THE ROLE OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF KAPHAJA KASA WITH AYURVEDIC FORMULATIONS – A CASE STUDY

About Author

Correspondence Address

Dr.Pranauti Bhimrao Awathare
Dept of Kayachikitsa,
Shri Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. : 9325861441/9604716651, Email : prajayashree 12345@gmail.com

Date of Acceptance : 30 May 2024

Date of Publication : 29 Jun 2024

Article ID : SD-IJAY_083

How to cite this article : http://doi.org/10.55552/SDNJAY.2024.2205

Abstract

In India, the second most typical symptom in basic care is a cough. Ayurveda states that coughing (kasa) is both a distinct illness entity with its own pathogenesis (swatantravyadhi) and a symptom (paratantravyadhi). The condition known as Kasa mostly affects pranavahasrotas. There are five different kinds of Kasa. Among them is Kaphaja Kasa. Even though it is a fairly common disease, it is not fatal, but if mishandled or ignored, it can result in more serious, difficult-to-treat disorders like tamakaswasa and kshayajakasa. Thus, prompt management is essential. h. Ayurvedic texts address kasa in great depth. The classics mention a variety of Shodhana and Shamana remedies for the treatment of Kaphajakasa. The patient, a 32-year-old married woman, arrived at the outpatient department complaining of losing her appetite, experiencing a change in taste, feeling heavy, having asyamadhurya (sweet taste in her mouth), having nasal discharge, Utklesh, Sthivan (expectoration), Chardi veg/day (vomiting), and having rhinochi. The objective criterion used for the subjective assessment was haemoglobin concentration, or ESR, and the questionnaires used contained particular questions. For fifteen days, the patient was recommended to take shodhan and shaman chikitsa. Both the subjective and objective assessments showed improvement. Thus, this therapeutic approach may be beneficial in treating Kaphaja Kasa and reinstating Pranavaha Srotas' functioning ability.

KEY WORDS:- Shamana Chikitsa, Kaphaja Kasa, Pranavaha Srotas, Kapha Dosha, and Shodhana

Introduction

Approximately 8% of patient consultations with primary care physicians are related to cough. This is the most common cause for patients to visit them. According to reports, 10-33% of the general population coughs annually. One of the five forms of kasa that are referenced in Ayurvedic literature is kaphajakasa. If left untreated, kaphajakasa can lead to more severe, difficult-to-manage diseases including tamakaswasa and kshayajakasa. Thus, it is crucial to intervene as early as possible. One of the illnesses that primarily affects Pranavahasrotus is Kasa.

 According to Acharya Charaka and Acharya Vagbhata, apanavayu becomes deranged as a result of nidanasevana, rises higher, and affects the channels in the upper body. It settles in uras and kandapradesha and disturbs udanavayu's functioning. Subsequently, it penetrates the skull, causing the anga and akshi to contract, causing slight discomfort in the prista, uras, and parswa, and then forcing vayu out of the mouth with a sound that sounds like a broken bronze utensil falling.

 The role of pranavayu and udanavayu in the kasa disease's expression is explained by Acharya Susruta. The frequency of Kaphaja Kasa is increased by indulging in Kaphakara aahara and Vihara (foods and activities that collect Kapha). Kaphaja Kasa is typically worse by prolonged exposure to dust, pollen, chilly environments, and sleeping during the day. The specific aetiologies of Kaphaja Kasa are: Swapna (excessive sleep), Madhura (sweet), Snigdha aahara (unctuous), Abhishyandi (ingredients which create obstruction to the channels of circulation), and Vicheshtana (indolence). These elements cause Kapha to become vitiated, which obstructs Vata's flow and resulting in Kaphaja Kasa. The clinical condition known as Kaphaja Kasa is characterised by a coating of kapha in the mouth, kapha-sampoornaura (a sensation of phlegm gathered in the chest), an aversion to food, a feeling of heaviness in the body, debility, and coughing up thick kapha as sputum. The sixth prevalent symptom for which patients seek medical attention is a cough.Serious respiratory pathology results from the symptom's recurrence, which eventually causes complications.

Many herbal combinations are described in Ayurveda, but it is unknown how they would work therapeutically in Kasa. Therefore, developing a long-term solution for Kaphaja kasa management that is safe, affordable, efficient, and tasty is imperative. In light of the aforementioned considerations, the current task is carried out by selecting Lawangadi Gutika with lukewarm water, as suggested in Kaphaja Kasa.

