Dyspnoea or shortness of breath can be compared to ‘Shwasa Roga’ or ‘Shwasa Krichrata’ explained in Ayurveda. Both mean to say ‘difficulty in breathing’. Generally we use the word Shwasa to describe this condition.According to Ayurveda, Shwasa (dyspnoea), Kasa (cough) and Hikka (hiccough) are inter-related conditions. They have identical aetiological factors and site of origin. We often find them to be associated with each other.
Shwasa is independently explained as a disease in Ayurveda. In some texts, it shares its space with Hikka.
Shwasa can occur in 2 forms –
Swatantra Shwasa – Primary Shwasa, wherein Shwasa will get manifested as an independent entity (disease). The disease will have its own set of aetiological factors (nidana), pathogenesis (samprapthi) and symptoms (lakshanas). The treatment lies in prompt diagnosis of the condition and strategically attacking it with suitable set of medicines, treatment, and diet and lifestyle changes.
Paratantra Shwasa – Secondary Shwasa occurs as an effect of some other disease. Here, Shwasa will be a symptom, premonitory symptom, complication or sign of bad prognosis of another disease. Here, the treatment depends on the treatment of the disease (primary) which is at the backdrop shwasa.
Shwasa can be found in the below said conditions –
As Purvarupa (premonitory symptom) in – Rajayakshama (tuberculosis)
Shwasa is seen As Lakshana (symptom) in
Vataja Apasmara – Epilepsy caused by morbid vata
Apatantraka – tremors
Kaphaja and Vataja Arshas – piles or haemorrhoids caused by vitiated kapha and vata
Pureeshaja anaha – flatulence caused by constipation or obstruction of faeces
Amashaya gata vata – stomach afflicted by vitiated vata
Kaphaja udara – abdominal disorder caused by vitiated kapha
Aharaja udavarta – retrograde or upward movement of vata caused by food
Udgara nirodhaja udavarta – retrograde or upward movement of vata caused by forcible obstruction of belching
Kantha shundi – bulging or swelling of palate
Kshataja kasa – cough caused by chest injury and bleeding within the chest organs
Vataja grahani – intestinal disorder or sprue caused by vitiated vata (irritable bowel syndrome)
Tridoshaja chardi – vomiting caused by vitiation of all the 3 doshas
Antarvega jwara – fever manifested within the body
Asthigata jwara – fever afflicting and located in the bones
Gambhira jwara – deep rooted / chronic fevers
Pachyamana jwara – progressive fevers
Majjagata jwara – fever afflicting and located in the bone marrow
Sannipataja jwara – typhoid fever
Talu shosha – dryness of palate
Balasa – throat disorder
Vataja madatyaya – alcoholic intoxication caused by vitiated vata
Medo roga – errors of fat metabolism
Pratinaha – nasal congestion
Nasa shosha – dryness of nasal cavity
Mutraghata (kundalini) – obstruction of urine
Raktaja murcha – fainting or unconsciousness caused by vitiated blood or sight of blood
Rajyakshma – tuberculosis
Pliha vidradhi – abscess occurring in spleen
Yakrut vidradhi – liver abscess
Visha – poisoning
Agni visarpa – erysipelas or herpes caused by vitiated vata and pitta
Granthi visarpa – erysipelas or herpes caused by vitiated kapha and pitta
Tridoshaja nadi vrana – sinus ulcers caused by vitiation of all the 3 doshas
Swaraghna – throat disorder leading to loss of voice
Shwasa is seen as as upadrava (complication) in
Atisara – diarrhoea
Chardi – vomiting
Trishna – thirst
Vataja prameha – urinary disorders / diabetes caused by vitiated vata
Raktapitta – bleeding disorders
Vatarakta – gout
Vrana –ulcers,
Shwasa is mentioned as Asadhya Lakshana (sign of bad prognosis) in
Atisara – diarrhoea
Kumbha kamala – complicated jaundice
Galaganda – goitre
Gulma – abdominal tumours
Chardi – vomiting
Jwara – fever
Masurika – small pox
Rajayakshma – tuberculosis
Vidradhi – abscess
Visha – poisoning
Tridoshaja nadi vrana – sinus ulcer caused by vitiation of all 3 doshas
