Hay Fever: The Ayurvedic Concept

Table of Contents

Introduction

The mucous membrane of the respiratory system, while inhaling especially through the nose, absorbs the dust, pollen, or gas polluted in the air. For any foreign thing attached to the mucous membrane to be excreted, the stimulated slime plays a major role. It is very important for health. Someone who is allergic to particular dust or pollen can have drastic stimulation of slime. That is the fundamental cause of hay fever (Osadhigandhaja Jwara).

Ayurveda considers that the person who has had toxic problems and has not completely neutralized or excreted from the body can have allergic problems. It is especially true when the mild poison induced in any way stays in the body and is inactivated with the effect of mucus. Regarding this fact, the poisonous dust or pollen, whenever attached to the mucous membrane of the nose, stays there covered with mucus, and can be the particular cause of hay fever with the same kind of poisonous dust or pollen. Because the poisonous dust or pollen covered with mucus becomes active with the contact of the same kind of dust or pollen.

Constant sneezing, runny nose, headache fever (not very high) are the main symptoms of hay fever. These symptoms are the result of the aggravated function of the related nervous system (Vata) and vein system (Pitta). The headache and sneezing are concerned with the aggravated function of the nervous system and the running nose and fever are concerned with the aggravated function of the vein, which is identified with inflammation or catarrh. This is the theory of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda presents two kinds of treatments for the cure of hay fever. One treatment is based on the drug, which restores the balance of the nervous system and the vein system and the other treatment contains the drug, which counteracts the allergic problems. The first kind of treatment is prescribed only for a few days to overtake the periodical attack of hay fever. The second kind of treatment is prescribed for two to three months to neutralize and excrete completely the poisonous foreign thing from the body. In this condition, there is no more recurrent attack of hay fever and the effect of particular dust or pollen.

Causes of Hay Fever

Poisonous dust or pollen can be the cause of catarrh. It is nothing specific and needs no treatment. It disappears within three or four days. But, the person who is allergic to particular dust or pollen can have drastic catarrh with contact with them and it runs for days.

The cause of allergic problems is the mild poison whatever may be the kind of it. In general, the physical construction of the poison has an antibiotic effect, which can destroy the biological structure. The mild poison induced in any way in the body is not so harmful, because the bodily mucus or slime, which is sweet and sticky, has a protective nature to enclose it. The mild poison, which is enclosed within the mucus, can stay for years in the body not even being active. In this condition, some kind of poisonous dust or pollen polluted in the air can aggravate the enclosed mild poison and result in hay fever, if the mild poison is enclosed in the mucous membrane of the nose. It is well investigated that the case of hay fever is common to those persons who have problems inhaling through the nose, especially during the period of sleep.

Symptoms of Hay Fever

Constant sneezing, runny nose, headache, and fever are the main symptoms of hay fever. Someone who has a weak heart also complains of vomiting. The symptoms of sneezing and headache are concerned with the aggravated function of the nervous system. Any symptom, that is related to the morbid condition of the nerve, gets worse in the morning and evening. The fever and running nose are concerned with the aggravated function of the vein system, which is identified with catarrh. These symptoms, in general, get worse in the daytime.

The person who is allergic to pollen gets the annual recurrent attack of hay fever in the season of blossoming, spring.

The person who is allergic to animal hair, and dust gets the annual recurrent attack of hay fever in the season of rain or monsoon.

The person who is allergic to grain dust gets the annual attack of hay fever in the season of autumn (or fall), harvesting.

The person who is allergic to clay dust gets the annual recurrent attack of hay fever in the dry and windy season. This is the general rule, however, having allergies to different things there is no rule for attack.

The allergic problem, which is similar to the symptoms of the common cold if, is not treated properly, can be a cause of bronchial asthma, conjunctivitis, deafness sinusitis, etc.

Prevention from Hay Fever

The attack of hay fever can not be controlled unless the allergic problem is subdued. For that, anti anti-toxic drug has to be prescribed for 2-3 months. Alarasayana, a compound of Azadirachta indica is one of the best remedies.

Sun baths; not sleeping during the day; maintaining digestive power; well ventilated room for sleeping; protecting the head from heat; plenty of water to drink; and exercise are beneficial things to raise the physical power against allergic problems.

Treatment of Hay Fever

Hay fever has to be treated in two ways: one treatment to restore the balance of the nervous and vein systems and another treatment to subdue the allergic problems. The drug, which restores the balance, is prescribed during the period of attack for one or two weeks. Mritunjayarasa, a specific compound of Aconitum Palmatum, is one of the best remedies against catarrh. The medicine, which is against catarrh, is considered as the drug to keep the balance of the nasal vein system. Yavani yoga, a specific compound of Omam seed, is one of the best remedies against the aggravated function of the nasal nervous system. It subdues the problems of constant sneezing and headache. During the period of attack, these two drugs have to be prescribed side by side along with the drug, which is against allergic problems. The drug, which is against allergic problems, contains anti-toxic ingredients. Alarasayana, a compound of Azadirachta indica, is one of the best remedies against allergic problems. It is prescribed for 2-3 months without breaking. The anti-toxic drug, which is against allergic problems works in two ways: in one way it works to counteract the physical condition of the mucous membrane and in another way, it works to neutralize and eliminate the mild poison enclosed within the mucus.

Prohibited Foods and Behaviors

Prohibited Foods

Acid foods and fruits e.g. lemon, orange, mango, tomato, tamarind, apple, plum, peach, pineapple, yogurt (curd), vinegar, fermented sour foods and drinks, etc.
Hot and cold drinks.

Prohibited Behaviors

Sleeping during the day;
Sleeping naked;
Walking in the morning and evening;
Swimming.

Author

Dr. Mana Bajra Bajracharya
PIYUSHAVARSHI AUSHADHALAYA
Ayurvedic Clinic
Mahabouddha, Kathmandu, Nepal

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