The lungs in Ayurveda: focus on the respiratory organ

Breathing is life energy. Life begins with the first breath and ends with the last. In between, after 100 years of life, there are around 788 million breaths and 500 million litres of air. Our external respiration takes place as lung respiration via the mouth and nose, while internal respiration (cellular respiration) serves to generate energy.

In Ayurveda this energy is called Prana called. Prana (breath energy) is one of our three energy sources - the other two are Tejas (light energy) and Ojas (food energy).

In Western medicine, organs are at the centre of diagnosis and therapy. Not so in Ayurveda, which sees health as the result of a balanced environment in which all functional forces can work optimally.

This environment is created by twenty properties from five elements and is the basis of all structures and functions of our body. Organ disorders are primarily the result of a pathologically altered environment.

In this article I would like to build a bridge between the more structurally orientated Western medicine and the more functionally orientated Ayurveda medicine by looking at our lungs.

The organisational levels of life

From a Western perspective, our organs are made up of several tissues, which in turn are made up of groups of cells. Several organs that work together functionally form an organ system - and all organ systems create our organism.

In Ayurvedic medicine, the body is defined as the seat of consciousness consisting of a combination of five elements. It is divided anatomically and physiologically into structures and functions.

The structures include

• Dhatu - main fabric: nutritive juice, blood, meat, fat, bone, marrow and reproductive tissue
• Upadhatu - Ancillary tissueBreast milk, menstrual blood, blood vessels, tendons, skin, muscle fat, ligaments and joints
• Mala - Excretion productsStool, urine, mucus, bile, waste from external body cavities, sweat, hair, nails and greasy secretions
• Srotas - Circulation channelsthree transport channels for breath, water and food; seven channels for the supply of the main tissues; three channels for the disposal of urine, faeces and sweat; two female channels for the transport of breast milk and menstrual blood and one channel for mental functions

The functions are

• TridoshaVata (kinetic principle), Pitta (thermal principle) and Kapha (structural principle)
• AgniThe „central fire“ for digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, five „element fires“ for converting foreign substances into the body's own substances and seven „tissue fires“ for maintaining our main and secondary tissues.

Organs and their functions are described using this classification.

Our vital respiratory organ

The lungs are used for gas exchange by absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. The paired organ begins in the chest cavity at the side of the windpipe and branches out as a bronchial tree into over a million ever finer branches, which ultimately end in the alveoli, the actual site of gas exchange between the blood and alveolar air.

Unlike the heart, the lungs have no muscles of their own and are dependent on the diaphragm, intercostal muscles and other auxiliary breathing muscles. Active inhalation changes the volume of the chest cavity: the chest rises, the diaphragm lowers and air can flow in.

Structurally, the breath pathways are ayurvedically described as Prana Vaha Srotas (breath conducting channels). Functionally, breathing is controlled by Vata: Prana Vata is the force directed inwards and downwards, Udana Vata the one directed upwards and outwards. Together they ensure the harmonious oscillation of inhalation and exhalation. Vyana Vata regulates the contraction and relaxation of the respiratory muscles in combination with Prana Vata.

The lung is covered by a double-leafed membrane (pleura). There is a gap between the two leaves, which is filled with a fluid. This fluid is used to move the pleura leaves during breathing and in Ayurveda is assigned to a subtype of Kapha in the chest cavity, the avalambaka. Avalambaka Kapha nourishes and protects the lungs and the heart from an Ayurvedic point of view.

Healthy airways through conscious breathing

Our mobility in the chest and abdomen is of great importance for the energy production of prana from the air we breathe. This can be improved through the daily practice of Yoga postures (asana) and targeted Breathing exercises (pranayama) can be optimised. Our lungs are a particularly good example of the sensible combination of Ayurveda medicine and yoga.

During a consultation, I always observe my clients' breathing. It expresses their current physical and mental state. Prana connects body and mind. Our mind unconsciously influences our body through our breathing and we can influence our mental state through conscious breathing.

