Scientific explanation for using purgation therapy in Tamaka Shwasa (bronchial asthma).

Abstract

Ayurveda emphases on three fold therapeutic management of the diseases viz; Samshodhana (purification), Samshamana (pacification) and Nidana Parivarjana (avoiding causative factors). Panchakarma is the therapeutic technology of Samsodhana. Panchakarma is the integral part of Kayachikitsa (general medicine).It consists of five main purification procedures namely, Vamana (emesis), Virechana (purgation), Basti (administration of drug through rectum/ urethra/vagina), Raktamokashana (bloodletting) and Nasya (administration of drug through nasal route). According to Ayurveda palliative therapy given after purification therapy is more useful thus it should be given prior to palliative therapy in every disease. Tamaka Shwasa is a disease described in Ayurvedic texts that shows close resemblance with bronchial asthma on the basis of clinical manifestations. Due to exhausting and prolonged conventional treatment majority of asthmatic patients opt Ayurvedic treatment for better results, and maximum (especially those who take treatment at early stage) get significant relief. Managing Bronchial asthma on Ayurvedic line of treatment is totally different from that of conventional management. Clinical validation of a therapy further required scientific explanation and justification for its global acceptance. Thus in this paper an attempt is made to search the probable scientific reasons for the action of purgation therapy in Tamaka Shwasa (Bronchial asthma).