The 35th chapter of Uttara Sthanam of Ashtanga Hridayam is named as ‘Visha Pratishedha’. This chapter deals with the explanation of ‘Treatment of poisoning’.
The topics covered in this chapter include –
- Vishotpatti – origin of poison
- Visha Guna – properties of poison
- Sthavara Visha Vega – Stages of vegetable poisoning
- Sthavara Visha Chikitsa– Treatment of vegetable poisoning
- Chaandrodaya Agada
- Dushi Visha
- Treatment of Dushivisha
- Dushivishari Agada
- Vishalipta Shalya – Poisoned Arrow
- Treatment of Vishaja Vrana
- Gara Visha – Artificial Poison
- Visha Sankata – critical / fatal / period
- Visha Guna Vriddhi – Increase of effects of poisons
- Visha Chikitsa– General treatment of poisons
- Poison born from water and its relation to various seasons
- Points to consider treatment of poisons
- Treatment of poisons of Kapha nature
- Treatment of poisons of Pitta nature
- Treatment of poisons of Vata nature
- Use of ghee in all kinds of poison
- Poison located in small and large intestine
Pledge by the author(s)
अथातो विषप्रतिषेधं व्याख्यास्याम: ।
इति ह स्माहुरात्रेयादयो महर्षय: ।
After having offered prayers to the God, henceforth we are going to explain the chapter pertaining to the explanation of ‘Treatment of poisoning’. Thus, say (pledge) Atreya and other sages.
Vishotpatti: Origin of poison
मथ्यमाने जलनिधावमृतार्थं सुरासुरैः ।
जातः प्रागमृतोत्पत्तेः पुरुषो घोरदर्शनः ॥ १ ॥
दीप्ततेजाश्चतुर्दंष्ट्रो हरिकेशोऽनलेक्षणः ।
जगद्विषण्णं तं दृष्ट्वा तेनासौ विषसञ्ज्ञितः ॥ २ ॥
हुंकृतो ब्रह्मणा मूर्ती ततः स्थावरजङ्गमे ।
सोऽध्यतिष्ठन्निजं रूपमुज्झित्वा वञ्चनात्मकम् ॥ ३ ॥
When the suras (Gods) and asuras (non-Gods) churned the ocean of milk for the sake of obtaining nectar, a person dreadful in appearance, with glowing lustre, four teeth, brown hair and firry eyes was born, before the birth of the nectar. Seeing him, the whole world became grief striken, hence, he was named as ‘Visha’ cursed by Brahma, he discarded his real physical form and resides in his deceptive form in both sthavara (inanimate, inorganic, vegetable) and jangama (organic, animal) substances.
स्थिरमित्युल्बणं वीर्ये यत्कन्देषु प्रतिष्ठितम् ।
कालकूटेन्द्रवत्साख्यशृङ्गीहालाहलादिकम् ॥ ४ ॥
The powerful poison present in tubers (roots etc.) such as Kalakuta, Indravatsa, Shringi, Halahala etc. is called Sthavara visha.
सर्पलूतादिदंष्ट्रासु दारुणं जङ्गमं विषम् ।
That poison which is powerful, present in the teeth of snakes, spiders etc. is called Jangama Visha.
स्थावरं जङ्गमं चेति विषं प्रोक्तमकृत्रिमम् ॥ ५ ॥
Thus, poisons are of two kinds Sthavara (vegetable) and Jangama (animal) which are natural.
Gara visha
कृत्रिमं गरसञ्ज्ञं तु क्रियते विविधौषधैः ।
हन्ति योगवशेनाशु चिराच्चिरतराच्च तत् ॥ ६ ॥
शोफपाण्डूदरोन्माददुर्नामादीन् करोति वा ।
Artificial poison is known as gara and is prepared from different herbs, some may kill the person quickly due to certain combination of herbs, while some others after a long time or may only produce swelling, anemia, enlargement of the abdomen, insanity, hemorrhoids etc.
