Ayurvedic Liquid Remedies In The Management of Shwasa, Dyspnoea

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay)
Dyspnoea or Shwasa is characterized by shortness in breath or difficulty in breathing.

Introduction

According to Ayurveda, Shwasa is caused due to sluggish agni or pitta in the gut. The vata which has been vitiated due to different causative or triggering factors (on the back drop of agnimandhya or low metabolism or weak digestion), moves in abnormal courses, especially in the upward direction. On reaching the upper channels of the body, especially the head and neck, the vayu provokes the kapha. The provoked kapha blockes all the srotases (channels of the body, especially those related to transportation of air) and further obstructs the pathways of vata. The vata and kapha vitiate each other and worsen the blocks. The channels being blocked by kapha and the obstruction to the free movement of vata predispose to the manifestation of shwasa or dyspnoea.

Line of treatment

Treatment strategy of Shwasa –
The treatment strategy of Shwasa includes:

• Removal of blocks caused by Kapha, expulsion of kapha through vamana
• Expulsion of morbid pitta through virechana and normalizing pitta and agni (metabolic fire)
• Gaining control over vayu and normalizing its movements in the body by administration of effective medication and diet
• Lifestyle corrections
• Dietetic corrections
• Administration of disease modifying medicines
• Administration of rasayanas (immune modulators)

Diet

Pathya ahara or diet, a key strategy in combating shwasa
Among all the above said strategies, following a systematic diet is an important key in handling Shwasa and preventing its recurrence. A good diet is handy at all stages of shwasa treatment (with special reference to Tamaka Shwasa or asthma).
Read related: 31 Easy And Effective Home Remedies For Dyspnoea

Certain dietetic preparations are explained in Ayurvedic treatises in the context of describing the treatment protocol of shwasa vis-à-vis tamaka shwasa or asthma. These diets are good in all kinds of shwasa, be it primary or secondary (dyspnoea developing on the backdrop of some other disease). These preparations are in the form of Yavagu (type of gruel) and Yusha (soup prepared from dal, i.e. grams like green gram etc).

These dietetic preparations are not only food for the patients but also act as pathya or compatible foods for all the cells and channels of the body. They are light to digest, provide nutrition, help in clearing the blocks, provide energy and helps the medicines to modify the disease. Thus the pathyas in the form of Yavagu and Yusha act as food, nutrition and medicine for shwasa.

This shows the importance of dietetic planning in the management of any disease (dyspnoea in this case).
Below explained are some of the important liquid pathyas which help in curing and recovering from dyspnoea –

Yavagu examples

Beneficial Pathya ahara in Shwasa vis-à-vis dyspnoea
Beneficial yusha, yavagu and peya (soups, gruels) in shwasa
Hingwadi yavagu –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/101
Ingredients: This gruel is made up of –

• Hingu (asafoetida)
• Sauvarchala lavana (sauchal salt)
• Jeeraka (cumin seeds)
• Vida lavana (black salt)
• Pushkaramula (Inula racemosa) and
• Chitrakamula (roots of Plumbago zeylanica)

Benefits – Effectively cures Shwasa (dyspnoea) and hikka (hiccough)
Read related: 28 Prevention, Yoga And Lifestyle Tips For Dyspnoea

Dashamuladi Yavagu –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/102, 103
Ingredients: This gruel is made up of –

Dashamula (roots of 10 herbs)
Shati – Hedychium spicatum
Rasna – Pluchea lanceolata
Pippalimula – Roots of Piper longum
Pushkaramula – Inula racemosa
Karkatasringi – Pistacia integerrima
Bhumyamalaki – Phyllanthus niruri / Phyllanthus amarus
Bharangi – Clerodendrum serratum
Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia
Shunti – Ginger

Benefits – Effectively cures Kasa (cough), Hrudgraha (feeling of compression or tightness in the region of heart, cardiac discomfort), Parshwaruk (pain in flanks), Hikka (hiccough) and shwasa (dyspnoea)

Pushkaradi Yavagu –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/104
Ingredients: This gruel is prepared using –
Pushkaramula – Inula racemosa
Shati – Hedychium spicatum
Pippali – Long pepper
Maricha – Black pepper
Shunti – Ginger
Matulunga – citron
Amlavetasa – Garcinia pedunculata

This should be consumed along with rice mixed with ghee, vida salt and asafoetida
Benefits – This diet can be advised in patients suffering from hikka (hiccough) and shwasa (dyspnoea)
Read related: Dyspnoea – Difficulty in breathing: Causes, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis

Nidagdhikadi yusha –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/94-95
Ingredients: This soup is made up of –

• Nidagdhika (Solanum xanthocarpum)
• Bilwa majja (pulp of fruit of Aegle marmelos)
• Karkatasringi (Pistacia integerrima)
• Duralabha (Fagonia cretica)
• Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris)
• Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia)
• Kulattha (horse gram) and
• Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica)

The soup of horsegram or greengram prepared in the decoction of the above said ingredients should be fried in ghee, added with powders of pippali (long pepper), shunti (ginger) and saindhava lavana (rock salt) and served hot.

Benefits – useful diet in hikka (hiccough) and shwasa (dyspnoea)

Rasnadi Yusha –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/96
Ingredients: This soup is prepared using –

• Rasna – Pluchea lanceolata
• Shalaparni – Desomodium gangeticum
• Prishniparni – Uraria picta
• Brihati – Solanum indicum
• Kantakari – Solanum xanthocarpum
• Gokshura – Tribulus terrestris
• Chitrakamula – Roots of Plumbago zeylanica

Yusha should be prepared using mudga (green gram) processed in the decoction of the above said ingredients
Benefits – Useful diet in management of Shwasa

Matulungadi Yusha –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/97
Ingredients: This soup is made using –

• Matulunga patra – Leaves of Citron, Citrus medica
• Nimba patra – leaves of neem tree
• Patola patra – leaves of pointed gourd
• Shunti – Ginger
• Pippali – Long pepper
• Maricha – Black pepper
• Yava Kshara – alkali of full plant of barley

Yusha should be prepared using mudga (green gram) processed in the decoction of the abocve said ingredients. The yusha should be added with powders of Shunti (ginger), Pippali (long pepper), maricha (black pepper)and yava kshara (alkali of the whole plant of barley).
Benefits – Useful diet in management of shwasa and hikka (shortness of breath and hiccough)

Mudga Yusha –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/98
Ingredients: This soup is prepared using –

• Mudga – Green grams
• Saindhava Lavana – Rock salt
• Yava Kshara – Alkali prepared from whole plant of barley
• Shigru beeja – seeds of drumstick
• Maricha churna – powder of black pepper

Soup of Mudga or green grams is prepared and added with the powders of the other ingredients mentioned in the list.
Benefits – Useful diet in the treatment of Hikka (hiccough) and shwasa (dyspnoea)

Kantakaryadi Yusha –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/100
Ingredients: This soup is made using –

• Kantakari swarasa / kwatha – Juice or decoction of Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum)
• Dadhi – curds
• Shunti churna – powder of ginger
• Pippali churna – powder of long pepper
• Maricha churna – powder of black pepper
• Ghrita – ghee

The soup prepared in the base of Kantakari kwatha or swarasa is later added with curds, powders of shunti, maricha and pippali and ghee and served fresh
Benefits – useful diet in hikka (hiccough) and shwasa (dyspnoea)

Kasamarda patra yusha –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/99
Ingredients: This soup is made up of –
Kulattha – Horse gram

Kasamarda patra kwatha – decoction of kasamarda leaves (Cassia occidentalis)
Soup of kulattha (horse gram) is processed in the decoction of Kasamarda patra (Cassia occidentalis) and served fresh.
Benefits – useful diet in shwasa (dyspnoea, asthma)
Shwasa Roga – Dyspnoea: Types, Symptoms As Per Ayurveda

