Traditional Home Remedies for Asthma!

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that inflames and narrows the airways leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. The common triggers such as house dust mites, tobacco smoke, animal fur, pollen, cold air and chest infections can cause asthma. Heredity and environment are said to be the major reasons for asthma. 

Let’s learn about some of the time-tested home remedies for treating asthma naturally:

• Boil 2 clove buds and 4-5 black pepper & a few basil leaves. Filter & add add honey to taste. Administer the formulation to the patient twice daily.
• Prepare a paste of 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder & black pepper in clarified butter (ghee). Massage it over the chest to get relief from congestion due to asthma.
• Prepare a decoction by boiling a tbsp of fenugreek seeds in a cup of water. Add a tsp of ginger juice and take it twice daily with honey. 
• Boil about a handful of drumstick leaves in 200 ml of water. When cool, add to it salt, black pepper and lemon juice to taste. Asthmatic patient should take this preparation once daily.
• A teaspoonful of basil leaves juice taken with equal amounts of bitter gourd juice, taken for a month before going to bed is also said to relieve asthma and bronchitis.
• Take about 5 ml of betel leaves juice. Mix it in a paste prepared from mint, basil and ginger. To it, add 2–3 powdered black pepper & administer ½ tsp with honey twice daily.
• To cure bronchial asthma, burn asafetida  and inhale the smoke coming out of it for some time.
• Prepare a mixture of powdered long pepper, ginger and black pepper. Take a tsp with warm water, twice daily to treat spasms due to asthma.
• Mix 5 ml of ginger & mint leaves juice and have it with honey twice daily to get relief from phlegm due to asthma.
• Boil about two cloves of garlic in a glass of milk and drink it hot once in a day.
• Mix about ½ tsp of cinnamon powder with a tsp of honey. Take it before going to bed.
• Boil about a tsp of carom seeds in water and inhale its fumes to relieve chest congestion. It is an effective remedy for those suffering from asthma.

The diet of an asthma patient should comprise fresh green vegetables, fruits, sprouts and grains. Include in your diet foods rich in vitamin A (as in spinach, apricots, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries), vitamin C (citrus fruits, kiwi fruits,grapes, tomato, pineapple, watermelon, cauliflower, cabbage and spinach), and vitamin E (turnip, mustard, sunflower seeds). Consumption of these vitamins helps lower the risk of asthma attacks. 

The patient should avoid all mucus-forming foods such as rice, lentils, bread, refined white flour, cakes, chocolates, milk & other dairy products. Food items that are known to produce an allergic reaction should be strictly avoided. Intake of excess salt, tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, and all refined and processed foods should be controlled. Smoking and tobacco consumption should be avoided. Drink plenty of water everyday.

Any form of mild exercise such as brisk walking and yogic breathing exercises is helpful in treating the ailment. With proper lifestyle and healthy diet, it is possible for people with asthma to lead normal and happy life!