A Randomized Comparative Clinical Study on Tamaka Shwasa (bronchial asthma) with Vamana and Virechana along with Shamana therapy

Introduction: Tamaka Shwasa (TS) is mentioned as one of the varieties among five types of Shwasa Roga as a “Swatantra Vyadhi” and has its own etiology, pathology, and management which resembles with bronchial asthma. Asthma affects about 6% of children and 2% of adults in India's 1.31 billion population. In TS, two treatment modalities Shodhana and Shamana have been explained. Hence, an attempt had been made to clinically compare the result of Vamana Karma and Virechana Karma along with the same Shamana drugs, i.e. Shrungyadi Churna with Guduchyadi Kashaya. Methodology: This study was an open comparative clinical trial with sample size 100 patients (50 in each group) for duration of 60 days. The intervention for Group I was Vamana Karma, whereas for Group II was Virechana Karma, followed by Shamana Chikitsa in both groups. Required hematological, radiological and routine examinations, pulmonary function tests, Asthma Control Questionnaire, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, and other parameters were assessed for the clinical evaluation. Results and Discussion: In both group, the parameters such as Asthma Control Questionnaire, SGRQ-C score, Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), Hemoglobin, Total leukocyte count, Eosinophils, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and Absolute eosinophil count have shown significant (P < 0.0001) improvement. In comparison to Group I (relief percentage range from 46% to 92.68%), Group II treatment has shown better results in the relief (60%–90%) of all the clinical parameters of Tamaka Swasa (Bronchial asthma). No significant adverse effects have been noted throughout the study. Conclusion: Both Vamana and Virechana along with administration of Shamana drugs have statistically highly significant effect in TS (Bronchial asthma). However, the Virechana shows better relief in clinical symptoms as compared to Vamana.