Bronchial Asthama (Tamaka Shwasa)

Background

Bronchial Asthma (Tamaka Shwasa) is prevalent all over the world. It is characterized by chronic airway inflammation and increased airway responsiveness resulting in symptoms of wheeze, cough, chest tightness and dyspnoea. It is also functionally characterized by the airflow limitations usually reversed spontaneously or with treatment. The available treatment in modem medical science like bronchodilators, steroids even in the form of inhalers and leukatriene modifiers have made tremendous success in providing instant or symptomatic relief in Bronchial Asthma. But there is recurrent acute exacerbation & remissions and the treatment has many side effects like nausea, vomiting, tremor, huskiness of voice, disturbance of hypothalamus - pituitary -adrenal axis.

In Ayurveda, the concept, etio-pathogenesis and treatment of Tamaka Shwasa have been described in detail. The clinical manifestations of Shwasa described in Ayurvedic classics have a striking similarity to the clinical manifestation of Bronchial Asthma. Many single and compound herbal and herbo-mineral preparations are mentioned in Ayurvedic classical text books.

Intervention/ Approaches

The following are some interventions/ approaches based on CCRAS research from published sources.

In case of excessive cough and breathlessness:

Kantakari Kwatha - 30ml thrice a day either alone or with honey.

In case of excessive cough with fever in the patients of Broncial Asthma:

1. Shirisha Twak Kwatha - 30ml thrice a day for 6 weeks.
2. Naradiya Laxmivilasa Rasa 500mg and Godanti Bhasma lgm - thrice a day for 6 weeks.
3. Shwasa Kesari Tablet (Kantakari with Godanti Bhasma) -1.5gm for 6 weeks.

In case of chronic asthma associated with severe breathlessness, chest congestion and cough not responding to conservative treatment:

• Pippli Vardhamana Ksheera Paka with 250mg Samira Pannaga Rasa thrice daily for 6 weeks.
• Shodhana Chikitsa (Snehana, Swedana, Vamana, Virechana).

Medicinal Plants Useful in  Bronchial Asthama (Tamaka Shwasa)

Source : Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences