Ayurvedic Approach For Allergies, Asthma And Hay Fever
Welcome Spring! Welcome Hay Fever! Spring a time for flowers to bloom, birds to chirp and trees to turn green , to get back into new life but unfortunately a season for some to get allergies & hay fever. Hay Fever is caused due to airborne pollens or molds. It is rarely caused by hay and does not cause fever. In ayurveda the Primary Causes of most allergies are “Ama” (Toxins) or low immunity.Ama toxicity Aggravates Kapha & Pitta with different symptoms and hence is considered as Kapha-Pitta disorder. But due to immune disorder and hypersensitivity of nervous system Vata constitution people suffer most from hay fever. So different symptoms arise with predominance of specific Dosha.
- Headaches, Insomnia, Anxiety are symptoms caused due to vata aggravation.
- Yellow nasal discharge, burning eyes, feverish feeling and skin rashes are caused due to pitta aggravation.
- Sinus congestion, white sputum & sluggish or dullness feeling in the body are due to kapha aggravation.
Ayurveda considers mainly two types of allergies:
- SEASONAL ALLERGIES: caused due to pollens of grass, weeds, trees and molds.
- PERENNIAL ALLERGIES: caused due to house dust, mites, bacteria, animal dander & few chemicals.
These are introduced into the home environment by carpets, domestic pets, forced air and gas heat. People having gas heating should use HEPA Filters to improve air quality indoor or alternatively should live in houses having laminated, wooden floorboards or stone houses. Researches show that 38 percent of the people suffering from hay fever suffer from asthma as well; only 5 percent suffer just from asthma alone.
HOME REMEDIES:
Ayurvedic herbs like Guggulu, Shilajeet, Amla and pippali are of great help.
- SHILAJEET: helps in boosting Immune system.
- GUGGULU: Helps in reducing inflammation & acts as steroids without any side-effects.
- PIPPALI: helps as anti-allergic herb by increasing HCl, stimulates gastric juices & improves digestion.
- AMLA: helps in allergies being rich source of vitamin C.
Combination of herbs like Trikatu (Dry Ginger + Black Pepper+Pippali) are helpful in Hay Fever especially people having Vata+Kapha constitution.Camphor, Cloves & Holy Basil are helpful.
Inhalation of vapour made of water + basil leaves + eucalyptus oil at bedtime.
Instill 2-3 drops of coconut oil in both nostrils at bed time.
DIET:
Avoid heavy foods, cold drinks, dairy products (Cheese &Yogurt), sugar, potatoes, tomatoes, banana, oranges and grape fruits.
Dry Grains like Chickpea, Kaala chana (Gram), Buckwheat, Corn, Amaranth & Quinoa are good to eat.
Rasayana like Chyawanprash are good to eat.
FROM AN AYURVEDIC PHYSICIAN:
An experienced ayurvedic physician would induce therapeutic vomiting or Nasya(Nasal Insufflation) (Panchakarma Procedures) to balance Kapha.
YOGA & PRANAYAMA:
- Practice Jala Neti with special neti pot (a pot with spout) with a mixture of water, lemon and a little salt to do nasal cleansing as a regular hygiene practice.(Neti Pot available at vibe therapies)
- Practice Pranayama (Anuloma Viloma) & Kapala Bhati Pranayama in chronic condition to increase the stamina.
Dr Vanita Sharma
#333 Blackburn Road
Burwood East
Vic - 3151