© International Digital Organization for Scientific Information ISSN: 1817-3055 Online Open Access W J Med Sci Corresponding Author: Dr. Shirley Telles, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, # 19, Eknath Bhavan, Gavipuram Circle, K.G. Nagar, Bangalore-560 019, India 18 Volume 1 Number (1): 18-20, Jan-Jun, 2006 Therapeutic Application of a Cold Chest Pack in Bronchial Asthma N.K. Manjunath and Shirley Telles Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, Bangalore, India Abstract: In natural medicine, application of a cold chest pack for 30 min daily over a period of time is believed to improve lung functions in bronchial asthmatics. However there has been no scientific evaluation of this treatment. Hence the present study was carried out on 15 medication-free bronchial asthma patients (2 males) with ages from 19 to 42 years. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR, in l/min) was recorded before, during and after a 30 min application of a cold chest pack. This treatment was carried on for 21 days, during which the patients received other naturopathy treatments such as fasting, diet changes, hydrotherapy, massage, magnetotherapy, color therapy and application of mud packs, along with yoga therapy. The PEFR and symptom scores of the patients were assessed on Days 1 and 21. The results were analyzed using a two factor ANOVA and paired-t-test, which showed a significant increase in the PEFR recorded on Day 21 compared to Day 1 values, as well as immediately after the chest pack compared to the before values on day 21. Also, the symptom scores have significantly reduced following the 21 days of naturopathy treatment. The results suggest that (I) an application of a cold chest pack increases the PEFR as an immediate effect and (ii) this effect is augmented following 21 days of other naturopathy treatments along with yoga. Key words: Cold chest pack % bronchial asthma % naturopathy % bronchodilation INTRODUCTION application and yoga therapy) in bronchial asthma patients [6]. The reversible bronchoconstriction which is characteristic in PEFR, VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV/FEC%, MVV (Maximum of bronchial asthma was observed to respond favorably to Voluntary Ventilation) and absolute eosinophil count. The changes in diet [1], yoga practices [2-4] and to other patients reported a feeling of well being, freshness and non-pharmacological externally applied treatments [5]. The comfortable breathing. Hence it was concluded that earliest study on yoga suggested that Transcendental Meditation Naturopathy and yoga helps in inducing positive health, was a useful adjunct in treating bronchial asthma [2]. A later alleviating the symptoms of disease by acting at physical controlled trial with fifty three patients each in yoga and control and mental levels. groups showed greater improvement in for drug treatment, peak A cold chest pack which is used as a treatment of choice in flow rate and decreased weekly attacks of asthma following two weeks of yoga [3]. Another study evaluated the effect of a single yoga technique (kunjal) and showed definite subjective and objective improvements during the week they practiced yoga as well as improved symptoms after three weeks [4]. Apart from yoga, several non-pharmacological treatments have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of bronchial asthma. The changes in ventilatory function was examined in 37 patients with steroid-dependent intractable asthma (SDIA) following spa therapy [5]. There were significant improvements in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), which suggested that the spa therapy improves the condition of small airways disorder in patients with SDIA. Another study evaluated the usefulness of Naturopathy intervention (a combination treatments including massage, hydrotherapy, color therapy, fasting and diet therapy, mud The results suggested that there was a significant improvement naturopathy along with hot foot and arm bath for bronchial asthma is believed to reduce pulmonary congestion, decrease pulmonary mucus membrane irritation and increase the depth of respiration [7]. Since there are no studies conducted to evaluated the effects of a cold chest pack in isolation on pulmonary functions in bronchial asthma patients, the present study was conducted to evaluate the immediate effect of a cold chest pack on the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and whether the immediate effect would change after 21 days of treatment with other natural remedies and yogic practices in bronchial asthma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients: 15 patients (2 males) with bronchial asthma diagnosed based on the standard criteria (6) were included in