Bronchiectasis - A Comparison of Modern (Allopathic) and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

 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

Bronchiectasis -- Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Bronchiectasis is an uncommon disease resulting in an abnormal and permanent dilatation of bronchi (airways) due to chronic or repeated infections.  The symptoms include chronic cough with muco-purulent sputum, lasting from months to years; hemoptysis; breathlessness; chest pain; fever; and weight loss.  The diagnosis is based on a history of the symptoms, sputum examination, chest X-ray, and HRCT of chest.  Vitamin D deficiency is usually common in bronchiectasis.  The X-ray or HRCT of chests can reflect different types of bronchiectasis – based on their structural and pathological features - which include cylindrical, varicose and cystic.  The modern treatment for bronchiectasis includes antibiotics, bronchodilators, steroids, dietary supplements, oxygen, hospitalization for exacerbations, and surgery.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment for bronchiectasis includes treatment of infection, repair and strengthening of the affected bronchi as well as damaged parts of the lung, and boosting the immune status of affected individuals.  Medicines which are very useful in the treatment of this condition have a specific affinity for the respiratory tract, repair damage to the ciliary hair in the mucosal linings of the airways, and improve the specific immune status of the lungs and the respiratory tract as a whole.

General medicines may also be given to improve the overall immune status of affected individuals so as to reduce the frequency of infections.  Herbal medicines can be given in high doses in order to treat and fully cure the infection and reverse damage to the affected part of the lung.  Separate treatment can also be given to prevent further bouts of infection in the affected lung.

Depending upon the severity of the condition, Ayurvedic herbal medicines are required for periods ranging from six to nine months, in order to bring about significant improvement in affected individuals.  Ayurvedic herbal treatment can reduce or fully control symptoms, prevent exacerbations, improve quality of life, and improve overall life span of affected individuals.  Ayurvedic herbal medicines thus have a definite role to play in the management and treatment of bronchiectasis.

The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and  www.ayurvedaphysician.com  For Ayurvedic herbal treatment of bronchiectasis, kindly click here

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a medical condition which involves an abnormal dilatation of the proximal and medium sized airways in the lungs.  This is a chronic and obstructive lung disease with symptoms which include breathlessness, severe cough and hemoptysis.  Severe affliction with this medical condition can result in a complete collapse of the airways, and can cause significant morbidity and mortality.  The common causes of bronchiectasis include recurrent lung infections, bronchial obstruction, hereditary lung disorders, and some auto immune diseases.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment for bronchiectasis involves treatment of the inflammation of the airways in the lungs as well as treatment to reverse the abnormal dilatation of these parts.  Treatment is also aimed at any known cause of the disease.  Ayurvedic herbal medicines which have a strong anti-inflammatory action and also have a specific affinity for the respiratory tract as well as the lungs, are used in high doses for prolonged periods in order to bring about a significant improvement in the pathology of bronchiectasis, which in turn relieves symptoms significantly.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment is also aimed at treating recurrent lung infections as well as recurrent allergic conditions such as bronchial asthma, as well as chronic bronchitis.  If the affected individual is known to suffer from some auto immune disorder, this condition also needs to be treated concurrently.  In addition to giving Ayurvedic herbal medicines to reduce the inflammation and dilatation, herbal medicines are also given to improve the strength of the lungs as well as the respiratory mucosa.

Most people affected with bronchiectasis need regular treatment for about six to eight months in order to get significant improvement from the symptoms and to get noticeable relief from recurrent attacks of lung infections.  Usually, people affected with bronchiectasis also require treatment to bring about an improvement in the general strength and stamina of the body, so as to bring about a general improvement in the patient’s condition.

Ayurvedic herbal medicines can thus these judiciously utilised in the successful management and treatment of bronchiectasis.

The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com