Shwasa Rog or Damaa or Asthama

Shwasa Rog is also known as Damaa or more popularly as Asthama. As name suggests, it is a type of breathing problem. It is a disease of respiratory system in which bronchial tubes (which carry air to lungs) get inflammed. In this condition, the patient needs to exert more effort during expiration. In other words, we can say that expiration is forceful.

Shwasa Rog is mainly of two types viz. Kshudra shwasa and Tamak shwasa. Kshudra Shwasa or dyspnoea (difficult breathing) on exertion is a mild type of shwasa rog whereas the symptoms of Tamak Shwasa are paroxyms of dyspnoea, cough, flushed face, increased respiratory rate, darkness in front of eyes and relieved feeling when phlegm (cough slime) is coughed out.

Line of treatment:

1. Raise patient's head and shoulder by backrest or by putting pillows
2. Keep the patient away from allergens (dust, pollens, animal fur, smoke etc.) and irritants (ciggarete, chemicals etc.)
3. Stop kaph-vardhak aahaar like curd and take lukewarm water for drinking
4. Massage chest with til ka tel (sesame oil) mixed with sendhav lavan (salt)
5. Perform prastar sweda by using hot stone wrapped in a cloth after the massage or in case the stone is not available then it can be done by using an utkarita (roti) of black til powder kneaded with milk (add urad atta or wheat atta) and tying the utkarita on the chest of the patient

You will observe that by doing the above, thick mucous starts melting and patients starts getting some relief.

Important Home Remedies:

• Use powdered dried ginger or pippali with honey twice a day
• Swarasa (fresh juice) of vasa mixed with honey
• Decoction of yashtimadhu, saunf, choti ilayachi and mishri - this mixture can also be used in tea
• Apamarg kshar with honey or with warm water

Popular Medicines:

1. Ras: Shwasa kuthar ras and Shwasa kas chintamani ras
2. Asava & Arishta: Kanakasava, Vasarishta, Vasa-asava
3. Avleha: Chitrak haritaki avaleh, Chyawanprash avleha, Vasa-avleha
4. Churan: Talesadi churan, Sitopladi churan, Eladi churan
5. Vati: Khadiradi vati, Lavanagadi vati

In addition of above, there is a plant that we all can grow in our houses or kitchen gradens, which has been proved as one of the best medicines for curing even acute asthama. I am giving the photograph also here for quick reference. This plant do not need any special care and once grown, it will take it's own nutrients from earth and it needs only normal care as in for other plants. The usage of this plant is also very simple. The leaves of this plant should be chewed in the morning without eating or drinking anything for continuous 7 days and then leave it for another 7 days. Make sure that you swallow the chewed leave with warm water. Start chewing the leaves (one leave everyday) again after 7 days and do it for 7 days again. Repeat the process 3 times and even the acute asthamtic patients will see the results. Some patients get much better results if they chew the leave with one balck pepper grain and then swallow both with warm water.

The use of this plant has some side effects and after effects also and they range from ulcers on the tongue to increased blood pressure so it is recommended that an ayurvedic physician is consulted before starting to use it.

Caveat: Patients need to make sure that the medicines are taken under the supervision of registered ayurvedic medical practioner.