The Shwasan Sanstha or respiratory system is an intricate and delicate network of channels that carry Prana Vayu (the vital life-force) and oxygen. The lungs are the organs that receive the Prana Vayu & oxygen that we breathe in through our nose and mouth.

In Ayurveda, the lungs and the stomach are important sites of kapha dosha, the force in the body which is governed by the elements of water and earth. Most disorders of the respiratory system are a result of imbalanced kapha dosha. Mucus or phlegm is produced in the stomach and accumulates in the lungs. It can then be distributed to other sites in the respiratory tract manifesting as imbalances. Although accumulation of mucus does not inherently mean that a respiratory imbalance will develop, it is indicative of low agni, or digestive fire. Low agni is among the common causes of respiratory imbalances and very often, the treatment protocol involves kindling the digestive fire so that digestion can operate more optimally.