SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF COLD CHEST PACK WITH EPSOM SALT ON PULMONARY FUNCTIONS AMONG BRONCHIAL ASTHMA – A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Background: Asthma is a chronic airway disorder frequently managed with β₂-agonists and corticosteroids, which have side effects and are not curative. Complementary therapies such as cold chest pack (CCP) and topical magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄) have shown potential to enhance respiratory function through sympathoadrenal stimulation and calcium-channel blockade, respectively.Objective: To assess the immediate effects of CCP alone and in combination with topical MgSO₄ on pulmonary function in patients with bronchial asthma.Methods: In a prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial at SDM Nature Cure Hospital, Karnataka, 60 asthma patients (ages 16–60) were randomly assigned to receive either CCP (n=30) or CCP+MgSO₄ (n=30) for 20 minutes. Pulmonary function was measured using a handheld spirometer (CONTEC SP10), recording Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV₁), and FEV₁/FVC ratio before and after intervention. Parametric and non-parametric tests assessed significance (p<0.05) .Results: Both interventions significantly improved FVC and FEV₁ (p<0.001). The CCP+MgSO₄ group showed higher improvement in FEV₁ (from 1.59 ± 0.10 to 1.90 ± 0.17 L) and FVC (from 2.09 ± 0.11 to 2.45 ± 0.14 L) compared to CCP alone. No significant group differences were observed for the FEV₁/FVC ratio.Conclusion: CCP and topical MgSO₄, individually and together, rapidly enhance pulmonary function in asthma as safe, non-invasive adjunct therapies. Integration into rehabilitation could offer an affordable management strategy. Further large-scale, long-term trials are needed to confirm sustained benefits.