All World
Gayatri Pariwar

In this article of the series on yoga therapy of respiratory system diseases, a detailed description of bronchitis and eosinophilia is being given. Bronchitis is a disease due to infection and swelling in the main respiratory tract and its branches. This disease is found to occur in both forms: (i) that lasts for a short while whose attack is sudden, or (ii) that is chronic and lasts for a long time. Normally, this disease originates from common cold and flu, and later attacks and infects the lower respiratory tract also. Eosinophils are a kind of white blood cells. A sudden increase in their count as an allergic reaction primarily affects the lungs causing eosinophilia.

Causes of Bronchitis

There are many causes of bronchitis. The most prominent are – cold weather conditions, moist environment, mist, smoke in the atmosphere, and smoking cigarettes. The most common cause of outbreak of bronchitis is moist environment. It also grows when cold air is breathed through mouth for a long time. When breathing is done through mouth, sufficient fresh air does not reach the lungs and so they cannot function properly. This leads to reduced immunity locally. Bronchitis begins also due to exposure to outside air when seasons are changing, or to cold air on wet body, or due to common cold. Many a time, the short term (acute) infection subsides with treatment, but the infection continues to linger inside the body in a subdued form for a long period. Such a disease is called a chronic disease. If the infection of common cold is neglected and not treated for a long time, it can descend down to bronchi and lungs and infect them causing serious ailments like bronchitis, pneumonia etc.

Symptoms of bronchitis

The most prominent symptom is dry coughing and pain in the upper part of the chest. Gradually, as the infection spreads to other respiratory tubes, the chest begins to feel constrained and stiff. Some trembling is felt while breathing and breathlessness develops. Similar kinds of symptoms are also seen sometimes in eosinophilia. This disease is also called wheezy bronchitis. If an old chronic bronchitis or emphysema is already present and on top of that acute bronchitis happens as a complication, then difficulty in breathing and breathlessness can both reach to alarming levels.

In the beginning of bronchitis phlegm is created in small quantities and it does not come out easily. Sometimes, a few drops of blood may also come out with phlegm. After a day or two the phlegm becomes thick and viscous. As the disease descends to lower respiratory track, patient begins to complain of fever. Most of the times, the disease gets cured in four to eight days. If that does not happen the disease becomes serious and the symptoms of breathlessness or shortness of breath become worse. Intensity of fever increases further. Immunity gets so low that the disease reaches lungs. This state of disease is called pneumonia. Such patients have to depend upon antibiotics.

Eosinophilia

The symptoms of this disease of respiratory system are very similar to those of bronchitis and asthma.

Causes of eosinophilia

The main cause of eosinophilia is allergy due to which, as a reaction, the count of eosinophils increases in blood. This allergy occurs due to entry of several foreign proteins and medicinal drugs within the body. In equatorial regions this disease is found to occur as an allergic reaction to germs of filaria or other germs causing stomach infections.  This disease is common in industrial areas and prevalent air pollution is its main cause. In eosinophilia symptoms of common cold and cough show up at regular intervals or stay on continuously. Bronchitis usually affects children and older people but among smokers it affects people of all ages.

Modern (Allopathic) treatment

Patients of eosinophilia who are also suspected to be carrying infection of filaria are prescribed Diethylcarbamazine. If taken for a long time, this drug tends to lose its effectiveness. Similarly, antibiotics are prescribed for bronchitis, but these also tend to lose  effectiveness after sometime. Modern medical practices are not very successful in curing these diseases. To find a lasting cure, yogic treatment can be adopted.

Yoga therapy of bronchitis and eosinophilia

Yoga therapy can provide a long-term and lasting cure for these ailments. This therapy must be started under guidance and advice of knowledgeable and skilled yoga practitioners.
Asan – At first begin with pavan muktasan group of asans. Weak and older people must restrict to this group of asans and makarasan only. Other people can choose from the following asans for themselves: group of shaktibandh asans, Surya Namaskar, Vajrasan, Shashankasan, Shashank-bhujangasan, Bhujangasan, Ushtrasan, Marjariasan, Supt-vajrasan, Pad-hastasan, Dhanurasan, Kandharasan, Charkrasan, Paschimottanasan, Ardh-matsyendrasan, Padmasan, Sarvangasan, Halasan, Matsyasan and Simhasan. They are all very effective. Also the asans that are done standing up and bending down like Trikonasan, Hasta-utthanasan, Dvi konasan, Lolasan etc. All these asans strengthen the chest. The procedures to perform these asans have been provided earlier in this series and so are not being repeated here.

Pranayam – Though all kinds of Pranayams are beneficial for the muscles of respiratory system, but specifically a regular practice of Ujjayi, Kapalbhati, Bhastrika and Nadi-shodhan (upto third stage) can not only cure this disease but also completely rejuvenate the body.

Mudra-bandh – Practice of Yog-mudra, Pranmudra and Mahabandh are beneficial.
Shithilikaran – Yog-nidra not only provides deep relaxation but also helps in the development of human consciousness. A continuous practice of Yog-nidra for a long time helps a patient to successfully refine his mind. Since coughing becomes a habit and a part of the personality due to bronchitis, in the beginning coughing intensifies but gradually it reduces.

Dhyan – Practice Ajapa-jap along with Khechari mudra and Ujjayi Pranayam. In this practice attention of mind is moved between the navel and the throat in a cyclical manner. This is a highly effective practice for all diseases related to the respiratory system because it helps open up the flow of Pran in the blocked channels of the respiratory path. It helps in gradually identifying chronic coughing and then getting rid of it. Also it helps in strengthening muscles used for breathing.

Upvas – Fasting helps in melting and curing lingering diseases. If complete fasting is not possible then at least the evening dinner should be completely stopped. Through fasting excess liquid fats deposited in the adipocytes (fat cells) of the body dissolve and the body begins to feel light.

Food intake – In the early stages taking only juices of fruits or vegetables are the most beneficial. Later, soup of barley or rice porridge (khichdi) with soups of vegetables can be taken. Avoid consuming any chilled drinks or foods. Lightly boiled or raw vegetables can be consumed in ample quantities. Drinking warm milk mixed with small amount of ginger juice or turmeric helps in conveniently throwing out the phlegm. Turmeric acts like an anti-biotic. This drink can be taken before going to bed or as a substitute for food.

Some other necessary suggestions:

1.    Do not stay at places where air circulation is not sufficient, like in hot or suffocating rooms.
2.    Keep throat and chest warm by wrapping up but ensure circulation of fresh air (specially while sleeping). Avoid sitting in cold places.
3.    Do not take bath with cold water. In case of attack of bronchitis, take bath with steaming hot water.
4.    Do not try to unnecessarily suppress coughing. To take out phlegm by coughing, it helps to inhale steam and applying warm pack on the chest and back. At the end of applying warm water pack, also apply cold water pack.
5.    Stop cigarette smoking immediately. It is a poison and if smoking is not stopped none of these other treatments would yield any benefit.
6.    Walk around or stroll daily. Keep inhaling deep breaths periodically throughout the day.
7.    Do steam inhalations before sleep. Take warm water, add a spoonful of mustard oil and wash your feet by dipping them in the water.
8.    If a person has a lot of difficulty in breathing then intensely massage the hands and the feet towards the direction of heart.

In this manner, following a proper regimen, adopting moderation, completely abstaining from smoking and intoxication and following yogic practices under an expert guidance, can definitely help in curing oneself from bronchitis and eosinophilia. The next article will focus on asthma.