E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Tamaka Shwasa

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2024 Volume 9 Number 9 SEPTEMBER
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

A critical review on Shwasahara Mahakashaya in relation to Tamaka Shwasa

Rathi AA1*, Pawar PS2
DOI:10.21760/jaims.9.9.25

1* Ankit Ashok Rathi, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Ayurveda Samhita and Siddhanta, PMT’S Ayurveda college, Shevgaon, Maharashtra, India.

2 Pradeep Shivram Pawar, Professor and Head, Department of Ayurveda Samhita and Siddhanta, PMT’S Ayurveda college, Shevgaon, Maharashtra, India.

India is having rapid expansion, development and urbanization resulting into increased pollution levels leading to rise in respiratory illness. Bronchial asthma is one of the chronic respiratory diseases. Acharya Charaka has described five types of Shwasa Roga, Tamaka Shwasa is one of them. Charaka has elaborated etiopathogenesis, clinical features and treatment of Tamaka Shwasa. Shwasahara Mahakashaya is one of the unique composition of drugs explained by Acharya Charaka. It consists of ten Dravya’s, most of them tend to have Vata-Kaphaghna properties. Vitiated Vata- Kapha Dosha are responsible factors for pathogenesis of Tamaka Shwasa. The researches on pharmacological effect of this Dravya have shown Anti-inflammatory, Anti-histaminic, Anti-asthmatic properties.

Keywords: Bronchial Asthma, Shwasahara Mahakashaya, Tamaka Shwasa

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Ankit Ashok Rathi, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Ayurveda Samhita and Siddhanta, PMT’S Ayurveda college, Shevgaon, Maharashtra, India.
Email: 		Rathi AA, Pawar PS, A critical review on Shwasahara Mahakashaya in relation to Tamaka Shwasa. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2024;9(9):168-172.
Available From
https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/3589

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2024-08-14 2024-08-24 2024-09-04 2024-09-14 2024-09-26
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None Nil Yes 11.32

© 2024by Rathi AA, Pawar PSand Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

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Ankit AR et al. Shwasahara Mahakashaya in relation to Tamaka Shwasa

Introduction

Asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and rhinosinusitis are some of the chronic diseases of the airways. Recent studies have shown that the prevalence of asthma has been substantially increased and becoming a part of major health priority in India.[1]

Chronic respiratory diseases affect the individual’s quality of life, productivity leading to disability resulting into in raised economic burden for the individual as well as the society.[2] Ayurveda has described the five types of Shwasa Roga (respiratory disease), Tamaka Shwasa (Bronchil asthma) is one among them. Acharya Charaka has described Tamaka Shwasa as Yapya Vyadhi (Palliative disease).[3]

On the basis of sign and symptoms it is well corelated with Bronchial asthma. Shwasahara Mahakashaya is the group of ten medicinal plants described in Charaka Samhita for the management of different pathological conditions of respiratory system under the heading of Mahakashaya. The present review helps to understand use of Shawasahara Mahakashya in the treatment of Tamaka Shwasa.

Materials and Methods

This review is an attempt to critically examine Shwasahara Mahakashaya in relation to Tamaka Shwasa. Properties of Dravya(drug) has been discussed & analysed from Ayurvedic & modern pharmacological perspectives using Ayurvedic literature as well as various research article & monograph.

Review of Literature

Table 1: Showing list of Shwasahara Mahskashaya Dravya[4]

SNNameLatin Name FamilyEnglish Name
1.ShatiHedychium spicatum Ham.ex SmithZingiberaceaeSpiked ginger lily
2.PushkarmulaInula racemose Hook. f.CompositaeElicampane
3.AmlavetasaGarcinia pedunculata Roxb.GuttiferaeCommon sorel
4.ElaElettaria cardamomum Maton.ZingiberaceaeCardamom
5.HinguFerula narthex Boiss.UmbelliferaeAsafoetida
6.AgaruAquillaria agallocha Roxb.ThymelaeaceaeEagle wood
7.SurasaOccimum sanctum Linn.LabiataeHolybasil
8.TamalakiPhyllanthus amarus Linn.EuphorbiaceaeStone breaker
9.JivantiLeptadenia reticulata W.& A.AsclepiadaceaeLeptadenia
10.ChandaAngelica glauca Edgw.UmbelliferaeAngelica

Table 2: Showing properties of Shwasahara Mahakashaya as per Bhavaprakasha Nighantu

