E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Janapadodhwansa

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2022 Volume 7 Number 1 Jan-Feb
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Conceptual study on Janapadodhvansa Roga and its treatment

G. Patil A.1*, Krishnarao Belorkar H.2
DOI:

1* Anuradha G. Patil, Professor, Department of Agadtantra, Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Pusad, Maharashtra, India.

2 Hemlata Krishnarao Belorkar, Associate Professor, Department of Kaychikitsa, Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Pusad, Maharashtra, India.

Health is never an issue until someone gets sick; it is the reality in current situation. Because of improper diet, lack of exercise, stress, low quality of food grains & global warming overall health status of individuals is poor & they are getting easily prone to communicable diseases. H1N1 influenza, Ebola is the recent examples. They are big challenges & creating a burden over health care system. Ayurveda though an ancient medical science has clearly described such communicable diseases & their cause, mode of transmission, prevention as well as cure. Charak has quoted Janapadodhwansa, (mass destruction) & its 4 reasons as Dushitavayu (Air), Jala (Water), Kala (time), Desh (region). Sushrut has already mentioned Aupsargikarogas (communicable diseases) i.e., Kushtha (Skin diseases), Jwara (Fever) etc. & their mode of transmission. Prevention as well as cure of disease is goal of Ayurveda. Through maintenance of Dincharaya, Rutucharya, Sadvritta, person’s physical and mental health is secured.

Keywords: Janapadodhwansa, communicable disease, epidemics

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Anuradha G. Patil, Professor, Department of Agadtantra, Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Pusad, Maharashtra, India.
Email: 		Anuradha G. Patil, Hemlata Krishnarao Belorkar, Conceptual study on Janapadodhvansa Roga and its treatment. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2022;7(1):275-278.
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https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/1702

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2022-01-27 2022-01-29 2022-02-05 2022-02-12 2022-02-19
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
Nil Nil Yes 16%

© 2022by Anuradha G. Patil, Hemlata Krishnarao Belorkarand Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

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Patil A. et al: Conceptual study on Janapadodhvansa Roga and its treatment

Introduction

Due to advancement of science and research life span of human being has been increased but simultaneously threat of communicable disease is increasing day by day. Communicable disease spread from one person to another or from an animal to a person. The spread often happens via air borne viruses or bacteria, but also through blood or other bodily fluids. It may also spread easily due to large population, crowd, unhygienic conditions and low immunological status of individual. H1N1 Influenza, Ebola virus are the recent example of such diseases. Because of its contagious nature, a large number of individuals are getting infected at the same time thus creating great strain over public health. Ayurveda though being an ancient life science clearly mentions about such disease conditions. A detailed chapter on Janapadodhwansa in Charak Samhita Vimansthan 3rd Adhyay explains epidemic disease and its etiological factors. In Sushrut Samhita Kushthanidana Adhyaya there is a good description on mode of transfer of disease. They are called Aupasargikrogas (Communicable diseases). From these references we come to know that in ancient time also there were such epidemics.

Materials and Methods

Janapadodhwansa definition: Charak Samhita Vimansthan 3rd Adhyaya, Aacharya Charak has described the term Janapadodhwansa meaning destruction of a population living in an area.

It is similar with epidemics. People having different Prakruti, Sarata and Aahar but some factors like air, regions are common to them and vitiation of these factors leads to disease production and death which is termed as Janapadodhwansa.[1]

Factors causing Janpadodhwansa

  1. Janapadodhwansa occurs due to vitiation of Vayu, Jala, Desh, Kala. They are nothing but modes by which infectious diseases spread.[2]
  2. Aacharya Charaka has mentioned Adharma as the root cause of Janapadodhwansa. Not following one’s duty to a community is termed as Adharma. Pradnyaparadh is also included in it.
  3. Not following Dincharya (daily regimen), Ritucharya (seasonal regimen), Vegavidharan
  1. (suppression of urges), Paapkarma (sins) is included in Adharma.

All these things are responsible for hampering immunity of an individual.

Thus, not directly but surely Adharma is responsible for Janapadodhwansa.

  1. Sushrut Samhita Nidansthan Adhyaya 4th Kushthnidanadhyaya

Aacharya Sushrut has mentioned Aupasargikrogas in Kushthanidan.

They are contagious diseases which spread through direct contact or contaminated objects of patient.

  1. By physical contact, expired air, eating with others in same plate, sharing bed (sexual contact also) using clothes, garlands and paste (Anulepa or cosmetics) infectious diseases spread from person to person.[3]

Characteristics of polluted air, water, land and time

Air with following characteristics is injurious to health;

Atistimitam Aticalam - Excessive calmness or violent blows

Atiparuṣam Atiśītam Atyuṣṇam Atirūkṣam Atyabhiṣyandinam - Excessive dryness, cold, hot air, roughness or humidity

Atibhairavārāvamatipratihata - excessive clashes among each other (wind blowing from one direction clashing with the one from the other)

Paraspara Gatim Atikuṇḍalinam - excessively cyclonic in nature and

Asātmyagandha Bāṣpa Sikatā Pāṃśu Dhūmopahata - association with unwholesome smell, gases, sand, ashes and smoke

Water that can cause endemic diseases

Vikrutgandhavarnarasasparsa - Abnormal smell colour, taste, and touch.

Jalcharavihangam - water bodies is devoid of aquatic animals like fishes etc.

