Asthma

In various Ayurvedic medicines, and essentially used herb is Pippali. For Pippali's medicinal purposes, the roots and fruits of Pippali are used. Fruits of this plant are pungent in taste and are slightly yellow to orange in color.   For managing cough and cold, Pippali is an effective home remedy. Pippali aids in releasing mucus from the air passages due to its expectorant property, which can be consumed after lunch and dinner, and you can Swallow Pippali powder along with honey. To breathe easily, patients are allowed to use pippali powder. Pippali improves the body's metabolism; thus, pippali herb consumption might also assist in boosting weight loss. Due to Pippali's laxative property consuming Pippali powder might help treat constipation by promoting bowel movements.   In managing toothache, pippali might also be useful. Due to its Kapha balancing nature, rubbing a paste of Pippali powder along with honey on the gums and teeth decreases pain and inflammation in the teeth. Due to its hot potency, the use of pippali might cause heartburn and acidity in some cases. If you have stomach ulcers, then it is generally advisable to consult your doctor before consuming Pippali.   In the world of Ayurvedic medicine, pippali is a very diverse essential herb. The herb pippali refers to drinking and digestion, revealing one of its chief advantages is boosting the burning toxins and digestion. Pippali is a commonly used herb or a culinary spice to manage a wide range of ailments such as coughs, reproductive issues, colds, mental imbalances, and congestion to digestive issues.   At any time of the year, pippali can be a fine herbal option. Pippali is an exceptionally incredible herb to take during the spring season due to its powerful lung rejuvenation characteristics. For irritating allergies, congestion, colds, and cough in springtime, pippali plays an important role that can treat your diseases. Kapha imbalances such as the ones just mentioned will flourish, and Ayurveda states that the spring season is the main time of the year for Kapha dosha. To ward away the common issues that this season brings, adding Pippali to your springtime seasonal routine will be an enormous addition.   Pippali is suitable for all body types and is known as a tridoshic herb. Pippali can be taken in moderation for Pitta due to its cooling, post-digestive effect, i.e. vipak, unlike its close relative black pepper, i.e., maricha. When heat is increased in the body, then also pippali can be a safe and useful option for most digestive disorders. Although Kapha types can typically get away with taking a bit more, please note that this is a very effective herb and should only be used in small dosages.   What are the common names of Pippali? Modi, Argadi, Granthika, Granthikam, Kagophale, Kanamula Piper longum, Long Pepper, Pipal, Pipli, Lendi Peepar, Dantakapha, Gonamika, Pipoli, Pimpli, Piplee, Videhee.   What is the basis of Pippali? Plant-Based   Health Benefits of Pippali ● Purifies the blood  ● Boosts digestion ● Decreases gas and bloating ● Detoxifies the body ● Manages cough, asthma, and hiccups ● Repairs respiratory infections and disorders ● Decreases fever ● Beautifies the skin tone ● Decreases hemorrhoids ● Repairs liver, gallbladder, and spleen issues ● Decreases Nervous System disorders like anxiety, fear, worry, etc. ● Boosts the memory and intellect  ● Boosts circulation ● Boosts sperm mobility   HOW TO CONSUME PIPPALI Pippali has a wide range of methods for consuming this herb and, consequently, a wide range of health benefits. In the daily regimen, consuming pippali is beneficial, and it should be used with black pepper and added to any salty dish. To include Pippali into your routine, here are some simple home remedies on how to consume pippali and dosage for intake:    1. For treating allergies, coughs, colds, congestion: Consume 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp pippali, and Mix it all in 1/4 cup of warm water and then add 1 tsp of raw, local honey.  With warm water, wash it down. Upon awakening, consume pippali paste and again take it between 2-4 p.m.   2. For treating fever or flu:  In 1 cup of Tulsi, turmeric, ginger tea, and mix 1/4 tsp of pippali. Add 1 tsp honey and consume it 3 times daily to treat fever or flu.   3. For treating hemorrhoids:  Consume 1/2 cup of homemade yogurt with 1/4 tsp pippali and a pinch of turmeric. Consume this every day after breakfast and again after dinner.   4. For treating menstrual disorders:   Consume 2 Tbsp of organic aloe vera juice, 1/8 tsp pippali, and then mix in 1/2 cup of warm water. Before having meals consume this pippali juice 3 times daily.    