Eraippu erumal (Bronchial Asthma)

ERAIPPU ERUMAL (BRONCHIAL ASTHMA)

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways.  Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood. 

Common signs and symptoms of asthma include:

·         Coughing often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.

·         Wheezing, a whistling or squeaky sound that occurs during breathing.

·         Chest tightness, the feeling of something squeezing or sitting on chest.

·         Shortness of breath.

SIDDHA CONCEPT

Asthma is mentioned as “Eraippu Noi” in siddha literature, which is classified in to five types depending on the deranged humour (kuttram) and clinical features present.

1.       Vazhi eraippu noi:  Because of increased state of vatham humour due to intake of indigestible food, tubers etc, mild discomfort in breathing occur. This is a less severe form of the disease and easily curable.

2.       Iya eraippu noi: This occurs due to increased state of kabam humour due to intake of kabam accumulating food and exposure to rain and cold wind. Common symptoms are nasal block, runny nose followed by chest tightness, inability to lie down on the bed etc.

3.       Iyavazhi eraippu noi: In this type both vatham and Iyam humours are affected and it produces symptoms like shortness of breath, constipation, bloating, mental distress, disorientation, unconsciousness etc.

4.       Mukkuttra eraippu noi: All three humours are affected and cause depletion of all the 7 udal thathukkal, chest tightness and pain, frequent loss of consciousness, constipation and urinary retention etc.

5.       Mel nokku eraippu noi: This type is the most severe form and usually does not respond to any common methods of treatment, causing symptoms like severe dyspnoea, inability to speak and loss of consciousness. Unless immediate medical attention is given, this can cause even death. 

CAUSE AND PATHOLOGY

According to siddha system of medicine, cause of any disease is attributed to the derangement of humours. Likewise, in the case of asthma, the disease is attributed to the derangement of kabam humour. Some of the factors that cause increase of kabam humour are exposure to cold wind and allergens, staying/living in high altitudes like hilly places and walking in the dew. The amplified kabam humour alone or otherwise associated with other deranged humours, either vatham or pitham, affects the throat, nose, respiratory airways and lungs. Due to the increased kabam, mucus secretion is increased, causing mild fever and other symptoms. The following lines in sadaga nadi prove this,

 தானமுள்ள சேத்துமநதானிளகிய................................ சுவாசம்

பாங்கான வாதத்தில் சேத்தும நாடி பரிசித்தால்........................... சுவாசகாசம்

In this disease one of the constituents of vazhi (vatham) namely uthanan is also increased from its normal state (uthanan occupies the chest, neck and nasal regions of the body). So usually derangement of vazhi (vatham humour) is also associated with the deranged kabam humour.

MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION

The deranged humour, primarily kabam and then vatham is normalized by giving emetic or purgative. Usually in clinical practice, one of the juice of adathodai (Justicia beddomei) or thulasi (Ocimum sanctum) or uthamani (Pergularia daemia) leaves is given in more than normal dosage, to induce vomiting and remove the mucus that is present in excess quantity.

Then suitable medicines are prescribed to reduce the symptoms as well as to cure the disease. In siddha literature, various herbal drugs either single or compound and herbo-mineral drugs are mentioned for the management of bronchial asthma.

Some herbs which are used to treat bronchial asthma are given below

                 COMMONLY USED ANTI-ASTHMATIC HERBS IN SIDDHA MEDICINE

In addition to this, there are many more poly herbal, mineral and animal source medicines which are used in the treatment of this disease.

1.       Pavazha parpam, Muthu parpam, Velli parpam, Muthuchippi parpam, Thalaga karuppu, Chembu parpam are some of the formulations of mineral origin prescribed for this disease.

2.       Swasakudori mathitai, Magavasantha kusumaagaram mathirai, Poorna chandrothaya mathirai, sambraanipoo mathirai are some medicines in tablet form used to treat this disease.

     All the above medicines should be given in appropriate medium (anupanam), in one of the juices of tulasi (Ocimum sanctum), kandankathiri (Solanum xanthocarpum), adathodai (Justicia adhatoda), kanchankorai (Ocimum album), karisalai (Eclipta prostrate), ponnankani (Alternanthera sessilis), uthamani (Pergularia daemia), thumbai poo (flower of Leuces aspera), Impooral (Oldenlandia unbellata) and manathakkali (Solanum nigrum).

3.       For childhood asthma which is called as sooli kanam in a siddha text called Balavagadam, Amirthasanjeeevi kuligai, a polyherbal formulation is found to be effective.