Kledabahula - excessive stickiness

Upgatagunam - devoid of natural qualities

Upkshinamjaleshaya - reduced water levels in lakes and ponds


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Aritikaram - unpleasant appearance or taste

Land having the following characteristics is considered to be harmful

Prakṛti Vikṛta Varṇa Gandha Rasa Sparśaṃ:  Abnormal color, smell, taste and touch

Kleda Bahulam: Excessive stickiness, Abundance of serpents, wild animals, mosquitoes, locusts, flies, rats, owls, vulture and jackal.

Pratānādi Bahulam: Having excess of grass and weeds

Apūrvavadavapatita: Abundance of excessively branched creepers having a novel look

Śuṣkanaṣṭaśasyaṃ:  withered, dried

Dhūmrapavanaṃ:  Abundance of smoke in the wind, Presence of wild cries of birds and dogs

Kala

Features opposite to the normal course of season

Line of treatment of epidemic diseases

Ayurvedic management of communicable disease

Some diseases are incurable if Arishtalakshana (fatal signs) are present, while others even without such signs are incurable because of certain

Purvajanmakrut Karma (fatal past deeds). Ayurveda emphasizes on treatment of Sadhyavyadhis only. Thus, treatment of those who don’t show the fatal signs is mentioned in the following quotation.[4]

1. Karma Panchavidham (Appropriate use of Panchakarma)

Vaman, Virachan, Niruhabasti, Anuvasanbasti and Shirovirechan are Panchakarma described by Aacharya Charak

Aacharya Sushrut and Acharya Vagbhat included Raktamokshana

2. Rasayana therapy

According to Acharya Charaka Rasayana therapy is of 2 types.

a. Promotive: It is two types

1. Which provides strength and immunity to healthy person. The Rasayana is of 2 types i.e., Kutipraveshik and Vatatapika.

2. Which promotes sexual vigor Vajikaran.

b. Curative: Treatment which cures the diseases

3. Achar Rasayana and Sadvrittapalan

Bhoote Daya - compassion for living beings

Dana - donation, charity

Bali - scarifies

Devatarchana - prayer to the gods

Sadvrutta - good deeds

Adoption of preventive measures, tranquility, protection of the self by Mantra etc are very effective.[5]

Traditional methods of water purification in India

For centuries, natures various products and women’s knowledge of their properties have provided the basis for making water safe for drinking.

The Sushrut Samhita describes modes of purifying water, among which is the clarification of muddy water by natural coagulants such as the nuts of the Nirmali tree (Strychnos potatorium).

The seeds of Nirmali tree are used to clear muddy water by rubbing them on inside of vessels in which it is stored.

Seeds of Honge (Pongamia glabra) are similarly used

Dhavashwakarnadi Yog in purification of polluted water

This Yog is given in Sushrut Samhita Kalpasthan Adhyay 3 in Samarik Visha Prakaran. It contains

  1. Ashwakarn
  2. Asaan
  3. Paribhadra
  4. Patala
  5. Siddhak
  6. Mokshak
  7. Amaltas
  8. Somvalka

This all herbs should be burn into ash and then this ash should be poured in vessel containing one Anjali water. This how the water is purified.[6]


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Patil A. et al: Conceptual study on Janapadodhvansa Roga and its treatment

Herbs used in purification of air

Here are now another herb used for purification of polluted air given in Sushrut Samhita.

  1. Haridra
  2. Tamalpatra
  3. Kuth
  4. Priyangu
  5. Lakha

These herbs are put on sacred fire called Yadnya and by this polluted air is purified.

Conclusion

Due to these polluted air, land and water leads to the spread of infectious diseases. In ancient time also Acharyas had the knowledge about communicable diseases. Treatment such as Panchakarma and use of Rasayana as mainstream treatment. As the main objective of Ayurveda is Swasthasya Swasthya Rakshanam i.e., maintain health of healthy person. Prevention is the best way to avoid Aupsargik Vyadhi (communicable diseases) Good immunity plays an important role in prevention and cure of epidemic diseases. Rasayan therapy, Panchakarma, Sadvritta Palan and Acharrasayana, Yagya should be tried as preventive measure.

Reference

  1. Illustrated Charaka Samhita, 2015 translated by pt. kashinath shastri and Dr. Gorakhnatha chaturvedi, published by chaukhamba Bharti Academy, Vimansthana ch.3, pg. no.6
  2. Illustrated Charaka Samhita, 2015 translated by pt. kashinath shastri and Dr. Gorakhnatha chaturvedi, published by chaukhamba Bharti Academy, Vimansthana ch.3, pg. no.6
  3. Illustrated Sushrut Samhita, 2014 translated by kaviraj Ambika Dutta Shastri, published by chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthana, nidan sthana ch.5verse.33,34
  4. Illustrated Charaka Samhita, 2015 translated by pt. kashinath shastri and Dr. Gorakhnatha chaturvedi, published by chaukhamba Bharti Academy, Vimansthana ch.3, pg. no.13/14
  5. Illustrated Charaka Samhita, 2015 translated by pt. kashinath shastri and
  1. Dr. Gorakhnatha chaturvedi, published by chaukhamba Bharti Academy, Vimansthana ch.3, pg. no.13/14
  2. Illustrated Sushrut Samhita, 2014 translated by kaviraj Ambika Dutta Shastri, published by chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthana,  kalpasthana ch.3

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