Shotha – swelling
ShwasaRoga (Primary dyspnoea)
Below mentioned are the important causes for dyspnoea –
Raja – exposure to dust
Dhooma – Exposure to fumes and smoke
Vata – exposure to breeze
Sheeta Sthana – living in cold places
Sheeta ambu sevana – excessive consumption of cold water
Ati hima ambu – chilled or frozen water
Vyaayaam – excessive physical exercise
Graamya dharma – Excessive indulgence in sexual activities
Adhwa – Excessive walking
Rooksha anna – Excessive consumption of dry foods
Vishama ashana – consumption of incompatible foods
Aaama pradosha – excessive accumulation of ama (essence of improperly digested food, immature nutrition in circulation which by virtue of its stickiness tends to block the channels of the body and deplete the body of its nutrients and essential things)
Aanaha – flatulence
Roukshyat – excessive dryness of the body
Ati apatarpanaat – Excessive fasting
Dourbalya – long standing debility
Marma ghata – injury to vital areas of the body
Shuddi ati yoga – excessive administration of cleansing treatments Atisara – diarrhoea
Jwara – fever
Chardi – vomiting
Pratishyaya – cold, congestion, flu
Kshata – chest injury
Kshaya – depletion of body tissues
Raktapitta – Haemorrhagic disorders
Udavarta – upward movement of vitiated Vayu
Visuchika – cholera
Alasaka – lazy stomach
Pandu – Anaemia, liver disorders
Visha – poisoning
Nishpava – consumption of flat beans in excess
Masha – excessive consumption of black grams
Pinyaka – residue left out after extracting oil from sesame seeds
Tila Taila – excessive intake of sesame oil
Pishta – taking flours in excess
Shaalooka – Nymphaea alba
Vishtambhi – excess intake of foods tending to cause constipation
Vidaahi – foods which are corrosive in nature
Guru bhojana – foods which are heavy to digest
Jalaja ahara – meat of aquatic animals
Aanupa ahara – flesh of animals living in marshy regions
Dadhi – excess intake of curds
Ama ksheera – consumption of unprocessed milk
Abhishyandi ahara – foods which are sticky in nature which tend to obstruct the channels
Kantha-Ura pratighata – Obstruction or block in throat or chest
Kasa Vriddhi – aggravation of cough, chronic cough
Shwasa Roga Purvaroopa: Premonitory symptoms
Anaha – flatulence, distension of the abdomen
Paarshwa shoolam – pain in the sides / flanks of the body
Hrudaya peeda – heart pain, pain in chest
Pranasya vilomatvam – the vayu running abnormal or retrograde (upward direction)
Shwasa bheda: Types of Swasa
Shwas Rog is of 5 types. They are –
Maha Shwasa
Urdhwa Shwasa
Chinna Shwasa
Tamaka Shwasa
Kshudra Shwasa
Maha Shwas:
This type of shwasa is marked by strenuous, painful inspiration with loud noises or sounds which are audible. Due to the vitiated vayu moving haphazardly blocking the channels in the body, the person breathes in with difficulty throughout the day and night.
Symptoms –
Matta rishabha iva – The breathing pattern is compared to the hissing of an intoxicated bull. The person breathes the air with severe discomfort and pain.
Pranashta gnana vignana – Since the vayu gets blocked, the body is depleted of aeration. The person loses gnana (knowledge) and vignana (skill of differentiation).
Vibhranta lochana – improper perception or deceptive perception of vision
Vikruta akshi – abnormalities / deviations in eye
Vikruta anana – abnormalities / deviations in face
Badda mutra – obstruction of urination
Badda varcha – constipation
Visheerna vaak – split voice, hoarseness of voice
Deena – helplessness
Doorat vignayate – the breathing is heard to a long distance
Kshipra marana – death in quick time
Urdhwa Shwas Rog:
This is a type of shwasa in which there is an imbalance between the input and output of air i.e. inspiration and expiration. The kapha blocks the channels. As a result the vayu gets aggravated and causes Urdhwa Shwasa.
Symptoms
Deergham shwasati, na pratyaharati dhaha – deep and prolonged inspiration with difficulty in expiration or throwing out the air
Urdhwa drishti – eye deviated upwards
Vibhranta aksha – irregular eye movements
Pramuhyan vedanaartaha cha – fainting or loss of consciousness due to pain
Shushka asya – dryness of mouth
Arati – nonspecific pains, discomfort, confusion
Moha – unconsciousness
Tamyati – feeling as if in darkness
Hanta asoon – death in quick time
Chinna Shwasa
This type of Shwasa manifests with obstructed type of breathing which is severely distressing and painful. When all the prana (life elements) have been blocked and choked in the body due to obstruction of channels, the person breathes interruptedly in splits and parcels.
Symptoms
Shwasati vichchinnam – split and obstructed breathing
Na va shwasati – total breathlessness
Dukhartaha – person in deep grief and distress
Marma cheda ruk arditaha – the person is afflicted with severe distress and pain as if all his vital organs have been split and damaged
Aanaaha – flatulence, distension of abdomen
Sweda – excessive perspiration
Murcha – fainting
Basti daha – burning sensation in the urinary bladder
Vipluta aksha – deviated and fluctuating eye
Pariksheena – debility, loss of tissues and nutrition
Rakta eka lochanaha – blood shot eye (single eye)
Vichetaha – loss of consciousness
Pari shushka asya – severe dryness of mouth
Vivarna – discolouration of the body
Pralaapa – delirium
Sheeghra mrityu – death in quick time
Kshudra Shwasa
This type of Shwasa is characterised by short spells of dyspnoea which is not troublesome. It generally is an accompaniment of strenuous exercises and will pacify after a brief span of rest.
The Vayu vitiated in small proportions following consumption of ruksha ahara (dry foods) or aayasa (exercise or physical activities) afflicts the upper channels of respiration (breathing passages) and cause kshudra shwasa.
Symptoms
Dyspnoea, which lives for a short period
The kshudra shwasa will not produce any discomfort in the body parts. It will also not produce any harmful effects / symptoms. The functioning of the body is also not disturbed.
It doesn’t cause obstruction to the intake of foods or liquids
It doesn’t cause any trouble to the sense organs or sensory functions (perception)
This is said to be easily curable and many times doesn’t require any treatment
Tamaka Shwasa, Asthma – one of the leading causes of dyspnoea
When the vayu gets vitiated, it starts moving haphazardly in the upward direction (quite unnatural of its behaviour). This abnormally moving vayu occupies and invades all the srotases (channels of transportation in the body). On reaching the head region, the vayu grips the head and neck and also provokes the kapha located in these regions. The provoked kapha along with vayu causes peenasa (cold, congestion). The kapha being blocked in these channels produces sounds. In due course of progression, the kapha blocks the srotases and causes serious dyspnoea of life taking proportions.
Symptoms of Tamaka Shwasa, dyspnoea caused by Asthma
Pratamyati – When the block in the channels get increased, the dyspnoea gets severe; the person unable to breathe properly would lose consciousness feeling darkness in front of his eyes
Kasate – cough, severe in nature
Pramoham – due to persistent cough, the person suffers from loss of consciousness again and again, repeatedly
Dukhitaha – When the dyspnoea progresses and when the patient is not able to expectorate the phlegm, he finds himself in severe distress
Kapha vimokshante sukham – But due to repeated coughing, if he is able to expectorate the kapha or blocked phlegm, the person feels relieved
Kantha udhwamsa – the person, due to repeated cough and dyspnoea would have soreness of throat or loss of voice, it becomes difficult to speak
Anidra – when the patient suffering from tamaka shwasa sleeps, the dyspnoea becomes severe and he is not able to sleep
Parshva graham – catch in the flanks due to vitiated vayu
Aaseeno labhate soukhyam – the person feels better if he changes his position from sleeping to sitting position
Ushna abhinandati – the person feels better with warm or hot comforts
Uchrita aksha – elevation of eyes
Lalata sweda – sweating of forehead
Vishushka asya – dryness of mouth
Bhrusha arti – severe discomfort
Muhuhu shwasa, muhuhu avadhamanam – episodes of breathlessness get severe and suppressed in repeated cycles
Agravating factors – the breathlessness gets severe in cloudy environment (megha), due to exposure to water (ambu), exposure to cold breeze (sheeta), winds or breeze coming from east (prak vata) and any causes which vitiate kapha (shleshmala)
Nature and prognosis of Tamaka Shwasa – Tamaka shwasa is said to be yapya (maintainable), it is said to be curable when it is nava utthita (newly manifested or acute)
Check in at Zama Ayurveda wellness centre in Kerala, for the best panchakarma treatments
Shwasa is independently explained as a disease in Ayurveda. In some texts, it shares its space with Hikka.