4.       Adhathodai chooranam is specially indicated for Bronchial Asthma which comprises  ingredients such as athimathuram (Alpinia galanga Wild), arathai (Alpinia officinarum Hance), adathodai (Justicia adhatoda Linn), kanchori (Tragia involucrata Linn), thippili(Piper longum Linn), shambirani(Styrax benzoin Dryand), manjal (Curcuma longa Linn), kottam (Costus speciosus), vaivilangam (Embelia ribes Burm.f), kanduparangi (Clerodendrum serratum), korai(Cyperus rotundus Linn), kalathi(Ficus tsiela Roxb), velakkai (Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz), thuthuvalai (Solanum trilobatum Linn), kandangattari (Solanum surattence Burm.f), milagu (Piper nigrum Linn).

5.       Linga mathirai, a mineral preparation is also effective in this disease. Scientific studies done on guinea pigs also reveal that, Linga mathirai significantly protected the Guinea pigs against histamine-induced bronchospasm.

6.       Experimental study also reveals that another drug Maha punnai ver kuligai; a herbo-mineral preparation has potent broncho dilator property with significant mast cell stabilizing activity in experimental animals.

7.       Clinical trials of another herbo-mineral formulation named Thuthuvalayathy chooranam demonstrate the efficacy of the drug in treating this disease.

SOME SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES:

1. Decoction of arisi thipilli (Piper Longum) and pulp of vilampazham (wood-apple –Limonia acidissima) reduces the difficulty in breathing.
2. A cup of venthayam (fenugreek) decoction with a spoonful of honey and fresh ginger juice acts as an excellent expectorant.
3. Turmeric gives good result when its powder is added with a cup of milk daily.
4. Decoction of leaves of puthina (Mentha arvensis) and thulasi (Ocimum sanctum), one or two times a day would be helpful.
5. Juice of thulasi (Ocimum sanctum) leaves can be consumed with honey.
6. Eating Thoothuvalai powder (Solanum trilobatum) with honey regularly may prevent the onset of the disease.

External application of karpoorathy oil in chest and back helps to relieve the phlegm accumulated in the chest and aids breathing freely.

Pranayamam, the breathing excercise mentioned in kayakarpam is highly recommended for strengthening the respiratory system, reducing the stress of day to day life and prevention of the disease.

Note: Consultation of a qualified siddha medical practitioner is mandatory for optimal results.

References:

http://www.thesiddha.com/top-10-best-herbal-remedies-for-asthma/

http://siddham.in/bronchial-asthma-siddha-medicine-treatment

1) Vetha merlin kumari H, Adhathodai chooranam: siddha medicine indicated for iya eraippu noi (bronchial asthma) – a review, World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, volume 4, issue 3, 802-848

2) D. P. Sangeetha, Anti-histamine activity of Amirtha sanjeevi kuligai (pill) Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2014; 2(5): 22-26.

3) P.Parthiban, K.Samraj, K.Kanakavalli, V.Aruna, M.Aaliya Parveen, P.Govindammal, A Review on Anti – Asthmatic Herbs in Siddha Medicine, Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 26(1), May – Jun 2014; Article No. 49, Pages: 291-295

4) P. Parthiban, K. Kanagavalli, P. Sathiya Rajeswaran, J. Anbu, N. T. Parthiban, Evaluation of Anti-Histaminic and Bronchodilator Activity of Linga Mathirai (Formal Siddha Drug), International Journal of Pharma Research & Review, May 2013; 2(5):8-12

5) Vasantha Kumar P, Pitchiah Kumar, Velpandian, Banumathi, Bronchodilator and mast cell stabilizer effect of siddha herbo mineral formulation maha punnai ver kuligai, International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Nano Sciences. 3(5), 2014, 438 - 443.

6) Banu.G, Nalini Sofia, Vetha Merlin Kumari, Manickavasakam, Pre clinical and clinical study on swasakasam (bronchial asthma) and the drug of choice is Thuthuvalayathy chooranam, IJPBS |Volume 4| Issue 2|APR-JUN|2014|102-108.

7) Kuppusamy Mudaliar K.N, Eraipu noi, Siddha Maruthuvam, Tamil Nadu Siddha Maruthuva variyam, 1987:226-232.

8) K.S. Murugesa Mudaliar, Siddha Materia Medica, Directorate of Indian Medicine & Homeopathy, Chennai-106, 2013.