Ayurvedic Concept of Vega of Visha - A Review Article

Praveen Kumar; Manish Rajak; Santosh Kumar Vishwakarma

doi:https://doi.org/10.26452/ijrps.v12i4.4895

Ayurvedic Concept of Vega of Visha - A Review Article

Praveen Kumar ✉ ¹ , Manish Rajak ¹ , Santosh Kumar Vishwakarma ¹

1 Department of Agada Tantra Evam Vidhi Vaidyaka, Government Ayurvedic College, Patna, Bihar, India, 9709834134

Abstract

Ayurveda Samhita describes various types of Visha such as Sthavara Visha (Inanimate poison), Jangama Visha (Animate poison) and Kritima Visha. These types of Visha, when it enters into the body, it passes through the different Dhatus and give rise to different stages of Vega in the body and according to these Vegas, different types of signs and symptoms appear on the body. The main aim of this review article is to compile and evaluate the concept of Visha Vega and their sign & symptoms. All the descriptions of Visha Vega mentioned in different Ayurvedic texts were critically analyzed and discussed to check their relation. After analysis, it is observed that all the symptoms which appear during entering of the Visha are mainly due to their Vegas. As gradually stages of Vega progresses, their signs and symptoms gradually become more severe. After critically analyzed it is concluded that if we diagnosed the different Vegas of Visha at the right time, we could treat those patients better.

Keywords

Visha, Visha Vega, Dhatus

Introduction

‘Agada Tantra’ is one among the Astanga Ayurveda, which describes the origin and types of Visha, its sign and symptoms and management (Srikantha, 2017).

Visha has been classified mainly into two kinds- Sthavara Visha (Inanimate) and Jangama Visha (Animate Poison). The sources of Sthavara Visha are ten, while sources of Jangama Visha are sixteen in number (Singhal, 2007).

Roots, leaves, fruits, flowers, barks, sap, pith, gum, tubers (all these plants) and dhatus (minerals) are the ten receptacles of Sthavara Visha (G. D. Singhal, 2007). The sources of Jangama Visha are- sight, breathe, teeth, nails, urine, stool, semen, saliva, menstrual blood, bristles, flatus, bones, bile, sting and dead body (Singhal, 2007).

Visha Vega is made up of two words- Visha and Vega. Visha means the substance which causes vitiation of the rasadi dhatus, in inturn hampering the health or life of a person is termed as Visha.

The literally meaning of Vega is impulse, speed, velocity, circulation, effect etc. So the meaning of Visha Vega is impulse or circulation or effect of the poison (Vishavega, 2021).

Visha Vega

The Visha after entering into the body passes from one kala to another kala which are located in between the dhatus and thus gives rise to the different stages of Vega that is described in Sharira Sthana of Sushruta Samhita (Bhat & Shobha, 2018).

Acharya Sushruta has described about the kala and said that there are seven kalas which are located between the seven dhatus such as Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Mazza, Shukra. It means that kala is a septal membrane that is located between the dhatus (Tissues) and Ashayas (hollow organs) (Murthy K.R Srikantha, 2017).

Table 1: Visha Vega of Sthavara Visha in Human beings (According to Charaka)

Vega	Location	Sign & Symptoms	Treatment
1^st	Rasa	Trishna (thirst)	Vamana
		Moha (Mental confusion)
		Dantaharsha ( sensitivity in teeth)
		Prasheka (excessive salivation)
		Klama (exhaustion)
		Vamthu (vomiting)

2^nd	Rakta	Vaivarnya (discolouration of the skin)	Virechana
		Bhrama (giddiness)
		Vepathu (trembling)
		Murchha (fainting)
		Jrimbha(yawning)
		Anga Chimchim (tingling sensation)
		Tamaka (dyspnoea)

3^rd	Mansa	Mandal (circular patches)	Ksharagada with honey
		Kandu (itching)	and water
		Swathu (swelling)
		Kotha (urticaria)

4^th	Vaatadi Dosha	Daha (burning sensation)	Gomaya Rasa along with
		Chardi (vomiting)	Kapittha, madhu and sarpi.
		Anga shool (body pain)
		Murcha (fainting)

5^th		Neeladinam tamasha darshanam (one sees the objects as blue and the vision becomes dark)	Ashayotanam , Anjan, Nasya with Swarasa of Kakanda and Shirish or with Gopitta, Rajani, Majistha, Maricha & Pippali.

