ABSTRACT
Kerala is exceptional for the practice of Visha chikitsa from time out of mind. Keraleeya visha chikitsa grandhas such as Prayoga sammucchayam and Kriya koumudi point out distinctive treatment procedure for snake envenomation such as Karu prayogam, Vella prayogam, Oothu chikitsa etc. Among this most handy and easy treatment procedure, Oothu chikitsa or blowing therapy which is mentioned for immediate stabilization of the patient from severe cobra envenomation is discussed here. The present study evaluates the role of Ayurveda in emergency management. This procedure, in which three persons are made to blow over vertex and both ears for 150 times by chewing certain drugs such as Viswa, Dusparsa, Maricha and Visha vega in equal quantities are indicated in the initial manifestation of snake bite including altered consciousness. On evaluation, the volatile components of these drugs are found to act on CNS. In this era of emergency medicine, exploration of Ayurvedic emergency treatment procedure is very much important. This emergency treatment procedure can be conceptually applied in the altered consciousness other than snake bite such as altered consciousness arising due to neurological and metabolic causes, diffuse physiological brain dysfunction as seen in certain drug poisoning, alchohol etc. This study aims at application of blowing therapy, indicated in initial manifestation of cobra envenomation and helps the patient to stabilize from a level of altered consciousness in the context of altered consciousness in conditions other than snake bite.
ABSTRACT
Toxicology, is a slow acting less potent poison, which does not kill the person immediately, but gets manifested in the form of many diseases. Skin diseases (Kustha) are one among the main symptoms of Dooshivisha. Vicharchika, is one among Kshudra kustha, which is highly prevalent, common and distressing condition. Recurrence and chronicity are the main threat faced by patients suffering from Vicharchika. Most of the features of Vicharchika show similarity with symptoms of the disease entity, eczema of modern dermatology. In India, the point prevalence of dermatological cases are 9.25%, and that of eczema is 6.75%. Arkatailam is the formulation prescribed in Yogaratnakaram, which reflects the therapeutic effect of toxic plant Arka, which is directly indicated for Vicharchika. The aims and objective of the study is to evaluate the combined effect of Arkataila and Patoladi gana kashaya in Dooshivishajanya Vicharchika. The study design was an interventional pre-post study with sample size 30. Patients with signs and symptoms of Vicharchika, having history of Dooshivisha, of age group between 20-60 satisfying the diagnostic criteria selected from the OPD of Government Ayurveda College Panchakarma, Hospital, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, were included in the study. The study group was given Avipathychoorna internally on first day for Virechana. On 2nd day onwards Patoladi gana Kashaya was given internally and Arkataila externally for 14 days. Symptomatic assessments were done before treatment, on 8th day, after the treatment and after the follow up period of 7 days. Results were analyzed statistically. The results show that the effect of Arkataila and Patoladiganakashaya is very effective in Dooshivishajanya vicharchika.