Haritaki use benefits COPD patients
In Ayurveda there are descriptions of illnesses that relate to the modern day disease called COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Researchers in India, looking to verify the ancient wisdom that is contained in Ayurveda have researched the ancient texts and also applied the teachings and methodologies of applying the recommended herbs and dried fruits. The results of their studies I have summarized below.
I know of some people taking haritaki for their COPD condition and as they report their progress we will update this page.
In addition to this research there are a number of anecdotal reports of people with thyroid conditions being benefited by Haritaki usage. This information will be documented on a separate page.
However first I want to give a brief introduction to the disease called COPD.
Here is more detail in the disease itself from this link:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory (non-reversible) asthma, and some forms of bronchiectasis. This disease is characterized by increasing breathlessness.
Many people mistake their increased breathlessness and coughing as a normal part of aging. In the early stages of the disease, you may not notice the symptoms. COPD can develop for years without noticeable shortness of breath. You begin to see the symptoms in the more developed stages of the disease. That’s why it is important that you talk to your doctor as soon as you notice any of these symptoms. Ask your doctor about taking a spirometry test.
Specific Benefits of Haritaki to COPD
Here is the research that shows the benefits that haritaki brings to COPD from the Ayurvedic system of medicine. This system has a history going back approximately 5,000 years
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22661844
Tamaka Shvasa is a type of Shvasa Roga associated with difficulty in breathing as a result of which the patient prefers to sit in bed to get relief from his discomfort. Movement of air through Pranavaha Srotas is hampered in this disease resulting in the cry of organ heading toward complete failure for want of air. Tamaka Shvasa is well known for its episodic and chronic course which comes under the life-threatening disease. It is analogous to bronchial asthma due to similarity in symptoms, pathogenesis, onset, causes, and precipitating factors. In this study, 40 patients of Tamaka Shvasa were registered and randomly divided into two groups, out of which 31 patients completed the treatment. In Group A, Shvasahara Leha (5 g twice a day) was given for 2 months, while in Group B Vasa Haritaki Avaleha (5 g twice a day) was given for 2 months and follow-up was done for one month in both groups. The effects of therapy in both groups were assessed by a specially prepared proforma. Diagnosis was done by adult asthma diagnosis questionnaire and differential diagnosis with COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) was done by differential diagnosis questionnaire as both these conditions are overlapping. The results of the study indicate that the Vasa Haritaki Avaleha provided better relief than Shvasahara Leha in Tamaka Shvasa.
Here is a video about the disease that explains the basics of the issue:
Pleiotrophic effects of Haritaki and COPD
Here is more research on the topic of COPD and Asthma:
This research indicates that haritaki may. like many other plant medicines have pleiotrophic effects that have yet to be thoroughly researched.
http://www.imedpub.com/articles/pleiotrophic-evaluation-of-haritaki.pdf
Pleiotrophic Assessment of Haritaki
Traditional healing systems around
the world that utilize from herbal remedies are
an important resource for the discovery of
new antimicrobials11. Plants are known to
produce different secondary metabolites
which are naturally toxic to bacteria12. In
2009, Shokeen13 has reported that, plants
produce a wide variety of secondary
metabolites which are used either directly as
precursors or as lead compounds in the
pharmaceutical industry and it is expected
that plant extracts showing target sites other
than those used by antibiotics will be active
against drug resistant microbial pathogens.
Table–3 shows the various pleiotrophic
activities if Haritaki in a systematic way.
Here is a link to other benefits of Haritaki