Visha Guna: Properties of poison
तीक्ष्णोष्णरूक्षविशदं व्यवाय्याशुकरं लघु ॥ ७ ॥
विकाषि सूक्ष्ममव्यक्तरसं विषमपाकि च ।
Penetrating, hot in potency, dry, viscid/non-unctuous, spreads all over the body quickly, quick acting, light, causing looseness of joints, dilating the tissue pores, capacity to enter into minute pores, imperceptible taste and not undergoing digestion are the properties of poison.
ओजसो विपरीतं तत्तीक्ष्णाद्यैरन्वितं गुणैः ॥ ८ ॥
वातपित्तोत्तरं नृणां सद्यो हरति जीवितम् ।
It is opposite of ojas; because of its properties such as tikshna (penetrating) etc. it takes away the life of persons soon who have predominance of Vata and Pitta.
विषं हि देहं सम्प्राप्य प्राग्दूषयति शोणितम् ॥ ९ ॥
कफपित्तानिलांश्चानु समं दोषान् सहाशयान् ।
ततो हृदयमास्थाय देहोच्छेदाय कल्पते ॥ १० ॥
Poison, having entered the body, vitiates the blood first, next the Kapha, Pitta and Vata along with their respective seats, then it invades the heart and leads to death of the body.
Sthavara Visha Vega: Stages of vegetable poisoning
स्थावरस्योपयुक्तस्य वेगे पूर्वे प्रजायते ।
जिह्वायाः श्यावता स्तम्भो मूर्छा त्रासः क्लमो वमिः ॥११॥
During the first stage usage of Sthavara visha, these symptoms will be developed blue color of the tongue, rigidity of the body, fainting, fear (anxiety), exhaustion and vomiting.
द्वितीये वेपथुः स्वेदो दाहः कण्ठे च वेदना ।
विषं चामाशयं प्राप्तं कुरुते हृदि वेदनाम् ॥ १२
In the second stage, rigor, perspiration, burning sensation, pain in the throat; poison getting into the stomach leads to pain in the heart.
तालुशोषस्तृतीये तु शूलं चामाशये भृशम् ।
दुर्बले हरिते शूने जायेते चास्य लोचने ॥ १३ ॥
पक्वाशयगते तोदहिध्माकासान्त्रकूजनम् ।
In the third stage, there is dryness of the palate, severe pain in the stomach, his eyes become weak, green in color and swollen; poison reaching the large intestine produces pricking pain, hiccup, cough and intestinal gurgling.
चतुर्थे जायते वेगे शिरसश्चातिगौरवम् ॥ १४ ॥
In the fourth stage, there is feeling of great heavinessof the head.
कफप्रसेको वैवर्ण्यं पर्वभेदश्च पञ्चमे ।
सर्वदोषप्रकोपश्च पक्वाधाने च वेदना ॥ १५ ॥
In the fifth stage, dribbling of Kapha (from the mouth, nose etc.), discoloration, cutting pain in the joints, aggravation of all the doshas, pain in the large intestine.
षष्ठे सञ्ज्ञाप्रणाशश्च सुभृशं चातिसार्यते ।
In the sixth stage, there is loss of consciousness and very severe diarrhea.
Sthavara Visha Vega: Stages of vegetable poisoning
स्कन्धपृष्ठकटीभङ्गो भवेन्मृत्युश्च सप्तमे ॥ १६ ॥
In the seventh stage, bending of the shoulders, back and waist and death manifest.
Sthavara Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of vegetable poisoning
प्रथमे विषवेगे तु वान्तं शीताम्बुसेचिनम् ।
सर्पिर्मधुभ्यां संयुक्तमगदं पाययेद्द्रुतम् ॥ १७ ॥
In the first stage, the patient should be made to vomit, sprinkled with cold water and administered the agada (antidote, anti-poisonous recipe) mixed with ghee and honey quickly.
Sthavara Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of vegetable poisoning
द्वितीये पूर्ववद्वान्तं विरिक्तं चानुपाययेत् ।
In the second stage, vomiting followed by purgation should be done as before and then the antidote given.