Discussion

A single patient of Kaphaja Kasa received Shamana Chikitsa (palliative treatment) with Lawangadi gutika in a dose as per age for a period of 15 days. The effects of therapy are being discussed as follows. The deepana-Pachan property of the Marich and Lawang acts on the agni, alleviating ama. This also clears up the rasadhatu dusti and excessive production of kapha. The ushna veerya and kaphahara properties of the drug neutralized the felt over dusti of kapha, which can no more creates sanga in the pranavaha srotas to the vaata. The drug has vaataanulomana properties which helps the prakupita vaata to return normal gati. Thus, the Balance of the katu vipaka and ushna veerya of the drug pacify the both the doshas without agitating the other with its vipreeta guna. The katu gunas of the drug helps in penetrating through the sanga, created by vaayu is controlled by the ushnaveerya and vaat shamak property of drug. It also has the property as kasa shamaka.

Most of the drugs have Ushnaveerya (hot potency), which helps in alleviating Kapha by its Kaphavilayana (liquification of kapha) property, action of Agni Deepana and Amapachaka Guna. Every medication possesses Kapha Shamaka and Vata qualities. This results in relief from Srothovarodha (channel obstruction) and Kaphavilayana (liquification of kapha) by easing Prakupita (aggravated) Vata and Kapha. In this way it helps in Samprapthi Vighatana (regaining of physiology) and thus relieving the signs and symptoms associated with KaphajaKasa.

Mode Of Action –

a) Lawangadi Gutika

Lavangadi gutika contains the churnas of Lawang, Marich, Bibhitaki, Babbul and Khadir Kath. Katu, Tikta, Kashaya rasa pradhana, Katu vipaka and Ushna veerya drug which mitigates the vaat and kapha which directly antagonizing the sheet guna of the vaat and cough. So,these drugs help in Kaphavata shamana. Lavanga, Maricha, bibhitaki tvak has deepana and paachana property.

Since Kaphaja Kasa is an agnimandhya janya, Aamashayottha vikara these drugs act on Amashaya, help in the digestion of Ama and improve Agni. therefore, the ultimate goal is achieved i.e. kapha gets mitigate at its own seat. Hence the vitation of the cough is under control. Lavanaga because of its Katu rasa and Tikshna guna have Kapha vilayana property.  Bibhitaki has Bhedana property that helps in the removal of Kapha. Bibitaki has bronchodilator action. Hence it relieves cough. All the drugs in the Lavangadi gutika have Kasagna property. Maricha because of its Katu rasa, Teekshna guna, Usna veerya has Kaphavata shamana property. Due to its bronchodilator property Maricha is beneficial in cough and respiratory disorders. Khadira sara has anti-inflammatory property Hence the drugs in combination help in the reduction of Kaphaja kasa. These properties in the formulation’s drugs have proved to be effective in the condition of kasa.   

b) Vaman – The first line of shodhan chikitsa in Kaphaja kasa is Vaman. Vamana will expel the Dushita kapha and relive the Aavarana to vata giving more and effective result in Kaphaja kasa.

C) Swedan – Ushna guna of swed dilate the capallaries thus it increses circulation. Due to arterial dilatation the part get more circulation. so, act as stambhaghna, gaurabaghna and

strotomukhashodhana. This treatment helps to expel the phlegum from the chest region and clears the pranwaha strotasa.

Conclusion

Kaphaja Kasa is a disturbing disease of Pranavaha Srotas, commonly observed in all age groups. Vitiated Kapha and Vata dosha plays an important role in manifestation of Kaphaja Kasa. Kapha-Vata Prakopa Viharas like dust, weather acts as an Utpadaka Nidana and Ahara acts as a Vyanjaka Nidana for the manifestation of Kaphaja Kasa. The drugs in this yoga possess Deepana (di gestive), Kaphavatahara property as well as Hrudya (palatable) and Rasayana (rejuvina tive) property. The probable mode of effect of Lawangadi gutika may be due to the Vata and Kaphasamaka alleviating proper ties of all the drugs. It helps in alleviating Prakupita (aggravated)Vata and Kapha and thereby it causes relief in Srothovarodha (ob struction of channels and Kaphavilayana (li quification of kapha). In this way, it helps in Samprapti Vighatana (regaining of physiology) of the disease. This drug has no adverse effects reported. It is cost effective, easily administrable and safe in Patient. So it can be concluded that the drug Lawangadi gutika can be a drug of choice in the management of Kaphaja Kasa. So the ayurveda can be used as primary iterventions in Kaphaja kasa.

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