5. For treating clear skin: Consume 2 Tbsp of organic aloe vera juice, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/8 tsp pippali, and then mix in 1/2 cup of warm water. Consume this juice 3 times daily with meals.    6. For treating low libido, i.e., men:  Consume 1 tsp of ghee, 1/8 tsp pippali, 1/2 tsp ashwagandha, and then Mix in 1/4 cup of warm water. Before having meals, consume it three times daily. Every day 2-3 times alternatively, one can take 1 tsp of Rasayana Ghrita.     7. For treating low libido, i.e., women:   Consume 1 tsp of ghee, 1/8 tsp pippali, 1/2 tsp Shatavari, and then mix in 1/4 cup of warm water. Before having meals, consume it 3 times daily.   BENEFITS OF PIPPALI   1. What are the benefits of Pippali for Cholera? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali has been used to manage cholera, Although sufficient scientific proof is not available in traditional medicine. According to Ayurveda, the Kapha dosha in the lungs obstructing the respiratory passage, and cholera can be treated.   2. What are the benefits of Pippali for Epilepsy? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali comprises a component that acts as a sedative and aids to manage seizures in epilepsy. According to Ayurveda, the Kapha balancing properties in pippali can treat epilepsy.   3. What are the benefits of Pippali for Asthma? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali comprises certain compounds that have anti-asthmatic characteristics. For children, pippali may help in managing bronchial asthma. Pippali aids in treating the symptoms of asthma and provides relief in case of breathlessness. As per Ayurveda, the chief doshas involved in asthma are Vata and Kapha. In the lungs obstructing respiratory passage, the vitiated Vata combines with deranged Kapha dosha, which results in difficulty in breathing. This condition is known as Swas Roga, i.e., asthma. Due to decongestant, a bronchodilator, and expectorant activities. Pippali is very useful in treating asthma. Due to its Kapha balancing property, asthma can be treated easily. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinch of Pippali powder. 2. To manage the symptoms of asthma, swallow it with honey after lunch and dinner.   4. What are the benefits of Pippali for Inflammation of the airways, i.e., bronchitis? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali has been consumed to treat chronic bronchitis though sufficient scientific proof is not available in traditional medicine.   Pippali is fine if you have a cough related diseases such as bronchitis. This disease is known as Kasroga and is caused by poor digestion as per Ayurveda. Poor diet and incomplete elimination of wastes result in Ama's formation, i.e., toxic present in the body because of improper digestion in the form of mucus in the lungs. This also results in bronchitis. Pippali has Deepan, i.e., appetizer and Pachan, i.e., digestive characteristics. It decreases Ama and expels excessive mucus from the lungs, thus providing relief from bronchitis symptoms. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinch of Pippali Powder. 2. To manage the symptoms of bronchitis, swallow it with honey after lunch and dinner.   5. What are the benefits of Pippali for Diarrhea? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali may help in treating diarrhea due to its anti-diarrhoeal characteristics though sufficient scientific proof is not available.   In Ayurveda, Diarrhea refers to Atisar. It is due to improper food, impure water, toxins, mental stress, and Agnimandya, i.e., the weak digestive fire. For aggravating Vata, all these factors are accountable. This irritated Vata produces fluid in the intestine from different tissues from the body and mixes with the stool. Due to its Vata balancing property, this leads to loose, watery motions or diarrhea. To control diarrhea, Pippali powder is very much helpful. Because of its Deepan, i.e., appetizer characteristics, it also improves the digestive fire, which aids in managing unusual motion frequency. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinch of Pippali powder. 2. To control diarrhea, swallow it with honey after lunch and dinner.   6. What are the benefits of Pippali for Cough? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali is consumed to treat cough though sufficient scientific evidence is not available in traditional medicine.   