Dyspnoea or shortness of breath can be compared to ‘ShwasaRoga’ or ‘ShwasaKrichrata’ explained in Ayurveda. Both mean to say ‘difficulty in breathing’. Generally we use the word Shwasa to describe this condition.

According to Ayurveda, Shwasa (dyspnoea), Kasa (cough) and Hikka (hiccough) are inter-related conditions. They have identical aetiological factors and site of origin. We often find them to be associated with each other.

SHWASA CAN OCCUR IN 2 FORMS –

1. SWATANTRA SHWASA – Primary Shwasa, wherein Shwasa will get manifested as an independent entity (disease). The disease will have its own set of aetiological factors (nidana), pathogenesis (samprapthi) and symptoms (lakshanas). The treatment lies in prompt diagnosis of the condition and strategically attacking it with suitable set of medicines, treatment, and diet and lifestyle changes.

2. PARATANTRA SHWASA – Secondary Shwasa occurs as an effect of some other disease. Here, Shwasa will be a symptom, premonitory symptom, complication or sign of bad prognosis of another disease. Here, the treatment depends on the treatment of the disease (primary) which is at the backdrop shwasa.

SHWASA CAN BE FOUND IN THE BELOW SAID CONDITIONS –

As Purvarupa (premonitory symptom) in – Rajayakshama (tuberculosis)

Shwas Rog is of 5 types. 

• MahaShwasa

• UrdhwaShwasa

• ChinnaShwasa

• TamakaShwasa

• KshudraShwasa

1

LAKSHANA

SHWASA IS SEEN AS LAKSHANA (SYMPTOM) IN

• Vataja Apasmara – Epilepsy caused by morbid vata

• Apatantraka – tremors

• Kaphaja and VatajaArshas – piles or haemorrhoids caused by vitiated kapha and vata

• Pureeshajaanaha – flatulence caused by constipation or obstruction of faeces

• Amashayagatavata – stomach afflicted by vitiated vata

• Kaphajaudara – abdominal disorder caused by vitiated kapha

• Aharajaudavarta – retrograde or upward movement of vata caused by food

• Udgaranirodhajaudavarta – retrograde or upward movement of vata caused by forcible obstruction of belching

• Kanthashundi – bulging or swelling of palate

• Kshatajakasa – cough caused by chest injury and bleeding within the chest organs

• Vatajagrahani – intestinal disorder or sprue caused by vitiated vata (irritable bowel syndrome)

• Tridoshajachardi – vomiting caused by vitiation of all the 3 doshas

• Antarvegajwara – fever manifested within the body

• Asthigatajwara – fever afflicting and located in the bones

• Gambhirajwara – deep rooted / chronic fevers

• Pachyamanajwara – progressive fevers

• Majjagatajwara – fever afflicting and located in the bone marrow

• Sannipatajajwara – typhoid fever

• Talushosha – dryness of palate

• Balasa – throat disorder

• Vatajamadatyaya – alcoholic intoxication caused by vitiated vata

• Medoroga – errors of fat metabolism

• Pratinaha – nasal congestion

• Nasashosha – dryness of nasal cavity

• Mutraghata (kundalini) – obstruction of urine

• Raktajamurcha – fainting or unconsciousness caused by vitiated blood or sight of blood

• Rajyakshma – tuberculosis

• Plihavidradhi – abscess occurring in spleen

• Yakrutvidradhi – liver abscess

• Visha – poisoning

• Agni visarpa – erysipelas or herpes caused by vitiated vata and pitta

• Granthivisarpa – erysipelas or herpes caused by vitiated kapha and pitta

• Tridoshajanadivrana – sinus ulcers caused by vitiation of all the 3 doshas

• Swaraghna – throat disorder leading to loss of voice 

Shwas Rog is of 5 types. They are –

1. MAHA SHWAS:

This type of shwasa is marked by strenuous, painful inspiration with loud noises or sounds which are audible. Due to the vitiated vayu moving haphazardly blocking the channels in the body, the person breathes in with difficulty throughout the day and night.

Symptoms –

• Matta rishabhaiva – The breathing pattern is compared to the hissing of an intoxicated bull. The person breathes the air with severe discomfort and pain.

• Pranashtagnanavignana – Since the vayu gets blocked, the body is depleted of aeration. The person loses gnana (knowledge) and vignana (skill of differentiation).

