Abstract

SPIROMETRIC EVALUATION OF CERTAIN HERBAL PREPARATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TAMAKA SHWASA W.S.R. TO BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Dr. Sangeeta* and Dr. Rajendra Prasad

ABSTRACT

Tamaka shwasa is one of the most elaboratively described disease in brihatrayi (three major ayurvedic classics) because of the graveness of the disease. On the basis of features, Tamaka shwasa is commonly correlated with the modern entity Bronchial asthma. According to the World Health Organization by the year 2020, asthma along with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will become the third leading cause of death. So, a clinical study was planned to evaluate the anti-asthmatic effect of certain herbal preparation on the basis of pre and post spirometric measurements of asthmatic patients. A total of 30 patients were divided into two groups having 15 patients each. Group A was given herbal ayurvedic preparation for a period of two months with 15 days follow up. Group B was given the same regimen after performing prior Virechana karma (ayurvedic purgation therapy). The spirometric evaluation was done before and after the treatment and it was observed that the increase in the FVC, FEV1 and PEFR was significant in both group A & B, but group B showed much better improvement than group A after completion of two months of trial. Hence, the study concluded that the ayurvedic preparation has anti asthmatic effect, but the improvement is much significant when shodhana karma (biopurification) is performed prior to shamana therapy (ayurvedic internal medicine).

Keywords: Tamaka shwasa, Bronchial asthma, spirometry, shodhana, shamana therapy.