6^th		Hikka (hiccup)	Sangya Sthapana

7^th		Bhanga Skandha (falling/drooping of shoulders)	Vishapana in case of dransta Visha, Sarpadansha in case of vishapana.

8^th		Maran

Table 2: Visha Vega of Sthavara Visha into Sushruta Human beings (According to Sushruta)

Vega	Sign and Symptom	Treatment
1^st	Bluish discolouration of the tongue with loss of movement Fainting Dyspnoea	Vamana Sheetambu Sechana Agada with madhu and sarpi

2^nd	Shivering Debility Burning sensation Pain in the throat	Vamana Virechana

3^rd	Pain in the heart Dryness of palate Severe pain in the stomach Eyes will have altered colour or green colour associated with swelling	Agada pana Nasya Anjana

4^th	Pain in the stomach Hiccup Cough Intestinal gurgling Feeling of severe heaviness of head	Sneha mixed with Agada pana

5^th	More elimination of kapha Discolouration Pain in the joints Aggravation of all doshas Pain in the large intestine.	Madhu with Madhuka kwath

6^th	There will be loss of consciousness Severe Diarrhea	Atisara Chikitsa Awapeedak Nasya

7^th	Cutting pain in the shoulders, back and waist Cessation of breathing	Kakapada Chikitsa Awapeedak Nasya

Table 3: Darveekara Sarpa Visha Vega Sign/ Symptoms and Treatment

Vega	Dhatu	Sign and Symptom	Treatment
1^st	Rakta (blood)	-Blackish discolouration of the blood -Black discolouration of the body	-Blood letting
2^nd	Mamsa (muscles)	-Profound black colour of the body -Edema -Tumors	- Administer Agada (anti poisonous medicine) along with honey & ghee.
3^rd	Medas (fat)	- Moistness in the site of bite -Heavyness of the head -Sweating & loss of movements of the eyeballs.	- Anti poisonous nasal medicines and eye salves should be applied.
4^th	Stomach & vitiates Kapha dosha	- Drowsiness - More Salivation - Loosing of joints - Expectoration - Vomiting	-Vomiting should be induced & then Yavagu (thick gruel) is given.
5^th	Asthi (bone)	-Pain in the joints - Hiccup - Burning sensation	-Cold treatment followed by emetics & purgatives and thick gruels.
6^th	Majja (marrow)	-heavyness of the body - Fainting - Diarrhoea -Heart pain - Indigestion	-same as above
7^th	Shukra (semen)	-Cutting pain in the waist and back. - Loss of all movements - More elimination of saliva & sweat -Obstruction of expiration	- Power avapida (nasal drops of juice of herbs) - Anjana ( eye salves) - Kakapada

Table 4: Mandali Sarpa Visha Vega Sign/ Symptoms and Treatment

Vega	Dhatu	Sign & Symptom	Treatment
1^st	Rakta (blood)	- Vitiated blood become yellow - Burning sensation -Yellow colouration of the body.	- Similar to darveekara Sarpa.
2^nd	Mamsa (muscles)	-Excess yellowish discolouration -Excessive burning sensation -Excessive swelling	- Administer Agada (anti poisonous medicine) along with honey & ghee then vomiting should be induced & then thick gruels for a drink.
3^rd	Medas (fat)	- Loss of movement of the eye - Thirst -Moistness of bite site -Perspiration	- Purification should be done using powerful recipes and then thick gruel.
4^th	Kostha (stomach)	- Fever	Similar to Darveekara Sarpa
5^th	Asthi (bone)	-Burning sensation all over the body	Similar to Darveekara Sarpa
6^th	Majja (marrow)	Similar to Darveekara Sarpa	-Peya (thin gruel) prepared from kakolidya gana along with agadas.
7^th	Shukra (semen)	Similar to Darveekara Sarpa	-Antipoisonous avapida (nasal drops of juice of drugs) & agada should be used.

