Asthma is a disease affecting the airways that carry air to and from your lungs. People who suffer from asthma feels difficult to breath. The inside walls of a respiratory tracts are swollen or inflamed. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways extremely sensitive to irritations and increases the susceptibility to an allergic reaction also cause the airways narrower and allow less air to exchange from lungs. Asthmatics usually experience these symptoms most frequently during the night and the early morning.

Breathing is very essential for life. Human beings cannot sustain their life without breathing. But the asthma is a name of disease where people feel difficult breathe and undergoes great torture, coughing and wheezing.  The reason cause of asthma is due to the constriction of the musculature of the respiratory apparatus, especially the bronchi, which prevent natural exhalation. Many people has opinion that asthma cannot be cured but it is wrong concept, will be cure with the practice of yoga which includes asanas and breathing techniques.

Pranayama corrects the breathing pattern and increase the vital capacity of the lungs. While doing the pranayama the diaphragm separating the thorax from the abdomen descends during inhalation with the bulging of the abdomen. This increase the air flow into the lower sections of the lungs. The rhythmic movement of the movement of the diaphragm massages the contents of the abdomen and lungs gently and helps the organ to function normally. It also promotes the general circulation.

Bastrika pranayama is a forceful inhalation and exhalation helps to release the mucus deposited in the respiratory tract and also helps in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs and also provide the nice massage to the lungs.

Likewise, sectional breathing is performed in sitting erect and inhalation and exhalation are performed by expanding and contracting the chest only. Air flow through both nostrils slowly and continuously. The abdomen is controlled to its bulging the middle lobes are opened up fully by this type of breathing.

Similarly, Naddhisuddhi pranayama helps to soothing the mind also make the breathing rhythmic, slow and increase the rate of inhalation and exhalation helps in the easy breathing. Right nostril breathing has a heating effect in the body so it helps for fast recovery of asthma and cold allergy it is activate the right hemisphere of the brain.

Modern medicine only stops the asthmatic attacks but it will not heals the disease but Asthma can cure completely with the long term efficacy of the integrated approach of yoga therapy people can live a normal and active life.

Yogasanas tone up all the muscles effectively – including the muscles of the chest, abdomen, back and inter-costal ones, in addition to the diaphragm. Asanas also tone up the external muscles as well as the nerve plexus which control the muscles involve during respiration. And this is achieved through the continuous practice of asanas like Bhujangaasana, shalabhasana, paschimottaanaasana, halaasana and padahastaasana.

In bhujangaasanas , the head , neck and back up to the middle are bent and raised . As a result some of the respiratory muscles especially those in the anterior part of the body are stretched and toned up through securing increased blood supply. The cavity of the thorax also expands and the nerves plexuses which control the activity of the lungs and toned up.

Shalabhasana is the beneficial asana for asthma as it rises the intra-abdominal pressure and the diaphragm is made to work actively. As the diaphragm plays an active part in the respiration, the breathing pattern is also affected. Likewise, in paschmottasanas muscles having opposites to muscles which are tensed in the former and relaxed in the latter. Tension and relaxation are the two groups of muscles contracts and expand and the lungs.

Halasanas is also quite beneficial to act of breathing of the patient.

Vipareetakarani tones up the nerves and plexuses which control the heart and lungs and also increase the blood supply to the lung capillaries and confers great benefits upon the patients

Sarvanagasaasana also helps to cure the asthma resulting from chronic infection. It influence the secretions of endocrine which stimulate the thyroid gland.

Desensitization (kriyas) may help in developing tolerance to external agents, similar to desensitization therapy for allergens. Jalaneti practices called washes the nose with luke-warm saline water and in sutraneti a thread or a rubber catheter is introduced into the nose. The hyperresposive nasal mucosa would trigger off a whole chain of events including excessive sneezing , rhinorrhea( water running from the nose) and nasal blocking . but under the background of deep relaxation and use of will power , the person learns to tolerate these irritants without any of these reactions. In other words these kriya have taught how to tolerate the irritants entering the nose without reacting violently similarly, the excitability of the nerve endings in the bronchial wall to various irritants causing asthma also can be reduced by another kriya called dhouti.

Different yogasanas help to correct the postural abnormalities and improve the respiratory stamina . They may also help in drainage of secretion. The breathing exercise especially the chair breathing technique trains diaphragmatic breathing, which is a big help during attacks.

There is considerable interest in the role of alternative or complementary therapies for the treatment of asthma. This is due to worries about the side effects of conventional medical treatment and a belief that natural substances are better for asthma than drugs.

Savasana deep rest to all part of body reduces oxygen requirement, hence the tissues are trained to remain healthy even when the chronic airway narrowing does not supply enough oxygen due to air trapping or collapse of air sacs. Deep rest to nervous system and immune system helps in restoring normalcy.

Deep internal linear awareness and concentration on balancing the body helps in bringing about prana balance.

Practice of the asana and breathing should be continuous slow and regular in daily life. There is no need of hurry for the practices to cure the diseases. Sometimes it may take 3 months after commencement of treatment or if the patient is very weak, it may take 6 month or a year.

Dietetic regulation for asthma

The diet for asthma is depends upon the individual severity. It is quite difficult to prescribe a uniform diet for all asthmatic people. Each patients should find out his particular allergies and act accordingly. In general, hot food, mustard, coffee, tobacco, snuff, alcohol, polished rice and throwing off rice water have to be avoided. Till the effects of yogic therapy become perceptible, the usual medication for asthma may be taken.  Cow milk, fruits, green leafy vegetables and cod liver oil may be taken in plenty.

May all goes towards the path of healthy living through yoga asana and pranayama (breathing exercise).

OM! shanti!!