Shigru patra yusha –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/99
Ingredients: This soup is made up of –
Kulattha – Horse gram (or Mudga – green gram)
Shigru patra kwatha – decoction of shigru leaves (drumstick)

Soup of kulattha (horse gram) / mudga (green gram) is processed in the decoction of shigru patra (drumstick) and served fresh.
Benefits – useful diet in shwasa (dyspnoea, asthma)

Shushka Mulaka Yusha –
Ref – Charaka Chikitsa 17/99

Ingredients: This soup is made up of –
Kulattha – Horse gram (or Mudga – green gram)
Shushka mulaka kwatha – decoction of shushka mulaka (dry radish)
Soup of kulattha (horse gram) / mudga (green gram) is processed in the decoction of shushka mulaka (dry radish) and served fresh.
Benefits – useful diet in shwasa (dyspnoea, asthma)

Yavagu preparation

How to prepare Yavagu?
YavaagooH shad gunaihi toyaihi samsiddhaa virala dravaa
Yavaagoohu graahinee trushnaa jwaraghnee vasti shodhanee (Ref – Yoga Ratnakara Siddhaannaadi paaka guna kathanam 8)

Yavagu is a liquid diet. It is a liquid preparation in the form of thin gruel wherein rice (1part) is processed in 6 times water. It is seen that the final preparation has more of liquid than solid.

In the above said preparations, the rice is processed in 6 times decoction prepared from the herbs mentioned in that particular yavagu preparation.

Example, Hingwadi Yavagu is prepared by processing rice in 6 times the quantity of decoction of Hingu, Sauvarchala etc herbs. Similarly, Dashamuladi Yavagu is prepared by processing 1 part of rice in 6 times the quantity of decoction of Dashamula etc herbs.
Every time, the yavagu is prepared fresh and should not be carried over.

How to prepare Yusha?
Yooshaaha smrutaa vaidalaanaam ashtaadasha guna ambhasi
Yoosho balyo laghuhu paake ruchyaha kantha kaphaaha (Ref – Yoga Ratnakara Siddhaannaadi paaka guna kathanam 1)

Yusha is a liquid preparation in the form of thin gruel or soup wherein dal i.e. grams mainly green gram (1part) is processed in 18 times water and its extract is filtered out. Horse gram is also used for preparation of yusha.

In the above said preparations, the green gram or horse gram is processed in 6 times decoction prepared from the herbs mentioned in that particular yusha preparation.

Example, Nidagdhikadi Yusha is prepared by processing 1 part of green gram or horse gram in 18 times the quantity of decoction of Nidagdhika, Bilwa, Karkatasringi etc herbs. Similarly, Rasnadi Yusha is prepared by processing 1 part of green gram or horse gram in 18 times the quantity of decoction of Rasna, Laghu Panchamula etc herbs.
Every time, the yusha is prepared fresh and should not be carried over.

Benefits of yavagu, yusha

Benefits of Yavagu and Yusha in the management of Shwasa vis-à-vis dyspnoea and asthma –
Best and light diet – Yavagu and Yusha are light diets. Therefore they will be digested easily. They are in liquid base (have more of water), therefore they restore water balance in the body. They are hot and fresh; therefore they kindle digestion and cure tastelessness. Due to the dosha and agni disturbance in shwasa, the digestion will be sluggish. If heavy foods are given, they will not get digested. In fact heavy to digest foods can worsen the condition by provoking kapha, pitta and ama leading to more block in the channels of the body. Therefore the patients should be given light and digestible foods during the active stage of the disease. Yavagu and Yusha fulfil these criteria. The green gram and horse gram and rice used in the preparations are nothing short of nutritious diet.

Deepana effect (kindling digestive fire) – the combination of medicines (decoction) and food (rice, grams etc) will help in enabling the weak fire to gain strength and digest the food properly. These processed foods rectify the systemic and tissue metabolism.

