A Review Article on the Role of Virechana Karma in the Management of Tamak Shwasa (Bronchial Asthma)

Bronchial asthma is an inflammatory disease of the small airways characterized by episodes of dyspnea, chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing, particularly at night or early morning. Environmental conditions such as extreme changes in weather, pollution, smoking, allergens, and many more, it is also a genetically predisposed disease. A similar clinical condition with the name of Shwasa Roga, a disease of Pranavaha Srotas, had been mentioned way back in ancient textbooks of Ayurveda. There are five types of Shwasa Roga mentioned in our classics, in which Tamak Shwasa is elaborately explained with its own etio-pathogenesis, symptoms, aggravating factors, and various treatment modalities. Tamak Shwasa is caused when vitiated Vata gets reversed from its normal direction, i.e., Pratiloma gati of Vayu which vitiates Kapha and causes obstruction of Srotas. For the management of Tamak Shwasa, Ayurveda emphasizes the Samsodhana Chikitsa, especially Virechana Karma.