Cloud Publications International Journal of Advanced Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy 2015, Volume 4, Issue 1, pp. 235-242, Article ID Med-188 ISSN: 2320 – 0251 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Response of Herbal Medicine to the Withdrawal of Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids in Bronchial Asthma (Zeequn Nafas) Patients Irfat Ara, Seema Akbar, Mohammad Naime and Syed Basahrat Bukhari Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Correspondence should be addressed to Irfat Ara, drirfat@yahoo.com Publication Date: 25 February 2015 Article Link: http://medical.cloud-journals.com/index.php/IJAAYUSH/article/view/Med-188 Copyright © 2015 Irfat Ara, Seema Akbar, Mohammad Naime and Syed Basahrat Bukhari. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract Despite intensive ongoing research all over the world, satisfactory and safe treatment of Zeequn Nafas (Bronchial Asthma) still defies the modern medical world. Long-term use of corticosteroids and bronchodilators leads to suppression of immune system and other disorders. The present study was conducted to see the response of herbal formulation to the withdrawal of bronchodilators and corticosteroids and to see the efficacy of herbal drug in bronchial asthma. Keywords Herbal; Bronchial Asthma; Lung Function; Vital Capacity; Wheezing 1. Introduction Zeequn Nafas is diffused involvement of Bronchial system due to variety of influences resulting in chronic respiratory disability. This respiratory disability or Zeeq-un-Nafas (Bronchial Asthma) covers a broad clinical spectrum, ranging from readily reversible, and bronchospasm to severe chronic intractable obstruction to airflow. Zeequn Nafas is mentioned by the ancient physicians and philosophers like Buqrat (Hippocrates - 460 BC) and Jalinoos (Galen - 120-200 AD). Buqrat called this disease breathlessness or panting. Majoosi has also mentioned this disease in his book Kamil- us-Sana with reference to Buqrat and Jalinoos. Unani scholars have mentioned this disease under different headings in their treatises e.g. Rabw, Buhar, Dama, Intasabun-Nafas, etc. (Tabari, 1928; Razi, 1957; Ibn Sina, 1906; Majoosi, 2010; Jurjani, 1289H; Khan, 1978; Kabiruddin, 1960). Zeequn Nafas is a condition in which difficulty in breathing is caused due to accumulation of Balgham Lazuj (Viscous Phlegm) in Urooq Khashna (bronchioles). In modern medicine Zeequn Nafas is described under the heading of bronchial asthma. The word Asthma is derived from Greek word meaning short drawn breath, panting or labored breathing. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. The chronic inflammation is associated with airway hyper responsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning. These episodes are usually associated with wide spread, but variable, air flow obstruction within the lung that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment (Kumar & Open Access Research Article