Pippali is an efficient herb in treating cough and cold. Pippali treats cough, releases mucus, clears air passages, which allows the patient to breathe liberally. Pippali has decongestant, bronchodilator, and expectorant effects due to its Kapha balancing characteristics. When it is consumed with honey, then pippali shows the best result in cough and cold. Due to its Rasayana, i.e., rejuvenating nature, pippali also provides a rejuvenating effect on the lungs Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinch of Pippali powder. 2. To control cough, swallow it with honey after lunch and dinner.   7. What are the benefits of Pippali for Fever? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali helps to cure fever as it comprises components that have antipyretic properties.  Pippali might assist in lowering the fever and its symptoms. There are various kinds of fever as per Ayurveda, depending on the dosha concerned. Usually, a fever indicates an excess accumulation of Ama because of low digestive fire. It helps to decrease Ama while consuming Pippali with honey because of its Deepan, i.e., appetizer, and Pachan, i.e., digestive characteristics; Pippali also assists in increasing immunity. Due to its Rasayana, i.e., rejuvenating characteristics, it helps fight against infection and decrease fever. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinch of Pippali powder. 2. To manage fever, swallow it with honey after lunch and dinner.   8. What are the benefits of Pippali for Flatulence, i.e., gas formation? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali helps to cure gas formation as it comprises components that have antipyretic properties. Pippali aids in treating stomach aches because of gas or flatulence. Gas or flatulence is caused because of an imbalance of Vata and Pitta dosha. Low Pitta dosha and irritated Vata dosha leads to low digestive fire, thus impairing digestion. Impaired digestion results in gas formation and causes stomach ache. Due to its Anuushna, i.e., mild hot potency consuming Pippali powder aids in correcting digestive fire. This prohibits gas formation and thus stomach aches. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinch of Pippali powder. 2. To get relief from stomach ache, swallow it with lukewarm after taking light food.   9. What are the benefits of Pippali for Indigestion? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Due to its stomachic and digestive characteristics, Pippali may help in treating indigestion. Pippali assists in treating indigestion. According to Ayurveda, indigestion refers to the state of an incomplete procedure of digestion. The chief cause for indigestion is aggravated Kapha that results in Agnimandya, i.e., the weak digestive fire. To improve Agni, i.e., digestive fire, and digest the food easily, consume Pippali powder as it is highly advised. This is because of its Deepan, i.e., appetizer and Pachan, i.e., digestive characteristics, respectively. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinch of Pippali powder. 2. To manage indigestion, swallow it with honey after lunch and dinner.   10. What are the benefits of Pippali for Menstrual pain? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali may help in treating menstrual pain though sufficient scientific evidence is not available.   Pippali assists in managing menstrual disorders such as dysmenorrhea. During or before a menstrual period, Dysmenorrhea means pain or cramps. This condition in Ayurveda is known as Kashtaartava. Aartava, or Menstruation, according to Ayurveda, is prohibited and governed by Vata dosha. So it is significant that in a woman, Vata should be under control to treat dysmenorrhea. Pippali has Vata balancing characteristics and provides relief in dysmenorrhea. During the menstrual cycle, it treats aggravated Vata and decreases abdominal pain and cramps. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinch of Pippali powder. 2. To control menstrual pain, swallow it with lukewarm water after lunch and dinner.   SIDE EFFECTS OF CONSUMING PIPPALI ● Acidity ● Heartburn ● Stomach pain   RECOMMENDED DOSAGE OF PIPPALI ● Pippali Churna - Twice a day, consume 4-8 pinch ● Pippali Capsule - Twice a day, consume 1-2 capsules. ● Pippali Tablet - Twice a day, consume 1-2 tablet.   HOW TO USE PIPPALI   1. Pippali Churna ● Consume 4-8 pinch of Pippali churna. ● After lunch and dinner, swallow it with honey or milk.   2. Pippali Capsule ● Consume 1-2 Capsule of Pippali. ● After lunch and dinner, swallow it with water.   3. Pippali Tablet ● Consume 1-2 tablets of Pippali. ● After lunch and dinner, swallow it with water.     FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS   Q. How much time does it take for Pippali seeds to germinate? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali may help in treating menstrual pain though sufficient scientific evidence is not available.   