Sthavara Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of vegetable poisoning
तृतीयेऽगदपानं तु हितं नस्यं तथाऽञ्जनम् ॥ १८ ॥
In the third stage, consuming the antidote, nasal medication and collyrium to eyes are beneficial.
चतुर्थे स्नेहसंयुक्तमगदं प्रतियोजयेत् ।
In the fourth stage, the antidote mixed with (medicated) fats should be administered.
पञ्चमे मधुकक्वाथमाक्षिकाभ्यां युतं हितम् ॥ १९ ॥
In the fifth stage, the antidote mixed with decoction of Glycyrrhiza glabra and honey is beneficial.
षष्ठेऽतीसारवद्सिद्धि:
In the sixth stage, the treatment is similar to that of diarrhea.
अवपीडस्तुसप्तमे ।
मूर्ध्नि काकपदं कृत्वा सासृग्वा पिशितं क्षिपेत् ॥ २० ॥
In the seventh stage, avapida i.e., drops of juice of herbs should be put into the nose, a small wound (kakapada) should be made on the scalp and a piece of flesh (of an animal) drabbing blood should be placed on it.
कोशातक्यग्निकः पाठा सूर्यवल्ल्यमृताभयाः ।
शेलुः शिरीषः किणिही हरिद्रे क्षौद्रसाह्वया ॥ २१ ॥
पुनर्नवे त्रिकटुकं बृहत्यौ सारिवे बला ।
एषां यवागूं निर्यूहे शीतां सघृतमाक्षिकाम् ॥ २२ ॥
युञ्ज्याद्वेगान्तरे सर्वविषघ्नीं कृतकर्मणः ।
kośātakī – Luffa acutangula, agnikaḥ – Plumbago zeylanica, pāṭhā – Cissampelos pareira, sūryavallī – Phaseolus trilobus, amṛta – Tinospora cordifolia, abhayāḥ – Terminalia chebula, śeluḥ – Cordia dichotoma, śirīṣaḥ – Albizia lebbeck, kiṇihī – Achyranthes aspera, haridre – the two haridra- Haridra – Curcuma longa, Daruharidra – Berberis aristata, punarnave – the two punarnava-
Shweta – Trianthema portulacastrum, Rakta – Boerhaavia diffusa, trikatuka-Black pepper – Piper nigrum, Long pepper fruit – Piper longum and Ginger – Zingiber officinale, the two Brihati-Bruhati – Solanum indicum Shveta Brihati – Solanum torvum (white colored flower), the two Sariva -Shveta Sariva – white variety – Hemidesmus indicus and Krishna Sariva – Cryptolepis buchanani / Ichnocarpus frutescens, balā – and Sida cordifolia all are boiled in water and decoction prepared; using this decoction, yavagu (thin gruel) is prepared, allowed to cool, then mixed with ghee and honey and consumed in between the stages of poison and kinds of therapies, cures all poisons.
तद्वन्मधूकमधुकपद्मकेसरचन्दनैः ॥ २३ ॥
Similarly, madhūka – Madhuca longifolia, madhuka – Glycyrrhiza glabra, padmakesara – stamen of Nelumbo nucifera, candanaiḥ – and Santalum album may also be used (for preparation of decoction).