Shwasa can occur in 2 forms –
Swatantra Shwasa – Primary Shwasa, wherein Shwasa will get manifested as an independent entity (disease). The disease will have its own set of aetiological factors (nidana), pathogenesis (samprapthi) and symptoms (lakshanas). The treatment lies in prompt diagnosis of the condition and strategically attacking it with suitable set of medicines, treatment, and diet and lifestyle changes.
Paratantra Shwasa – Secondary Shwasa occurs as an effect of some other disease. Here, Shwasa will be a symptom, premonitory symptom, complication or sign of bad prognosis of another disease. Here, the treatment depends on the treatment of the disease (primary) which is at the backdrop shwasa.
Shwasa can be found in the below said conditions –
As Purvarupa (premonitory symptom) in – Rajayakshama (tuberculosis)
Shwasa is seen As Lakshana (symptom) in
Vataja Apasmara – Epilepsy caused by morbid vata
Apatantraka – tremors
Kaphaja and Vataja Arshas – piles or haemorrhoids caused by vitiated kapha and vata
Pureeshaja anaha – flatulence caused by constipation or obstruction of faeces
Amashaya gata vata – stomach afflicted by vitiated vata
Kaphaja udara – abdominal disorder caused by vitiated kapha
Aharaja udavarta – retrograde or upward movement of vata caused by food
Udgara nirodhaja udavarta – retrograde or upward movement of vata caused by forcible obstruction of belching
Kantha shundi – bulging or swelling of palate
Kshataja kasa – cough caused by chest injury and bleeding within the chest organs
Vataja grahani – intestinal disorder or sprue caused by vitiated vata (irritable bowel syndrome)
Tridoshaja chardi – vomiting caused by vitiation of all the 3 doshas
Antarvega jwara – fever manifested within the body
Asthigata jwara – fever afflicting and located in the bones
Gambhira jwara – deep rooted / chronic fevers
Pachyamana jwara – progressive fevers
Majjagata jwara – fever afflicting and located in the bone marrow
Sannipataja jwara – typhoid fever
Talu shosha – dryness of palate
Balasa – throat disorder
Vataja madatyaya – alcoholic intoxication caused by vitiated vata
Medo roga – errors of fat metabolism
Pratinaha – nasal congestion
Nasa shosha – dryness of nasal cavity
Mutraghata (kundalini) – obstruction of urine
Raktaja murcha – fainting or unconsciousness caused by vitiated blood or sight of blood
Rajyakshma – tuberculosis
Pliha vidradhi – abscess occurring in spleen
Yakrut vidradhi – liver abscess
Visha – poisoning
Agni visarpa – erysipelas or herpes caused by vitiated vata and pitta
Granthi visarpa – erysipelas or herpes caused by vitiated kapha and pitta
Tridoshaja nadi vrana – sinus ulcers caused by vitiation of all the 3 doshas
Swaraghna – throat disorder leading to loss of voice
Shwasa is seen as as upadrava (complication) in
Atisara – diarrhoea
Chardi – vomiting
Trishna – thirst
Vataja prameha – urinary disorders / diabetes caused by vitiated vata
Raktapitta – bleeding disorders
Vatarakta – gout
Vrana –ulcers,
Shwasa is mentioned as Asadhya Lakshana (sign of bad prognosis) in
Atisara – diarrhoea
Kumbha kamala – complicated jaundice
Galaganda – goitre
Gulma – abdominal tumours
Chardi – vomiting
Jwara – fever
Masurika – small pox
Rajayakshma – tuberculosis
Vidradhi – abscess
Visha – poisoning
Tridoshaja nadi vrana – sinus ulcer caused by vitiation of all 3 doshas
Shotha – swelling
ShwasaRoga (Primary dyspnoea)
Below mentioned are the important causes for dyspnoea –
Raja – exposure to dust
Dhooma – Exposure to fumes and smoke
Vata – exposure to breeze
Sheeta Sthana – living in cold places
Sheeta ambu sevana – excessive consumption of cold water
Ati hima ambu – chilled or frozen water
Vyaayaam – excessive physical exercise
Graamya dharma – Excessive indulgence in sexual activities
Adhwa – Excessive walking
Rooksha anna – Excessive consumption of dry foods
Vishama ashana – consumption of incompatible foods
