Poisoning cases and its management have always been mentioned as a contradictory one. A Vishachikitsa specialist have to fight for their existence in OPD and to face many contradictory objectives in their successful case stories even from their fellow ayurveda doctors.
None have any doubt in the increasing number of poisoning cases. Toxicity is present everywhere, in the air we breathe, food we eat, water we drink all are contaminated and toxic. So, coping up with these toxicities, living beings are also adapting themselves to keep some toxic elements in their body. Agad Tantra, one of the eight branches of āyurveda, explains in detail about these animate and inanimate poisons.
People have a misbelief that whatever in the form of herb is always healthy and won’t have any toxicity. Ayurveda cuts off this statement, and clearly guides us about sthavara visha (Plant poisons). From Samhita time itself, sthavara visha and its varieties have been detailed. Continuing with it, later period, bhavaprakasha has added about sthavara visha and included many plant under that category. In 19th centuries, kerala traditional vishachikitsa books like Prayogasmuchayam, Vishavaidya jyotsnika etc mentioned the visha lakshanas that can be caused by these vegetable poisons and detailed about the antidotes and its treatment.
One fine day in our Agadtantra OPD,
A 12-year-old boy came to consult me with his mother. After getting them to a relaxed seating, he just opened his full sleeve shirt and surprisingly both of his hands extending from forearm to fingers were filled with vesicles (Fluid filled lesions), pus was oozing out and there were erythematous patches too found spread. I enquired him whether the lesions are there in other regions of the body and he said, no, it’s confined only up to these areas.
While detailing the history, I asked him how it started? He said, the day before consultation, he was playing with his friends outside home, the ground was having a good lush of greenery, as a part of game he just hide behind a tree, and was in contact with its bark while hiding. After coming back home, he had severe itching and burning sensation all over his both hands and he told his mother too. She just checked the area, and she identified the plant as bhallataka only. His mother did some local home remedies to reduce the burning sensation, but from the very next day and even at night itself, the boy was having severe burning sensation, itching and vesicles were also developed. He was feeling feverish since morning. After detailing the complaints, I examined his lesions, and it was an exact case of Bhallataka poisoning or allergic hyperimmune response to the plant semicarpus anacardium.
Since Bhallataka is extremely hot and sharp in its attributes, it should be used with caution. Individuals showing allergic reactions should stop and avoid the usage of Bhallataka. It should not be used in small children, very old persons, pregnant women and individuals of predominant pitta constitution. The use of the same should be restricted in the summer season. These are the common outlook of bhallataka in general.
In this case study also, the same happened with the boy. His body is hyperallergic to bhallataka and hence developed severe lesions. Prakruti of pitta in nature also added as a factor in increasing the lesions. Pus oozing, blisters can be correlated with paka guna of pitta dosha. And the climatic conditions, during that time, was of pitta prakopa kala, may also benefitted the severity of lesions.
As per Kerala traditional vishachikitsa books, the antidote of bhallataka is vibhitaki. So, the treatment opted was internally vibhitaki Kashaya and externally also dhara with vibhataki Kashaya. After dhara, satadhouta ghrta was applied externally. Treatment was advised for 7 days and told to follow up on the 8th day. Advised to avoid salt, sour and spicy foods, also avoided poha, brinjal, potato, tamarind etc. external application of oils and other lotions also stopped. Patient was advised to be indoors for one week and avoid excess exposure to sunlight.
After 1 week, there was a drastic change in lesions and pain, and the burning sensation also subsided. Oozing of pus also stopped. Patient was feeling better and happy.
Bhallataka is included under organic vegetable irritant poison and pus-filled skin blisters are common features of its poisoning. The action of Bibhitaki reduces the irritant action of bhallataka and causes pittasamana. Even any type of pittahara chikitsa will be appropriate in these conditions.
Once again ayurveda proved its miraculous effect in poisoning conditions. Its high time to uplift the knowledge of agadtantra and to utilise its wonderful effects in removing the toxicities.