Causes of asthma

Allergy due to natural tendency/ airborne allergens (house dust, cockroaches) and irritants (tobacco smoke) trigger it.

Hereditary

Childhood respiratory infection

Environmental and biologic triggers like infections, dietary patterns, hormonal changes in women etc.

Hypersensitivity from allergens like molds, animal dander, grass, pollens, hair, lint and grains.

Fluctuation/Change in weather.

Digestive disorders

Affliction in gastrointestinal tract

Risk factors of asth

Hereditary factor-chances increase when immediate blood relatives have the condition.

Suffering from obesity

Being a smoker

Being a passive smoker

Pregnant mother addicted to smoke

Pollutants, mites, moulds, dust, aspirin, pollen grain etc.

Certain chemical used in farming and manufacturing

Kids born with below average weight

Kids respiratory infection

heart and lungs congestion, pneumonia,tuberculosis,lung cancer and cystic fibrosis

Children age group 2-16 are more vulnerable

Wheezing tendency of infant flare up asthmatic symptoms.

Psychological factors like despair, depression, separation, problems in interpersonal relation are too induced it.

Ayurveda for asthma treatment

Due to modern faulty lifestyle, uncontrolled pollution and rapid industrialization, allergy, allergens, bronchial asthma has become common among children, adult and aged people. Ayurvedic herbal supplement, natural remedy and dietary treatments are good for the disorder. This disease comes in the paroxysm of dyspnoea and during the attack; the patient goes in extreme agony, perceives darkness, feels thirst and become motionless. On account of frequent coughing and expectorant, the patient faints and remains in extreme distress till phlegm is cough out.

Herbal tea made up of Ajwain, Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), pepper, and ginger is useful natural expectorant for it.
Panchakarma is very useful for asthmatic patients.

Vasa, an Indian herb, control bronchitis, a boon and known for cough remedy.

Turmeric, a bronchial herb, is highly useful for the chronic condition.

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Yashtimadhu), soothe the trachea and prevent airways obstruction.

Herbs like albezia lebbeck, clove is useful for bronchitis.

For natural cure of the condition and to get some relief, rub brown mustard oil on the chest.

To minimize congestion and reduce breathlessness, drink some pepper + 1 teaspoon honey + little onion juice. It is one of the natural ayurveda remedies.

More intake of fluid should be taken if one suffered with dryness of it.

Massage with sesame oil on the chest is a very useful alternative treatment.

To ease the severity of bronchitis, take a mixture of Sitopladi Churna + liquorices+ borax powder and honey, thrice a day.

Seed of Celery is used in the treatment of it.

Chewing of the fruit chebulic myroblan at night allay asthmatic attack.

Arjuna bark is helpful in treating of it.

Powdered of bay berry bark an effective remedy for bronchial patients.

Euphorbia facilitates easy breathing.

Aniseed has expectorant characters so helpful for asthma patients.

Gum of Asafetida + Honey is useful for the patients.

Trachyspermum ammi has expectorant properties and ease chronic phlegm.

Garlic reduces the asthmatic severity.

Ginger can be used for bronchial asthma for its expectorant properties.

Here are given some home remedies that can be tried at home safely without any complications.

Lemon juice is good natural remedy.

Combination of Bitter gourd root + Honey + Tulsi leaves brings unique result to the patients. It is one of the best home remedies for such patients.

Boil drumstick leaves + Salt+ Pepper + Lime juice, an effective herbal remedy for the condition.

Taking and inhaling honey is one of the widespread treatments for the case.

Inhalation of eucalyptus oils open up airways.

Ginger juice + Methi + honey, a very effective home remedy for the chronic condition.

Juices of carrot and spinach provide relief.

Onion + honey + some black pepper provide relief from congestion and ease breathlessness.

Garlic+ milk is a beneficial remedy.

Honey + warm water take out phlegm from the throat and used for treatment purposes.

Massage of mustard oil and camphor over the chest provides relieve in breathing.

Take the steam of carom ajwain to get respite.

Use basil + honey every morning to keep away from the condition.

Chew basil leaves + salt for natural treatment to cure it.

Use roasted gram and milk at night to free flow of airways.

Turmeric (grind) + honey are unique for it.

Chewing of black pepper at night is also good.

Lemon juice + ginger once a day is fine with the condition.

Chewing Chebulic Myroblan gives reprieve from asthmatic attacks.

Diet for Asthma

Chew your food properly and eat slowly with relax mind. To avoid over-fullness on chest, always eat less than your capacity and avoid imbalanced diet. If diet changes as per complementary and alternative medicine, there is a greater chance to bring relief in asthma. One should take diet as per COPD guidelines. Children are also at greater risk of the condition because some foods are the biggest trigger of asthma attack among children. Children with obesity are prone to it, so diet, weight loss regime and fitness is must here to reduce cholesterol.

Green leafy vegetable, fresh fruits and herbs are quite effective for the condition due to its antioxidant features.

Hot pungent may make breathing easier by opening air passage.

Citrus fruits due to its greater content of Vitamin C have inherent power to fight it.

Predominately vegetarian diet is the good option for the patients.

Foods rich in Vitamin play a vital role in curing it.

Oxygen carrying capacity of blood increases owing to antioxidant property of Vitamin E.

Essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3 oils reduce inflammation and alleviate attacks.

The therapeutic aspects of Tulsi can't be ignored.

Flavonoids of apples reduce inflammation.

Nasal acuteness can be minimized by taking turmeric along with honey.

Eating of ginger and black pepper is advisable.

Take more and more lukewarm water.

Asthmatic diet should contain of limited quantity of carbohydrate, protein and fats. He should also take more and 
more quantity of alkaline foods like fresh fruits, green vegetables and Bengal gram.

Foods not for asthma

Avoid sugar, rice, pickles, ice cream, cold drinks, curds etc. as all those help in phlegm formation.

Spicy and pungent foods should also be avoided.

Foods like cider, wine, beer and cheese may provoke asthma attack.

Allergen foods that are responsible for it are meat, eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, chocolate, food preservatives etc.

Asthma prevention and precautions

There are so many ways to control and prevent asthma. First of all, your surrounding should be neat and clean. It is a wise decision to keep himself away from asthmatic triggers like pollutants, dust, smoke, medications, pollen etc. 

Foods such as rice, sugar, lentils and fried one should be skipped as these items helps to form phlegm.

Bronchitis patients should always eat less than their capacity.

Keep away from cold and damp places.

Eat slowly and chew your food properly.

Give much more thrust on Yoga.

Avoid dusty places.

Keep yourself away from mental worries and stress.

Pranayama should be in your everyday routine.

Take 10-12 glasses of water daily but not along with meal.

Walking, especially brisk walk should be preferred.

Spices, pickles, tea and coffee should be avoided.

During asthmatic attack, taking of warm water is preferred.

Excessive eating should be avoided.

Take light dinner.

Avoid Tobacco, alcohol, Gutka, Pan Masal, etc.

Smoking invites severity, acuteness and chronicity.

Air conditioners and coolers are also harmful.

Evade perfumes, repellents, deodorants, aftershave and air fresheners.

Don't drink cold water.

Do moderate exercise.

Avoid over indulgence in sex.

Bedroom should be free from allergens.

Wash your mattresses regularly.

Avoid cleaning of house through broom.

Do swim to ease your chest.

Cold and heavy meal should be avoided.