Asthma (Ayurvedic Name – Tamak Shawas)

Asthma (Ayurvedic Name – Tamak Shawas) — Asthma is a lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. In today’s stressful and modern urbanised life style, increase in environment pollution, population are some of the factors that increase cases of Asthma. About 16% of Indian population suffers from Asthma and 11% (approax.22million) cases are found in the USA.

Ayurveda says there are 5 types of Vat (energy) in our body which control all types of movement (walking, talking, movement of lungs, movement of thoughts etc.) in a body . The first type is known as Pran (life ) vayu (air).The vitiated ‘Pranvayu’ is combined with ‘Kapha dosha causing obstruction in the ‘Pranavaha srotasa ‘(Respiratory track) in lungs. This is called Asthma or Tamak (dark) swas (breath). During the attack patient sees dark, black in front of him, that is why it is called Tamak Swas . Asthma in Ayurveda is categorised in Swas (breath) Roga (disease).

There are five types of shwas roga (breathing problem) according to Ayurveda:

1. Mahashwas
2. Urdhwashwas
3. Chhinnashwas
4. Tamakshwas
5. Kshudrashwas.

Two subtypes of Tamak-shwas are:

A) Santamak – associated symptom-fever and fainting. Aggravated in night.

B) Pratamak – Psychological factors are causes for this type of Tamak Swas , and patient relax in cold air, cold food.

Causes:

• Environmental
• Genetic
• Infection
• Allergic
• Smoking during pregnancy
• Children whose parent smoke
• Physical excretion or mental –stress
• Occupation exposure
• Dietary imbalance

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of asthma depend on the states:

Early Signs

• feeling tired
• chest tightness
• breathing problem
• itching throat
• Sneezing
• Coughing with mucus

Chronic Symptoms

• Wheezing and tightness in chest
• Shortening of breath
• Increase in coughing

Acute Stage Symptom

• Bluish coloration of nails (cyanosis)
• Difficulty in talking
• Excessive coughing shortness of breath.
• Chest pain
• Higher heart beat
• Numbness of limbs

Yoga for Asthma

• Virasana
• Supta Baddhakonasana
• Supta Virasana
• Adhomukha Svanasana
• Uttanasana
• Tadasana

Home Cure

• Avoid the causes
• Add garlic in to milk boil for sometime , then drink it hot
• Honey with few drops of ginger juice everyday in the morning empty stomach
• Turmeric powder twice a day with warm water
• One tablespoon of Amla with honey
• Make a paste of mustard oil with rock salt apply on chest.

Useful herbs in asthma treatment include

• Vasaka
• Garlic
• Clove
• Holy Basil
• Piper Lungum
• Adhatoda Vasica
• Thylophora Asthmatica
• Terminalia Chebula or Gall Nut
• Bay berry.

Therapeutic Remedies

• Chyawanaprash
• Agastya Rasayana
• Sitopaladi Churna
• Swasha-Kasa-Chintamani Rasa
• Kanakasava

Useful Advice

Avoid curd, butter, milk, bananas, guavas, alcohol, fried foods, and sour foods. Excessive physical exercise and exposure to damp and cold and should also be avoided.