What is Ayurveda?

COPD Treatment in Ayurveda

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a type of lung disease which can be characterized by long term of poor airflow. It is the appearance of pathological changes in the lungs. It keeps on Progressing with the passage of time and gets worse with time. Damage to the lungs becomes permanent and it cannot be undone. We can only take measure to prevent the further damage to the lungs.

COPD is a mixture of two diseases

1. Chronic bronchitis: In chronic bronchitis, the airways of the lungs get inflamed/swollen and make a lot of mucus. This causes cough. Chronic bronchitis damage the tissues of the airways of the lungs. Due to which the passage become narrow or sometimes get blocked and it become difficult to breathe.
2. Emphysema: Our air sacs are very tiny and resemble balloons. As we breathe the air in and out, the air sacs inflate and contract just like balloon. In case of emphysema, these balloon like sac get damage and due to this less air is inhaled and exhaled, which leads to short of breath

The main symptoms are:

• A long-term constant cough.
• Presence of mucus in the cough.
• Shortness of breath while exercising or any physical exertion.
• Feeling of tightness in the chest, but it is not very common symptom and it can occur due to some other problem.
• Advanced case of COPD can lead to high pressure on the arteries which are present in the lungs, which can damage the right ventricle of the heart. This condition is known as core pulmonale, and directs to swelling in the leg and bulging neck veins.

Sometimes the symptoms may unexpectedly become worse and this situation is called COPD exacerbation. It leads to shortness of breath, increased cough and sputum, a change in the color of the sputum (it can become yellow or green in color). An exacerbation can become life-threatening.

Cause of COPD

• Smoking: The main reason behind COPD is smoking. People who have a history of smoking have more chances of getting COPD. But not all who smoke gets COPD.
• Air pollution: Air pollution is also one of the reason of getting COPD, poorly ventilated cooking areas in which use of charcoal and biomass fuel is used leads to air pollution. People who are living in the cities have more chance to get COPD than who are living in smaller towns due to pollution of vehicles and industrial pollution.
• Occupation: Prolonged exposure to chemicals, dust in the work place can leads to COPD both in smokers and non smokers.
• Genetics: Ore genes can also be responsible for the development of COPD. The inherited risk factor is alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (AAT). This risk becomes high if someone who is deficient in alpha 1-antitrypsin also smokes.

Preterm birth can also lead to lung damage (neonatal chronic lung disease).

Diagnosis of COPD

Giving correct and exact information to the health provider can help in diagnose of the problem.

Below are the test which the health provider is suggest based on the information:-

• Pulmonary function tests (PFTs): Pulmonary function tests can detect the problem even before the appearance of the symptoms. These tests include a spirometry test and lung volume test.
• Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray may be suggested to check the damage in the lungs and to rule out other problems.
• Pulse oximetry: The amount of oxygen in the blood is measured with the help of a small device that is attached to the fingertip.
• Sputum examination: A sample of sputum is taken to check the disease. If the bacteria is found in the sputum than COPD is confirmed. If blood is found in the sputum, it indicates that the lungs are damaged.
• Blood tests: Arterial blood gases (ABGs) check how efficiently the lungs are transferring the oxygen to the bloodstream and how well they can remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream. It also check the presence of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt) gene in the individual.
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan is also suggested.

Herbal treatment for COPD

First of all, if a person suffering from COPD smokes, he should quit smoking.

Herbal treatment involves use of ayurvedic medicines to treat the individual and to reduce the damage of the tissues in the lungs. Treatment should be started timely, so that we can reduce/stop the effect of CODP on lungs. The medicines can widen the breathing tubes/ airways and can reduce the swelling or treat the infection caused due to the disease.

Quantity

1. Vasaka Capsules – 2 cap twice daily with water after meal.
2. Praanrakshak Churna – 1 tsp twice daily with water after meal.
3. Curcumin Capsules – 2 cap twice daily with water after meal.
4. Tulsi Capsules – 1 cap twice daily with water after meal.
5. Kaas-Har Churna – 1 tsp twice daily with water after meal.