A REVIEW ON ANTI ASTHMATIC ACTIVITY OF AYURVEDIC HERBS

Ayurveda is an ancient system of health and life containing information regarding the fitness, longevity of life and for the treatment of various diseases. Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic illness of the childhood and the most frequent cause of parents’ visits to paediatricians. 74% of asthma episodes experienced in children less than 5 years of age and 26% in less than one year of age. It causes negative effect on children during their critical periods of growth and development. In modern medicine, its management includes bronchodilators, mast cell stabilizers, antihistaminic and corticosteroids apart from avoidance of allergens but these medicines are mostly associated with many adverse effects like tremors, tachycardia, hypokalemia, restlessness, sedation, growth suppression etc. Due to these untoward effects whole world are employed to seek safe & effective treatment of asthma. Ayurveda refers the term Tamak shwasa to bronchial asthma. This paper reviews various clinical and experimental studies conducted in the last few decades on plants showing anti asthmatic property. This study ascertains efficacies of these Ayurvedic herbs and found that Ayurveda can efficiently manage as well as provide prophylaxis against bronchial asthma.