ROLE OF DHUMAPANA (NEBULIZATION) AND PANA WITH ARDRAKA ARKA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TAMAKA SHWASA

Abstract

Tamaka Shwasa is one among the major disease explained in Ayurveda is caused due to vitiation of Kapha and Vata dosha in Pranavaha srotas. The condition is analogous to bronchial asthma as explained in modern medical science. India has an estimated 15-20 million Asthmatics every year and the disease occurs at very young age that survey states one in every six child under the age of 16 is affected.

Asthma is characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing which vary in severity and from person to person. It is a chronic condition, which frequently requires continuous medical care, comprising of different routes of administration and the important one is the inhalation route which has been developed to administer the drugs by delivering to site of action and to get immediate effects. Most of our Acharyas have explained different treatment modalities in the management of Tamaka Shwasa that consists of Shodhana, Shamana and Tarpana, but the concept of ‘Arka prayoga’ is explained in Arka Prakasha which stands unique. The book written by Ravana has explained different drugs used to prepare Arka (Extraction of active principles through the distillation process), its preparation method, qualities and application of Arka on different diseases internally as Pana along with its dosage in detail. In the study during the attack of Shwasa one group was administered Ardraka arka pana and the second group was administered Dhumapana (inhalation) with Ardraka arka by Nebulization method to conceptualize the study and parallel new perspective to rising trend in management of asthma in exacerbated condition. Statistical significance of selected criteria showed highly significant results in Dhumapana (Nebulization) by proving that natural therapies like Ayurveda can provide a better direction in improving the quality of life of Shwasa patients without any adverse effects of medications.