ALLERGIES AND AYURVEDA

Ayurveda has pronounced definition of health as not the absence of disease but strong physique, healthy mind and kind heart. The person who leads a life useful to him and to society is a real healthy person. Ayurveda has such a broad compass about concept of health. It is the outcome of the great Indian tradition which stresses on ‘sarve santu niraamayaha/’ (let all be healthy.) In spite of phenomenal progress in modern medical science and other life sciences in the fields of investigations such as biochemistry, radiology; in the fields of therapeutics such as antibiotics, chemotherapies; techniques such as endoscopies; there is a growing demand for the wisdom of Ayurveda, and the services of ayurvedic doctors all over the world. The reason lies in the unique features of Ayurveda. In this article we will study the effect of ayurvedic medicines and ayurvedic way of life in treating Allergits. Many a times, the person suffering from allergy is left with no choice than to continuously take the anti histamincs or mast cell stabilisers. And Ayurveda can help in a better way. Allergies occur when a hypersensitive immune system reacts to a common or unusual substance.it is the over reaction of the tissues to the external stimuli.. By overreaction I mean that if a person gets a sneeze or two by exposure to dust, that's normal; but when he gets ten- fifteen sneezes, it s allergy. In some people it is hereditary, but one can also develop an allergy at any time in his or her life. Any substance, whatever its origin, is a possible allergen. Foods, chemicals in foods, medicines, and environmental factors, including pollen, parasites, dust, animal hair, and chemical toxins, for example, can all cause allergic reactions almost anywhere in the body. Ayurveda sees Dhatugata Ama and low immunity as the primary causes of most allergies. Ama can settle at the digestive level or in the various tissues, with different symptoms at each level. Seasonal allergies Most of us are familiar with the symptoms of seasonal allergies ; runny nose, sneezing, itching eyes, scratchy throat, and itching, swelling, or hives on the skin. Often, people seem to have a cold. With more severe reactions, one might suffer from asthma and other breathing difficulties, aches and pain, gastrointestinal reactions (for example, diarrhea), or rapid or irregular heartbeat. Seasonal allergies can occur anytime, but they occur most often during spring and early summer, when plants and trees are flowering and producing pollens, the most common allergens. Seasonal allergies are also fairly common in the month of October. Many people are allergic to the molds produced by decaying leaves and other plants. Animal feathers, hairs and dust cause similar symptoms. We , at Goa Ayurveda Hospital , have developed unique antiallergic therapeutic model by using ayurveda principles, herbal drugs and panchakarma therapies and yoga. The duration varies from three to six months. But the patients are benefitted in a much better way because of unique features of ayurveda . Some of the basic features which we have taken care of while designing the Anti Allergic Treatment are as follows :- 1)Treatment of the patient and not of the disease alone- In addition to the clinical features of disease, there are a lot more to be seen by an Ayurveda physician. It starts with the constitution of the patient (prakruti). Prakruti is nothing but the tendency of the physical and mental reactions by the person to external stimulus. It changes from person to person. For example, in the October heat, only few and not all of us are prone to mouth ulcers. Next comes the mental attitude. The severity of the symptoms as described by the patient are often the result of his perception about self and the disease. Similarly to choose the treatment modality we need to assess the satwa of patient. For example, in some cases of skin diseases, the patient has to take medicines for quite a long time and a heena satwa person (weak mental attitude) will need a lot of encouragement by doctor to keep him on track. Otherwise, in despair, he may divert from his course. Next comes inline the patient’s habits. Whether these habits are wholesome and according to the place where the patient stays or the season or the age of the patient. For example the curds may be wholesome to one where as the other might suffer from its ingestion. Sleeping in afternoon may be without any problem for one and may cause sinusitis in other. We also need to examine the quality of tissues in the body. It is called as saara pariksha. The medicine for a person of weak muscle tissues as evident by less bulk of mass will differ from the person with bulky muscles, even if he is suffering from some digestive problem. Along with these are the measurements of the body and tissue elements (pramaana pariksha), age (vayas), and diet of the patient (aahaara), the digestive capacity (anala). All these examinations are required for the correct diagnosis of the patient and the disease. So the examination consists of two phases. Examination of disease and diseased. Thus, two patients having same disease may receive two different treatments. The treatment is individualized and that’s why many a times very difficult to standardize. 2) Promotion of immunity. When microbes are more powerful than the body cells, they attack and cause disease. Antibiotics are powerful than the microbes and can cause death of the microbes. But unfortunately, they destroy body cells also. They cause further disharmony in the cells of the body and some other disease comes up.ayurveda believes in strengthening of the immunity. This immunity is described of two types. First one is the strength to fight against the disease. (Vyadhi-bala-virodhitwa) And the other one is the strength to prevent the starting or fabrication of the disease. (Vyadhi-utpada-pratibandhatwa). Both of these are called as vyadhi kshamatwa. When this immunity is built not only the present disease is eradicated, but recurrence also is prevented. Thus ayurvedic medicine s do have certain side benefits and not the toxic side effects. General Treatment:- Home remedies- by putting two drops of pure ghee in each nostril toe times a day,by using basil leaves, dry ginger and cloves every day, By using milk boiled with turmeric everyday, it helps to reduce the symptoms. :-Diet:- Avoid heavy foods, cold drinks, and dairy products (including cheese and yogurt), that increase Kapha and decrease digestive fire. Also, follow diets that rebalance your own pattern of doshic imbalance. * Inhale medicated vapor made with water, basil leaves (holy basil, if possible), and eucalyptus oil. * To ease Kapha aggravation, take 2 tablets of guduchi, three times daily with a tea made from basil, cloves, and camphor for 2 weeks. Yoga and Breath Therapy:- It is common for hay fever to start with symptoms that are similar to colds and sinus problems. To prevent symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing and congestion, practice nasal cleansing with water (jala neti) regularly to purify the entire upper respiratory tract and prevent recurrence of allergic attacks. Use a special pot with a spout - a neti pot - available for this purpose, and make nasal cleansing a regular part of your daily hygiene. Deep breathing or regular practice of [anuloma viloma pranayama] can also prevent attack. When seasonal allergies are chronic, practice (Kapalabhati) regularly to increase the patient's stamina. We discussed a lot about the allergies of respiratory tract in this article. In the Sam fashion , the allergies of skin, eyes and other body tissues are treated by Ayurvedic way of life specially developed at Goa Ayurvedic Hospital.