Chaandrodaya Agada
अञ्जनं तगरं कुष्ठं हरितालं मनःशिला ।
फलिनी त्रिकटु स्पृक्का नागपुष्पं सकेसरम् ॥ २४ ॥
हरेणुर्मधुकं मांसी रोचना काकमालिका ।
श्रीवेष्टकं सर्जरसः शताह्वा कुङ्कुमं बला ॥ २५ ॥
तमालपत्रतालीशभूर्जोशीरनिशाद्वयम् ।
कन्योपवासिनी स्नाता शुक्लवासा मधुद्रुतैः ॥ २६ ॥
द्विजानभ्यर्च्य तैः पुष्ये कल्पयेदगदोत्तमम् ।
वैद्यश्चात्र तदा मन्त्रं प्रयतात्मा पठेदिमम् ॥ २७ ॥
नमः पुरुषसिंहाय नमो नारायणाय च ।
यथाऽसौ नाभिजानाति रणे कृष्णपराजयम् ॥ २८ ॥
एतेन सत्यवाक्येन अगदो मे प्रसिध्यतु ।
नमो वैडूर्यमाते हुलु हुलु रक्ष मां सर्वविषेभ्यः ॥ २९ ॥
गौरि गान्धारि चाण्डालि मातङ्गि स्वाहा पिष्टे च द्वितीयो मन्त्रः |
हरिमायि स्वाहा ॥ ३०॥
अशेषविषवेतालग्रहकार्मणपाप्मसु ।
मरकव्याधिदुर्भिक्षयुद्धाशनिभयेषु च ॥ ३१ ॥
पाननस्याञ्जनालेपमणिबन्धादियोजितः ।
एष चन्द्रोदयो नाम शान्तिस्वस्त्ययनं परम् ॥ ३२ ॥
वासवो वृत्रमवधीत्समालिप्तः किलामुना ॥ ३२+ ॥
añjanaṃ – Antimony sulphide, tagaraṃ – Valeriana wallichii, kuṣṭhaṃ – Saussurea lappa, haritālaṃ – arsenic trisulphidum, manaḥśilā – realgar, phalinī – Callicarpa macrophylla, Trikatu-Black pepper – Piper nigrum, Long pepper fruit – Piper longum and Ginger – Zingiber officinale, spṛkkā – Anisomeles malabarica, nāgapuṣpaṃ – Mesua ferrea, sakesaram – Mesua ferrea, hareṇu: – Pisum sativum, madhukaṃ – Glycyrrhiza glabra, māṃsī – Nardostachys jatamansi, rocanā – bezoar, kākamālikā -Solanum nigrum, śrīveṣṭakaṃ – exudates from Pinus roxburghii, sarjarasaḥ – resin of Vateria indica, śatāhvā – Anethum sowa, kuṅkumaṃ – Crocus sativus, balā – Sida cordifolia, tamālapatra – Cinnamonum tamala, tālīśa – Abies webbiana, bhūrja – Betula utilis, uśīra – Vetiveria zizanioides, and the two Nisha- Haridra – Curcuma longa
Daruharidra – Berberis aristata these are to be macerated with honey and agada prepared by a virgin who has abstained from food, taken bath, put on white dress; the preparation done during Pushya stellar constellation; the physician having worshipped the twice born (brahmanas) should sit nearly and chant the following hymns. “Salutation to the Purushasimha (lion among men), salutations to Narayana, just as the true statement “God Krshna does not know defeat in war “” let this agada (antidote) bestow good to me”. The second hymn during maceration: “salutation to Vaidurya Mate, Haluhulu, Protect me from all poisons Svaha to Gauri, Candhali and Matangi”Svaha to Harimayi”. This, known as Chandrodaya Shanti (antidote), wards off the evil effects of all kinds of poisons, ghosts, demons, sinful acts, deadly diseases, famine, war, lightning, thunderbolt etc. when used in the form of oral consumption, nasal medication, collyrium, external application and tied with gems and is the best to promote health smeared by this only Vasava (Indra) Killed (the demon) Vritra.