Pachana effect (destruction of ama) – the combination of medicines (decoction) and food (rice, grams etc), the hot, digestant and light nature of yavagu and yusha will help in destroying and expelling the ama which has been accumulated in the cells and also in circulation (ama is the essence of improperly digested food, which by the nature of stickiness tends to block the channels and cells of the body, damaging them in the process and leading to wide array of diseases).

Disease modifying role – since Yavagu and yusha are prepared by processing the rice, green gram or horse gram with decoctions having herbs which modify the disease (shwasa or dyspnoea in this case), all the above mentioned yavagus and yushas help in disease modification while providing nutrition. Thus, yavagu and yusha act as medicines.

Cleansing action – The herbs used in the preparing the yavagu and yusha not only destroys ama and other toxins in the body, but also help in expelling them in the body. Many herbs have potent laxative role which draws the unwanted and undesired toxins away from the cells into the gut and expel them from therein. Yavagu and yusha are good sroto shodhana pathyas (channel cleansing diets).

Dosha balance – Since the medicines used in the preparation of yavagu and yusha are disease modifying, they have a role in balancing the morbid doshas also. They alleviate the vitiated doshas and help in expelling them. By removing the kaphavarana (blocks created by kapha), they help in regression of pathology. By balancing pitta and regulating the flow of vata, they help in restoring the body mechanics and reestablishment of health.

Restore strength and energy – By removing blocks, reversing the pathology, restoring health, providing nutrition and acting as disease modifying medicines Yavagu and yusha restore the lost strength and energy.

Best decoctions to relieve cough and breathing disorders from Sahasrayoga

1. Five effective formulations to treat both kasa (cough) and shwasa (breathing disorders, dyspnea, asthma, bronchitis)
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Kashaya Prakaranam, 25

a. Dashamuladi Kashayam

Ingredients	Botanical name	Method of use	Indications
Dashamula	Ten roots	Decoction of these ingredients should be consumed early in the morning mixed with honey	1. Dyspnea 2. Cough of vata origin 3. Pain in flanks 4. Back pain 5. Pain in sacral region 6. Headache
Trikatu	Powder of Long pepper, Pepper and Ginger
Vasa	Adhatoda vasica

b. Balajirakadi Kashayam

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Bala	Sida cordifolia	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Cough
Cumin	Cuminum cyminum
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Musta	Cyperus rotundus
Vasa	Adhatoda vasica
Bilwa	Aegle marmelos
Devadaru	Cedrus deodara
Guha / Prisniparni	Uraria picta
Ikshu	Saccharum officinarum
Laja	Parched grains

c. Kasamardadi Kashayam

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Kasamarda	Cassia occidentalis	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Cough
Vartaka	Solanum melongena
Vrisha / Vasa	Adhatoda vasica
Bilwa	Aegle marmelos

d. Bharngyadidi Kashayam

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Bharangi	Clerodendron serratum	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh, mixed with Tishnottha paraga i.e. powder of black pepper	1. Severe Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis
Kana / Pippali	Piper longum
Kasahari / Kasamarda	Cassia occidentalis
Turmeric	Curcuma longa
Vasa	Adhatoda vasica
Guduchi	Tinospora cordifolia
Ginger (Shunti)	Zingiber officinale
Coriander	Coriandrum sativum

e. Vidaryadi Kashayam

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications & benefits
Vidari	Pueraria tuberosa	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Cardiac tonic 2. Nourishing 3. Pacifies vata and pitta 4. Cures wasting disorders 5. Cures abdominal tumors 6. Cures body pains 7. Cures dyspnea, 8. Cures cough
Castor	Ricinus communis
Vrischikali	Tragia involucrata
Vrischira / Punarnava	Boerhavia diffusa
Devahva / Devadaru	Cedrus deodara
Surpaparnyahva	Mashaparni – Teramnus labialis Mudgaparni – Vibna trilobata
Jeevaniya Panchamula	5 herbs belonging to Jeevaniya group of herbs
Hrisva panchamula	Lesser five roots
Gopasuta / Sariva	Hemidesmus indicus
Tripadi / Hamsapadi	Adiantum lunulatum

