Ayurveda has got a unique approach for the treatment of Shwasa(~ asthma) . Ayurveda describes it as a disease marked by increased rate of respiration and difficulty in breathing. The treatment of all the patients of Shwasa cannot be the same. Because the causative factors may be varied like exposure to dust, excessive heavy exercise, over indulgence in sexual act, staying continuously in a cool place (e.g. priests in temples specially Shiva temples, or even continuous use of air conditioner), drinking excessive quantity of water (especially when there is no thirst) etc. As per these different causative factors, the treatment has to be designed specifically. Ayurveda always advices treatment which suits to the specific patient, by assessing various factors like Prakriti (~ body constitution), Agni (~ digestive capacity), Sattva (~ mental strength) etc. We find various presentations in patients like aggravation of symptoms in majority of the patients at night, but in certain patients the aggravation is observed in the morning or early morning. Since Ayurvedic treatment is based on thorough study of many such factors, Ayurvedic treatment is very much effective, but free from side effects.
Another unique advice is given by Ayurveda, that the patients of Shwasa should be treated by classifying them according to their Bala (~strength), i.e. Balawan (patients having good strength) and Durbala (weak patients ). Also further classifying them as per dominance of Doshas i.e. Kapha dominant and Vata dominant.
Ayurvedic treatment in patients of Shwasa (~ asthma) is effective in all the conditions of the disease. In Vegavastha (acute exacerbation of Asthma or asthma attack) we have experienced in more than 200 patients that the attack is controlled within 20 to 30 minutes of Ayurvedic treatment and there is almost no difficulty in breathing then. To prevent further attacks, the long term treatment is given. With specific medicines (mainly Rasayana), the recurrence can be stopped. There is long term remission and even cure. Of course Ayurveda has got its own prognostic criteria for these patients. E.g. as the disease becomes chronic, chances for complete cure become less. But still the status can be maintained and further deterioration can be prevented even in such patients.
These days many patients of Shwasa come in a distressed state usually diagnosed by modern medicine as COPD, fibrotic changes in lungs due to certain diseases and even loss of elasticity or normal capacity of lungs to contract and expand. Even for such patients with specific Ayurvedic treatments and Rasayana (~ specific medicines for improving the tissue quality and rejuvenation) long term remission and improvement in quality of life is possible. We at Dixit Ayurveda have experienced this on many patients.