Dushi Visha
जीर्णं विषघ्नौषधिभिर्हतं वा दावाग्निवातातपशोषितं वा ।
स्वभावतो वा न गुणैः सुयुक्तं दूषीविषाख्यां विषमभ्युपैति ॥ ३३ ॥
वीर्याल्पभावादविभाव्यमेतत्कफावृतं वर्षगणानुबन्धि ।
तेनार्दितो भिन्नपुरीषवर्णो दुष्टास्ररोगी तृडरोचकार्तः ॥ ३४ ॥
मूर्छन् वमन् गद्गदवाग्विमुह्यन् भवेच्च दूष्योदरलिङ्गजुष्टः ।
आमाशयस्थे कफवातरोगी पक्वाशयस्थेऽनिलपित्तरोगी ॥ ३५ ॥
भवेन्नरो ध्वस्तशिरोरुहाङ्गो विलूनपक्षः स यथा विहङ्गः ।
स्थितं रसादिष्वथवा विचित्रान् करोति धातुप्रभवान् विकारान् ॥ ३६ ॥
Any Poison which has become old, killed (made ineffective) by other anti-poisonous medicines, dried (or acted upon) by forest fire, breeze, or sunlight or that which by its very nature is not endowed well with (all) the properties (of the poison), derives the name dushivisha. Thought of its mild potency, it is not to be neglected, since it continues to exist in the body for many years getting enveloped by Kapha. Troubled by it, the person eliminates feces which is liquid, of different colors, becomes a patient of vitiated blood, having thirst and loss of taste, appetite; faints, vomits, stammers, loses consciousness and develops symptoms of dushyodara (chapter 12 of Nidana sthana). If the dushivisha is in the stomach, the person is a patient of (increase of) Kapha- Vata, if it is in the large intestine he is a patient of Vata-Pitta, if localized in the rasa etc. (dhatus – tissues), the person becomes similar to an animal that has lost its horn, his organs, limbs appearing like a bird without its wings, or manifests different kinds of peculiar diseases arising in the tissue.
प्राग्वाताजीर्णशीताभ्रदिवास्वप्नाहिताशनैः ।
दुष्टं दूषयते धातूनतो दूषीविषं स्मृतम् ॥ ३७ ॥
It is called as dushi visha since vitiated (aggravated) by direct breeze, use of uncooked foods, cold, cloudy weather, sleeping during day, and ingestion of unsuitable foods and then vitiates the dhatus (tissues).
Treatment of Dushi Visha
दूषीविषार्तं सुस्विन्नमूर्ध्वं चाधश्च शोधितम् ।
दूषीविषारिमगदं लेहयेन् मधुनाप्लुतम् ॥ ३८ ॥
The patient of dushivisha should be administered sudation therapy and then emesis and purgation therapies, followed by licking of dusivishari agada (antidote) mixed with honey.
Dusivishari Agada
पिप्पल्यो ध्यामकं मांसी लोध्रमेला सुवर्चिका ।
कुटन्नटं नतं कुष्ठं यष्टी चन्दनगैरिकम् ॥ ३९ ॥
दूषीविषारिर्नाम्नायं न चान्यत्रापि वार्यते ।
pippalyo – Piper longum, dhyāmakaṃ – Cymbopogon Schoenathus, māṃsī – Nardostachys jatamansi, lodhraṃ – Symplocos racemosa, elā – Elettaria cardamomum, suvarcikā – Svarjika Kshara, kuṭannaṭaṃ – Oroxylum indicum, nataṃ – Cyperus rotundus, kuṣṭhaṃ – Saussurea lappa, yaṣṭī – Glycyrrhiza glabra, candana – Santalum album gairikam – and purified red ochre – converted into nice paste with water and consumed in suitable dose along with honey. This is called dusivishari (agada); cannot be avoided even in other (types of poisons).
Visha lipta Shalya: Poisoned Arrow
विषदिग्धेन विद्धस्तु प्रताम्यति मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ ४० ॥
विवर्णभावं भजते विषादं चाशु गच्छति ।
कीटैरिवावृतं चास्य गात्रं चिमिचिमायते ॥ ४१ ॥
श्रोणिपृष्ठशिरःस्कन्धसन्धयः स्युः सवेदनाः ।
कृष्णदुष्टास्रविस्रावी तृण्मूर्छाज्वरदाहवान् ॥ ४२ ॥
दृष्टिकालुष्यवमथुश्वासकासकरः क्षणात् ।
आरक्तपीतपर्यन्तः श्यावमध्योऽतिरुग्व्रणः ॥ ४३ ॥
शूयते पच्यते सद्यो गत्वा मांसं च कृष्णताम् ।
प्रक्लिन्नं शीर्यतेऽभीक्ष्णं सपिच्छिलपरिस्रवम् ॥ ४४ ॥
When the person gets injured by a poisoned arrow, he faints often, becomes discolored, grief stricken very quickly, feels tingling sensation all over the body as though insects are crawling on it, there is pain in the pelvis, back, head, shoulders and joints; the blood coming out from the wound is black and vitiated (with bad smell); thirst, fainting, fever, burning sensation, turbidity of vision, vomiting, dyspnea and cough develop instantaneously; the wound has reddish yellow edges and bluish central portion, with severe pain, gets swollen, ripens (pus formation) quickly, makes the muscle tissue black, moist, slimy and liquefied (decomposition) and fades off very soon.
