Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Visarpa (erysipelas) according to Caraka� found in the study on diseases and remedies found in the Atharvaveda and Charaka-samhita. These texts deal with Ayurveda—the ancient Indian Science of life—which lays down the principles for keeping a sound health involving the use of herbs, roots and leaves. The Atharvaveda refers to one of the four Vedas (ancient Sanskrit texts encompassing all kinds of knowledge and science) containing many details on Ayurveda, which is here taken up for study.
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Visarpa (erysipelas) according to Caraka
In Western language, Visarpa is called Erysipelas. It spreads rapidly throughout the body, sometimes in one place or suddenly in different places. The name of the disease is Visarpa. The term has two parts, i.e., ‘Vi� and �Sarpa�. ‘Vi� stands for ‘Vividha� meaning different, and ‘Sarpa� Stands for ‘Sarpaṇa� meaning spreading. Since the roga spreads either upwards or downwards or sidewards or in all these directions, it is called Visarpa. This roga is also called Pari-sarpa. The prefix �Pari� stands for ‘Paritaḥ� and ‘Sarpa� stands for ‘Sarvataḥ� meaning all over. Maharṣi Caraka discusses disease of Visarpa and treatment of Erysipelas and Herpes or Visarpa-쾱ٲ. The causes of Visarpa are -excessive intake of saline, sour, and pungent tastes; intake of sour, curd, mastu, ܰ, śܰٲ, ܱī; excessive intake of Madya, intake of polluted Madya, condiments, pickles, haritas, , ū, 쾱ṭa, mandaka, śāṇḍāki, other fermented drinks, tila, masa, Kulattha, different types of oil and pastries, Āū貹 meat, Audaka meat, garlic; intake of food large quantity, sleeping during day time etc.; affliction by phthisis, injury, bandha and falls; excessive exposure to hot sun and excessive physical work etc. The seven dhatus are involved in the pathogenesis of Visarpa, namely, Rakta, , Tvak, ṃs, and three ṣa. Visarpa is seven types, viz., پ첹, Paittika, Kaphaja, Sānnipātika, Vātapittaka, Kaphaٲja and Pittaśleṣmika. The location of Visarpa is of three types, namely, Internal (difficult to cure), External (curable), and the both (incurable).
The general treatment of visarpa is Virecana followed by bloodletting is adopted. The general treatment of visarpa includes: Virecana followed by bloodletting is adopted; if the dosas causing Visarpa are of āma nature and if these dosas are located in the abode of kapha, then fasting and emetic therapies and bitter drugs, application of dry and cool drugs are useful; If ṣa in the sites of pitta, then lightening measure, purgation, emesis, bloodletting, and bitter drugs are useful; if ṣa in the sites of ٲ, then medicines and ununctuous nature are useful, and if ṣa in the periphery, then the patient should be treated with bloodletting with horns, leeches, etc. To cure of Visarpa the patient should be advised the following diet, namely, rice-paste, old ś, green gram, bengal gram, Ā쾱, barley and wheat. Use of formulations to cures of this disease, namely, ѳܰ paste, ٲԳٲ徱 lepa, Kampillakādi oil, and ҳṛt etc. Blood-letting is most effective therapy for visarpa[1].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
C. 侱쾱ٲٳԲ–XXI. 3-143; Caraka Saṃhitā Vol. II with elaborated Vidyotini Hindi Commentary, trans. Kasinatha Pandey & Gorakha Natha Chaturvedi, Varanasi, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2015, pp. 589-612.