• Vibhrantalochana – improper perception or deceptive perception of vision

• Vikrutaakshi – abnormalities / deviations in eye

• Vikrutaanana – abnormalities / deviations in face

• Baddamutra – obstruction of urination

• Baddavarcha – constipation

• Visheernavaak – split voice, hoarseness of voice

• Deena – helplessness

• Dooratvignayate – the breathing is heard to a long distance

• Kshipramarana – death in quick time

2. URDHWA SHWAS ROG:

This is a type of shwasa in which there is an imbalance between the input and output of air i.e. inspiration and expiration. The kapha blocks the channels. As a result the vayu gets aggravated and causes UrdhwaShwasa.

Symptoms

• Deerghamshwasati, napratyaharatidhaha – deep and prolonged inspiration with difficulty in expiration or throwing out the air

• Urdhwadrishti – eye deviated upwards

• Vibhrantaaksha – irregular eye movements

• Pramuhyanvedanaartaha cha – fainting or loss of consciousness due to pain

• Shushkaasya – dryness of mouth

• Arati – nonspecific pains, discomfort, confusion

• Moha – unconsciousness

• Tamyati – feeling as if in darkness

• Hanta asoon – death in quick time

3. CHINNA SHWASA

This type of Shwasa manifests with obstructed type of breathing which is severely distressing and painful. When all the prana (life elements) have been blocked and choked in the body due to obstruction of channels, the person breathes interruptedly in splits and parcels.

Symptoms

• Shwasativichchinnam – split and obstructed breathing

• Na vashwasati – total breathlessness

• Dukhartaha – person in deep grief and distress

• Marmachedarukarditaha – the person is afflicted with severe distress and pain as if all his vital organs have been split and damaged

• Aanaaha – flatulence, distension of abdomen

• Sweda – excessive perspiration

• Murcha – fainting

• Bastidaha – burning sensation in the urinary bladder

• Viplutaaksha – deviated and fluctuating eye

• Pariksheena – debility, loss of tissues and nutrition

• Raktaekalochanaha – blood shot eye (single eye)

• Vichetaha – loss of consciousness

• Parishushkaasya – severe dryness of mouth

• Vivarna – discolouration of the body

• Pralaapa – delirium

• Sheeghramrityu – death in quick time

4. KSHUDRA SHWASA

This type of Shwasa is characterised by short spells of dyspnoea which is not troublesome. It generally is an accompaniment of strenuous exercises and will pacify after a brief span of rest.

The Vayu vitiated in small proportions following consumption of rukshaahara (dry foods) or aayasa (exercise or physical activities) afflicts the upper channels of respiration (breathing passages) and cause kshudrashwasa.

Symptoms

• Dyspnoea, which lives for a short period

• The kshudrashwasa will not produce any discomfort in the body parts. It will also not produce any harmful effects / symptoms. The functioning of the body is also not disturbed.

• It doesn’t cause obstruction to the intake of foods or liquids

• It doesn’t cause any trouble to the sense organs or sensory functions (perception)

• This is said to be easily curable and many times doesn’t require any treatment

5. TAMAKA SHWASA

TAMAKASHWASA, ASTHMA – ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DYSPNOEA

When the vayu gets vitiated, it starts moving haphazardly in the upward direction (quite unnatural of its behaviour). This abnormally moving vayu occupies and invades all the srotases (channels of transportation in the body). On reaching the head region, the vayu grips the head and neck and also provokes the kapha located in these regions. The provoked kapha along with vayu causes peenasa (cold, congestion). The kapha being blocked in these channels produces sounds. In due course of progression, the kapha blocks the srotases and causes serious dyspnoea of life taking proportions.

Symptoms of TamakaShwasa, dyspnoea caused by Asthma

• Pratamyati – When the block in the channels get increased, the dyspnoea gets severe; the person unable to breathe properly would lose consciousness feeling darkness in front of his eyes

• Kasate – cough, severe in nature

• Pramoham – due to persistent cough, the person suffers from loss of consciousness again and again, repeatedly

• Dukhitaha – When the dyspnoea progresses and when the patient is not able to expectorate the phlegm, he finds himself in severe distress

• Kaphavimokshantesukham – But due to repeated coughing, if he is able to expectorate the kapha or blocked phlegm, the person feels relieved

• Kanthaudhwamsa – the person, due to repeated cough and dyspnoea would have soreness of throat or loss of voice, it becomes difficult to speak

• Anidra – when the patient suffering from tamakashwasa sleeps, the dyspnoea becomes severe and he is not able to sleep

• Parshva graham – catch in the flanks due to vitiated vayu

• Aaseenolabhatesoukhyam – the person feels better if he changes his position from sleeping to sitting position

• Ushnaabhinandati – the person feels better with warm or hot comforts

• Uchritaaksha – elevation of eyes

• Lalatasweda – sweating of forehead

• Vishushkaasya – dryness of mouth

• Bhrushaarti – severe discomfort

• Muhuhushwasa, muhuhuavadhamanam – episodes of breathlessness get severe and suppressed in repeated cycles