Pippali assists in managing menstrual disorders such as dysmenorrhea. During or before a menstrual period, Dysmenorrhea means pain or cramps. This condition in Ayurveda is known as Kashtaartava. Aartava, or Menstruation, according to Ayurveda, is prohibited and governed by Vata dosha. So it is significant that in a woman, Vata should be under control to treat dysmenorrhea. Pippali has Vata balancing characteristics and provides relief in dysmenorrhea. During the menstrual cycle, it treats aggravated Vata and decreases abdominal pain and cramps. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinch of Pippali powder. 2. To control menstrual pain, swallow it with lukewarm water after lunch and dinner.   Q. Is Pippali good for digestive problems? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Yes, Pippali may help in managing digestive ailments. It has a carminative that reduces flatulence/gas; stomachic, i.e., promotes digestion and laxative characteristics. Pippali may be useful in managing indigestion, flatulence/gas, and constipation due to these properties. Pippali assists in treating indigestion. According to Ayurveda, indigestion refers to the state of an incomplete procedure of digestion. The chief cause for indigestion is aggravated Kapha that results in Agnimandya, i.e., the weak digestive fire. To improve Agni, i.e., digestive fire, and digest the food easily, consume Pippali powder as it is highly advised. This is because of its Deepan, i.e., appetizer and Pachan, i.e., digestive characteristics, respectively.   Q. Does consume Pippali lead to acidity? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali may cause heartburn and acidity as it is hot in potency. If you have stomach ulcers, then it is usually desirable to consult your doctor before taking Pippali.   Pippali aids in treating stomach aches because of gas or flatulence. Gas or flatulence is caused because of an imbalance of Vata and Pitta dosha. Low Pitta dosha and irritated Vata dosha leads to low digestive fire, thus impairing digestion. Impaired digestion results in gas formation and causes stomach aches. Due to its Anuushna, i.e., mild hot potency consuming Pippali powder aids in correcting digestive fire. This prohibits gas formation and thus stomach aches.   Q. How to use Pippali for weight loss? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Pippali assists in weight loss because of the presence of active compound piperine, which has thermogenic, i.e., heat-producing effect and antioxidant characteristics. This aids in boosting the body's metabolism and also promotes weight loss by eliminating toxins from the body. Also, Pippali aids in decreasing the amount of fat in the body. An individual can consume powder consisting of Pippali, black pepper, and ginger is known as Trikatu, for weight loss. Pippali helps treat weight problems by decreasing Ama, i.e., toxic present in the body because of improper digestion that is the prime cause of weight gain. To boost the digestive fire and control weight gain, pippali has Deepan, i.e., appetizer, and Pachan, i.e., digestive characteristics. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinches of Pippali powder. 2. After lunch and dinner, swallow it with honey. 3. To manage weight gain, repeat daily.   Q. Can Pippali churna be used to manage insomnia? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Yes, Pippali churna can be consumed to treat insomnia. It induces sleep because of its sedative characteristics of extracts from Pippali fruits and roots that result in drowsiness after meals for the treatment of insomnia Pippali churna along with jaggery and milk can be consumed in the evening.   Yes, Pippali can be consumed to treat insomnia. An aggravated Vata causes insomnia, and Pippali has Vata balancing characteristics as per Ayurved. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinches of Pippali powder. 2. To manage insomnia, mix it with milk and have it before sleeping.   Q. Can Pippali powder be used to suppress hiccups? SCIENTIFIC VIEW AYURVEDIC VIEW Yes, Pippali powder can be consumed to restrain hiccups. The fruits of this plant have stimulant characteristics that result in the diaphragm to relax, also restrain its involuntary movements or hiccups. Yes, Pippali powder can be consumed to restrain or manage hiccups. Due to an aggravated Vata and Kapha, Hiccups may occur. It restrains the channels in the digestive tract and leads to hiccups. Pippali powder reduces Kapha, clears obstruction, and helps to balance Vata that controls hiccups. Instructions: 1. Consume 2-3 pinches of Pippali powder. 2. To control hiccups, swallow it with honey once or twice a day.

