Bronchial Asthma [Siddha Terminology: Eraippu Noi]

Bronchial Asthma is a condition in which the airways are narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This makes breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Asthma can either be a minor or major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack. The signs and symptoms can flare up in certain situations like exercise-induced asthma – which may be worse when the air is cold and dry, Occupational asthma – triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical fumes, gases or dust, Allergy-induced asthma – triggered by airborne substances, such as pollen, mold spores, cockroach waste or particles of skin and dried saliva shed by pets.

Eraippu Noi in Siddha medicine is caused by Excessive intake of foods like sweets that increase kapha dosham and exposure to cold air causes sneezing, cough, chest tightness, breathing discomfort, excessive sweating. The causative factors of this disease according to siddha include dietary factors (intake of cold food items ) or any activites which causes derangement of kapham. Also associaton of kapham with vatham may lead to the severity of this disease. Those with bronchial asthma are usually allergic to any particular substance for e.g house mites, dust, pollen grain, smoke so exposure to any of these substance may lead to hyper responsiveness of the airway leading to its constriction and producing symptoms.