Treatment of Vishaja Vrana
कुर्यादमर्मविद्धस्य हृदयावरणं द्रुतम् ।
If vital spots are not injured (by the poisoned arrow), then hridayavarana-therapy to protect the heart (vide chapter 7 of Sutrasthana) should be doneimmediately.
शल्यमाकृष्य तप्तेन लोहेनानु दहेद्व्रणम् ॥ ४५ ॥
अथवा मुष्ककश्वेतासोमत्वक्ताम्रवल्लितः ।
शिरीषाद्गृध्रनख्याश्च क्षारेण प्रतिसारयेत् ॥ ४६ ॥
शुकनासाप्रतिविषाव्याघ्रीमूलैश्च लेपयेत् ।
The arrow should be pulled out and the wound burnt (cauterised) with heated iron rod or caustic alkali prepared from muṣkaka – Schrebera swietenioides śvetā – Clitoria ternatea, soma tvak – Ephedra giardiana, Red Ochre, śirīṣāt – Albizia lebbeck, gṛdhranakhyāśca – Ziziphus jujuba should be applied to the wound; and paste of śukanāsā – Oroxylum indicum, prativiṣā – Aconitum heterophyllum vyāghrī mūlaiśca – and roots of Solanum surattense should be applied.
कीटदष्टचिकित्सां च कुर्यात्तस्य यथार्हतः ॥ ४७ ॥
Treatment prescribed for bites of kita (insects) (chapter 37 of Uttarsthana) should be adopted as found suitable.
व्रणे तु पूतिपिशिते क्रिया पित्तविसर्पवत् ।
In case of wounds having foul smelling muscle, treatment is like that of Pittaja Visarpa (Chapter 18 of Chikitsa Sthana).
Gara Visha: Artificial Poison
सौभाग्यार्थं स्त्रियो भर्त्रे राज्ञे वाऽरातिचोदिताः ॥ ४८ ॥
गरमाहारसम्पृक्तं यच्छन्त्यासन्नवर्तिनः ।
Women in order to gain the love of their husbands and women who are intimate with the king instigated by foes, administer gara (artificial poison) to the king, mixed with food which also kills those around.
नानाप्राण्यङ्गशमलविरुद्धौषधिभस्मनाम् ॥ ४९ ॥
विषाणां चाल्पवीर्याणां योगो गर इति स्मृतः ।
Combination of parts of the body of different animals and excreta (of different animals), incompatible herbs, ashes and poisonous substances of mild potency is known as gara visha (artificial poison).
तेन पाण्डुः कृशोऽल्पाग्निः कासश्वासज्वरार्दितः ॥५०॥
वायुना प्रतिलोमेन स्वप्नचिन्तापरायणः ।
महोदरयकृत्प्लीही दीनवाग्दुर्बलोऽलसः ॥ ५१ ॥
शोफवान् सतताध्मातः शुष्कपादकरः क्षयी ।
स्वप्ने गोमायुमार्जारनकुलव्यालवानरान् ॥ ५२ ॥
प्रायः पश्यति शुष्कांश्च वनस्पतिजलाशयान् ।
मन्यते कृष्णमात्मानं गौरो गौरं च कालकः ॥ ५३ ॥
विकर्णनासानयनं पश्येत्तद्विहतेन्द्रियः ।
By that, the person becomes pale, emaciated, of weak digestive capacity; suffers from cough, dyspnea, fever, upward movement of Vata, spending more time in sleeping and worrying; suffers from enlarged abdomen, enlarged liver and enlarged spleen, has timid/feeble voice is debilitated, lazy, develops swellings, distension of the abdomen always, dryness of the feet and hand emaciation, generally sees in his dreams the jackal, cat, mongoose, snake, monkey, dried trees and reservoirs; thinks that he has become black instead of his original white color or that he has become white instead of his original black color; sees his nose, eyes etc. as rough and distorted and destruction of senses (perception).
