A REVIEW ON ANTI ASTHMATIC ACTIVITY OF AYURVEDIC HERBS

Abstract

Ayurveda is an ancient system of health and life containing information regarding the fitness, longevity of life and for the treatment of various diseases. Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic illness of the childhood, and the most frequent cause of parents' visits to paediatricians. 74% of asthma episodes experienced in children less than 5 years of age and 26% in less than one year of age. It causes negative effect on children during their critical periods of growth and development. In modern medicine, its management includes bronchodilators, mast cell stabilizers, antihistaminic and corticosteroids apart from avoidance of allergens but these medicines are mostly associated with many adverse effects like tremors, tachycardia, hypokalemia, restlessness, sedation, growth suppression etc. Due to these untoward effects, whole world are employed to seek safe & effective treatment of asthma. Ayurveda refers the term Tamak shwasa to bronchial asthma. This study ascertains efficacies of these Ayurvedic herbs and found that Ayurveda can efficiently manage as well as provide prophylaxis against bronchial asthma.

Headnote

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda is an ancient system of health and life containing information regarding the fitness, longevity of life and for the treatment of various diseases. Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic illness of the childhood and the most frequent cause of parents' visits to paediatricians. 74% of asthma episodes experienced in children less than 5 years of age and 26% in less than one year of age. It causes negative effect on children during their critical periods of growth and development. In modern medicine, its management includes bronchodilators, mast cell stabilizers, antihistaminic and corticosteroids apart from avoidance of allergens but these medicines are mostly associated with many adverse effects like tremors, tachycardia, hypokalemia, restlessness, sedation, growth suppression etc. Due to these untoward effects whole world are employed to seek safe & effective treatment of asthma. Ayurveda refers the term Tamak shwasa to bronchial asthma. This paper reviews various clinical and experimental studies conducted in the last few decades on plants showing anti asthmatic property. This study ascertains efficacies of these Ayurvedic herbs and found that Ayurveda can efficiently manage as well as provide prophylaxis against bronchial asthma.

KEY WORDS: Ayurveda, Bronchial asthma, Tamak shwasa, Antiasthmatic property

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a disease of the lung's airways. It affects 155 million individuals in the world. Its prevalence and severity among children have increased significantly in the world over the past 40 years (Weiss K.B., 1990). It varies from 5-30 percent in different population. Records of its clinical description date from antiquity. Man is trying to curb this disease since time immemorial. But he does not have much in his credit. The magnitude of the problem is still increasing. There are no definite population based figures that have used uniform diagnostic criteria to estimate the incidence or prevalence of bronchial asthma. But from whatever data are available it can, at least, easily be concluded that the magnitude of this problem is very high and the morbidity and mortality rates are on rise. It has affected 14-15 million people in the United States, including estimated 4.8 million children. It is the most common chronic disease of childhood. It accounts for about 11 million hospital visits annually and the sixth most frequent reason for visits in ambulatory setting. About 4, 70,000 patients are hospitalized and more than 5,000 patients die annually due to asthma (Joseph M., 1998). Such is the state of magnitude of bronchial asthma in developed countries like United States. In developing countries like India, the magnitude of this problem must be higher especially in urban and metropolitan population because of higher pollution levels, changing environmental conditions and increased stress levels (Ghai O.P. 2009).

Asthma closely correlates with the description of the disease "Tamak Shwasa" recorded thousands years ago by the sages and eminent scholars of Ayurveda. (Sharma R K, 2009). Even at that time the seriousness of this disease was well recognized since it was considered one among the most dreadful diseases. Acute exacerbations of Tamak Shwasa are also an important cause of school absenteeism. Morbidity due to exacerbation and persistent symptoms present a huge burden to individuals and their communities. Though any disease can be fatal there is none which terminates the patient's life so as hikka and shwasa. (Sharma R K, 2009) Sushruta has also described shwasa roga among four viz. hikka, shwasa, kasa and vilambika to have fatal prognosis. (Sharma P V, 2004) Besides these, Charaka has specifically mentioned the occurrence of asthma in infants fed on breast milk vitiated with kapha dosha. (Sharma R K, 2009). This description signifies that shwasa roga is a disease which is difficult to cure and have serious prognosis. With increasing environmental pollution and mental stress, this disease 'Tamak Shwasa' (Bronchial Asthma) is imposing burden on the community of developing countries like India. Modern medicine is much advanced in treating the infectious diseases but has limitations in treating endogenous diseases like Asthma, Diabetes Mellitus etc however it provides only palliative treatment. In treatment of bronchial asthma extensive use of bronchodilators, antibiotics, steroids and other measures are helpful (Tripathi K.D 2001) on prolonged use of steroid therapy hoarseness of voice, dysphonia, sore throat, asymptomatic or symptomatic oropharyngeal candidiasis and suppression of immune response etc seen in users while GIT, CNS and CVS toxicity occurs with theophylline and methylxanthines which are potent bronchodilators. (Tripathi K.D 2001) On the other hand in Ayurveda, proper implementation of the ancient approach is advantageous.

In Ayurvedic classics various herbal drugs either single or compound are prescribed for the management of Tamak Shwasa mainly due to their kapha vata doshaghnata and shwasa kasa hara properties. (Sharma R K, 2009). The plants having similar properties are included among those drugs acting on pranavaha srotas. The goal of the therapy is not only to treat the condition but also to enhance the immune system of the child against Tamak Shwasa (Childhood bronchial asthma). Many Ayurvedic plants have been described to be useful in the treatment of various bronchial disorders including bronchial asthma (Kumar Suresh, 1979). The use of medicinal plants and natural products increased dramatically in the last two decades in all over the world. More than 400 medicinal plant species have been used ethano-pharmacologically and traditionally to treat the symptoms of asthmatic and allergic disorders worldwide.

MATERIALS

In present paper there is an attempt by author to explore the Ayurvedic plants which show inhibitory effect on bronchospasm and are in use as anti-asthmatic agents. Therefore the material for review was collected from the articles published and indexed in Google scholar by using the key words bronchial asthma, ayurveda, antiasthmatic, bronchodilator, mast cell stabilizers, antiallergic, immunomodulatory and anti inflammatory etc from 1973 to till date.

DISCUSSION

Herbal drugs mentioned in these selected studies are compiled here in the form of table (Table 1) with their effect as:

Herbal approaches have regained their popularity, with their efficacy and safety aspects being supported by controlled clinical studies. The herbal approaches have offered effective mast cell stabilizers like sodium cromoglycate developed from khellin. Ongoing research worldwide has provided valuable clues regarding the precise mechanism of action of these herbal alternatives and these herbs, have shown interesting results in various target specific biological activities such as bronchodilation, mast cell stabilization, antiinflammatory, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory and inhibition of mediators in the treatment of asthma.

CONCLUSION

All the Ayurveda Herbs discussed in this review have exhibited significant clinical & pharmacological activity. Some herbal alternatives employed in these traditions are proven to provide symptomatic relief and assist in the inhibition of disease development as well. In a nut shell author attempt to provide herbs which can be used single or polyherbal formulations on the basis of drug action at particular sites of patho-physiological cascade of asthma not only treating but also provide prophylaxis however more subsequent clinical studies are required to established it.

Sidebar

Cite this article:

Singhal Harish Kumar, Neetu (2013), A REVIEW ON ANTI ASTHMATIC ACTIVITY OF AYURVEDIC HERBS, Global J Res. Med. Plants & Indigen. Med., Volume 2(11): 785-793

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