Bronchial asthma, symptomatology and therapeutic method in traditional medicine

Abstract

Precice information on the treatment of bronchial asthma in Persia up to 9th and 10th century is not available. However according to some old religious books like Yasna and Vendidad, the “Haoma” had been used in the treatment of perspiration disorders and its extract had been advised by Zoraster as sacred water. There are some interesting idea about treatment of thorax diseases, which consist: Dyspnea, Bronchial asthma, Orthopnea, Emphysema, Hemoptysis, Differential diagnosis between pneumonia and pleurisy, Differential diagnosis between bleeding of thorax and lung, Diaphragmitis, Atelectasis….. Symptomas of disease: Three main symptoms of bronchial asthma have been described: 1- Special difficulty in breathing: The patient can not breath unless he turns his head backward, and his breathing is accompanied with wheezing and it is similar to that of a person who has run for a long time. Inspiration is difficult and expiration is long. 2- Presence of characteristic sputum which could be found either in trachea or in the lungs. Sputum could be expelled by coughing. In case sputum is present in the lungs there is less coughing and sputum expelling not as easy as in the former case. 3- The patient has disturbed plus. Etiology: Ancient Iranian physicians have mentioned so many factors which are helpful in existence of this disease and consist of: smoke, dust, cold or coryza, enlargement of stomach, liver, cold temperament, nervous temperament, narrownese of larynx, Trachea, bronchiolus, bronchiole and lungs. Treatment of real causes: For treatment it is necessary that the real reasons of the disease be diagnosed and the treatment depends on the cause of the bronchial asthma. Treatment of real causes, treatment children and adult, medical plants, mineral drugs and biological drugs which have been used, and side treatment will be discussed in full paper.