Ayurveda is the medical system which gives the way of perfect living with nature.1] Human body consists of five sense organs (Eye, Ear, Nose, Skin, Tongue), which are responsible for the perception of objects. Any disease of sense organ creates problem in perception of that particular object but Allergic Rhinitis is such a disease which creates problem in all the five sense organs. It significantly impairs patient’s quality of life and productivity by imposing sneezing, nasal discharge, nasal blockage, headache, heaviness in head, itching in eyes, throat, palate etc. Allergic rhinitis, develops when the body’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to something in the environment that typically causes no problem in most people.
Virudhahara like fish and milk, fruit juice with milk, cold drinks or fruits at night creates Ama(toxin) formation in the body and which in turn vitiates Kapha dosha and reduces the immunity
When the same person is exposed to the following factors
- Vihara like suppression of natural urges l
- Inhalation of thikshna dravyas like peper, chilli, and dust.
- Overexposure to the sun
- Vata aggravating factors like a cold wind, cold food etc.
- Night head shower
Aggravated vata will move to the nasal cavity and it will get obstructed by vitiated Kapha at Sringataka marma(head), causes continuous sneezing
Management in Ayurveda
Modern treatment modalities for the management of AR give symptomatic relief only and are having side-effects also. In the present era it is seen mostly that people believe Ayurvedic medicine act gradually but on contrary if proper diagnose and proper medicine is prescribed then it acts wonderfully.
In mild conditions internal medicines only needed to balance kapha-vata dosha. In Severe and chronic conditions panchakarma therapies like Vamana, virechana or Nasyam can be done after assessing the condition of the patient by the physician
Ayurvedic therapies and medicines improves immunity and strengthens upper respiratory tract
Other external therapies beneficial in AR are
Thalam,Lepam,and Dhuma using different herbal medicines
Diet management
Take Light food, lukewarm water, Kapha nashaka foods like little spicy food, saindhav salt, legumes, soups, etc.
Reduce heavy food, fermented food, too hot or too cold food, sour food, nonvegetarian food, sweets, banana, curd, ice creams, desserts, cakes, yellow grams, etc.
Avoid Alcohol and cold beverages.
Lifestyle improvement
Use a mask while driving a vehicle or going through public places.
Avoid head shower at night and use water in room temperature for head shower
Do not expose to hot sun rays immediately after bath.
Regularly take inhalation of steam.
Regularly go for morning walks in warm weather.
Do sufficient exercise.
Do not get sleep in the daytime or immediately after dinner.
Yogasanas
Ardha chandrasana
Virabhadrasana
Salamba Sarvangasana
Setu bandhasana
Conclusion
Though allergic rhinitis is not a life-threatening disease it can significantly impair patients’ quality of life and productivity. Allergic rhinitis if ignored or not managed properly can lead to complications such as asthma, sinusitis etc. This calls for the need of early diagnosis and ideal treatment for the patients of allergic rhinitis. It will be mandatory to recommend here that if a patient of AR goes for an ayurvedic treatment in the initial stage then better results in short duration can be expected.
