Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia & It’s Ayurvedic Treatment with Herbal Remedies

ABSTRACT

In present era due to increased adulteration in every things around us along with unhygienic lifestyle and increased environmental pollution due to industrialization and leads to an increase in emission of harmful substances that might lead to formation of respiratory system related ailments such as non specific interstitial pneumonia, but in most of the cases the cause of it is completely idiopathic (not known).with ayurvedic herbs we can manage the further deterioration of patient’s condition very well. So let’s discuss this ailment in detail.

INTRODUCTION

Definition of Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia

It is a type of pneumonia in which the cause is idiopathic (not known) and pneumonia means there is a presence of an inflammatory process that primarily affects the alveoli (structural and functional unit of the respiratory system).

“लाक्षारसं प्रतिमरक्तयुतं कफं यः ष्ठीवेज्जवरेण बहुशः श्वसेनन युक्तः ।
स्त्यानो भवदपि च कश्चनं फुफ्फुसीयो भागस्तु यस्य कथित श्वसनज्वरी सः ॥” (मा.नि.परि.)

This shloka states that-

According to ayurveda we can correlate pneumonia with “swasnak javar”it is a special type of “hina- pitta, madhya vata and kapha ulvan sannipat javar”[means less pitta, medium vata and kapha dosha predominant fever].

When patient expel ‘laksharas’(looks like laksha) like blood mixed sputum(haemoptysis) and with that presence of fever and dyspnea is there , lungs appears solid in appearance , is known as “shvasnak javar”

CAUSES:

As per modern medicine- there is an involvement of autoimmune mechanism in this or as a complication of some other ailments such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, influenza etc.

As per ayurveda:

“ये चान्नवस्त्ररहिताअपिदुर्बलाः स्युः शान्ताश्च दुःखितहृदोमनुजास्तु दीनाः ।
निर्दिष्टं निदानं किलास्य ॥” (मा.नि.परि.)

A person who is without any clothes, lean and lethargic, suffering from ajiran ( indigestion), do intake of excessive alcohol along with that of rain and cold in improper amount and have inflammation in liver and kidney when such individual did intake of unhygienic diet and lifestyle, will suffer from fever called “shavasanak javar”. It occurs mostly in winters and rainy seasons.

PATHOGENESIS (SAMPRAPTI)

It explains the complete process behind the generation of a disease.

“आस्यतोगलतोऽणवोऽस्य श्वासपथतो रोगदाः, फुफ्फुसस्यान्तः प्रकोष्ठेषूपयाता वै सदा।
वात प्रणालीष्वपि विषस्य प्रभावामापाद्य हि, तदा शोणिते विदधति घनत्वं सर्वदा ते दुःखदः ॥
भिषग्भि नियतं कथ्यते ॥” (मा.नि.परि.)

This verse states that: When a person via his mouth, throat and nasal route inhale the pneumococcal bacteria . It goes into the alveolar sacs (alveoli), causing toxic effects leading to increased thickness of blood volume.

Leading to generation of inflammatory response in both lungs mostly in the lower lobes that ultimately leads to formation of congestion in both lungs

Due to that, the patient suffers from dyspnoea and fever simultaneously.

Types

“द्विविधः श्वसनकसंज्ञो गदितो बैद्येर्ज्वरस्तत्र ।
खण्डीयस्तु प्रथमस्तथा द्वितीयः प्रणालिक प्रोक्तः ॥” (मा.नि. परिशिष्ट)

As per ancient classical text: It is of two types:

1. Khandniya swasnak javar (Lobar pneumonia)- when lobes of lungs are involved.
2. Pranalik swasnak javar (Bronchopneumonia) – when bronchioles are involved.

PURWARUPA (Prodromal symptoms)

“प्रायोज्वरे श्वसनके ननु पार्श्वपीड़ाश्वासोऽवसादकसंन अपि कम्पनं च।
संद्रश्यमानमितिलक्षणमग्ररूपं सर्वे गदन्ति भिषजो गदरुपविज्ञाः ॥’ (मा.नि.परि.)

• Parshav pida (Pain in the ribs)
• Shvash [Dyspnoea( difficulty in breathing)]
• Avasad (Depression)
• Kasa (Cough)
• Kampan (tremors)

CLINICAL FEATURES

“ज्वरोऽतितीव्रः सहसैव शीतेन संप्रवर्तेतं ततोऽतितृष्णा ।
अन्नारुचिः श्वाससमृद्धिरेधेत पार्श्वशूलं कसंन कृमेण ॥” (मा.नि.परि.)

• Fever with chills
• Increased thirst
• Anorexia (loss of hunger)
• Dyspnoea
• Cough
• Pain in ribs
• Haemoptysis (blood mixed sputum)
• Increase in respiration rate.
• Redness over the cheeks.
• Sweating over my forehead.
• Weakness
• Malaise and fatigue.

COMPLICATIONS

“निद्रानाशोऽपि प्रलापोऽथकम्पस्तीव्रस्त्रापोऽत्यर्थंमेवातुरस्य।
संज्ञाहानिः कार्यरोधो हृदोऽस्मिञ् ज्ञेया एते सर्वदोपद्रवा वै॥” (मा.नि.परि.)