• Agravating factors – the breathlessness gets severe in cloudy environment (megha), due to exposure to water (ambu), exposure to cold breeze (sheeta), winds or breeze coming from east (prakvata) and any causes which vitiate kapha (shleshmala)

• Nature and prognosis of TamakaShwasa – Tamakashwasa is said to be yapya (maintainable), it is said to be curable when it is navautthita (newly manifested or acute) 

2

NIDANA

• Raja – exposure to dust

• Dhooma – Exposure to fumes and smoke

• Vata – exposure to breeze

• SheetaSthana – living in cold places

• Sheetaambusevana – excessive consumption of cold water

• Atihimaambu – chilled or frozen water

• Vyaayaam – excessive physical exercise

• Graamya dharma – Excessive indulgence in sexual activities

• Adhwa – Excessive walking

• Rookshaanna – Excessive consumption of dry foods

• Vishamaashana – consumption of incompatible foods

• Aaamapradosha – excessive accumulation of ama (essence of improperly digested food, immature nutrition in circulation which by virtue of its stickiness tends to block the channels of the body and deplete the body of its nutrients and essential things)

• Aanaha – flatulence

• Roukshyat – excessive dryness of the body

• Atiapatarpanaat – Excessive fasting

• Dourbalya – long standing debility

• Marmaghata – injury to vital areas of the body

• Shuddiati yoga – excessive administration of cleansing treatments Atisara – diarrhoea

• Jwara – fever

• Chardi – vomiting

• Pratishyaya – cold, congestion, flu

• Kshata – chest injury

• Kshaya – depletion of body tissues

• Raktapitta – Haemorrhagic disorders

• Udavarta – upward movement of vitiated Vayu

• Visuchika – cholera

• Alasaka – lazy stomach

• Pandu – Anaemia, liver disorders

• Visha – poisoning

• Nishpava – consumption of flat beans in excess

• Masha – excessive consumption of black grams

• Pinyaka – residue left out after extracting oil from sesame seeds

• TilaTaila – excessive intake of sesame oil

• Pishta – taking flours in excess

• Shaalooka – Nymphaea alba

• Vishtambhi – excess intake of foods tending to cause constipation

• Vidaahi – foods which are corrosive in nature

• Guru bhojana – foods which are heavy to digest

• Jalajaahara – meat of aquatic animals

• Aanupaahara – flesh of animals living in marshy regions

• Dadhi – excess intake of curds

• Amaksheera – consumption of unprocessed milk

• Abhishyandiahara – foods which are sticky in nature which tend to obstruct the channels

• Kantha-Urapratighata – Obstruction or block in throat or chest

• KasaVriddhi – aggravation of cough, chronic cough 

3

PURVARUPA

Anaha – flatulence, distension of the abdomen

Paarshwashoolam – pain in the sides / flanks of the body

Hrudayapeeda – heart pain, pain in chest

Pranasyavilomatvam – the vayu running abnormal or retrograde (upward direction) 

4

SAMPRAPTI

1) Nidana sevana -> vata prakopa -> vayu duara ka marga avarodha se vimarga gamana -> swasa kasta ->swasa roga

2)Nidana sevana -> kapha prakopa-> agni mandya-> ama visha-> rasa dhatu dusti-> kaph vriddhi-> kapha duara pranvaha shrotas me avarodha-> vayu duara ka marga avarodha se vimarga gamana -> swasa kasta ->swasa roga

5

SAMPRAPTI GHATAKA

DOSHA- kaphanugata vata

DUSHYA- rasa & prana vayu

ADHISTHANA- amashya & pranvahashrotas

SHROTAS- pranavaha srotas

SVABHAVA- chirkari

AGNIDUSTI- agnimandya

SADHYAASADHYATA- krichsadhya

6

PRICIPAL OF CHIKITSA 

Patients suffering from Shwasa are of 2 types. They are –

Balavan / Kaphadhikarogi (strong patients in whom there is excessive vitiation or morbidity of kapha) – In these patients, shodhana can be readily given because the cleansing methods of treatment are well tolerated by patients who have good strength. Presence of excessive kapha in the system is another indication of shodhana. These patients naturally tend to vomit. Administration of Vamana helps in initiating that process of vamana to perfection.

For these patients, administration of Vamana, Virechana, Dhuma and Avaleha (confections) is an ideal choice.

Durbala / Vatadhikarogi (weak patients in whom there is excessive vitiation or morbidity of vata) – In these patients dryness naturally prevails owing to the dry and rough nature of Vayu. Shodhana in the form of Vamana and or virechana should never be administered to these patients as they have low tolerance. Shodhana can also produce complications in these people.

