A Critical Review on ‘Tamake Tu Virechanam’ in the Management of Tamaka Shwasa (Bronchial Asthma)

Abstract

In Ayurveda, Tamaka Shwasa has been described as the Kapha-vataj vikara of Pranavaha srotas and its site of origin is mainly Pitta, where pathway of Prana vayu is obstructed by Vikrut kapha, that leads to the Pratiloma gati of Prana vayu and shows the cardinal symptoms like Shwaskricchata, Kasa, Pinasa, etc. It may be caused and get aggravated by various factors like exposure to dust, cold, fumes, inhalation of smoke etc. Avarudha Marga of Pranavayu is the principal pathology and course of the illness reveals episodic nature. Prognostically it is described as a Yapya Vyadhi. On the basis of its etiology, pathogenesis and clinical features, Tamaka Shwasa can be correlated with the disease of the respiratory tract i.e., bronchial asthma. Its prevalence is increasing day by day due to urbanization and westernization. Its management is totally based on symptoms in conventional medicine but in Ayurveda, main principle for the management of Tamaka Shwasa is Nidana parivarjana along with purification therapies (Samshodhana chikitsa) specially ‘Virechana Karma’ along with Shamana Chikitsa which has to be administered to the patient on the basis of vyadhi bala, rogi Bala and Vegavastha of the disease Tamaka Shwasa.