ROLE OF AHARA AND VIHARA IN MANAGEMENT OF TAMAKA SHWASA

Abstract

Ayurveda is the science of life dealing with physical,  psychological as well as spiritual well-being of an individual.  The Srotas in which Pranavayu flows is known as Pranvaha Srotas. Any derangement in the normal physiological values  of the Pranvaha Srotas may lead to several GI, cardiac and  respiratory disorders. Tamaka Shwasa shows close  resemblance with bronchial asthma on the basis of clinical  manifestations. According to Ayurveda, Tamaka Shwasa is a  Pitta sthana Samudhabhava and Kaphavataja Vyadhi. Whenever there is obstruction of Prana Vayu by Kapha Dosha, the vitiated Vayu gets Pratiloma to produce Tamaka Shwasa. A look at the Nidana of Shwasa show that Raja, Dhooma, SheetambuSevena etc. are the  causative factors for Shwasa. The Nidana focus on aggravating Vata and Kapha like Guru  Bhojan, Pishtanna etc. Sushruta mentions the intake of Ruksha and AbhishyandiBhojana as the  cause of Shwasa. Thus, the aim of lifestyle in a patient of Shwasa should be to leave these foods  and incorporate such food & drinks which are Ushna, Kapha-Vatahara and help in  VataAnulomana i.e. putting Vata in its normal Marga. This will, in turn, help in clearing the  PranavahaSrotas and relieving the symptoms of Tamaka Shwasa. This will also prevent the  further relapse of the Tamaka Shwasa symptoms.The present article is a review on the lifestyle  modification through Ahara and Vihara in Tamaka Shwasa.