Table 5: Rajimaan Sarpa Visha Vega Sign/ Symptoms and Treatment

Vega	Dhatu	Sign & Symptom	Treatment
1^st	Rakta (blood)	- Vitiated blood become yellowish White colour - Horripilation - Whitish appearance of the body.	- Blood letting should be done first using Alabu (gould) and then agada mixed with honey and ghee administered.
2^nd	Mamsa (muscles)	-Profound yellowish-white colour of the body - Lassitude - Oedema of the face - Extreme heaviness of the body	- Vomiting should be induced and then anti poisonous reipes was given.
3^rd	Medas (fat)	- Loss of movement of the eye - Thirst -Moistness of bite site -Perspiration - Exudation from the nose and the eyes	Similar to Darveekara Sarpa
4^th	Kostha (stomach)	- Stiffness of the neck - Heaviness of the head	Similar to Darveekara Sarpa
5^th	Asthi (bone)	-Loss of speech -Fever with chills	Similar to Darveekara Sarpa
6^th	Majja (marrow)	Similar to Darveekara Sarpa	-Very strong Anjana (eyeslave) should be given.
7^th	Shukra (semen)	Similar to Darveekara Sarpa	-Avapida (nasal drops) are used.

As the Visha passes from one kala to another kala, it produces certain signs and symptoms, which are termed as "Visha Vega”. Acharya Sushruta has described about Visha Vega in Sarpadasta Visha Vigyaniya chapter of Kalpasthana and stated that kala, which are situated between the dhatus, are seven in number (Singhal G.D., 2007). When Visha crosses these kalas, Visha Vegas are generated.

Vegantara

The time in which the Visha travels from one kala to another kala breaking the barriers stimulated by Vata, is known as Vegantara (Murthy K.R.Srikantha, 2019).

Acharya Charaka has described eight Visha Vegas which are common to both Sthavara Visha and Jangama Visha (Bhat et al., 2018), while Acharya Sushruta have described seven Visha Vegas. Acharya Charaka has also mentioned four Visha Vegas for animals and three Visha Vegas for birds. Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4 and Table 5.

Sign and Symptoms and Treatment of Visha Vega

Visha Vega of Sthavara Visha in Human beings (According to Charaka) (Priyavrat, 2019)

Visha Vega in Birds and Animals

The four Vegas of Visha in animals are as follows, (Sharma, 2019)

In the first stage, the animals get depression and giddiness.
In the second stage, sign of tremor appears.
In the third stage, the animals feel emptiness and stop eating.
In the fourth stage, the animal dies due to obstruction in respiration.

The three Vegas of Visha in birds are as follows,

In the first stage, the birds get depressed.
In the second stage, the birds get giddiness.
In the third stage, the bird develops slothness of the limbs resulting in death.

Visha Vega of Sthavara Visha in Human beings (According to Sushruta)

Acharya Sushruta has described separate Visha Vegas for Sthavara Visha and Jangama Visha. The signs and symptoms and treatment for Sthavara Visha are as follows: (Srikantha, 2019)

Visha Vega of Jangama Visha (According to Sushruta)

According to Acharya Sushruta Veganusara signs and symptoms and treatment for Jangama Visha are seperately for the three main varieties of poisonous snakes like Darveekara, Mandali and Rajiman sarpa. (Murthy K.R Srikantha, 2019; Srikantha, 2019).

Conclusion

This study can be concluded that Acharya Charaka and Acharya Sushruta has described various stages of Visha Vega in Sthavara Visha and Jangama Visha. The specific sign and symptoms appeared during the specific Vega of Visha. On the basis of these Veganusara signs and symptoms, different types of treatment procedures are done like Blood letting, Vamana, Virechana, Awapida Nasya, administration of different agadas and much more procedures are done. So these treatment modules are very important for the treatment of Visha, and it can only be done to judge them Veganusara signs and symptoms. So there is a need to do more scientific studies on Vega of Visha and their treatment module.

Funding Support

The authors declare that they have no funding support for this study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest for this study.

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