Apr 8, 2023 1

VISHA AND ITS THERAPEUTIC USES

Dr.Gaurav Desai

Apr 8, 2023 2

CONTENTS

• INTRODUCTION• SOURCE OF VISHA• QUALITIES OF VISHA• TYPES OF VISHA• USE OF VISHA• QUALITIES OF VISHA USEFUL IN TREATMENT• INDICATIONS• CONTRAINDICATIONS• USING VISHA IN THEREPEUTICS• MODERN CONCEPTS

Apr 8, 2023 3

INTRODUCTION

• Health is Wealth• Diseases due to many factors• Role of Physician Intervention• Different types of treatments• Ultimate goal Restore health• Including use of Vishas in treatment

Apr 8, 2023 4

SOURCE OF VISHA

• Mythological story• Samudra Manthan• Emergence of a Purusha• Fierce looking• Produced great discomfort in the world• Settled on the earth as Sthavara and

Janghama visha

Apr 8, 2023 5

QUALITIES OF VISHA

sÉbÉÑ iÉϤhÉÇ Â¤ÉÇ ÌuÉMüÉÍxÉAÉvÉÑ xÉÔ¤ÉqÉçÌuÉvÉSÇ EwhÉurÉuÉÌrÉ AÌlÉSãïvrÉ UxÉ -cÉ.ÍcÉ.23/24AmÉÉÌMü

-A¹ÉÇaÉç ¾ÒûSrÉ 35/7

Apr 8, 2023 6

TYPES OF VISHA

• Sthavara:Minerals and Metals

Tamra, tuttha, Haratala, Manashila etc.Plant origin

Visha : vatsanabha etc.Upavisha: Kuchala etc.

• Janghama (Animal origin)Snakes, Insects, Spiders etc.(R.T 24)

Apr 8, 2023 7

USE OF VISHA• rÉÉãaÉÉSÌmÉ ÌuÉwÉÇ iÉϤhÉqÉѨÉqÉÇ

pÉãwÉeÉÇ pÉuÉãiÉç|pÉãwÉeÉÇ cÉÉÌmÉ SÒrÉÑï£üÇ iÉϤhÉÇ xÉÇmɱiÉã ÌuÉwÉqÉç||cÉ.xÉÔ 1/126

• ÌuÉwÉÇ pÉuÉÌiÉ mÉÏrÉÑwÉÇ qÉɧÉrÉÉ ÌuÉÌlÉrÉÉãÎeÉiÉqÉç IiÉSãuÉÉqÉɧÉrÉÉ rÉÑ£üÇ SìÓiÉÇ qÉÑwhÉÉÌiÉ ÎeÉÌuÉiÉqÉç IIU .iÉ 24/64

Apr 8, 2023 8

QUALITIES OF VISHA HELPFUL IN TREATMENT

• rÉÉãaÉuÉÉÌWû

• mÉëqÉÉÍjÉ

• ÌuÉwÉblÉ

• UxÉÉrÉlÉ

Apr 8, 2023 9

rÉÉãaÉuÉÉÌWû

rÉÉãaÉɱÉãÌaÉlÉÉã aÉÑhÉÇ uÉWûiÉÏÌiÉ rÉÉãaÉuÉÉWûÉ:|

cÉ¢ümÉÉÍhÉ( cÉ,ÍcÉ, 3/38-39)

urÉuÉÉÌrÉÇ cÉ ÌuÉMüÉÍxÉÇ cÉ xrÉÉixÉÔ¤ÉÇ NãûÌS qÉSÉuÉWûqÉç |

AÉalÉãrÉÇ eÉÏÌuÉiÉWûUÇ rÉÉãaÉuÉÉÌWû xqÉ×iÉÇ ÌuÉwÉqÉç||

vÉÉ,xÉÇ,mÉÔ 4/22-23

Helps in augmenting the actions of the constituents of formulations. (Catalyst)

Apr 8, 2023 10

Examples:

• Use of small amount of Visha in Aindra rasayana in Cha. Chi. 1/3p/25

• Use of in kakodumbara mula kwatha along with Visha in treating kushta Ash. San. 48/31