एतैरन्यैश्च बहुभिः क्लिष्टो घोरैरुपद्रवैः ॥ ५४ ॥
गरार्तो नाशमाप्नोति कश्चित्सद्योऽचिकित्सितः ।
Suffering from these and many other difficult and dreadful secondary affections; the patient of artificial poisoning attains destruction (dies) very soon who does not get urgent treatment.
Gara Visha treatment
गरार्तो वान्तवान् भुक्त्वा तत्पथ्यं पानभोजनम् ॥५५॥
शुद्धहृच्छीलयेद्धेम सूत्रस्थानविधेः स्मरन् ।
The patient of artificial poisoning should be made to vomit, resorting to consuming healthy foods and drinks. In order to purify the heart he should lick gold remembering the procedure prescribed in Sutrasthana (chapter 7).
शर्कराक्षौद्रसंयुक्तं चूर्णं ताप्यसुवर्णयोः ॥ ५६ ॥
लेहः प्रशमयन्त्युग्रं सर्वयोगकृतं विषम् ।
Powder of iron pyrite and gold mixed with sugar and honey and licked cures deadly poisons of all kinds of combinations.
Gara Visha treatment in case of destroyed digestive fire
मूर्वामृतानतकणापटोलीचव्यचित्रकान् ॥ ५७ ॥
वचामुस्तविडङ्गानि तक्रकोष्णाम्बुमस्तुभिः ।
पिबेद्रसेन वाऽम्लेन गरोपहतपावकः ॥ ५८ ॥
mūrvā – Powder of Marsdenia tenacissima, amṛtā – Tinospora cordifolia, nata – Valeriana wallicii, kaṇā – Piper longum, paṭolī – Trichosanthes dioica, cavya – Piper retrofractum, citrakān – Plumbago zeylanica, vacā – Acorus calamus, musta – Cyperus rotundus, viḍaṅgāni – Embelia ribes, mixed with either buttermilk, warm water, supernatant layer of curds, meat soup or a sour liquid should be consumed by the person having digestive fire destroyed by artificial poison.
पारावतामिषशठीपुष्कराह्वशृतं हिमम् ।
गरतृष्णारुजाकासश्वासहिध्माज्वरापहम् ॥ ५९ ॥
Decoction prepared from the meat of the pigeon, śaṭhī – Hedychium spicatum, puṣkarāhva – and Inula racemosa cooled and consumed cures artificial poisoning, thirst, pain, cough, dyspnea, hiccup and fever.
Visha Sankata: Critical / fatal / period
विषप्रकृतिकालान्नदोषदूष्यादिसङ्गमे ।
विषसङ्कटमुद्दिष्टं शतस्यैकोऽत्र जीवति ॥ ६० ॥
(The duration of) coming together of the prakriti (category, kind, properties and actions) season of poisoning, its nature effect of poison on digestion of food, dosha increased by the poison, tissues etc. is known as VishaSankata (fatal period); one out of a hundred (persons reaching this period) survives.
Vishaguna Vriddhi: Increase of effects of poisons
क्षुत्तृष्णाघर्मदौर्बल्यक्रोधशोकभयश्रमैः ।
अजीर्णवर्चोद्रवतापित्तमारुतवृद्धिभिः ॥ ६१ ॥
तिलपुष्पफलाघ्राणभूबाष्पघनगर्जितैः ।
हस्तिमूषिकवादित्रनिःस्वनैर्विषसङ्कटैः ॥ ६२ ॥
पुरोवातोत्पलामोदमदनैर्वर्धते विषम् ।
The effects of poison increase from these hunger, thirst, increased heat, weakness, anger, grief, fear, exertion, indigestion, watery feces, increase of Pitta and Vata, smelling the flowers and fruits of tila – Sesamum indicum, by fumes of the earth, thunder, sound of roaring of the elephant, squeaking of mice, sound of musical instruments, during VishaSankata (fatal period) direct breeze, fragrance of utpala – Nymphaea stellata and sexual desire.