For these patients tarpana (nourishing or nutritional therapies) in the form of sneha (medicate oils or ghee which are disease modifying in terms of dyspnoea i.e. shwasa), yusha (soups), mamsa rasa (meat soups) etc shall be administered skilfully.

Brimhana (bulk promoting) treatments, medicines and foods are highly beneficial in this category of patients. The meat of animals and birds living in desert areas (jangaladesha) like peacock, cock etc should be processed with decoction of Dashamula (10 roots) or Kulattha (horse gram) and given to the patient.

Recommended soups, gruels

Beneficial yusha, yavagu and peya (soups, gruels) in shwasa

Nidagdhikadiyusha – Soup prepared with Nidagdhika (Solanumxanthocarpum), Bilwamajja (pulp of fruit of Aegle marmelos), Karkatasringi (Pistaciaintegerrima), Duralabha (Fagoniacretica), Gokshura (Tribulusterrestris), Guduchi (Tinosporacordifolia), Kulattha (horse gram) and Chitraka (Plumbagozeylanica)

Hingwadiyavagu – Gruel made up of Hingu (asafoetida), sauvarchalalavana (sauchal salt), jeeraka (cumin seeds), vidalavana (black salt), Pushkaramula (Inularacemosa) and Chitrakamula (roots of Plumbagozeylanica)

Ayurvedic formulations

Effective formulations for Shwasa from treatises

Sauvarchaladichurna – powder prepared from Sauvarchalalavana (sauchal salt), shunti (ginger), bharangi (Clerodendrumserratum), Sharkara (sugar) should be taken with hot water

Bharangyadikalka – Paste of Bharangi (Clerodendrumserratum), Shunti (ginger), Maricha (pepper), Yavakshara (alkali derived from the whole plant of barley), Daruharidra (Berberisaristata), Chitrakamula (Roots of Plumbagozeylanica), Sariva (Hemidesmusindicus) and Murva (Argyreia nervosa)

Shatyadichurna – Powder of Shati (Hedychium spicatum) and Pushkaramula (Inularacemosa) should be taken with honey

Amalakichurna – powder of Emblicaofficinalis should be taken with honey

Kala lohachurna – ash or powder of iron should be taken with honey

KulattadiKwatha – Decoction of Kulatta (horse gram), shunti (ginger), vyaghri (Solanumxanthocarpum) and Vasa (Adhatodavasica)

DashamuladiKwatha – decoction of Dashamula (10 roots) mixed with powder of Pushkaramula (Inularacemosa)

VasadiKwatha – Decoction of Vasa (Adhatodavasica), Haridra (turmeric), Dhanyaka (coriander), guduchi (Tinosporacordifolia), Bharangi (Clerodendrumserratum), Pippali (long pepper), Shunti (ginger) and Kantakari (Solanumxanthocarpum)

Gudavaleha – confection prepared using puranaguda (old jaggery), katutaila (mustard oil)

VardhamanaPippali – Long pepper treatment in which the powder, decoction or paste of long pepper (pippali) is given in an ascending way (increasing the dose gradually) and later tapered (gradually decreasing the dose and ending with the dose with which the treatment was started).

Management of Secondary Shwasa

If Shwasa or dyspnoea is due to some other primary disease at its backdrop, it can be treated by addressing the primary issue. Here in most cases, we might not require symptomatic treatment for dyspnoea. When the main disease causing dyspnoea goes away, the dyspnoea too would subside.

Other strategies of treatment –

Shwasa can be treated on the lines of treatment of –

Pranavahsrotodushtichikitsa – Shwasa or dyspnoea is a symptom of vitiation of PranavahaSrotas (channels responsible for transportation of air in the body). 

PANDU ROGACHIKITSA (Anaemia and liver disorders) – Since shortness of breath is an essential part of anaemia most of the times, prompt treatment of anaemia would address the issue.

SHOTHA CHIKITSA (SWELLING AND INFLAMMATION) – Swelling and inflammation or airways is one of the chief causes of dyspnoea. Treatment and medicines advised in Shota chikitsa would reduce the swelling (inflammation or oedema) in the airways and relieve dyspnoea.

7

SODHANA CHIKITSA 

PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT OF SHWASA (TAMAKASHWASA) AND BEST PANCHAKARMA OPTIONS

Snehana and Swedana

Snehana (oleation, intake of metered quantities of medicated ghee or oil) and Swedana (sudation, steaming therapy, sweating therapy, and fomentation) should be initially administered for the patient suffering from shwasa. Before swedana, abhyanga (massage with herbal oils) should be conducted.