Aaama pradosha – excessive accumulation of ama (essence of improperly digested food, immature nutrition in circulation which by virtue of its stickiness tends to block the channels of the body and deplete the body of its nutrients and essential things)
Aanaha – flatulence
Roukshyat – excessive dryness of the body
Ati apatarpanaat – Excessive fasting
Dourbalya – long standing debility
Marma ghata – injury to vital areas of the body
Shuddi ati yoga – excessive administration of cleansing treatments Atisara – diarrhoea
Jwara – fever
Chardi – vomiting
Pratishyaya – cold, congestion, flu
Kshata – chest injury
Kshaya – depletion of body tissues
Raktapitta – Haemorrhagic disorders
Udavarta – upward movement of vitiated Vayu
Visuchika – cholera
Alasaka – lazy stomach
Pandu – Anaemia, liver disorders
Visha – poisoning
Nishpava – consumption of flat beans in excess
Masha – excessive consumption of black grams
Pinyaka – residue left out after extracting oil from sesame seeds
Tila Taila – excessive intake of sesame oil
Pishta – taking flours in excess
Shaalooka – Nymphaea alba
Vishtambhi – excess intake of foods tending to cause constipation
Vidaahi – foods which are corrosive in nature
Guru bhojana – foods which are heavy to digest
Jalaja ahara – meat of aquatic animals
Aanupa ahara – flesh of animals living in marshy regions
Dadhi – excess intake of curds
Ama ksheera – consumption of unprocessed milk
Abhishyandi ahara – foods which are sticky in nature which tend to obstruct the channels
Kantha-Ura pratighata – Obstruction or block in throat or chest
Kasa Vriddhi – aggravation of cough, chronic cough
Shwasa Roga Purvaroopa: Premonitory symptoms
Anaha – flatulence, distension of the abdomen
Paarshwa shoolam – pain in the sides / flanks of the body
Hrudaya peeda – heart pain, pain in chest
Pranasya vilomatvam – the vayu running abnormal or retrograde (upward direction)
Shwasa bheda: Types of Swasa
Shwas Rog is of 5 types. They are –
Maha Shwasa
Urdhwa Shwasa
Chinna Shwasa
Tamaka Shwasa
Kshudra Shwasa
Maha Shwas:
This type of shwasa is marked by strenuous, painful inspiration with loud noises or sounds which are audible. Due to the vitiated vayu moving haphazardly blocking the channels in the body, the person breathes in with difficulty throughout the day and night.
Symptoms –
Matta rishabha iva – The breathing pattern is compared to the hissing of an intoxicated bull. The person breathes the air with severe discomfort and pain.
Pranashta gnana vignana – Since the vayu gets blocked, the body is depleted of aeration. The person loses gnana (knowledge) and vignana (skill of differentiation).
Vibhranta lochana – improper perception or deceptive perception of vision
Vikruta akshi – abnormalities / deviations in eye
Vikruta anana – abnormalities / deviations in face
Badda mutra – obstruction of urination
Badda varcha – constipation
Visheerna vaak – split voice, hoarseness of voice
Deena – helplessness
Doorat vignayate – the breathing is heard to a long distance
Kshipra marana – death in quick time
Urdhwa Shwas Rog:
This is a type of shwasa in which there is an imbalance between the input and output of air i.e. inspiration and expiration. The kapha blocks the channels. As a result the vayu gets aggravated and causes Urdhwa Shwasa.
Symptoms
Deergham shwasati, na pratyaharati dhaha – deep and prolonged inspiration with difficulty in expiration or throwing out the air
Urdhwa drishti – eye deviated upwards
Vibhranta aksha – irregular eye movements
Pramuhyan vedanaartaha cha – fainting or loss of consciousness due to pain
Shushka asya – dryness of mouth
Arati – nonspecific pains, discomfort, confusion
Moha – unconsciousness
Tamyati – feeling as if in darkness
Hanta asoon – death in quick time
Chinna Shwasa
This type of Shwasa manifests with obstructed type of breathing which is severely distressing and painful. When all the prana (life elements) have been blocked and choked in the body due to obstruction of channels, the person breathes interruptedly in splits and parcels.
