Contents: Preface. Acknowledgment. 1. Asthma and its management/Irfan Ali Khan, Atiya Khanum and Rizwana Mubeen. 2. Native phytotherapy for Asthma/T.V.V. Seetharami Reddi, S. Prasanthi and B.V.A. Ramarao Naidu. 3. Medicinal plants for combating asthmatic complaints/D.A. Patil and M.V. Patil. 4. Herbal cure for Asthma/M. Jaish Beg, M.Z. Beg and S.J. Ali. 5. An inventory of medicinal plants useful against respiratory complaints/D.A. Patil. 6. Role of medicinal plants in the treatment of Asthma/Madhavi Adhav. 7. Role of medicinal plants for heart and respiratory systems/G. Baskar Rajan, Irfan Ali Khan and Atiya Khanum. 8. Allergenic plants of Gorakhpur/A.K. Srivastava Jr., G. Chandra and Vishalakcchi Ashok.
"The growing economy of the developing world, particularly in East and South Asia are leading to increasing urbanization, industrialization and motorization. Urban areas have almost half the population of many of these countries. Manufacturing and services, once distant competitors to the largely agrarian economies have together surpassed agricultural contributions. Vehicles have exploded to keep pace with rising incomes and needs. With the developing world, there is also an increase in the number of chronic diseases like asthma, arthritis, diabetes, etc.
Although most people have heard of asthma, few know exactly what asthma is, or how seriously it affects the lives of people of all ages all around the world. Asthma is a respiratory disease that is chronic, which means, that it is always present, and there is no cure for the condition. For those that live with the condition, their lungs, airways and breathing passages are very sensitive, more sensitive than other non-asthmatic people. This sensitivity leads to inflamed and swollen breathing passages that make breathing difficult. In addition, the muscles that control the breathing passages begin to spasm, pulling the already inflamed air passages tighter together and there is a marked decrease in the size of the airways, sometimes even complete closure, resulting in asthma."
