Pharmaceuticals and Ayurveda

I was diagnosed with Asthma in 1995. Right after my brother died, I started wheezing- a lot. The doctor at the campus health center gave me an inhaler. For a few years, I just had the rescue inhaler, but then I graduated to an Advair daily dosage inhaler. For 17 years, I have been labeled as having Asthma. Recently Glaxo Smith Kline paid a large settlement to the FDA for marketing drugs for off-use. One of those drugs? Advair. A few years ago, I read about potential side effects from long term daily use of Advair. Then I started really thinking about my asthma. I have never had an asthma attack. I have had terrible seasonal allergies. I have anxiety issues that have led to, well- three anxiety attacks that I can remember. Do I even have asthma? Does anyone? Or is our world so pollutant laced and anxiety ridden that other symptoms are being diagnosed as Asthma so the MDs can get their illegal kickbacks for off use prescriptions? I guess we'll see how many people are prescribed Advair now that GSK can't market or push their product for this problem. I do think there are some people who legitimately have asthma, but I would say that half the people I know use a daily inhaler. I don't think that's realistic. Some might be better with regular gentle exercise to get their lungs working correctly and some are caused by poor nutrition. Some are cause d by environmental factors and some are smokers.

And what about myself? I have often thought that I was misdiagnosed. Not misdiagnosed really- I did have "asthma"- it was stress related. So, how long will the stress of my brother's death cause me to breath incorrectly? I can feel shortness of breath when I exert myself in cardio beyond my capabilities or eat too much sugar. Or when I am doing something I am nervous about. But these are all things I can control.

I am committed to working through this issue without daily drugs to see if through Ayurveda, I can retrain my body. The daily routine helps with managing stress. I will engage in kapha balancing diet and exercise to see how that effects my breathing.  I want to know if it's asthma or if it's in my mind. I would like to gradually wean myself off of all drugs. Ayurveda is the science of life and food, meditation and movement are the cornerstones. Of course, while I am weaning, I will still carry that rescue inhaler with me.