CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF KASA AND KSHATAJA KASA SAMPRAPTI

Kasa is a pranavahasrotosvyadhi having origin in amashaya. As we look into the samprapthi of kasa there is obstruction to movement of pranavata by nidanas like dhoomarajaadi which in-turn becomes the mechanical or chemical irritant to pranavahasrotas. The samprapthi explained in the samhita are indicating the cough reflex, which has both sensory and motor pathway, involving both prana and udanavata. This can be explained by the Valsalva maneuver. Kshatajakasa is one of the non-doshikvarieties of kasa. In classics we can see the explanation of kshatajakasa in the context of rajayakshma and kshataksheena, the only difference is amount of nidanasevana and the severity. Here is an attempt made to explain that kasasamprapti explained in samhitas is about ?act of coughing. In modern parlance Kshatajakasa can be understood as haemothorax and haemo-peritoniumupto some extent, after assessing its aetiology and symptoms.?