• Use of Ksheera,Draksha,kapikachu,Vacha with Visha in Nashta Shukra Ash. San. 48/31

Apr 8, 2023 11

mÉëqÉÉÍjÉ

• ÌlÉeÉuÉÏrÉãïhÉ rÉSèSìurÉÇ xÉëÉãiÉÉãprÉÉã SÉãwÉxÉÇcÉrÉqÉç|ÌlÉUxrÉÌiÉ mÉëqÉÉÍjÉ xrÉɨɱjÉÉ qÉËUcÉÇ uÉcÉÉ||

-vÉÉ,xÉÇ,mÉÔ 4/23-24.

• Removes accumulated doshas from the srotas due to its potency

Apr 8, 2023 12

Examples:

• Use of Gunja, karaveera, etc Sthavara Vishas in Sannipatodara Ash. Hru. Chi. 15/78

• Use of Sarpa Visha in Sannipatodara Ash. Hru. Chi. 15/79

• This is to carried out only with the consent of the relatives and authorities

Apr 8, 2023 13

ÌuÉwÉblÉ

• ÌuÉwÉã mÉëÌiÉÌuÉwÉÇ rÉÉãerÉÇ qÉl§ÉiÉl§ÉåUÍxÉkrÉÌiÉ|AiÉÏiÉã mÉÇcÉqÉã uÉãaÉã xÉmiÉqÉxrÉÉlÉÌiÉ¢üqÉã||mÉëpÉÉãÌlÉïuÉã± mÉërÉiÉÉã lÉåuÉ uÉÉZrÉÉrÉ MüxrÉÍcÉiÉç||

-A,xÉÇ,E.48/2• Sthavara and janghama Vishas act as

antidotes of each other• Hence can be used to counter the effects of

each other

Apr 8, 2023 14

Examples:• vsÉãwqÉiÉÑsrÉaÉÑhÉÇ mÉëÉrÉ: ÎxjÉUqÉÔkuÉïaÉqÉÇ

ÌuÉwÉqÉç|mÉëÉrÉ: ÌmɨÉaÉÑhÉårÉÑï£üqÉkÉÉãaÉÉÍqÉ cÉ eÉÇaÉqÉqÉç||aÉÑhÉåËUÌiÉ ÌuÉmÉrÉïxiÉåÌlÉïWûiÉxiÉã mÉUxmÉUqÉç||

A,xÉÇ,E.48/4

• eÉÇaÉqÉÇ xrÉÉSkÉÉãpÉÉaÉqÉÔkuÉïpÉÉaÉÇ iÉÑ qÉÔsÉeÉqÉç|iÉxqÉɬǷíÉÌuÉwÉÇ qÉÉåsÉÇ WûÎliÉ qÉÉåsÉÇ cÉ SÇ·íeÉqÉç||

cÉ.ÍcÉ.23/17

• ÌuÉwÉÇ ÌuÉwÉblÉqÉÑ£üÇ rÉiÉç mÉëpÉÉuÉxiÉ§É MüÉUhÉqÉç |

cÉ,xÉÔ, 26/69

Apr 8, 2023 15

UxÉÉrÉlÉ

sÉÉpÉÉãmÉÉrÉÉã ÌWû vÉxiÉÉlÉÉÇ UxÉÉÌSlÉÉÇ UxÉÉrÉlÉqÉç |

cÉ, ÍcÉ,1.mÉÉ 1/8

UxÉÉrÉlÉÇ cÉ iÉiÉç ¥ÉãrÉÇ rÉeeÉUÉurÉÉÍkÉlÉÉvÉlÉqÉç|rÉjÉÉÅqÉ×iÉÉ ÂSliÉÏ cÉ aÉÑaaÉÑsÉÑ¶É WûUÏiÉMüÐ ||

vÉÉ, xÉÇ mÉë, 4/13-14

Apr 8, 2023 16

Examples:

AlrÉãwuÉÌmÉ cÉ UÉãaÉãwÉÑ vÉãwÉÉãmÉÉrÉmÉËU¤ÉrÉã|

ÌuÉwÉÇ rÉÑÇeÉÏiÉÇ ÌlÉirÉÇ cÉ UxÉÉrÉlÉaÉuÉãÌwÉhÉ: ||

-A,xÉÇ,E, 48/46.

vɧÉÑ mÉërÉÑ£üÉ ÎuSwÉiÉÉã aÉUÉ²É sÉÔiÉÉpÉÑeÉÇaÉÉZÉÑaÉhÉÉeeÉUÉrÉÉ:|

AMüÉsÉqÉ×irÉÉãaÉëïWûmÉÉmqÉiÉÉã uÉÉ ÌuÉwÉÉÍvÉlÉÉã lÉÉÎxiÉ pÉrÉqÉç lÉUxrÉ||

-A,xÉÇ,E, 48/46.

Apr 8, 2023 17

INDICATIONS

• ÌuÉwÉmÉërÉÉãaÉÉWïû:bÉ×iÉÉãmÉxM×üiÉSãWûxrÉ ÌuÉvÉÑkSxrÉ ÌWûiÉÉÍvÉlÉ:|xÉÉÎiuÉMüxrÉÉãÌSiÉã pÉÉlÉÉå rÉÉãerÉÇ vÉÏiÉuÉxÉliÉrÉÉã:||aÉëÏwqÉãmrÉÉirÉÌrÉMãü urÉÉkÉÉå…………..||

-A,xÉÇ,E.48/16

• Person habituated to ghrita bhojana• Person following a proper diet• Esp. in Sheeta rutu (Hemanta, Shishira, vasanta)• Can be used even in Greeshma (In emergencies)

Apr 8, 2023 18

CONTRAINDICATIONS• ÌuÉwÉÉlÉWûÉï:

lÉ cÉ uÉwÉÉïxÉÑ SÒÌSïlÉã|lÉ ¢üÉãkÉlÉã lÉ ÌmɨÉÉiÉãï lÉ ÎYsÉoÉã UÉeÉÌlÉ Ì²eÉã||¤ÉѨÉ×whÉÉ´ÉqÉbÉqÉÉïkuÉurÉÉkrÉliÉUÌlÉmÉÏÌQûiÉã|aÉÍpÉïhÉÏoÉÉsÉuÉ×kSãwÉÑ lÉ Â¤ÉãwÉÑ lÉ qÉqÉïxÉÑ||

• Varsha• Pitta pradhana• Pregnancy, aged and children• Person habituated ti ruksha ahara, vihara• Hungry,thirsty,emaciated, etc.

Apr 8, 2023 19

THINGS TO AVOID• AprÉxiÉãÌmÉ ÌuÉwÉã rɦÉɲeÉïlÉÏrÉÉlÉç

ÌuÉuÉeÉïrÉãiÉç|

MüOèuÉqsÉiÉåsÉsÉuÉhÉÌSuÉÉxuÉmlÉÉiÉmÉÉlÉsÉÉlÉç||¤ÉqɳÉÇ ÌuÉvÉãwÉhÉ pÉrÉÇ uÉÉÅeÉÏhÉïiÉ: xÉSÉ||A.xÉÇ.E.48/18

• Katu, Amla, Lavana• Sleeping in the day• Exposure to winds, sunlight• Dry diet• Ajeerna (eating when previously consumed diet not digested)

Apr 8, 2023 20

Concept of Anti Venom??

