In the 21st century often we can see food poisoning is common, so did Ayurveda give any solution on food poisoning? and Answer is yes. But Ayurveda explained this topic in a different manner. may that can help us in the 21st century. (In this blog we mentioned Sanskrit words along with an English translation of words, the intention behind this reader can know Sanskrit words which are our Indian native language)
Ayurveda has 8 specialised branches, out to 8 branches “AGADTANTRA” is one of the important branches which deals with Toxicology.
In ancient time king arranges for the residence of the royal physician near to the palace so that the physician can be vigilant about all things at all times.
The foods and drinks of the king should be protected from poison, because, the King’s health and welfare depend on his food and drink and the health and welfare of the country are dependant on the King.
Acharyas of Ayurveda did so much deep of study of every thing because of that they mentioned Features of poisoned foods and drinks. They could recognise poisoned food and drink without any advance technology, same way now days also we can use this in daily activity.
Features of poisoned foods and drinks –
Boiled rice mixed with poison
1) Sandra – becomes thick,
2) Even when it is boiling, the contends do not overflow from the vessel.
3) Chirena Pachyate – takes a long time to cook,
4) Pakvo bhavati paryushitopama – after cooking it becomes moist and stale, very soon
5) Mayura Kantha Tulyoshma – emits steam with the colour of the peacock’s neck (blue),
6) Moha moorcha prasekakrut – the steams and fumes from the container causes delusion, fainting and excessive salivation.
7) Heeyate varna gandhadyaihi – quickly loses its original colour, odour, taste, texture,
8) Klidyate chandrikachitaha – becomes watery and full of glistening particles.
The side-dishes dry up quick and become dirty.
reflective images seen in them appear deficient, malformed, abnormal or not seen at all;
froth and lines appear on their surface and edges, threads and bubbles are likely to appear. Raga (sweet syrups), Khandava (sweet puddings), vegetables and meat become broken (liquid and solid portions get separated) and acquire a bad taste.
- Neela Raji Rase – Blue lines appear in meat soup,
- Tamra ksheere – coppery red lines in milk
- Shyava dadhani – black ones in curds
- Peeta Sita takre – yellowish-white lines in buttermilk,
- Ghrute paaneeya sannibha – watery lines on ghee,
- Mastuni syat kapotabha – pegion like streaks appear on Mastu – Supernatent liquid of curds (whey),
- Raji krishna tushodake – blue-black lines on Tusodaka (sour drink prepared from barley husk),
- Kaali madya ambhasoho – black lines on wines and water,
- Harit taile arunopama – green lines in honey and crimson lines on oils.
- Unripe fruits ripen (fast) and ripe ones become overripe and decomposed.
Substances which are green and dry become dull in appearance and discoloured.
- Soft food substances become hard and vice versa.
- The flowers of the garland become split at their edges, fade and assume unnatural smell.
- Dirty patches appear on cloth (dress and other apparels), its threads and hems fall out.
- Vessels prepared from metals, pearls, wood, stone, precious stones etc. become dirty, and lose their smooth touch and lustre.
- Mud vessels gain smooth touch and lustre.
Vishada Laksana (features of the person who puts poison)
The person who is about to poison someone will have
1) Shyava shushka Asya – dry and discoloured face
2) Vilaksho Veekshate dishaha – eccentrically looks in all directions
3) Sveda vepathuman – sweating and tremors
4) Trasta – tired,
5) Bheeta – frightened
6) Skhalati – slips while talking and walking
7) Jrumbhate – yawns frequently
Testing of poisoned foods – Vishanna Pareeksha
Upon throwing the poisoned food on fire, it emits crackling sound, the flame emits as a single pile, without whirls, the colour of smoke resembles to that of peacock’s neck (glistening blue), sometimes the flame may not come up at all. It will cause emitting of very foul and strong smell
- Mriyate Makshikaaha – upon eating such food, bees die
- Kaakaha kshaamasvaro bhavet – Crow voice becomes depleted
- Parrot, Dathyuha (gallinule bird) and Sarika (Mynah) start hooting at the poisoned food just by seeing it.
- Hamsaha praskhalati – Swan changes its gait
- Glaanih: jeevenjeevasya jaayate – Chukar gets exhausted
- Chakorasya akshivairaagyam – Greeh pheasant’s eyes turn red
- Kraunchasya madodaya: – Pond heron becomes intoxicated
- Pigeon, Parabhrit (Cuckoo) and Chaktravaaka lose their life
- UdvegaM yaati maarjaara: – cat becomes irritated, excited
- Shakrun munchati vanara: – monkey defecates
After confirming the poisoned food by above methods, it should be disposed away carefully.
Diseases caused by poisoned food –
External effects:
The touch of poisoned foods produces itching and irritation, burning sensation all over the body, burning sensation at the site of touch, fever, pain, eruptions, loss of tactile sensation, falling of the nails and hairs and swelling.
The treatment shall be bathing (washing), pouring with water processed with anti-poisonous drugs, application of paste of Sevya (Ushira), Candana (sandalwood), Padmaka – Wild Himalayan Cherry (heart wood) – Prunus puddum / cerasoides;, Somavalka, Talisa Patra – Cinnamomum tamala, Kushta (Saussurea lappa), Amrita (Tinospora) and Nata – Valeriana wallichi.
Local effect in oral cavity:
Poisoned food inside mouth causes an excess of salivation, inactivity of the tongue and lips, burning sensation, tingling of the teeth, inability to perceive taste and
the stiffness of the lower jaw.
The treatment shall be mouth gargling with water processed with Sevya – Khus Khus – Vetiveria zizanioides and other drugs mentioned earlier and all other therapies for the mouth which are anti-poisonous.
Reaching stomach it produces sweating, fainting, flatulence, toxicity, giddiness, horripilations, vomiting, burning sensation, loss of movement of the eyes and heart, and appearance of black dots all over the body.
Reaching of the intestines it produces vomiting of many colours, an excess of urination, purgation, drowsiness, emaciation, pallor, enlargement of the abdomen and loss of strength.
For both these conditions the patient should be administered Vamana (emesis) and Virechana (purgation therapies), followed by Nasya (nasal medication), Anjana (collyriums) and drinking of decoction prepared from Haridra – Turmeric Rhizome – Curcuma Longa, and Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Katabhi – Celastrus paniculata, Guda- jaggery, Sinduvarita, Nispava, Baspika,
Sataparvika, roots of Tanduliyaka, Kukkutanda – hen’s egg and Avalguja – Psoralea corylifolia to relieve the effect of the poison.
Hrid Vishodhana – Gara Visha Chikitsa – Treatment to detoxify heart and to treat chronic poisoning:
When there is poisoning, first vomiting and purgation therapy is conducted to remove remnant poison in the gut. Then, to cleanse and detoxify heart, Tamra bhasma (purified Copper Bhasma) is administered to the patient. After that, Swarna bhasma (purified Gold Bhasma) is administered for a long period of time. By such Swarna administration for a long time, the body becomes as pure as Gold. The term used for this is ‘Hemapanga’.
Na Sajjate Hemapange padmapatre ambuvat visham ||
In a person who has been given Purified Gold bhasma for a long time, the poison can not do any harm, to a water drop that can not touch the leaf of the lotus. The person gains long life. The same treatment is followed in Gara Visha (chronic poisoning) also.
Note – Information written on a blog for the knowledge purpose only, one should take advice from nearest Ayurveda physician, do not take any treatment or medication without Ayurveda expert.
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DR.GAURAV DAVEE 