Symptoms
Shwasati vichchinnam – split and obstructed breathing
Na va shwasati – total breathlessness
Dukhartaha – person in deep grief and distress
Marma cheda ruk arditaha – the person is afflicted with severe distress and pain as if all his vital organs have been split and damaged
Aanaaha – flatulence, distension of abdomen
Sweda – excessive perspiration
Murcha – fainting
Basti daha – burning sensation in the urinary bladder
Vipluta aksha – deviated and fluctuating eye
Pariksheena – debility, loss of tissues and nutrition
Rakta eka lochanaha – blood shot eye (single eye)
Vichetaha – loss of consciousness
Pari shushka asya – severe dryness of mouth
Vivarna – discolouration of the body
Pralaapa – delirium
Sheeghra mrityu – death in quick time
Kshudra Shwasa
This type of Shwasa is characterised by short spells of dyspnoea which is not troublesome. It generally is an accompaniment of strenuous exercises and will pacify after a brief span of rest.
The Vayu vitiated in small proportions following consumption of ruksha ahara (dry foods) or aayasa (exercise or physical activities) afflicts the upper channels of respiration (breathing passages) and cause kshudra shwasa.
Symptoms
Dyspnoea, which lives for a short period
The kshudra shwasa will not produce any discomfort in the body parts. It will also not produce any harmful effects / symptoms. The functioning of the body is also not disturbed.
It doesn’t cause obstruction to the intake of foods or liquids
It doesn’t cause any trouble to the sense organs or sensory functions (perception)
This is said to be easily curable and many times doesn’t require any treatment
Tamaka Shwasa, Asthma – one of the leading causes of dyspnoea
When the vayu gets vitiated, it starts moving haphazardly in the upward direction (quite unnatural of its behaviour). This abnormally moving vayu occupies and invades all the srotases (channels of transportation in the body). On reaching the head region, the vayu grips the head and neck and also provokes the kapha located in these regions. The provoked kapha along with vayu causes peenasa (cold, congestion). The kapha being blocked in these channels produces sounds. In due course of progression, the kapha blocks the srotases and causes serious dyspnoea of life taking proportions.
Symptoms of Tamaka Shwasa, dyspnoea caused by Asthma
Pratamyati – When the block in the channels get increased, the dyspnoea gets severe; the person unable to breathe properly would lose consciousness feeling darkness in front of his eyes
Kasate – cough, severe in nature
Pramoham – due to persistent cough, the person suffers from loss of consciousness again and again, repeatedly
Dukhitaha – When the dyspnoea progresses and when the patient is not able to expectorate the phlegm, he finds himself in severe distress
Kapha vimokshante sukham – But due to repeated coughing, if he is able to expectorate the kapha or blocked phlegm, the person feels relieved
Kantha udhwamsa – the person, due to repeated cough and dyspnoea would have soreness of throat or loss of voice, it becomes difficult to speak
Anidra – when the patient suffering from tamaka shwasa sleeps, the dyspnoea becomes severe and he is not able to sleep
Parshva graham – catch in the flanks due to vitiated vayu
Aaseeno labhate soukhyam – the person feels better if he changes his position from sleeping to sitting position
Ushna abhinandati – the person feels better with warm or hot comforts
Uchrita aksha – elevation of eyes
Lalata sweda – sweating of forehead
Vishushka asya – dryness of mouth
Bhrusha arti – severe discomfort
Muhuhu shwasa, muhuhu avadhamanam – episodes of breathlessness get severe and suppressed in repeated cycles
Agravating factors – the breathlessness gets severe in cloudy environment (megha), due to exposure to water (ambu), exposure to cold breeze (sheeta), winds or breeze coming from east (prak vata) and any causes which vitiate kapha (shleshmala)
Nature and prognosis of Tamaka Shwasa – Tamaka shwasa is said to be yapya (maintainable), it is said to be curable when it is nava utthita (newly manifested or acute)
Check in at Zama Ayurveda wellness centre in Kerala, for the best panchakarma treatments
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