Pneumonia is a viral infection that inflicts the lungs. It can range in its seriousness from a mild attack to potentially life-threatening.

In its earliest stages the symptoms can be easily mistaken for those of a common cold and influenza and mis-diagnosis is not uncommon.

The sufferer will produce an excess of phlegm and mucous which will be frequently coughed up in order to clear the stricken passageways.

It is a respiratory condition and very often once one lung is affected it will spread into the other. This obviously increases the seriousness of the condition and if this occurs stronger cures are required.

Ayurvedic Cause of Pneumonia

In Ayurvedic teaching the lung is a kapha region of the body. That is to say that it is a major organ vital to the continued running of the body and well-being of the person

Pneumonia occurs when there is a collision course between the kapha and the element of air (vita) in the Ayurvedic cosmosology. The elements in this collision causes trauma in the affected area and leads to the spread of infection and disease.

Ayurvedic Prevention of Pneumonia

A good healthy all round diet is required to maintain an overall feeling of wellness. It is also advisable to cease tobacco smoking or reduce your contact with it to keep the lungs clean and more able to fight off infection.
Also try to avoid as best you can very humid or dusty atmospheres. As particles gathered from such conditions get into the organs very easily and clog up the passageways.

Ayurvedic diet as cure for pneumonia

Eat appropriate amounts of raw fruit and vegetables, steaming and carefully boiling them also helps to cleanse toxins from the affected areas.

Foods to avoid are stuffs that are alkali based or will create much acidity when digested.

Also foods such as rice, sugars, lentils and curds should be limited as they help the build-up of phlegm in the lungs. As one of the causes of Pneumonia is a build-up of excessive phlegm you should do all you can not to increase it and make the situation worse.

Good digestion also helps relieve the pressure on the major organs and as such food and drinks like strong tea, coffee, pickles and sauces which are harder to ingest should be minimized or cut out altogether.

Ayurvedic herbal remedies for pneumonia

A very good and highly recommended Ayurvedic herbal remedy is to ingest a mixture made of the following herbs:

• Stiopaladi

• Punarnala

• Pipali

• Abhrak Bhasama

• Chyvananprash

This affects a cleansing of negative toxins and allows the respiratory system to repair itself and begin functioning again.

Other spices and herbs such as,

• Cinnamon

• Fresh grated ginger

• Cordomon

• Jaggery

• Ashwaghanda

• Triphala

Can be easily added to cooking, and are also cheaply and readily available, to achieve the same effect.

Ayurvedic yoga as a cure for pneumonia

Ayurvedic recommends the two following yoga positions to help with the treatment of pneumonia and related respiratory complaints.

Half wheel (Ardha Chakrasaha) : This is a dynamic backward bend which aids respiratory recovery

Bow (Dhanura Asana) : This is a frontal position wherein you lie flat on your stomach and lift your legs behind you.

This is designed to keep the digestive system healthy.