“Comparative Study of Efficacy of ‘Shunthyadi Churna’ and ‘Parnasapanchaka Kwatha’ in the Management of Tamaka Shwasa with special reference to Bronchial Asthmaâ€.

Tamaka Shwasa is a type of  Shwasa Roga in which patients feel excessive difficulty in breathing and drowning in dark. It may be defined as a Kapha-Vataja disease of Pranavahashrotasa, originating from Pitta Sthana, in which there is derangement of Prana Vayu, along with obstruction by Kapha; the vitiated Vayu attains Pratilomgati and the respiration is disturbed with feeling of tightness of chest, choking of neck or feeling of merging in darkness. It is analogous to Bronchial Asthma due to similarity in symptoms, pathogenesis, onset, causes and precipitating factors. Bronchial Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation and increased airway responsiveness resulting in symptoms of wheeze, cough, chest tightness and dyspnoea. It is also functionally characterized by the airflow limitations which usually reverse spontaneously or with treatment. Current estimate suggest that 300 million people worldwide suffer from Asthma and an additional 100 million may be diagnosed with Asthma by 2025. According to WHO, by the year 2020, Asthma along with COPD will become the third leading cause of death.  India has estimated 15-20 million asthmatics. The available treatment in modern medical science like Bronchodilators, Steroids even in the form of inhalers have made tremendous success in providing instant or symptomatic relief in Bronchial Asthma. But there is recurrent acute exacerbation with remissions and treatment has many side effects like nausea, vomiting, tremor and huskiness of voice. So, need of time is to go for herbal remedies and procedures which not only treat the above ailment but are cost effective, safe and reduces the episodes of relapse of the disease. Keeping this fact in mind, the clinical trial is proposed. A number of formulations have been mentioned in Ayurvedic classics for the treatment of Tamaka Shwasa. Vata and Kapha are the predominant Doshas involved in the pathogenesis of Tamaka Shwasa. The treatment must be of Vatahara and Kaphahara line along with the clearing of the passage of Pranavaha Srotas. Therefore, the drugs with the above said qualities are needed for relieving the symptoms of Tamaka Shwasa. Keeping all above points in mind, the two compound drugs Shunthyadi Churna and Parnasapanchaka Kwatha have been selected to know their effect in treating Tamaka Shwasa (Bronchial Asthma). The drugs are to be administered orally, so does not require any specific instrument or training as in case of inhalers and nebulizers. The contents of the drugs are cheap and easily available so the treatment cost is minimal and can be afforded even by poor patients.