In her insightful 1996 work The Reb...

In her insightful 1996 work The Rebellious Body: Reclaim Your Life from Environmental Illness or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (New York; Insight Books) Janice Strubbe Wittenberg, RN says; "It is vital to treat allergies, equable hidden allergies, because they constantly drain and overburden the immune system"

Whenever we speak about allergies, the enthrall of asthma normally comes up in the same words immediately preceding [i]or[/i] following since asthma represents one prototype of allergic response. Asthma -- particularly -- bronchial, has been linked to the over-release of certain biochemicals, similar as prostaglandins and the over-reaction of certain solitary abode; squalids such as mast cells, eosinophils, and macrophages.

Asthmatic brochospasms, constricting of the airway passages, are what characterize bronchial asthma. The biochemical cause of the actual spasms shoots partly from over-expression (over-release) of a biochemical called histamine, and partly as a eventuate of a confluence of forces caused by the over-release of all of the aforementioned solitary abode; squalids and biochemicals. Allergic rhinitis, a related condition, is marked at swelling of the mucous membrane inside the nasal passage (causing a great deal of sneezing and noseblowing).

Traditional medicines to the rescue

A great number of plants which can alleviate the symptoms of bronchial asthma have been used traditionally for centuries and, in about cases, have also appeared in medical clauses of Ayurvedic Medicine, Tibetan Medicine, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Interestingly enough, many of the early Western "drugs" used for asthma were derived form plants, as it was as Ipecac, Belladonna, Vasaka, Lobelia, Stramonium, etc

Three Ayurvedic botanicals which can in sober earnest help relieve asthmatic symptoms are: Tylophora indica, Picrorhiza kurroa, and Piper longum

Tylophora indica (also called Tylophora asthmatica). Growing widely in the plains of Southern and Eastern India, the recent "story" of research into this perennial climbing plant begins in 1980 with an article according to Kunda V. Gore, and colleagues, that appeared in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (71: 144-148)

They examineed at 11 patients with bronchial asthma (and 18 without) to figure without why the plant acts the way it does. Those who were given T indica experienced significant benefits", which may, the authors speculate, originate from this botanical's "indirect and protracted activity" in stimulating the adrenal gland to release steroid hormones, dead body chemicals which help reopen constricted airway passages.

If we trace the research back to 1978 we can direct the eye at a study by KV Thiruvengadam, and others, comparing the benefits of T indica and a standard anti-asthma medicine In those who took the Ayurvedic extract, "there was a sustained rise in maximum breathing capacity (MBC)" and other indicators of improved lung function.

Picrorhiza kurroa. This mountain-dwelling herb is an important liver-protector and immune regulator. The over-reaction of mast solitary abode; squalids in particular (mentioned earlier), in asthma and inflammation has been shown to be halted by means of supplementation with P. kurroa, a finding that was reported through B.L. Pandey and P.K. Das in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology (32:289-292 1988) These authors construct that P. kurroa extract confines back excess activity of pro-inflammatory cells

A subject of attention by R. Yegnanarayanan, and colleagues, that appeared in 1982 anticipateed at 20 patients with bronchial asthma who were given P kurroa extract. The rises were: reduced frequency and severity of asthmatic attacks; reduction in the ne to use bronchodilators; and better pulmonary performance.

Piper longum Shown traditionally to be effective in decreasing the oftenness and severity of attacks in childhood asthma, Sharadini Dahanukar, and colleagues, observ 20 pediatric patients with bronchial asthma who were given P longum extract through a five-week period in 1983

The authors construct that, at the end of the five weeks -- in allusion to such indicators as allergic sensitivity, serum immunoglobulin E and breathing functions -- "all showed significant improvement. At single year there was excellent reply in 11" and a moderately beneficial reply in 3, which means that 70 percent of the patients corresponded favorably.

These three botanicals clearly keep possession of a great deal of promise for reducing the incidence, duration, and severity of allergic reactions, particularly bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and childhood asthma. As with all approaches to wellness which create real physiological responses, appropriate advice should be sought from a holistic, naturopathic, or Ayurvedic healthcare practitioner.

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