Publication

Abstract :

Opportunities: Nebulized drugs in bronchial asthma has been applied as a non-invasive route with reduced serious adverse reactions and is equivalent to or more efficacious than its intravenous counterparts. From various clinical trials it was found that prolonged use of corticosteroids and beta 2-bronchodilators have some adverse effects. So there is a scope in Ayurveda for developing a nebulizer.

Challenges: Dhoomapana (inhalation of medicinal fumes) is the nearest comparison for nebulization in Ayurveda. But inhalation of fumes is difficult to perform. If we convert the dhoomapana technique to aerosol it will be more acceptable by patients. Studies on various drugs used in dhoomapana is found to have volatile contents and have anti asthmatic/anti allergic /anti histaminic/bronchodilator action.

Way forward: A technique to convert dhoomapana drugs to nebulization fluid was found in a study by Kajaria et al. i.e. through the classical method of preparation of decoction/ through Soxhlet process by hot percolation method or extraction of volatile oil through steam distillation.