SNNameRasaGunaViryaVipakaKarma
1.Shati[5]Kashaya, TiktaLaghu, TikshnaAnushnaKatuShwasahara Kasahara, Grahi
2.Pushkarmula[6]Tikta, KatuLaghu, TikshnaUshnaKatuShwasahara Kasahara, Vata-Kapha Hara
3.Amlavetasa [7]AmlaLaghu, Ushna, RukshaUshnaAmlaVata-Kapha Hara
4.Ela[8]KatuLaghu, SheetaUshnaKatuShwasahara Kasahara, Vata-Kapha Hara
5.Hingu[9]KatuLaghu,
Tikshna, Snigdha		UshnaKatuVatahara, Shulahara
6.Agaru[10]Katu, TiktaLaghuUshnaKatuVata-Kapha Hara
7.Surasa[11]Katu, TiktaLaghu, Ruksha, TikshnaUshnaKatuVata-Kapha Hara
8.Tamalaki[12]Tikta, Kashyaa, MadhuraLaghu, RukshaSheetaMadhuraKasahara, Shwasahara Shothahara, Sramsana
9.Jivanti[13]MadhuraLaghu, Sheeta,SnigdhaSheetaMadhuraTridoshashamaka, Rasayana
10.Chanda[14]Tikta, Katu, MadhuraLaghu, TikshnaSheetaKatuVata-Kapha Hara

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Table 3: Showing Phytochemical composition and pharmacological properties of Shwasahara Mahakashaya

SNNamePhytochemical compositionPharmacological properties
1.Shati[15]Saponins, alkaloids, resins, carbohydrates, protein, steroids, tannin, starch and glycosides, albumin saccharine, phytosterols, flavonoids and triterpenoidsAntihistaminic, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, and Antiulcer
2.Pushkarmula[16]Inulin, alantolactone, β-sitosterol, isoalantolactone, dihydroalantolactone, and its glucosidesAnalgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic, Anticancer, Antiasthmatic, Antiallergic, Antidiabetic, Antiapoptotic, Cardioprotective, and Hepatoprotective
3.Amlavetasa[17]Sitosterol, Benzophenones,Flavanoid,Triterpene,Biflvanoids.Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant,Analgesic,Antimicrobial,Antinociceptive
4.Ela[18]1,8-cineole, terpineol, limonene, terpinyl acetates, linalyl acetate, linalool, sabinene, eucalyptol, terpineol, limonene, linalool, and sabineneAntioxidant, Antitumor, Antihypertensive, Immunomodulatory, Anti-inflammatory, and Metabolic regulation
5.Hingu[19]Sesquiterpene, coumarins and polysulfidesAntiasthama, Antihelminthic, Antispasmodic, Antiviral
6.Agaru[20]Terpenoids, flavonoids, sesquiterpenesAnti-inflammatory, Analgesic,Antiasthama, Anticancer,Antioxidant
7.Surasa[21]Alkaloids, Flavanoids,Glycosides, Tannin, Saponin, SteroidsAnti-microbial, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory,Antifungal , Hepatoprotective,
8.Tamalaki[22]Alkaloid, Glycoside, Steroids, Tannins, Saponnins, Terpenoids, Phenol, Flavanoids.Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Hepatoprotective, Antidiabetic.
9.Jivanti[23]Terpenoids, alkaloids, sterols, tannin, saponins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, and glycosidesAnti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immunomodulator, Antipyretic, Anti-asthamatic, Anti-microbial, Cardioprotective.
10.Chanda[24]Monoterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, proteins, saponins, sterols.Antioxidant, Antifungal, Antibacterial, Broch relaxant, Neuroprotective.

Discussion

Shwasa Roga has been vividly explained in Ayurvedic literatures. Based on clinical features, pathological changes and breathing changes Tamaka Shwasa can be correlated to Bronchial Asthma. According to Acharya Charaka any drug or dietary regimen which reduce vitiated Vata along with Kapha Dosha are useful in treatment of Tamaka Shwasa. The substances which act on any single Dosha are not beneficial in treating Tamaka Shwasa. Vitiated Vata along with Kapha Dosha gets accumulated in Urdhva Bhaga (upper body parts) and thus causes symptoms like Pinasa (rhinitis), Ghurghur Shabda (wheezing sound). The maximum drugs in Shwasahara Mahakashaya have Katu & Tikta Rasa and Ushna Virya (hot potency) which pacifies Vata and Kapha Dosha. Laghu and Tikshna Gunas help to pacify elevated Kapha Dosha. Ushna Guna causes downward movement of Vata Dosha. Shwasahara Mahakashaya is specifically designed according to these properties, thus it is beneficial in treating Tamaka Shwasa.

Bronchial asthma results into inflammation of airway. Most of the drugs in Shwasahara Mahakashaya possess anti-inflammatory property which helps in reducing swelling and inflammation of airway.

Also, many of them proved to have anti asthmatic, anti-histaminic effect. Thus, Shawasahara Mahakashaya is effective in treating Tamaka Shwasa.

Conclusion

After analysing each Dravya of Shwahara Mahakashya it can be concluded that it is highly beneficial in treating Tamaka Shwasa. Most of the Dravya have Katu, Tikta Rasa and Ushna Virya which pacifies Vata and Kapha Dosha. Also, most of them are proved to have Anti-inflammatory, Anti-histaminic, Anti-asthmatic pharmacological effect. Hence Shwasahara Mahakashaya helps in breaking down the Samprapti of Tamaka Shwasa and thus can be used for treating Tamaka Shwasa.


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