• rÉxiÉÑ xÉÇUÉãÌwÉiÉÉã pÉÉãaÉÏ kÉÔqÉÇ uÉY§ÉÉ̲qÉÑÇcÉÌiÉ|ShQûÉaÉëã ÌmÉÍvÉiÉÇ oÉkSèuÉÉ oÉWÒûvÉxiÉãlÉ SÇvÉrÉãiÉç|AvÉYrÉqÉaÉSåUlrÉåÌuÉïwÉmÉÏiÉÇ ÍcÉÌMüixÉMü|mÉÉrÉrÉãlqÉÉÇxÉcÉÔhÉïÇ iÉÇ ¥ÉÉiuÉÉ ÌuÉwÉoÉsÉÉoÉsÉqÉç||

A,xÉÇ,E.48/14

• In case of poisoning• Snake made to bite a piece of meat• The powder of that meat used

Apr 8, 2023 21

USING VISHAS IN THERAPEUTICS

Steps involved are:• Proper identification• Collection of the therapeutically beneficial part• Collection in the correct season• Shodhana• Proper storage• Accurate dosage• Anupana• Diet and regimen

Apr 8, 2023 22

IDENTIFICATION

Plant Latin Name Part used

• Vatsanabh Aconitun ferox Wall Kanda• Kuchala Strychnos nuxvomica Beeja• Ahiphena Opium Niryasa• Jayapala Croton tiglium Linn Beeja• Dhattura Datura metel Beeja• Bhanga Cannabis sativa Patra

Apr 8, 2023 23

Cont...

Plant Latin Name Part Used• Gunja Abrus precatorius Beeja• Bhallataka Semicarpus anacardium Beeja• Karaveera Neriun odorum Twak• Langali Gloriosa superba Kanda• Arka Calotropis gigentica Ksheera• Snuhi Euphorbia nerifolia

Ksheera

Apr 8, 2023 24

Cont...

• Tamra Naipala best variety

• Haratala Patra Haratala best

• Manashila Shyamangi best variety

• Naga Kumara best

Apr 8, 2023 25

SHODHANA

• E̬¹æUÉãwÉkÉæ: xÉÉkSïÇ Ì¢ürÉiÉã mÉãwÉhÉÉÌSMüqÉçqÉsÉÌuÉÎcNû¨ÉrÉã rɨÉÑ vÉÉãkÉlÉÇ iÉÌSWûÉãcrÉiÉã

U.iÉ 2/52• Process to remove impurities• Dravya can be used therapeutically after this

process

Apr 8, 2023 26

• Detailed shodhana procedures described for all dravyas including vishas.

• E.g.Vatsanabha in gomutraDhattura in godugdhaKuchala in kanjiHaratala in Kushmanda swarasaMetals by quenching in Taila, Takra etc..

Apr 8, 2023 27

DOSE

• Of paramount importance• Administration in improper doses may prove

fatal• Various factors involved in the fixing of dose• e.g. Vatsanabha 1/16th to 1/18th Ratti

Ahiphena 1/4th to 1 Ratti Tamra Bhasma 1/8th to 1 Ratti Manashila 1/8th to ¼ ratti

Apr 8, 2023 28

MODERN CONCEPT

• Humans have used poison for a very long time• Socrates 399 B.C Killed• 3000 B.C Pharaoh Menes first person to

conduct research into poisons • A papyrus (ancient Egyptian document) dated

circa 1553 B.C. found in Luxor, Egypt, in 1872 lists 700 different drugs (including poisons) of animal, mineral or plant origin.

Apr 8, 2023 29

CONT…

• Paracelsus (1493-1541): "All things are poisons, for there is nothing without poisonous qualities. It is only the dose which makes a thing a poison. A lot kills, a little cures.“

• Even too much water can result in hyponatremia, a dilution of the blood’s salt content, which disrupts brain, heart, and muscle function

Apr 8, 2023 30

CONT…

• About the same time humans came to understand poisons, they set about looking for antidotes to them.

• Development of anti venom

• Use of poisonous molecules in appropriate doses for treating various conditions

Apr 8, 2023 31

CONT…

• Curare derivatives are currently used to induce neuromuscular blockade during surgery originally developed by indigenous people in South America as a potent poison

• Physostigmine is an alkaloid of the Calabar bean originally used in West Africa as a potent poison in witchcraft trials

Apr 8, 2023 32

CONT…

• Belladonna alkaloid atropine : prevent bradycardia during surgery, to dilate the pupils in glaucoma.

• Warfarin a potent rat poison(1948). In 1951, a military recruit survived a suicide attempt using warfarin, and researchers perceived that the agent, if properly titrated, could be used therapeutically as an anticoagulant.

