Cause :

A] Factors related to diet:
Excessive indulgence in lablab beans ,black grams, raw milk, soar curd, excess salt, flesh of aquatic and wet land animals.
Excessive use of 'Ruksha'(dry) and 'Guru'(heavy) diet, excessive use of cold water and cold drinks.
Excessive use of 'Abhishandi'(Kapha producing) diet, Excessive use of not easily digestible and irritant food.
B] Factors related to work :
Excessive exposure to dust and smoke.
Excessive wind, cold, cold bath or excessive heat, sun bath.
Exhaustive exercise, walking, excessive sexual activities.
Supression of natural urges
Psychological factors
C] Other Factors :
Trauma to vital organs viz. - chest, throat
Asthma may be as a sequaelae in other diseases like -
Fever, Long standing common cold, Tuberculosis , Anaemia, Heart disease, Poisoning etc.
Preventive Tips :

1. Avoid cold and damp places.
2. Go for morning or evening walk, do yoga mainly 'Pranayama'
3. Avoid over eating . Take light dinner one hour before going to bed
4. Avoid Tobacco, wine and smoking
5. Keep rooms well ventilated . Avoid air conditioners, coolers and direct air of fan
6. Avoid perfumes , Agarbatti. Mosquito repellents
7. Drink boiled water in plenty
8. Avoid over exercise and over indulgence in sex

Treatment :
A] During attacks - Apply warm 'Til tail' over chest and back .Apply fomentation
Take 'sunth powder'1/4 tea spoon+'Kali mirch' 6+'Kala namak 1/4 teaspoon+ 5 leaves of 'Tulsi' Boil this mixture in 200 ml water reducing it to 50 ml. Filter and sip it.
Medicines -Ayurvedic medicines are very safe and cure the problem to a great extent. Few common medicines are Swaskuthar ras, Sitopaladi Choorna - Vasavleha etc.
B] Treatment in between Attacks - 'Rasayan -chikitsa is advocated for'Pranvaha shrotasa'(Respiratory system). For example -'Vardhaman pippali rasayana.'

Lung Tonic - Make paste of Black resin,dates, long pippali and honey,in equal quantity.Take one teaspoonful of it morning and evening with warm milk.

Panchakarma especially 'Vaman' is advocated before rainy season

Simple Home Remedies :

2. Express the juice from garlic. Mix 10 to 15 drops in warm water and take internally for asthma relief.
3. Mix, onion juice ¼ cup, honey 1 tablespoon and black pepper 1/8 tablespoon.
4. Mix licorice and ginger together. Take ½ tablespoon in 1 cup of water for relief from asthma.
5. Drink a glass of 2/3 carrot juice, 1/3 spinach juice, 3 times a day .
6. Add 30-40 leaves of Basil in a liter of water, strain the leaves and drink the water throughout the day effective for asthma.

AYURVEDA AND YOGA THERAPY FOR ASTHMA

The prevalence of asthma in North America has increased markedly in recent decades. Since the 1960s, asthma and asthma symptoms among children and adolescents have increased each decade by up to 75%,.
The United States and Canada have among the highest prevalences of both asthma symptoms and diagnosed asthma for both children and adults. Currently more than 1 North American in 10 has asthma, 35.5 million people overall.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by:

• recurrent breathing problems
• breathlessness
• wheezing
• chest tightness
• coughing.

Asthma symptoms vary over time, and also differ in severity from one individual to another. When it is not effectively treated, asthma often leads to hospitalization, missed work and school, limitations on physical activity, sleepless nights and in some cases death.
Asthma is often treated with steroids that actually weaken the lungs when used long term and come with many side effects such as:
Dryness, candida or yeast infection, lowered immunity, thinning of bronchioles, rashes, psoriasis and many more.
The sciences of yoga and ayurveda suggest that there are many ways to prevent asthma and treat it as well