London - Taking birth control pills may cut the risk of severe bouts of asthma in women of reproductive age with the respiratory condition, say researchers. The findings, published in the journal Thorax, indicate that the observed protective effect is relatively small, and doesn't include progestogen-only hormonal contraceptives. "Female sex hormones are thought to partly explain the clear differences in the incidence and severity of asthma between the sexes," said study authors from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. "And fluctuations in levels of these hormones during the menstrual cycle have been linked to worsening asthma symptoms in some women," they wrote. While the potential impact of synthetic sex hormones on asthma in women has been repeatedly studied over several decades, no consensus has yet been reached. In a bid to clear up the uncertainties, the researchers explored the potential impact of different types and periods of use of hormonal contraceptives on asthma severity and what influence weight (BMI) and cigarette smoking might have. They drew on information entered into the Optimum Patient Care Research Database (OPCRD) to find women of reproductive age (16-45) who also had asthma. OPCRD is a large population-based, long term, anonymised database of 630 primary care practices across the UK, containing the health records of more than six million patients. Hospital admissions, emergency care department visits, and prescriptions for asthma treatment were tracked from the start of 2000 until the end of 2016 for a total of 83, 084 women to gauge changes in the severity of the condition. Previous and current hormonal contraceptive use (combined oestrogen/progestogen and progestogen-only) for periods of 1-2 years, 3-4 years, or 5 plus years was compared with no use at all. At the start of the study, around a third (34 per cent) of the women were using hormonal contraceptives: 25 per cent combined and nine per cent progestogen-only. The proportion of women who had bouts of severe asthma rose with increasing age and BMI and a higher number of previous pregnancies. The findings showed that previous and current use of any and combined hormonal contraceptives was associated with a lower, albeit relatively small, risk of severe asthma bouts compared with no use at all. And while the use of hormonal contraceptives for one-two years didn't affect risk, use for three-four years and for five or more years was associated with a lower risk compared with no use at all. "It's still not clear how synthetic sex hormones might affect asthma, further research will be needed to explore the underlying biological processes," the team noted. (IANS)

London - Researchers have found that depression and anxiety in moms-to-be is linked to a heightened risk of asthma and poorer lung function in their 10-year-old children. The findings, published in the journal Thorax, suggest that the risk of later life respiratory disease is likely programmed in the womb, rather than necessarily influenced by as yet unmeasured genetic, social or environmental factors. Psychological distress, to include anxiety and depression, during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of respiratory disease in preschoolers, but whether this association persists into later childhood isn't known. To find out, the researchers from Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, drew on participants in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study, which has been tracking life from early pregnancy onwards in Rotterdam. The degree of overall psychological distress, depression and anxiety experienced by each parent in the second term of pregnancy and three years after the birth, was assessed, using a validated 53-item questionnaire. Depression and anxiety were assessed only in the mothers, at two and six months after birth. In all, 362 (nearly nine per cent) of the mothers and 167 (just under four per cent) of the fathers were clinically depressed and/or anxious during the pregnancy. The lung function of 3,757 of the offspring was measured when they were 10 years old, and information on asthma obtained in 3,640 of them. Almost six per cent had asthma. Mothers' overall psychological distress and symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy were all associated with a 45-92 per cent increased risk of current asthma in their children, after adjusting for potentially influential factors, such as age, ethnicity, smoking during pregnancy, and pet keeping. Factoring in fathers' psychological distress during pregnancy didn't change this association. Further analysis of the patterns of psychological distress showed that mostly depressive or anxiety symptoms both during and after pregnancy were associated with a heightened risk of asthma in the children. But separating out the potentially influential factors into three different groups, including lifestyle and health-related, socioeconomic, and birth and early childhood factors, made no difference to the associations found. "Our results may indicate an intrauterine effect of maternal psychological distress during pregnancy on foetal lung development and respiratory morbidity, rather than an effect of unmeasured genetic, social, behavioural or environmental factors," the authors wrote. (IANS)

London - Researchers have found that asthma and food hypersensitivity at age 12 is associated with an increased risk of having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at 16. IBS affects more than one in ten people and is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder. It can be extremely disabling for patients, with abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhoea or constipation. There are often difficulties in diagnosing functional gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, and just one in three people with symptoms of IBS or constipation consult a healthcare professional. "The associations found in this large study suggests that there is a shared pathophysiology between common allergy-related diseases and adolescent irritable bowel syndrome", said study author Jessica Sjolund from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. "We knew that allergy and immune dysregulation had been suggested to play a role in the development of irritable bowel syndrome, but previous studies on allergy-related diseases and irritable bowel syndrome are contradictory," Sjolund added. For the study, published in the UEG Journal, the research team analysed the health of 2,770 children from birth to the age of 16. During the study, children and parents were asked to complete questionnaires regarding asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and food hypersensitivity at ages 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 years. At 16, children answered questions based on the Rome III Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms, allowing participants to be categorised into IBS, functional abdominal pain and function dyspepsia groups. Those with IBS at 16 were almost twice as likely to have had asthma at the age of 12 (11.2 per cent vs 6.7 per cent). Almost half of children with IBS at 16 (40.7 per cent) reported food hypersensitivity at 12 years (compared to 29.2 per cent of children without IBS at 16). The research also showed that asthma, food hypersensitivity and eczema were all associated with an increased risk of concurrent IBS at 16 years. (agency)