Snehana and Swedana is given as pre-treatment procedures (purva karma) when shodhana (cleansing treatments) in the form of Vamana (therapeutic emesis) and or Virechana (therapeutic purgation) has been planned. These procedures shall be avoided if vamana or virechana is not in the treatment plan.

Shwasa with feeble symptoms or acute exaggeration of chronic shwasa, can be managed with small quantities of disease modifying medicines prescribed for short-duration. In these cases, snehana, swedana or shodhana (panchakarma measures) might not be necessary.

For abhyanga or massage, lavanataila (oils processed with salt and other medicinal herbs) is used. Following Abhyanga, Swedana is administered by one of the below mentioned methods (types) of swedana –

NADI SWEDA – tubular fomentation (steam or vapours coming out of a tube in a streamed way)

PRASTARA – slab fomentation (medicinal herbs, grains etc are boiled and spread over the slab of the dimension of the body of a person, the person who is subjected to abhyanga is made to lie on the slab on which herbs are spread and sudation given, the herbs shall be brought to tolerable temperature before providing fomentation)

SANKARA SWEDA – bolus fomentation (medicines made tolerably hot are tied in boluses and these boluses are used to provide fomentation to the massaged body

BENEFITS OF SNEHANA AND SWEDANA IN SWASACHIKITSA:

Snehana will help in provoking the doshas (kapha and pitta, in shwasa) which are stagnant in the cells and channels, increases them proportionally and prepare them to move out of the cells and channels. Swedana, owing to its heat and penetrating property, further liquefies the doshas bulged by snehana and aid their flow towards koshta (gut, stomach). When the liquefied doshas reach the koshta, it becomes easy to eliminate them through cleansing measures i.e. Vamana or Virechana.

Due to the effect of snehana and swedana, the grathitashleshma sticking to the walls of the channels (consolidated phlegm) gets broken and liquefied, flows out of the channels. The channels, as a result get cleansed and the blocks are removed. The vayu, whose movements are blocked by vitiated kapha is set free. The vayu starts moving freely and gets eliminated from the body.

PREPARATION FOR SHODHANA

After proper administration of snehana and swedana the patient is prepared for shodhana or cleansing treatments (panchakarma treatments, mainly vamana and virechana).

For this, the patient after having undergone swedana, is given snigdhabhojana (unctuous or oil food). Fish, meat of pig, curds is given in large quantities so as to provoke and increase the kapha in the body. The kapha which has liquefied by snehana, swedana gets provoked further on intake of these foods and gets ready to get eliminated from the body.

VAMANA

ADMINISTRATION OF VAMANA (THERAPEUTIC EMESIS) –

After confirming that the kapha has been increased on administration of snehana, swedana and snigdhabhojana, after making the patient drink stomach full of milk, sugarcane juice or gruels or meat soup (on the day of administering vamana), and after learning that the patient is having vomiting reflexes , Vamana is administered by giving medicines which induce vomiting. For this, the paste of Pippali (Long pepper), Saindhava (rock salt) and Kshaudra (honey) is given.

BENEFITS OF VAMANA IN SHWASA

Once the morbid kapha has been eliminated by administration of Vamana, the person starts feeling better and the shortness of breath gets relieved. The person starts breathing easily due to the removal of morbid kapha and the blocks in the channels. The free and unobstructed movements of vayu in the body (after the channels have been cleansed through vamana) further help the establishment of normal breathing process and providing relief from dyspnoea.

DHUMAPANA (MEDICATED SMOKING) –

Even after the administration of Vamana, small quantities of kapha might still be stagnant in the channels of the body. The kapha adhering in the channels of the body may proportionally increase in due course of time and trigger shwasa yet again. To avoid this remaining kapha which is sticking in the walls of the channesl has to be eliminated. For this to happen, medicated smoking or dhumapana is administrated.

The medicinal herbs are made into paste and wicks are prepared from it. The wicks are smeared with ghee, kept in the smoking instrument (dhumapanayantra), and lit with fire. At the other end of the instrument the smoke is emitted through a long nozzle. The person is asked to intake the smoke.

