Ayurveda and the Understanding and Management of Respiratory Disease

Introduction

Disorders of the breath affect almost every human being at some time in their lifetime. Whether due to a common cold resulting in bronchitis or something more serious such as asthma or emphysema, the ability of people to simply breath is not always as easy as it seems.

Ayurveda refers to breathing disorders (dyspnea) as “swasa”. There are five basic types. They are characterized by the type of breath they create, rather than the doshic disturbances that create them. The five types are called: ksudra, tamaka, chinna, urdhva and mahan.

Descriptions

Ksudra svasa is the name for heavy breathing such as might occur after exercise. However, the condition can also arise from anything that taxes the respiratory system resulting in increased respiration, including heavy eating.

Tamaka svasa is the name for forceful respiration that leads to great distress. The condition is due primarily to kapha doshs vitiation and results in the eyes opening wide and gazing in an upward direction during an attack. The condition term is used synonymously with bronchial asthma. Ayurvedic folklore attributes Tamaka svasa to past life karma resulting from the indiscriminant killing of animals.

Chinna svasa is the name for interrupted breathing such as that which is seen in the terminal stages of illness. The term is used synonymously with “Cheyne – Stokes”, respiration which occurs somewhat near the time of death. When Chinna svasa occurs the eyes gaze downward and one eye often appears red. Chinna svasa often preceeds the onset of coma.

Urdhva svasa is the name for prolonged expiration and an inability to inhale. Like tamaka svasa, patients eyes gaze upward and the eye balls may even roll back. Often times the mouth is covered with mucous. It should not be surprising that the patient is described as being in great fear. Urdhva svasa does not directly correlate with any one specific syndrome noted in the West.

Mahan svasa means “The Great Dyspnea” as this is the most serious of all breath disorders. The condition occurs shortly before death. The breath is described as being similar to a bull in heat. There is a sound which accompanies the breath which is high pitched. Patients with mahan svasa are usually delusional, there urine and feces are often obstructed, and death is impending.