2. Bala Kuvuladi Kashayam

Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 24

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Bala	Sida cordifolia	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh at bedtime	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Cough 3. Anorexia, tastelessness
Kuvalam	Roots of Aegle marmelos
Green gram	Vigna radiata
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Ajaji	Cuminum cyminum
Vasa	Adhatoda vasica
Laja	Parched grains
Chutanmettum / Amra vrinta	Stalk of mango
Karibu / Ikshu	Saccharum officinarum

3. Cherupayaradi Kashayam

Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 26

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Green gram	Vigna radiata	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh at bedtime	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Cough 3. Wasting disorders 4. Rhinitis
Guduchi	Tinospora cordifolia
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Brihati	Solanum indicum
Ponnavara / Kasamarda	Cassia occidentalis
Ikshu	Saccharum officinarum
Laja	Parched grains
Ghana / Musta	Cyperus rotundus

4. Ramacchadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 28

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Ramaccha / Ushira	Vetiveria zizanioides	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served with honey	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Cough 3. Hiccough 4. Pain in flanks
Ambu	Cyperus rotundus
Bhadramula	Roots of Acorus calamus
Balamula	Roots of Sida cordifolia
Laja	Parched grains
Ikshu	Saccharum officinarum
Chuta / Amra srunga	Pedicle of mango
Tumbi	Leucas aspera / Lagenaria siceraria
Pravala	Coral
Nagavalli dala	Stalk of Piper betle
Inchi / ardraka	Zingiber officinale
Green gram	Vigna radiata
Guha / Prisniparni	Uraria picta
Cumin	Cuminum cyminum
Daru / Devadaru	Cedrus deodara

5. Kulutthadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 31

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Horse gram	Dolichos biflorus	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Cough 3. Hiccough
Barley	Hordeum vulgare
Kola	Cola acuminate / Ziziphus mauritiana
Ambu / Musta	Cyperus rotundus
Dashamula	Ten roots
Bala	Sida cordifolia

6. Agnimanthadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Kashaya Prakarana, 26a

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Agnimantha	Premna mucronata	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Cough 3. Hiccough
Bala	Sida cordifolia
Kola	Cola acuminate / Ziziphus mauritiana
Castor	Ricinus communis
Bharangi	Clerodenron serratum
Kushta	Saussurea lappa
Ginger	Zingiber officinale

7. Punarnavadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Kashaya Prakarana, 46a (Pandurogahara)

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Punarnava	Boerhavia diffusa	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Cough 3. Swelling 4. Fever 5. Colic 6. Complicated anemia
Neem	Azadirachta indica
Snake gourd	Trichosanthes dioica
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Katukarohini	Picrorhiza kurrooa
Guduchi	Tinospora cordifolia
Daruharidra	Berberis aristata
Haritaki	Terminalia chebula

8. Sannipata Jwaradihara Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Kashaya Prakarana, 16

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Bharangi	Clerodendron serratum	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Cough 3. Intermittent fevers 4. Fever with cold 5. Loss of appetite and indigestion 6. Pain in flanks 7. Headache 8. Chronic fevers with swelling
Pushkaramula	Inula racemosa roots
Haritaki	Terminalia chebula
Parpata	Fumaria parviflora
Musta	Cyperus rotundus
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Dashamula	Ten roots
Long Pepper	Piper longum

Note – The same decoction is explained in the name of ‘Bharangyadi Kwatha’ in Chakradatta, Jwara Prakarana.