Any one of the below mentioned dhumapanas can be used –

• HARIDRADI DHUMAVARTI – Wick is prepared from the paste of Haridra (turmeric), Yava (barley), Erandamula (roots of castor plant), laksha (lac), Manashila (purified realgar), Devadaru (Cedrusdeodara), Haratala (Orpiment), Jatamamsi (Nardostachysjatamansi)

• YAVADHUMAVARTI – Wick prepared with Yava (barley) and ghee

• MADHUCHISHTADIVARTI – Wick prepared with Madhuchista (wax), Sarjarasa (resin of Shorearobusta) and ghee

• SRINGADIDHUMAVARTI – wick prepared from Go sringa (cow horn), baalam (hairs of cow) and snayu (ligaments of cow)

• SHYONAKADIVARTI – wick made from shyonaka (Oroxylumindicum), erandanaadi (hollow stem of castor plant) and shushkakusha (dry grass) and ghee

• PADHMAKASHTADIVARTI – wick prepared from padhmakashta (stem of lotus), guggulu (Commiphoramukul), Agaru (Aquilariaagallocha), Shallaki (Boswelliaserrata) and ghee

VIRECHANA (THERAPEUTIC PURGATION) FOR SHWASAROGA:

Treatment of dyspnoea vis-à-vis shwasa will be incomplete without the administration of virechana. Shwasa is said to have its origin from Pitta sthana (location of pitta, gut, stomach or small intestine). Virechana is the best treatment for pitta and diseases manifested due to vitiated pitta or diseases having their origin from pitta sthana.

The Virechana can be administered in one or the other of the below mentioned forms –

KRAMAVIRECHANA – After the administration of Vamana, samsarjanakrama is administered. Samsarjanakrama is a planned dietetic schedule planned to bring back the digestive fire which has become weak after vamana, to normalcy. Following this, snehana and swedana is administered. After proper snehana and swedana, virechana is administered.

NITYAVIRECHANA – Virechana is administered in small metered doses on daily basis. In this, herbal laxatives are administered. This doesn’t need snehana and swedana as in kramavirechana. 

PATHYA

• Vamana – therapeutic emesis

• Virechana – therapeutic purgation

• Swedana karma – sudation, fomentation, sweating/steaming treatment

• Dhumapana – herbal smoking

• Diwaswapna – sleeping during the day time

• Puratanashali – old rice / paddy

• Raktashali – red rice

• Kulattha – horse gram

• Godhuma – wheat

• Yava – barley

• Mamsa – flesh /meat of rabbit, peacock, cock, parrot etc

• Dwija or andajamamsa – meat of birds

• Puranaghrita – old ghee

• Aja dugdha – goat milk

• Aja ghrita – ghee derived from goat’s milk

• Sura – fermented alcoholic herbal drink

• Madhu – honey

• Patola – pointed gourd

• Vaartaaka – brinjal

• Lashuna – garlic

• Bimbi – Ivy gourd

• Jambeera – Citron fruit

• Tanduleeya – Amaranthusspinosus

• Vaastuka – Chenopodium album

• Draksha – raisins

• Ela – Cardamom 

APATHYA

• Raktamokshana – bloodletting

• Purvavata – wind or breeze blowing from the east

• Purvabhojana – taking food facing east

• Purvapana – taking liquids facing east

• Meshadugdha – sheep milk

• Meshaghrita – ghee extracted from sheep milk

• Dushtajala – contaminated water

• Matsya – fish

• Kanda – tubers

• Sarshapa – mustard

• Rukshaannapana – dry foods

• Sheeta – cold things, foods and comforts

• Guru – foods which are heavy to digest  PATHYA

• Vamana – therapeutic emesis

• Virechana – therapeutic purgation

• Swedana karma – sudation, fomentation, sweating/steaming treatment

• Dhumapana – herbal smoking

• Diwaswapna – sleeping during the day time

• Puratanashali – old rice / paddy

• Raktashali – red rice

• Kulattha – horse gram

• Godhuma – wheat

• Yava – barley

• Mamsa – flesh /meat of rabbit, peacock, cock, parrot etc

• Dwija or andajamamsa – meat of birds

• Puranaghrita – old ghee

• Aja dugdha – goat milk

• Aja ghrita – ghee derived from goat’s milk

• Sura – fermented alcoholic herbal drink

• Madhu – honey

• Patola – pointed gourd

• Vaartaaka – brinjal

• Lashuna – garlic

• Bimbi – Ivy gourd

• Jambeera – Citron fruit

• Tanduleeya – Amaranthusspinosus

• Vaastuka – Chenopodium album

• Draksha – raisins

• Ela – Cardamom 

APATHYA

• Raktamokshana – bloodletting

• Purvavata – wind or breeze blowing from the east

• Purvabhojana – taking food facing east

• Purvapana – taking liquids facing east

• Meshadugdha – sheep milk

• Meshaghrita – ghee extracted from sheep milk

• Dushtajala – contaminated water

• Matsya – fish

• Kanda – tubers

• Sarshapa – mustard

• Rukshaannapana – dry foods

• Sheeta – cold things, foods and comforts

• Guru – foods which are heavy to digest  

1. SNEHAN- SVEDANA

Lavan 5gm + 50ml tila taila --> make hot and apply vaksha pradesha ---> then use nadi sveda or sankar sveda