Apr 8, 2023 33

CONT…

Botulinum• Botulinum is one of the most poisonous

substances known • A gram of botulinum toxin, if dispersed and

ingested could kill 20 million people • Botox(Dilute form) anti wrinkle

therapy.• Also In Migraine, Cerebral palsy, Multiple

Sclerosis

Apr 8, 2023 34

CONT…

Carbon Monoxide• This deadly gas kills thousands each year• Small amounts of carbon monoxide might

alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis, a study in mice suggests

• In small doses can prevent injury to blood vessels caused by surgery (Study being carried out)

Apr 8, 2023 35

CONT…

Hydrogen Sulphide• Can be lethal at high concentrations.• Yet researchers in Seattle reported that exposure

to hydrogen sulfide gas can lower the heart rate, metabolism, and body temperature in lab mice

• Suspended animation protection for humans after a heart attack or stroke, help people survive while waiting for an organ transplant

Apr 8, 2023 36

CONT…

• Epibatidine is the toxic chemical which a tropical frog arms itself against its predators

• It is also a superb painkiller. Its two hundred times stronger than morphine

• Biophysicists from the University at Buffalo are using a protein from the venom of the Chilean Rose tarantula to combat death from heart attacks

Apr 8, 2023 37

CONT…

• The venom from another arachnid is being used to help treat cancer.

• Researchers at the Transmolecular Corporation in Cambridge, Mass., have isolated a protein that occurs in the venom of the Israeli yellow scorpion

• Found to be useful in Gliomas: a type of brain cancer that's particularly difficult to treat

Apr 8, 2023 38

REGULATIONS

• The Poisons Act 1919

• Central Opium Rules 1934

• The Dangerous Drugs Act 1930

• Schedule E(1) of The Drug And Cosmetic Rules, 1945

Apr 8, 2023 39

LIST OF POISONOUS SUBSTANCES

• Drugs of vegetable origin:1. Ahiphena Papaver somniferum Linn2. Arka Calotropis gigantea Linn3. Bhallataka Semicarpus anacardium Linn4. Bhanga Cannabis sativa Linn5. Danti Baliospermum montanum Mull6. Dhattura Datura metel Linn

Apr 8, 2023 40

Cont…

7. Gunja Abrus precatorius Linn8. Jayapala Croton tiglium Linn9. Karaveera Nerium indicum Mull10. Langali Gloriosa superba Linn11. Parasika Yavani Hyoscyamus inibar Linn12. Snuhi Euphorbia nerifolia Linn13. Vatsanabha Aconitum ferox14. Vishamushti Strychnox nuxvomica linn

Apr 8, 2023 41

Cont…

• Drugs of Animal origin:1. Sarpa Visha : Snake Poison

• Drugs of Mineral origin:1. Gauripashana Arsenic 2. Haratala Arseno Sulphide3. Manashila Arseno Sulphide4. Parada Mercury

Apr 8, 2023 42

Cont…

5. Rasa Karpura Hudrargyri

subchloridum

6. Tuttha Copper sulphate

7. Hingula Cinnebar

8. Sindura Red oxide of lead

9. Giri Sindura Red oxide of Mercury

Apr 8, 2023 43

CONCLUSION

• Poisonous substances can be effectively used

in therapeutics

• In Ayurveda, they are routinely used after

proper processing

• Esp. in chronic diseases when conventional

treatment fails

Apr 8, 2023 44

Cont…

• Modern medicine also uses toxic molecules in

treatment

• Selection of right condition and dose essential

Apr 8, 2023 45

REFERENCES

• Charaka Samhita

• Sushruta Samhita

• Ashtang Sangraha

• Ashtang Hridaya

• Sharangdhara Samhita

Apr 8, 2023 46

Cont…

• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu

• Rasatarangini

• Ayurvediya Rasashastra Dr.S.N.Mishra

• Manual on Drugs and Cosmetics

• Internet (www.google.com)

Apr 8, 2023 47

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