Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Agantuja Vyadhis are diseases which are caused due to the effect of external factors or agents. In this article let us discuss in brief about the abodes of agantuja vyadhis and the treatments for the same as explained by Acharya Sushruta.
Abode of Agantuja Vyadhi
आगन्तवस्तु ये रोगास्ते द्विधा निपतन्ति हि।
मनस्यन्ये शरीरेऽन्ये तेषां तु द्विविधा क्रिया॥३६॥
शरीरपतितानां तु शारीरवदुपक्रमः ।
मानसानां तु शब्दादिरिष्टो वर्गः सुखावहः ॥३७॥
Ref – Sushruta Sutra Sthana, Chapter 1, Verses 36, 37
According to Acharya Sushruta, there are two abodes or locations of Agantu Vyadhis. They are the seats or places in the body where diseases of external origin would affect.
So, the diseases caused by external causes are of two kinds depending on where (which part of the body) they would manifest. The two abodes of Agantuja Vyadhi are –
- Sharira – those which occur at the physical (body) level and
- Manasika – those which occur at the mental (mind) level
The same can be considered as classification of diseases caused due to external agents.
Treatment for Agantuja Vyadhis
Since the abodes of Agantuja Vyadhis are two in number, the treatments of these diseases are also of two kinds.
-
Treatment principles of Agantu Vyadhis manifesting at physical level
These diseases shall be treated on the same lines of treating Nija Sharirika Rogas i.e. diseases of the body manifested at the physical level i.e. diseases occurring in the body. Nija Rogas are those diseases manifested in the body which are caused by aggravated doshas – vata, pitta and kapha (and rakta – vitiated blood) – either individually or in combinations of two or three doshas. Ninja Rogas are treated by methods like shodhana (cleansing or purification therapies – panchakarma therapies), shamana (palliating or dosha pacifying treatments and medicines), rasayana (rejuvenation, immune modulating and anti-ageing medicines) etc. The same treatment modalities shall be used to treat the diseases occurring at the physical level by external causes.
-
Treatment principles of Agantu Vyadhis manifesting at mental level –
The agantuja diseases manifesting in the mind shall be treated by associating the patient with the objects of sense organs i.e. sound, sight, smell, taste and touch which bring about happiness, comfort and relief to the mind and also the person.
Important points to note about Agantuja Rogas / Vyadhis
Agantuja Vyadhis are diseases caused by external or exogenous factors like injuries, trauma, effect of toxins, shock etc. and are not caused by aggravated doshas. Herein the disease is first caused by external causes at physical or mental levels but the doshas would get involved in the later stages of the diseases wherein the dosha symptoms like pain, swelling, inflammation, burning sensation are seen. The initial pain or discomfort is essentially due to the impact of external factors.
The causes of agantuja rogas i.e. external factors include –
– Physical trauma caused by injuries afflicted by nails, bites (by teeth), falls, injury by weapons, burns by fire or assault by thunderbolts etc.
– Bites from poisonous animals or insects
– Exposure to poisonous plants and irritants they contain and also to certain chemicals
– Infections and afflictions by microorganisms also come under this category (bhuta abhishanga),
– Psychological and supernatural factors including emotional factors or triggers like desire, grief, fear, curses, spells, witchcraft, black-magic etc.
Principles of management
The priority in treating the agantuja vyadhis would be to identify and immediately treat the external cause. Later the dosha imbalances and dosha symptoms if any shall be addressed.
Wound management in trauma and emergency treatments and antidotes in snake bite or bite by poisonous insects is of top priority. Initial approach and therapies should be focused on relieving symptoms like pain, bleeding and swelling.
External applications like ointments, bandaging, fomentation, sponging etc. shall be administered as and when needed.
After the initial management, treatments to balance the aggravated doshas shall be done.
Apart from these, spiritual therapies – daiva vyapashraya and psychotherapy – sattvavajaya chikitsa should be administered for combating supernatural and mental causes leading to agantuja vyadhis.
From the modern medicine perspective, first aid treatments, trauma management, treating infections & emergency / disaster management – fall under the management of agantuja rogas.