Poison born from water and its relation to various seasons
वर्षासु चाम्बुयोनित्वात्सङ्क्लेदं गुडवद्गतम् ॥ ६३ ॥
विसर्पति घनापाये तदगस्त्यो हिनस्ति च ।
प्रयाति मन्दवीर्यत्वं विषं तस्माद्घनात्यये ॥ ६४ ॥
Poison born from water becomes very moist like jaggery (treacle) during Varsha (rainy season) and spreads to all places during the rainy season. It is made to become weak by star Agastya and so during Sharat (autumn the next season) poison attains mild potency.
Points to consider treatment of poisons
इति प्रकृतिसात्म्यर्तुस्थानवेगबलाबलम् ।
आलोच्य निपुणं बुद्ध्या कर्मानन्तरमाचरेत् ॥ ६५ ॥
The wise physician should determine the appropriate treatment only after considering the nature, customization, season, location, stage, strength and weakness (of the poison and the patient).
Treatment of poisons of Kapha nature
श्लैष्मिकं वमनैरुष्णरूक्षतीक्ष्णैः प्रलेपनैः ।
कषायकटुतिक्तैश्च भोजनैः शमयेद्विषम् ॥ ६६ ॥
Poison of Kapha nature should be mitigated by emesis and application of paste of herbs possessing hot, dry and penetrating properties and by foods of astringent, pungent and bitter tastes.
Treatment of poisons of Pitta nature
पैत्तिकं स्रंसनैः सेकप्रदेहैर्भृशशीतलैः ।
कषायतिक्तमधुरैर्घृतयुक्तैश्च भोजनैः ॥ ६७ ॥
Poisons of Pitta nature, by mild purgation, sudation, poultices applied very cold and foods which are astringent, bitter and sweet in taste, added with ghee.
Treatment of poisons of Vata nature
वातात्मकं जयेत्स्वादुस्निग्धाम्ललवणान्वितैः ।
सघृतैर्भोजनैर्लेपैस्तथैव पिशिताशनैः ॥ ६८ ॥
Poisons of Vata nature should be won over by foods which are sweet, unctuous (fatty), sour, salty and added with ghee, application of herbs of the same properties and also by use of meat as food.
Use of ghee in all kinds of poison
नाघृतं स्रंसनं शस्तं प्रलेपो भोज्यमौषधम् ।
सर्वेषु सर्वावस्थासु विषेषु न घृतोपमम् ॥ ६९ ॥
विद्यते भेषजं किञ्चिद्विशेषात्प्रबलेऽनिले ।
In purgation, external application of paste of herbs, food and medicine without the addition of ghee is not suitable (in the treatment of poisons), there is no medicine better than ghee in all kinds of poisons and in all stages of poisoning, especially it is best when Vata is very powerful.
Poison located in small and large intestine
अयत्नाच्छ्लेष्मगं साध्यं यत्नात्पित्ताशयाश्रयम् ॥७०॥
सुदुःसाध्यमसाध्यं वा वाताशयगतं विषम् ॥ ७०+ ॥
Poison which has got localized in the seat of Shleshma (amasaya/stomach), is curable even without much treatment at localized in the seat of Pitta (small intestine) is curable with great effort and that localized in the seat of Vata (large intestine) is either very difficult to cure even with great effort or not curable at all.
इति श्री वैद्यपति सिंहगुप्तसूनु श्रीमद्वाग्भटविरचितायामष्टाङ्गहृदयसंहितायां षष्ठे उत्तरस्थाने विषप्रतिषेधो नाम पञ्चत्रिंशोऽध्याय: ॥३५॥
Thus, ends the chapter-Vishapratishedha- thirty-fifth in Uttarasthana of Astanga Hridaya Samhita, composed by Srimad Vagbhata, son of Sri Vaidyapati Simhagupata.
