Issue : 01
INTERNATIONAL
JOURNAL
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AND
RESEARCH
Volume : 04
Copyright @ : - Dr.Rasika Tayade Inter. J.Digno. and Research IJDRMSID0140 |ISSN :2584-2757
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P
ISSN No. : 2584-2757
Volume : 04
Issue : 01
DOI
10.5281/zenodo.23434225
Reg. No. : MAHA-703/16(NAG)
Year of Establishment – 2016
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DIAGNOSTICS AND RESEARCH
Corresponding Author: Dr.Rasika Tayade ORCID ID:
ISI Impact Factor (2025-26): 1.345
IIFS Impact Factor (2026-27): 6.0
Article Info: Article Received on : 04 /10/2026 Article Reviewed on: 08/10/2026 Article Published on : 15/10/2026
Cite this article as: - Tayade R. Study Of Chalk Dust As Etiological Factor Of Tamak Shwas In Teaching Profession. International
Journal of Diagnostics And Research. 2026Oct17;4(1):12–6. doi:10.5281/zenodo.23434225
Abstract
Background - In 21
th
century, where life & industrialization is growing high, many types of pollutant are
released into environment affecting health of people in various ways. In Ayurveda, these pollutants are
included as “raja”. Acharya Charaka had mentioned that ‘a single etiological factor may produce single
disease or group of diseases or many factors together produces single disease or group of diseases. Acharya
Charaka has mentioned that ‘Raja’ (dust particles including pollen grains) is responsible for the
development of respiratory system disorders like Shwasa (dyspnea), Kasa (cough) and Hikka (hiccups) and
Pratikshyaya (Rhinitis)
Aims – To study chalk dust as an etiological factor of Tamak Shwasa in the teaching profession
Material & Method - 100 diagonsed teacher patients of “Tamak Shwas” are evaluated for considering
chalk dust as causative factor. This study is done on the parameters like age, sex, time for exposure to chalk,
duration of teaching, measurement of absolute eoisinophil count. Study results were statistically analysed
using chi square test.
Observation -
Significant correlation was found between chalk dust and the development of Tamak Shwasa
in teachers (P-value 0.0024 < 0.05).
Conclusion – Chalk dust serves as the aetiological factor for the development of Tamak Shawas (Atopic
Asthma)
Keywords: Tamak Shwas, Raj
Study Of Chalk Dust As Etiological Factor Of Tamak Shwas In Teaching Profession
Dr.Rasika Tayade
1
1
Assistant Professor, Dept.of Rognidan,Dr.Rajendra Gode Ayurved College, Hospital and Research center ,Amaravati
G
A
R
V
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JOURNAL
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AND
RESEARCH
Volume : 04
Copyright @ : - Dr.Rasika Tayade Inter. J.Digno. and Research IJDRMSID0140 |ISSN :2584-2757
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Introduction :
In the 21st century, where life & industrialization is
growing rapidly, many types of pollutants are
released into the environment, affecting the health
of people in various ways. In Ayurveda, these
pollutants are included as “raja”. In Nidan Sthana
8/24,25.2, Charak has mentioned that ‘a single
etiological factor may produce a single disease or a
group of diseases, or many factors together produce
a single disease or a group of diseases. ‘Raj’ has
been considered a causative factor for the formation
of Shwasa, Kasa, Hikka, and Pratishyay diseases.
According to Charak, raj has been mentioned as the
first Hetu in the causation of respiratory system
disorders, i.e Shwasa, Hikka Cha.chi.17/12,13.3
This dust can be compared to chalk dust, with
particles nearly 1 micrometre in diameter, which
can be easily inhaled and cause diseases like
Shwasa, Kasa, and Hikka. In teaching professions,
teachers frequently come into contact with chalk as
a teaching aid. Nowadays, chalk is dustless and
produces dust that settles down faster. To
determine whether this raja can be one of the Hetu
of Tamak Shwasa, this study was conducted.
Aim: To study chalk dust as an etiological factor
of Tamak Shwasa in the teaching profession
Objective :
To study Tamak Shwasa in various classical texts.
To study chalk dust in detail.
To study effect of chalk dust as etiological factor in
the formation of Tamak Shwasa in teaching
profession.
Materials -
The Teachers will be selected from Gadhinglaj and
peripheral primary schools and colleges.
Patients attending the hospital and special camps
conducted by LKRAM&RS Gadhinglaj.
Methodology -
Place of work: College Hospital and Primary
& Secondary Schools & College in the
periphery area.
Plan of work: A minimum of 100 patients
will be included in the study. A survey study
of 100 Teachers diagnosed with Tamak Shwasa
will be selected. Prior informed written consent,
wherever necessary, will be taken from the
patient. History and examination of all the
patients will be taken thoroughly with the help
of a special case paper format. The
investigation will be done on the same day of
the clinical examination.
Sample size - 100 Teachers diagnosed with
Tamak shwasa.
Inclusion Criteria
Pts. between age group 20 to 60 yr
Either sex will be selected for study.
Diagnosed teachers of Tamak Shwasa.
Exclusive Criteria :
Mahashwasa
Urdhvashwasa
Chinnashwasa
Shudrashwasa
Hridrog
Hikka
Kasa
Rajyaksma
Urahshata
Pnemothorax
Plural effusion
Bronchogenic carcinoma
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Fibrosis of lung
Collapse of lung.