2. VAMAN

a. deepan pachan-sunthi curna 5gm bid before meal

b. Abhyanter sneh- Vasa ghrita /Trphala ghrita /triushnadi ghrita****(triphala+trikatu+trimada+guda)

c. Vaman Kalp-

mulethi 20gm + pippali 20gm + vasa 20gm--> make 100 ml kvatha then add 15gm madanphala pippali + 2.5gm sandhav + 20ml madhu

d. Dhumapana

Ghrita siddhit yava/ghrita siddhit erand nal

e. Virechana kalp-

kutki 30gm + nisoth 30gm + choti harad 30gm--> make 100ml kvatha add 30ml erand taila + icchabhedi (sos)

f. in chronic stage brihaman/krishan  

BENEFICIAL YUSHA, YAVAGU AND PEYA (SOUPS, GRUELS) IN SHWASA

Nidagdhikadiyusha – Soup prepared with Nidagdhika (Solanumxanthocarpum), Bilwamajja (pulp of fruit of Aegle marmelos), Karkatasringi (Pistaciaintegerrima), Duralabha (Fagoniacretica), Gokshura (Tribulusterrestris), Guduchi (Tinosporacordifolia), Kulattha (horse gram) and Chitraka (Plumbagozeylanica)

Hingwadiyavagu – Gruel made up of Hingu (asafoetida), sauvarchalalavana (sauchal salt), jeeraka (cumin seeds), vidalavana (black salt), Pushkaramula (Inularacemosa) and Chitrakamula (roots of Plumbagozeylanica)

EFFECTIVE FORMULATIONS FOR SHWASA FROM TREATISES

Sauvarchaladichurna – powder prepared from Sauvarchalalavana (sauchal salt), shunti (ginger), bharangi (Clerodendrumserratum), Sharkara (sugar) should be taken with hot water

Bharangyadikalka – Paste of Bharangi (Clerodendrumserratum), Shunti (ginger), Maricha (pepper), Yavakshara (alkali derived from the whole plant of barley), Daruharidra (Berberisaristata), Chitrakamula (Roots of Plumbagozeylanica), Sariva (Hemidesmusindicus) and Murva (Argyreia nervosa)

Shatyadichurna – Powder of Shati (Hedychium spicatum) and Pushkaramula (Inularacemosa) should be taken with honey

Amalakichurna – powder of Emblicaofficinalis should be taken with honey

Kala lohachurna – ash or powder of iron should be taken with honey

KulattadiKwatha – Decoction of Kulatta (horse gram), shunti (ginger), vyaghri (Solanumxanthocarpum) and Vasa (Adhatodavasica)

DashamuladiKwatha – decoction of Dashamula (10 roots) mixed with powder of Pushkaramula (Inularacemosa)

Vasadi Kwatha – Decoction of Vasa (Adhatodavasica), Haridra (turmeric), Dhanyaka (coriander), guduchi (Tinosporacordifolia), Bharangi (Clerodendrumserratum), Pippali (long pepper), Shunti (ginger) and Kantakari (Solanumxanthocarpum)

Gudavaleha – confection prepared using puranaguda (old jaggery), katutaila (mustard oil)

Vardhamana Pippali – Long pepper treatment in which the powder, decoction or paste of long pepper (pippali) is given in an ascending way (increasing the dose gradually) and later tapered (gradually decreasing the dose and ending with the dose with which the treatment was started).

