Bronchiectasis is a
medical condition which involves an abnormal dilatation of the proximal and
medium sized airways in the lungs. Currently, high resolution CT (HRCT) scans
of the chest are the investigation of choice to diagnose this condition. The
damaged bronchi are usually one and half times more dilated than normal lung
bronchi, and appear in different shapes such as cylindrical, cystic or
varicose. This is a chronic and
obstructive lung disease with symptoms which include breathlessness, severe
cough and hemoptysis. Severe affliction
with this medical condition can cause significant morbidity and mortality. The common causes of bronchiectasis include
recurrent lung infections, incomplete treatment of infections, bronchial
obstruction, hereditary lung disorders, and some auto immune diseases.
The modern management of this condition includes the use of antibiotics, chest physiotherapy, steroids, bronchodilators, and dietary supplementation. Oxygen may be required for a select few patients, while hospitalization may be advised for severe and acute exacerbations. Some specific types of bronchiectasis may require surgical treatment. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for about 7-10 days. The aggressive use of antibiotics has reduced the mortality of this condition by nearly one third that of the pre-antibiotic era. Most patients who comply with treatment regimens, practice preventive medicine strategies, and regularly follow up with their physicians, do quite well in the long run.
Modern medications
are thus useful in controlling acute infection, severe and acute exacerbations,
and long term management so as to prevent deterioration. However, these cannot
reverse the damage already done to the bronchial airways, nor can they prevent
infections by themselves. Ayurvedic herbal medicines have a very important role
to play in these situations. Herbal and herbomineral medicines can be used to
directly reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract and strengthen the
mucosal lining in the lungs. This helps in prevention of accumulation of excess
mucus in the lungs, which may be susceptible to infection. Panchkarma treatment
modalities like induced emesis (Vaman therapy) can be used in a select few
patients both on a therapeutic basis as well as preventive basis in order to
reduce daily mucus expectoration and the frequency of infections.
This can help in
improving the quality of life of patients with moderate to severe degree of bronchiectasis.
There are several patients on record who had been advised continuous long term
treatment with antibiotics, or even partial lung resection surgery, in an
attempt to lessen the severity and frequency of exacerbations. Such patients
have improved significantly with Ayurvedic treatment without the long-term need
for antibiotics, or even the more drastic surgical treatment.
Ayurvedic herbal
medicines work well not only in strengthening the lung tissue, but also in
improving the overall health and immune status of affected individuals. Patients
who have long-standing or severe bronchiectasis usually end up losing weight
gradually; Ayurvedic treatment effectively takes care of weight loss associated
with this disease. Patients who have bronchiectasis may also be adversely
affected due to respiratory allergies and autoimmune disease. Ayurvedic herbal
treatment can effectively treat these medical conditions too so as to remove
the root cause of the disease. Patients with long-standing disease usually end
up with respiratory or right-sided heart failure. Concurrent treatment with
Ayurvedic herbal medicines has successfully treated these long-term
complications in many patients.
Ayurvedic herbal medicines can thus be judiciously utilized in the successful long term management and treatment of bronchiectasis.
The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com To start Ayurvedic herbal treatment for bronchiectasis, kindly click here
