“Yes. Rajesh do not loose hopes, don’t be too pessimistic!! We do have some measures on Asthma in Ayurveda. In Ayurveda Asthma is considered to be a separate entity as ‘Tamakashwasa’. There are various medications oral, local, & also mentioning of certain pancha karma Therapy like Vamana therapy, specially recommended by Ayurveda.

We will also have to follow certain diet rules (Pathya) for controlling or even eradicating this dreadful disorder. I am sure, Rajesh, you will be in better condition soon!” We started treatment to Rajesh, & I am very happy to say that his disease is now much under control. He use to take 4 to 5 puffs a day, now he is taking no puffs ! Initially he use to get exacerbations (aggravations) of his complaints more frequently, now that is also much under control .

I am sure after knowing about this case history you all must be quite curious about what Ayurveda has mentioned about Asthma.

Bronchial Asthma in Ayurveda

Ayurveda discussed about a disease namely ‘Shwasa’, wherein there are set of complaints such as difficulty in breathing , anorexia ( loss of appetite), fatigue etc. The name itself Shwasa means breath, so whenever there is difficulty in breathing in (shwasa) & breathing out (Nishwasa), the disease is termed as Shwasa in general. Ayurveda has classified this disease into further five subtypes of which one is Tamakashwasa, which shows a great similarity in its symptomatology with Bronchial asthma.

Causes of Bronchial Asthma mentioned in Ayurveda

As per the ancient classical text of Ayurveda, if someone consumes that diet which can aggravate vata (dushta vata) for example, chana, vatana (peas), rajama (black grams), dried food items (fast food), more oily, more spicy, or those food articles causing increased kapha viz. curds, yoghurt, cold drinks, ice creams, and fish- should be avoided. Also there is a mention of pollutants like fumes, smoke (dhooma), pollen grains, can also leads to the exacerbation of the complaints.? Psychosomatic parameters like Bhaya (fear), Krodha (anger), Shoka (grief) , Chinta (stress) etc. can also leads to the exacerbations of the disease.

Characteristic feature of? Bronchial Asthma mentioned in Ayurveda

Patient suffering from tamakshwasa exhibits the following symptoms & signs – Patient can not breath properly, breathes with great difficulty, tries to loosen clothing at neck chest & waist; gets increased perspiration, there is typical whistling sound (sound of pigeon – Kapotkujanavat dhwani) while breathing (now a days one can hear this sound with the help of stethoscope – rhonchi, rhales, wheezing)? & patient feels better, less trouble in breathing especially in a sitting posture, which becomes worse, there exist great difficulty in breathing in lying down position. Patient feels better with hot articles (hot water for drinking, oil massage of luke warm oil to chest & then there after fomentation with hot water bag).

Classification & Management of Tamakashwasa in Ayurveda???

Ayurveda has classified Tamakashwasa into mainly two sub groups such as ?Vataja type & Vatakaphaja type. Based on this the management of Tamakashwasa has been described in Ayurveda. Vamana therapy is one of the therapy which has been described in Ayurveda. Its nothing but a systematic medically induced emesis. with the help of which we can remove the excess quantity of vitiated kapha dosha, thereby helping in the therapy of vatakaphaja type of Tamakashwasa. Whereas snehana (oleation massage with til oil) & Swedana (sudation / steaming with medical decoctions) should be undertaken in both types.

Certain Medicinal Herbs of importance in the management of Tamakashwasa

There are many medicinal herbs like Vasa ( Adulsa) ( Adathoda vasika), Ginger (Ardrak - Zingiber officinalis), Kumai (Aloe vera), Jyesthimadha (Glycirrhiza glabra), Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum), & many more herbal drugs are found out to be useful in the management of Tamakashwasa.

Exercise therapy in the management of bronchial asthma (Tamakashwasa)

One may think of utilizing Yoga for control of this disease along with Ayurveda or Allopathy. One may learn deep breathing techniques under the supervision of an ably trained Yoga Master & then only practice them, not otherwise, since it can create problem to the patient if practiced wrongly. Basically, yoga will help to develop strength to the lugs of the patient. It can increase the vital capacity of the lungs.

Do’s & Don’t in Bronchial Asthma (Tamakashwasa)

• Do not eat food which are known to create exacerbation of the disease.
• Do not have chilled cold drinks, ice creams etc.
• Do not have fish / fish products
• Do not have excessive oily & spicy, pungent food.
• Do not sleep at very late night ( because that can also increase vitiated vata )
• Do not take curds, curd products.
• Do not take tension or stress.
• Do not have any self medication (even though it is Ayurvedic Medicine)
• Take medications regularly without any gap from a duly qualified doctor.

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