SINGLE HERBS USEFUL IN SHWASA VIS-À-VIS DYSPNOEA

• Vasa – Adhatodavasica

• Pushkaramula – Inularacemosa

• Kantakari – Solanumxanthocarpum

• Pippali – Long pepper / Piper longum

• Maricha – Black pepper

• Shunti – Ginger

• Bharangi – Clerodendronserratum

• Chitraka – Plumbagozeylanica

• Dashamula – 10 roots

• Twak – Cinnamon

• Talisapatra – Abieswebbiana

• Haritaki – Terminalia chebula

• Draksha – raisins

• Musta – Cyperusrotundus

• Karkatasringi – Pistaciaintegerrima

• Katuki – Picrorrhizakurroa

• Shati – Hedychiumspicatium

• Haridra – Turmeric

• Daruharidra – Berberisaristata

• Rasna – Alpinia galangal

• Ela – cardamom

• Vacha – Acoruscalamus

• Kulattha – horse gram

• Jeeraka – Cumin seeds

• Yavakshara – alkali of the full plant of barley

• Amalaki – Emblicaofficinalis

• Loha – iron

• Guduchi – Tinosporacordifolia

• Duralabha – Fagoniacretica

CLASSICAL AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR SHWASA

Kashayam (herbal decoction) –

• VyaghryadiKashayam

• DashamulaKashayam

• DashamulaKatutrayadiKashayam

• NayopayamKashayam

• ElakanadiKashayam

• PunarnavadiKashayam

AsavaArishtam (fermented herbal drinks) –

• Vasarishtam

• Vasakasavam

• Kanakasavam

• Dashamularishtam

• Duralabharishtam

• Draksharishtam

• Punarnavasavam

• Parthadhyarishtam

Leham / Rasayanam (confections, immune modulators) –

• Kantakariavaleham

• Talisapatradileham

• Mridvikadileham

• Agastya haritakirasayanam

• Kushmandarasayanam

• Chitrakaharitakileham

• Dashamularasayanam

• Ela dashamularasayanam

Churnam / Vatakam (herbal powders, granules) –

• Talisadichurnam

• Sitopaladichurnam

• Yashtimadhuchurnam

• Haridrakhandam

• Vyoshadivatakam

Vati, Gulikas, Bhasmas and Rasa aushadhas (tablets, pills, ashes and herbo-mineral preparations) –

• Shwasanandagulika

• Kasa-shwasachintamani rasa

• Shwasakutara rasa

• Eladivati

• Rasa sindura

• Mallasindura

• VyoshadiGuggulu

• Shringabhasma

• Abhrakabhasma

• Lohabhasma

RASODHI/BHASMA/PISTI-(120-250MG WITH MADHU/USHNODAKA)

- Mukta pisti-(mukta)

- Swasa kuthar rasa-(parad,gandhak,vatsanabh,tankan,manasheela,trikatu)

- Kaphaketu rasa-(vatsanabh,pippali,sankh bhasma,tankan)

- Mahalaxmi vilash rasa-(parad,gandhak,hartal,abhrak,vanga bhasma,tamrabhasm)

- Swaskasa chintamani rasa-(parad,swarmakshik,swarna,mukta,gandhak,abhrak,loh)

- Nagarjunarbh rasa-(abhrak,arjuna)

- Malla sindura-(sankhiya,parad,gandhak)

- Abhrak bhasma-(abhrak)

- Kaphakuthar rasa-(parad,gandhak,loha bhama,tamra bhasma,trikatu)

- Basant malti rasa-(swarn,mukta,khrpar,marich)

- Sankh bhasma-(sankh)

- Tankan bhasma-(tankan(suhaga)

VATI-(250-500MG WITH USHNA JALA)

- Vijay vati-(parad,gandhak,loha bhasma,vatsanabh,abhrak,triphala,trikatu)

- Marichyadi vati-(maricha,sunthi,pippali)

- Vyosadi vati-(trikatu,guda)

- Lavangadi vati-(lavanga,marich,vibhitaki,dalcheeni,babul kwath)

CURNA-(3-6GM WITH MADHU/USHNODAKA)

- Shrangyadi curna-(karkatshringi,kuth,trikatu,triphala,bhargi,pushkar mula)

- Shatyadi curna-(shati,pushkar mula,trikatu)

- Muktadhya curna-(mukta,pravala,vaidurya,sankh bhasma,)

- Kushmand curna-(kushmanda)

- Soma curna-( soma)

KAVATH/ASAV/ARISHTA-(20-40ML WITH SAMABHAG WATER)

- Kankasava-(dhattur,dashmula)

- Dashamula kvatha –(dashmula)

- Pathdhasava-(patha,murva,rastra,devdaru)

- Bharangi nagar kwath-(bhargi,sunthi)

- Devdarvadi kwath-(devdaru,shati,kuth,kantkari)

- Vasadi kwath-(adusa,haldi,dhaniya,guduchi,trikatu,kantkari)

GHRITA(20-30ML WITH USHNODAKA)

- Manashiladi ghrita-(manashila,laksha,haridra)

- Dashamuladi ghrita-(dashmula,pipper,sunthi,yavakshar)

- Chandanadhya taila-(sweta & rakta chandana,tagar devdaru)

AVLEHA/PAKA(20GM WITH DUGHDHA)

- Haridra khanda-(haridra,triphala,trikatu,lohbhasma,sarkara,goghrita)

- Bharangi sarkara-(bharangi,vasa panchanga,kantakari panchanga)

- Bhargi guda-(bharangi,dashamula,harad)

- Chitarak haritaki-(chitrak,harad,amla,guduchi,dashamula)

- Vyagri haritakai-(kantakari,harad,trikatu,chaturjata)

RASAYANA-(20GM DUGDHA)

- Chywanprasha Rasayana-(Dashmula,Amlaki,Kuth,Pushkarmula)