Asthma (Swasa Roga) and Ayurveda

The book "Asthma (Swasa Roga) and Ayurveda" written by the well Known author Professor AJAY KUMAR SHARMA is a complete and comprehensive treatise on the subject. This is the first book in English which deals with the subject in all completeness and clarity covering all aspects of "Asthma – Swasa Roga" as described in various modern medical texts and various treatise of Ayurveda. The entire text is richly supported with original reference from Ayur- vedic classics. Latest information regarding Asthma has been incorporated with the objective of providing basic knowledge to readers. The book is meant especially for Ayurvedic student, Physicians and Teacher for creating awareness among masses about the dependable holistic approach of Ayurveda in the management and prevention of "Asthma Swasa Roga" Separate chapters have been added on modern concepts of Asthma, Ayurvedic concepts of Swasa Roga, Diet pathya – Apathya in Asthma -Swasa Roga – Tamaka Swasa and exercises and yoga in the management of "Asthma –Swasa Roga" The author of the book being a senior professor of Ayurvedic medicine (kayacikitsa) in national Institute of Ayurveda. Jaipur and being a reputed teacher, clinician and researcher, this book has been richly benefited by his scholarship and professional by his scholarship and professional experience. It is expected that this book will be useful for prospective readers.

About the Author

Born on 31st May, 1954 Professor AJAY KUMAR SHARMA, graduated in Ayurveda with Medicine and Surgery from A. & U. Tibbia College, New Delhi in 1976 with throughout top rank career. He completed his M.D. career. He completed his M.D. (Aj.) [B.H.U.] and Ph.D. under the guidance of his illustrious mentor Prof. R. H. Singh; presently Professor Emeritus; Faculty of Ayurveda, I.M.S., B.H.U., Varanasi-U.P. and ex Vice Chancellor, Rajasthan Ayurveda University, Jodhpur.

Prof. Sharma is now one of the senior most Professors and Head of P.G. Department of Kayacikitsa and Deputy Medical Superintendent of Hospitals of National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur. He is one of the Chief Ayurvedic Physicians and Panca Karma specialist in the Institute. In the capacity of a reputed Ayurvedic Physician, a capable teacher and outstanding researcher, Prof. Sharma has published 11 standard books on Ayurveda and over 190 research papers in various journals of National and International reputation. He is recipient of 'Rashtriya Ekta Samman' in memory of Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, 2007; "Swargiya Shri Shivnath Sharma Ayurveda Shodha Puruskara 2007" and many more awards and prizes for outstanding services, achievements and contributions in the field of Ayurveda. He has contributed chapters to the prestigious volumes on Ayurveda – Kayacikitsa – Pancakarma published by CRC Press London – New York – Washington and Argentina. Prof. Sharma has produced 40 M.D. (Ay.) and 06 Ph.D. under his guidance. He is the expert member of several important national level committees.

Preface

Asthma is a disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. In an individual, they may occur from hour to hour and day to day. Asthma is an episodic disease with acute exacerbations interspersed with symptom free periods. Status Asthmatics is a state of series of asthmatic attacks without any remissions which makes the patient exhausted and incapacitated and if not treated urgently may lead to fatal outcome. The human and economic burden associated with this condition is severe. Worldwide, the economic cost associated with asthma is estimated to exceed those of Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined. The prevalence of Asthma is rising in many parts of the world alarmingly. Nearly 5 to 10 percent population suffer from it. In India there are approximately 15-20 million Asthmatics. The prognosis of individual asthma attack is generally good. There is occassionally a fatal outcome, especially if treatment is inadequate or delayed. Although lots of oral and parenteral allopathic medicines are available in modern system of medicine for treatment of Asthma, but all these play palliative role and cure of Asthma is yet to be invented. Corticosteroids, though produce instantaneous relief to the patients of Asthma, but if used unjudiciously and for a prolonged period, these drugs may produce various side and toxic effects in the patients of Asthma.

Clinical manifestations of Asthma strikingly resemble with Swasa Roga as described in various Ayurvedic treatise. Acarya Caraka while emphasizing the importance of Swasa Roga has described that there are several life threatening diseases, but no one is as fatal as Swasa Roga which can rapidly claim a person's life (C.C. 17/6). Acarya Susruta has quoted Swasa Roga are described in Ayurveda. Amongst them Urdhwa Swasa, Maha Swasa and Chinna Swasa are said to be Asadhya (Incurable). Ksudra Swasa is produced due to exertion and is cured on rest. The remaining Tamaka Swasa (Bronchial Asthma) is said to be "Yapya" (difficult to treat) and it is Sadhya (Curable) in earlier stages. In Ayurvedic classics great emphasis has been laid over consideration of built of the patient, status of Agni, Sansodhana therapy, Sansamana therapy and Ahara-Vihara of the patient of Swasa Roga. It is experienced that if holistic approach of Ayurveda is employed in the management of Swasa Roga (Tamaka Swasa – Bronchial Asthma), the results are much better and there is tremendous improvement in the quality of life, with remote possibilities of development of complications of Swasa Roga.

It is true that the dependable treatment of Swasa Roga (Bronchial Asthma) in emergency conditions remains only modern system of medicine. But author feels that Ayurvedic scholars must be competent enough to diagnose various Respiratory emergencies, so that they may diagnose the condition early and if the underlying respiratory emergency e.g. Status Asthmaticus cannot be managed properly by them, largely because of non availability of fast acting Ayurvedic drugs, the patient may be referred to appropriate places for saving his life. This is one of important reasons of incorporating latest information about the subject in the present book.

The basic objective of writing this book is to highlight the holistic and rational approach of Ayurvedic system of medicine in the management of Swasa Roga (Bronchial Asthama) which seems to be more result oriented and successful. Great emphasis has been laid down over preventive aspects of Swasa along with improving the quality of patient's life, which is possible with holistic approach of Ayurveda only.

The book is divided into four units, Ist Unit deals with the modern concepts of Asthma. The Second Unit consists of Ayurvedic concepts of Swasa Roga in details. In third Unit Swasa Roga in children is described in details. Unit four contains exhaustive descriptions of Life Styles in the Patients of Bronchial Asthma. The book provides a comprehensive Bibliography and opens avenues for further reading. The author of this book being a teacher, physician and researcher in this field has utilized his professional experience with clinical medicine of Ayurveda in compiling the present book. It is hoped and believed in compiling the present book. It is hoped and believed that this small effort will prove to be of some benefit to the prospective readers.

Opinions and suggestions to improve the book are welcome.