9. Nayaopaya Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 109

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Balamula	Roots of Sida cordifolia – 10 parts	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Hiccough
Cumin	Cuminum cyminum – 1 part
Ginger	Zingiber officinale – 1 part

10. Adalotadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 33

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Vasa	Adhatoda vasica	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh, admixed with rock salt	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Fever 3. Chest injuries 4. Pain in flanks
Yavasa	Alhagi camelorum
Kantakari	Solanum xanthocarpum
Chitraka	Plumbago zeylanica
Kodasari	Polygala chinesis
Vacha	Acorus calamus
Bhunimba	Andrographis paniculata
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Cumin	Cuminum cyminum
Pippali	Piper longum
Yashti	Glycyrrhiza glabra
Shat tandula	6 seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica, Psoralea corylifolia, Coriandrum sativum, Embelia ribes, Celastrus paniculatus and Elettaria cardamomum
Haritaki	Terminalia chebula

11. Oriladi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 30

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Orila / Saliparni	Desmodium gangeticum	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh, admixed with ghee & powder of Cuminum cyminum	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis
Prisniparni	Uraria picta
Brihati	Solanum indicum / Solanum anguivi
Vasa	Adhatoda vasica
Kasamarda	Cassia occidentalis
Shatavari	Asparagus racemosus
Jivanti	Leptadenia reticulata
Ginger (adraka)	Zingiber officinale

12. Kanimkuringyadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 29

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Kanimkuringi / Sahachara	Strobilanthus heiniyanus	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis
Varanam	Crateva religiosa
Devadaru	Cedrus doedara

13. Panal Veradi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 27

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Patha	Cissampelos pareira	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh, admixed with powder of Cuminum cyminum	1. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 2. Vomiting 3. Asthma
Ikshu mula	Roots of Saccharum officinarum
Bilwa mula	Roots of Aegle marmelos
laja	Parched grain
Ginger (Ardraka)	Zingiber officinale

14. Cherupayaradi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 26

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Green gram	Vigna radiata	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh	1. Cough 2. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis 3. Emaciation, wasting diseases 4. Rhinitis
Guduchi	Tinospora cordifolia
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Brihati	Solanum indicum
Ponnavara / Kasamarda	Cassia occidentalis
Ikshu	Saccharum officinarum
Laja	Parched grains
Ghana / Musta	Cyperus rotundus

15. Bilwa Dhanyadi Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Parishishta Prakarana, 25

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Bilwa	Aegle marmelos	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh admixed with sugar and ghee	1. Hiccough 2. Dyspnea / shortness of breath / asthma / bronchitis
Coriander	Coriandrum sativum
Bala mula	Roots of Sida cordifolia
Laja	Parched grains
Cumin	Cuminum cyminum
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Green gram	Vigna radiata
Daru / Devadaru	Cedrus deodara
Jivanti	Leptadenia reticulata

16. Pathya Katpaladi (Sleshmajwarahara) Kashayam
Ref – Sahasrayogam, Kashaya Prakarana, 4

Ingredients	Botanical Name	Method of using	Indications
Pathya / Haritaki	Terminalia chebula	The decoction prepared with these ingredients should be served fresh admixed with honey and powder of asafetida	Fever of kapha origin associated with colic, dyspnea, indigestion, anorexia and dryness of mouth
Katphala	Myrica esculenta
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Musta	Cyperus rotundus
Vacha	Acorus calamus
Bhunimba	Andrographis paniculata
Coriander	Coriandrum sativum
Bharangi	Clerodendrum serratum
Parpataka	Fumaria officinalis

Just before finishing –
Proper, planned, compatible and wholesome diet prevents many diseases in our lifetime. Many diseases are caused due to erratic food practices. Likewise, proper implementation of dietetic corrections is very essential in effectively curing a disease or when practised regularly, to avoid the recurrence of disease. Effective diet and effective medicine form a good combo in treating any disease, in shwasa too. Many times proper diet management and good exercise themselves take care of the disease, even without medication or with administration of small quantity of medicines. Diet, thus forms half of the treatment and holds importance as good as the medicines.

The yavagus and yushas explained above are highly effective in treating shwasa vis-à-vis dyspnoea. They also help in quick recovery and in prevention of recurrence of dyspnoea. The effect of these medicinal diets is due to the effective and skillful combination of food and medicine as one package.

Always try getting rid of your breathlessness through natural remedies. Breathe easy and breathe natural through Ayurvedic medicines and wholesome diet!!
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)