Here are a few key recommendations:

• Learn to breathe without being influenced at first. observe.
• Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. Now breathe in and out separately into your abdomen and chest. Finally, connect the two spaces together.
• Breathe gently and lovingly, softly and roundly, without pressure, without pushing, without performance, without wanting. Conscious breathing is a form of meditation.
• Gradually intensify the Breathing depth and slow down the Respiratory rate.
• Lengthen your exhalation and pause for a short breath after exhaling. An optimal ratio at rest is 4:5:1 - Four seconds on, five seconds off, one second pause.
• Do you prefer the Nasal breathing, which moisturises, warms and purifies the air we breathe. Nasal breathing increases oxygen uptake and activates the important parasympathetic nervous system, our „brake“ in the autonomic nervous system.

Shvasa and Kasa - lung diseases in Ayurveda

The two most important diseases of the lower respiratory tract are called Shvasa and Kasa Roga. Shvasa means Shortness of breath (dyspnoea) and describes the condition of a blockage. The most well-known Shvasa disease in the West is bronchial asthma. Kasa are Cough syndromes and represent an irritable condition. The best-known representative of kasa is bronchitis. Kasa and shvasa can occur separately or in combination.

Lung diseases arise in the Prana Vaha Srotas due to disturbances of Vata and Kapha Dosha, phlegm (Kapha Mala) and Agni weakness (Agnimandya):

• Kapha and phlegm promote blockages in the channels, resulting in breathlessness.
• Vata can no longer circulate properly and moves in the wrong directions, causing coughing, cramps or psychosomatic hyperventilation.
• Weak Agni leads to the accumulation of moisture and the formation of mucus, which obstructs the airways.

There is a saying in Chinese medicine: „Mucus is produced in the stomach and stored in the lungs“. This idea can be transferred to Ayurveda. Excessive consumption of foods that increase Kapha, such as dairy products, desserts, meat, freshly ground grains or fresh fruit, can favour the formation of mucus. Mucus is a land of milk and honey for viruses and bacteria, which are responsible for acute respiratory diseases from a Western perspective.

Every therapy for lung diseases begins with a needs-based Change of diet and change of a prana impairing lifestyle.

These primarily include the Sleep hygiene, daily Movement, Room air optimisation and the healthy alternation of Tension and relaxation.

Medicinal plants for healthy airways

Through the targeted use of Ayurvedic mono-substances and formulations, many respiratory diseases can be prevented or treated curatively.

The five most important medicinal plants are

• Pippali - Piper longum: has an expectorant and regenerative effect
• Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: relieves cough irritation
• Bibhitaka - Terminalia bellirica: reduces excess Kapha
• Vasa - Adhatoda vasica: dilates the bronchi and facilitates breathing
• Yashtimadhu - Glycyrrhiza glabra: has an expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect

Five traditional respiratory formulations are

• TrikatuThe combination of black and long pepper and dry ginger has a strong expectorant and anti-infectious effect and strengthens Agni at all levels.
• SitopaladiThe combination of sharkara (Ayurvedic cane sugar), bamboo, pippali, cardamom and cinnamon is used for coughs, breathlessness and weakness.
• ChyavanprashAmalaki fruits are cooked in a decoction of over 40 medicinal plants and refined with ghee, honey, sharkara and spices to make the famous amla puree. Daily consumption strengthens prana and promotes the body's defence against infection.
• DashamulaThe ten roots strengthen Prana, reduce Vata and help especially old people with breathing difficulties.
• VasakasavaThe elixir based on Adhatoda vasica facilitates breathing.

In addition to nutritional therapy, behavioural medicine and herbal medicine, spa treatments such as the classic Panchakarma successfully used for respiratory diseases. In particular, the Gastric lavage (Vamana) and the Intranasal therapy (Nasya / Shirovirechana) directly affects the health of the respiratory tract.

Finally, I would like to emphasise once again the connection between body, senses and mind through our breathing. Prana is much more than just oxygen from the air we breathe. Now, after reading my article, put your notebook / tablet / smartphone to one side for a moment, straighten your upper body, close your eyes and listen to your breathing.

Trust Prana, it will keep you alive!

With best regards from Bad Homburg,

Ralph Steuernagel