This shloka states that

• Nidranash (loss of sleep)
• Pralap (delirium)
• Kamp (tremors)
• Tivratap (hyperpyrexia)
• Sangyanash (loss of sensations)
• Hridya karyaavrodh (myocardial infarction/heart attack)

DIAGNOSIS

• General physical examination of patients by using inspection techniques.
• Proper history taking.
• Laboratory findings: it includes:
1. Complete blood count test.
• Radiographic investigations:
  1. Chest x-ray.
  2. CT scan

According to ayurveda we diagnose the disease:

Asthavidh pariksha(set of 8 examination procedure)

• Nadi pariksha – by palpating the pulse rate of the patient.
• Mutra pariksha – by examining the urine of the patient.
• Mal pariksha – by stool examination.
• Jivha pariksha – by examining the tongue whether coated or not.
• Shabad pariksha – by examining the tongue whether coated or not.
• Jivha pariksha – by observing the natural sounds within the body like intestinal sound (peristalsis)
• Sparsh pariksha – by observing the patient skin texture whether it is cool, wet or dry.
• Drik pariksha – when a physician inspects a patient’s symptoms through his/her eyes.

Trividh pariksha (set of 3 examination)

• Darshan – (diagnosis is made by visual examination of the symptoms).
• Sparshan – physician use tactile examination to evaluate whether skin is cold/hot.
• Prashan – (physician ask direct question form the patient).

MANAGEMENT

PREVENTIVE MEASURES:

• Stop smoking.
• Reduce indoor air pollution.
• Focus is made to aware people about how to keep their environment healthy and clean.
• Indulge yourself in breathing exercises (pranayama)-practice it daily for one hour in the morning.

According to ayurveda:

PANCHAKARMA THERAPY

1. Deepan – It means increasing the power of agni( digestive fire) within the body by using ayurvedic medicines.
2. Paachan – In this we do assimilation of undigested food present inside our digestive tract with the oral intake of herbal medicines.
3. Snehan (Oiling/Massaging) – In this massage of body is done with slightly warm oil/ ghrit to smoothen the raised toxins level (dosha)
4. Svedan (Steaming procedure) – where fumigation/steaming is done with herbally made kwath/solution to relax the channels and openings of the body.
5. Vaman (Emesis) – remove pacified dosha by using emetics technique. It shows the best result in removing elevated kapha dosha from the body.

In our classical text the ideal line of treatment to be followed in non specific interstitial pneumonia (shavsanak javar) is as follow:

1. Ras/bhasma – Dosage: 125-250mg with lukewarm water.
• Tribhuvan kirti rasa
• Shwas kuthar rasa
• Lakshmi vilas rasa
2. Vati – Vyoshadi vati -250 mg twice daily with lukewarm water.
3. Churna – Dosage: 3-6 gram with lukewarm water
• Sitopladi churna
• Talishadi churna
• Maduyasthi churna
4. Kwath – Dashmool kwath- 10-20 ml with lukewarm water.

Herbal Remedies for Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia

Planet ayurveda, a leading herbal manufacturing unit serving people worldwide with herbal and authentic science of healing (ayurveda) also has various herbal formulations that will help you in managing the non specific interstitial pneumonia.

ILD REGULAR PACK by Planet Ayurveda

1. Vasaka Capsules
2. Aller-G Care
3. Tulsi Capsules
4. Kaas har Churna
5. Boswellia-Curcumin
6. Moringa Capsules

PRODUCTS DESCRIPTION

1. Vasaka Capsule – This formulation is prepared using the standardized extract of vasaka(Adhatoda vasica). Vasaka is a wonderful herb known for its major action on respiratory and circulatory system of our body as it has expectorant quality helps to take out kapha dosha from the body that will help in managing non specific interstitial pneumonia.

   Dosage: 2 Capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.

2. Aller-G Care – This safe formulation is prepared using Haridra (Curcuma longa), neem (Azadirachta indica) , shirish (Albizia lebbeck) and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). All the herbs packed in this beautiful herbal formulation possess anti-inflammatory action that helps in relieving inflammation that is predominantly present in nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

   Dosage: 2 Capsules with plain water twice daily.

3. Tulsi Capsules – Tulsi capsules are prepared using Pure extract of tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum). It has ushna virya (hot potency), that will help in decreasing elevated kapha dosha and involvement of kapha and vata dosha is seen mostly in non specific interstitial pneumonia.

   Tulsi capsules are prepared using Pure extract of tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum). It has ushna virya (hot potency), that will help in decreasing elevated kapha dosha and involvement of kapha and vata dosha is seen mostly in non specific interstitial pneumonia.

4. Kaas har Churna – Kasshar churna is herbal powder in blend form Mishri (crystallized sugar lumps),vanshlochan (Bambusa arundinacea), pipali (Piper longum), ela (Elettaria cardamomum), dalchini (Cinnamomum zeylanica).All the herbs present in this formulation are very helpful in treating cold and cough related ailment as they posse’s natural pitta dosha reducing property and “chedan” (expectorant property) that will take out the sputum out from the body and will helps in non specific interstitial pneumonia.

   Dosage: 1 teaspoonful with honey three times in a day.

5. Boswellia-Curcumin – Boswellia curcumin is prepared using Shallaki (Boswellia serrata) and haridra (Curcuma longa). It helps in reducing production of certain chemicals that can lead to contraction of bronchioles and alveolar walls that might result in severe respiratory illness like nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

   Dosage: 2 Capsules with plain water twice daily.

6. Moringa Capsules – Moringa capsules are prepared using Shigru (Moringa oleifera). Its leaves and seeds are rich in antibacterial action that helps in healing the wound and also have “pittaghan” property that will help in reducing fever seen mostly in patients of non specific interstitial pneumonia.

   Dosage: 1 Capsule with plain water two times in a day.

CONCLUSION

Now we can conclude that ayurvedic herbs have very good results in managing non specific interstitial pneumonia. Life expectancy of a patient with such ailment depends upon the level of disease has progressed and on the immunity power of the patient. With herbal medicines we can surely manage this very well. If you are opting for herbal treatment, consider planet ayurveda as your prime priority. Our expert doctor’s have a great experience in managing such ailments.you can visit us at our clinic in Mohali,Punjab or can send your queries on our official email id- www.PlanetAyurveda.com