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Ayurveda > Ayurvedic Treatment > Ashtang-Ayurved: Agad Tantra
By Dr. Satish Kulkarni
Ayurved
provides us with detailed information and treatment for sthavar (non
animal) and jangam (animal) visha (poisons). We can obtain valuable
information about toxins and their management in Charak Sanhita, Sushruta
Sanhita and Sharangdhar Sanhita. The sixth section of
Ashtang Ayurved, a mega book written by the famous sage Vagbhata
Rishi is Uttar Sthana which has a total of 40 adhyaya
(chapters.) Out of these 40 adhyaya, 4 adhyaya describe agad
tantra or visha tantra (toxicology and forensic medicine).
It can be said that these 4 adhyaya are the essence of all ancestral sanhitas
and they are sufficient to give us an over all idea about this particular
branch of ayurved.
Agad tantra
is that branch of ayurved
which describes various poisons and
methods of purging these poisons out
of the body. It specifically
recommends different antidotes for
substances which are poisonous to the
human body. Agad tantra deals
with a wide range of natural poisons
or toxins originating from the animal
kingdom (mammals, reptiles, insects,
etc.) and poisonous substances from
plants or herbs (belladonna, aconite
etc.) Ayurved also includes
information on management of
poisonous substances derived from
minerals and metals (lead, mercury,
arsenic, copper, etc.) and artificial
poisoning from drugs. Ayurved essentially
talks about substances which are
‘drugs’ if taken in the
prescribed dose but
‘poisons’ if taken in
overdose.
This branch
also deals with the toxic effects of
different substances from air, water
and food. Polluted air, contaminated
water and contaminated/ stale/ spoilt
food can be a cause of poisoning in
the human body. In addition, they may
cause epidemics in society according
to ayurved. Ayurved has
a detailed description of the causes
and treatment for food poisoning. It
lists foods that act as poison when
consumed together. The agad tantra
says that meat from animals, birds
and aquatic animals turns into poison
if cooked or consumed with phaseolus
radiatus, honey, milk, sprouted
legumes or jaggery. Chicken and curd
act as poison when eaten together
according to ayurved. There
are also a few foods that act as
poison if consumed in large amount.
Over use of chilies, spices and
mustard oil irritates the digestive
tract which ultimately shows effects
similar to that of toxin.
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Few foods
prepared or kept in iron or copper
utensils turn into poison. For
example, buttermilk or other sour
substances kept in a copper container
for a long time, turn into a
substance injurious to health
according to ayurved. Thus ayurved
lists food substances causing acute
or chronic poisoning if the method of
preparation or preservation is
faulty.
In the end, agad
tantra states, certain
potentially poisonous substances such
as mercury and lead can be used as
medicines if properly processed under
the supervision of ayurvedic scholars
and used in the recommended dose.
Today, there are many medicines
available in combination with
mercury. This branch of ayurvedic
medicine and pharmacology is well
known by the name rasa shastra
and parad kalpa. Ayurveda
also indicates that precious stones
like diamonds and precious metals
that are not palatable to humans and
thus otherwise toxic to health can be
processed and used in powdered form
in certain emergency situations.
To summarize, agad
tantra or visha tantra is
that branch of Ashtang Ayurved
which describes different natural and
artificial toxic substances and
poisons in detail, along with their
antidotes and treatment.
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