A COMPARATIVE STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF BHAGOTTAR GUTIKA AND SHWASAKUTHAR RASA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TAMAKA SHWASA (BRONCHIAL ASTHMA)

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation. WHO estimates that 15 to 20 million people have bronchial asthma in India. In Ayurveda, bronchial asthma is considered Tamaka Shwasa by its symptomatology. Management of bronchial asthma includes using bronchodilators, corticosteroids and other drugs, which have side effects. So, a clinical study was done as per GINA guidelines and CCRAS protocol using herbo-mineral formulations under permission granted by the ethical committee to find out a better remedy as per the Ayurvedic approach. For this comparative study, 37 (Group A- 20 and Group B-17) clinically diagnosed Tamaka Shwasa (bronchial asthma) patients were selected. Group A and Group B patients were given Bhagottar Gutika and Shwasakuthar Rasa, respectively. The duration of the study for each group was 30 days. The overall effect of Bhagottar Gutika (Group A) showed that three patients were markedly improved, 11 patients moderately improved, and six mildly improved. Similarly, Group B (Shwasakuthar Rasa) suggested that one patient improved significantly, 8 and 5 patients moderately and mildly improved, respectively, while three patients showed no improvement. Bhagottar Gutika (Group A) yielded more symptomatic relief and progress in the value of FEV1 and FVC in patients compared to Shwasakuthar Rasa (Group B). At the end of this study, it can be concluded that Bhagottar Gutika (Group A) was found to be more effective than Shwasakuthar Rasa in the management of Tamaka Shwasa (Bronchial Asthma).