Hereditary causes of Asthma
Subjective Criteria
Objective Criteria
1. Total Leucocyte Count (TLC)
2. Differntial white cell count (DLC).
3. Absolute Eosinophill Count (AEC)
Analytical study of chalk -
Writing chalk mainly consist of
1. Calcium sulphate in its dehydrate
form.CaSO4;2H2O(gypsum).
2. Calcium carbonate 40-60% of CaCO3
(calcite).
Observation Table 1 –Distribution Of Teachers
having Tamak Shwasa according to age
Age in yrs
No of teachers
20-30
5
31-40
37
41-50
46
51-60
12
Observation Table 2 – Distribution of Teachers
having Tamak Shwasa according to sex.
Sex
No of teachers
Male
60
Female
40
Observation Table 3- Distribution of Teachers
having Tamak Shwasa according to – Teaching
Profession –
Teaching Profession
No of teachers
Primary
29
Secondary
42
High Secondary
19
College
10
Observation Table No. :4 -
Comparison Between Total Experience Of
Teaching & Duration Of Tamak Shwasa.
Teaching Profession
No of teachers
Primary
29
Secondary
42
High Secondary
19
College
10
Observation Table No. :5-
Distribution of Teachers having Tamak shwasa
according to Complaint during teaching
Complaint
During Teaching
No of Teachers
Sneezing
13
Coughing
34
Shwasa
27
No Complaint
26
Observation Table No. :6-
Distribution of Teachers having Tamak Shwasa
according to Absolute Eosinophill Count
Ab. eosinophill count range
(cu/mm)
No of Teachers
less than or equal to 400
21
>400
79
Any complaint
during teaching
Present
/absent
duration
No complaints
Sneezing
Coughing
Shwas
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Correlation between total teaching exposure
and Chronicity of Tamak Shwasa.
Discussion
• Age & Sex – Maximum age found was 60 yr,
minimum was 20yr.
• Teaching Profession and Subject –
High incidence of Tamak shwasa in secondary
school teachers 37% followed by primary teachers
30%. High secondary school 27%, college 6%,
Teachers teaching all subjects 29%, followed by
Maths 16%, Drawing 12%, English 9%, Those
Teachers used chalk frequently and have Tamak
shwasa.
Teaching profession and Total exposure to chalk
dust: In primary teachers, maximum exposure
to chalk dust was 5-6 hrs in 10% and 3-4 hrs in
19%. In secondary school teachers, maximum
exposure to chalk dust was 5-6hrs in 6%, 3-4 hrs in
12%, 1-2 hrs in 7%, and less than 1 hr in 16%. In
high school, teachers: 5-6 hrs, 3-4 hrs in 5% each,
1-2 hrs in 3%, and less than 1 hr in 6%. In college,
5-6 hrs exposure in 2%, 3-4 hrs in 3%, 1-2 hrs in
1%, and less than 1 in 4%.
Complaints During Teaching -
In this study, the majority of teachers showed
coughing symptoms (34% during teaching,
followed by Shwasa 27%) and sneezing 13%. 26%
of teachers had no complaints during teaching.
Nidan – In this study, maximum Viharaj Nidan
(Raja) chalk dust was found to be 74%.
Absolute eosinophil count – 79% of teachers
showed borderline eosinophilia, and 21% of
teachers showed AEC within the normal range.
Duration of chalk dust exposure and Complaints
during teaching showed a significant correlation.
As (p-value 0.0024 < 0.05)
No correlation was found between chalk dust
exposure and eosinophil range (P-value 0.821 >
0.05). Though mild Eosinophilia was found in most
cases (79%.
A significant correlation was found between chalk
dust and the development of Tamak Shwasa in
teachers (P-value 0.0024 < 0.05).
Conclusion :
• On the basis of observations obtained in the
present study,
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• Male dominance was found in Teachers
having Tamak shwasa.
• The majority of Teachers having Tamak
shwasa were found in the 41-50 yrs age
group.
• The majority of teachers who had Tamak
shwasa were from Secondary school.
• Total chalk exposure was 3-4 hrs in most
teachers.
• The majority of Teachers showed coughing
symptoms during teaching.
• The majority of Teachers having Tamak
shwasa teach subjects like all subjects,
Maths, Drawing, Physics.
• Habit of Tea/coffee was found in most
teachers.
References :
1. Sharma PV (editor and translator), Sushrut
Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 15, Verse 47,
translator. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha
Visvabharti; 2004
2. Sharma PV, Charak Samhita, Nidana Sthana,
Chapter 8, Verse 24. editor-translator. Varanasi:
Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2014.
3. Dash B, Sharma RK (editors), Charak Samhita,
Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 17, Verse 12.
Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series; 2012.
4. Bhishagratna KK (translator), Sushrut Samhita,
Uttara Tantra, Chapter 1, Verse 25. Varanasi:
Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office; 2006.
5. Mishra J (editor), Abhidhana Chintamani.
Varanasi: Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan; 2009.
6. Shabda Kalpadruma [Sanskrit Encyclopedic
Lexicon]. Vol 2. Varanasi: Chowkhamba
Sanskrit Series Office; 1987.
ISSN: 2584-2757
DOI :10.5281/zenodo.23434225
Dr. Rasika Tayade Inter. J.Digno. and Research
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