Abstract

AYURVEDIC VIEW OF VRICHIKA DAMSHA AND ITS AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT

Rashmi Saini*, Deepak Kumar and Neelam Arya

Abstract

Scorpion envenomation is an common global public health problem including India. Despite various species of scorpions, only few of these can be potentially lethal to humans. In India, the annual number of scorpion stings cases exceeds 1.23 million, of which over 32,250 may be fatal. This can be attributed to various hurdles in the scorpion bite treatment like poor health services, difficult and untimely transportation facilities, wrong traditional beliefs, delay in antiscorpion venom administration which ultimately leads to substantial amount of mortality and morbidity. Scorpion bite can result in a wide range of clinical effects such as neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and respiratory dysfunction including pulmonary edema. Administration of anti-scorpion venom is the only specific treatment available in India but has many limitations like species specificity, difficulty in availability, affordability and ideal storage conditions. Ayurveda has explained Yuktivyapashrya chikitsa (Aushad) and Daiv vyapashrya chikitsa (Mantra) in the management of Vrishchika Damsha (Scorpion bite). Shodhana Chikitsa – In Bahula Dosh’a condition – which may included vamana, Virechana, Nasya and Raktamokshana according to the predominance of the Dosh’a. and in shamana chikitsa – In Alpa Dosh’a condition – which may include internal medicine, external application, dhoopana, Anjana etc. This review is an attempt to present an Ayurvedic view of Scorpion bite, types of scorpion, symptoms of scorpion bite and detailed description of Ayurvedic medicine used in scorpion bite.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Samhita, Scorpion Type, Scorpion Sting, Pain, Etc.