Effectively Heal Rhinitis

1. Allergic rhinitis: It is a reaction to inhaled environmental allergens such as pollen and dust. In reaction to some exposures, the body generates a response that causes symptoms (i.e. nasal obstruction, swelling, nasal drainage, etc.). Symptoms might appear periodically or perennially, be chronic or intermittent, and be triggered by exposure. This can be further categorized into two types:
2. Seasonal allergic rhinitis: If you only have allergy symptoms at a particular time of the year, you most likely have seasonal allergic rhinitis. These allergies, often known as hay fever, generally arise when your body reacts to plant pollen or other airborne allergens, such as mould spores, that you've breathed or that have come into touch with your skin.
3. Perennial allergic rhinitis: If you have persistent allergic rhinitis symptoms over an extended length of time, you may have perpetual allergic rhinitis. Symptoms are comparable to seasonal allergic rhinitis, but occur more often, lasting at least an hour on most days of the year.
4. Non-allergic rhinitis: the causes and triggers are as follows. Symptoms and triggers are critical in both diagnosis and therapy. Symptoms might be chronic or intermittent. This can be further categorized into eight types:

• Granulomatous rhinitis: This kind is rare and is distinguished by the development of granulomas in the nasal lining. This kind of rhinitis is caused by tuberculosis and syphilis.
• Medicamentosa: It is a kind of non-allergic rhinitis caused by the use of certain oral or topical drugs. The most serious condition is continuous afrin usage for more than 5 days. When these drugs are discontinued, there is an obvious rebound congestion.
• Non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophilia: This kind is hypothesized to occur in people who have no indication of allergy sensitivity on skin or blood testing, and it may cause a local response at the nasal level.
• Occupational: This category is generally triggered by dust, manufacturing wastes, and chemicals and is caused by environmental or work settings.
• Sicca: The predominant symptom of this condition is dryness of the mucous membrane.
• Hormone induced: Pregnancy, oral contraceptive usage, and hypothyroidism can all induce this category, which commonly develops during the first trimester of pregnancy and disappears after childbirth.
• Gustatory: caused by spicy, hot food or beverage consumption.
• Atrophic: This is thought to be a subsequent alteration of the typical sinus mucosa to more squamous, with loss of mucosal glands and sensory nerves. "Empty nose syndrome," persistent illness, nutritional insufficiency, or irritating exposure are some of the manifestations.

‘Pratishyaya roga’ is the term for rhinitis in ayurvedic text. It is caused due to vitiation of Kapha dosha that lead to symptoms of rhinitis including nasal blockage. The condition is manifested due to hypersensitivity of the nervous system that causes allergic reactions after invasion of foreign substances in the body. Further, due to weak metabolic fire, ama (toxins) get accumulated in the body and also causes weakening of the immune system.

Thus, the treatment of rhinitis in ayurveda is focused on elimination of toxins from the body, balancing the vitiated doshas and boosting the immune system. This is done by therapies like-

External therapies:

1. Snehana: external oleation on forehead with oil
2. Swedana: sudation with hands
3. Dhumapana: smoking herbal drugs

Purification therapies:

• Vamana: Elimination of aggravated kapha dosha
• Nasya: It promotes the strength of indriya and has dual action, i.e. pacificatory and purificatory
• Vasti: balancing of vitiated vata dosha
  
  

The treatment is also associated with intake of herbs like turmeric, neem, etc. that help pacify the effects of vitiated doshas and relieve symptoms. A proper diet and exercise regimen are also suggested to balance the disturbed doshas and boost metabolism. This line of treatment helps in complete reversal of the condition in a holistic way.