E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Vatsanabha

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2023 Volume 8 Number 6 June
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Exploring the Agada perspective of Vatsanabha

Priyanka.1*, Gupta V.2, Yadav A.3, Sharma P.4
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21760/jaims.8.6.36

1* Priyanka, Assistant Professor, Department of Agadtantra evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Haridwar Ayurved Medical College & Research Centre, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India.

2 Vanya Gupta, Assistant Professor, Department of Agadtantra evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Prabuddh Ayurvedic Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

3 Aditi Yadav, Assistant Professor, Department of Agadtantra evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Quadra Institute of Medical Sciences, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India.

4 Priyanka Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Panchakarma, Haridwar Ayurved Medical College & Research Centre, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India.

Ayurved is a comprehensive system of natural health care that originated in the ancient Vedic times of India. Its primary emphasis is on prevention of disease and maintenance of health. Ayurved is the science of life that is widely practiced in India. It used medicine prepared from plants, animals and mineral origin. All the three sources of drugs can be divided under poisonous and nonpoisonous category. Vatsnabha (Aconitum ferox) is categorized under the Sthavara Visha. Even a strong poison can become an excellent medicine if administered properly; on the other hand even the most useful medicine act as a poison if not handled correctly. Vatsnabha is highly toxic in nature even then it is used as a medicine after purification and in therapeutic dose. Shodhana or purification is the process which involves the purification as well as reduction in the levels of toxic principles thus removing the untoward effects the drug produce. In therapeutic doses it has capacity to treat many diseases therefore; it is used as an ingredient of various Ayurvedic formulations. Ayurved proposes a traditional technique of Shodhana to reduce the harmful effects associated with Vatsnabha. The present review article gives us opportunity to understand the therapeutic uses, toxic effects, methods of purification, antidotes and medicolegal aspect of Vatsnabha.

Keywords: Ayurved, Vatsnabha, Sthavara Visha, Shodhana, Medicolegal Aspects

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Priyanka, Assistant Professor, Department of Agadtantra evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Haridwar Ayurved Medical College & Research Centre, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India.
Email: 		Priyanka, Vanya Gupta, Aditi Yadav, Priyanka Sharma, Exploring the Agada perspective of Vatsanabha. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2023;8(6):236-239.
Available From
https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/2469

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2023-04-22 2023-04-24 2023-05-01 2023-05-08 2023-05-14
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
Nil Nil Yes 17%

© 2023by Priyanka, Vanya Gupta, Aditi Yadav, Priyanka Sharmaand 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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Priyanka et al: Exploring the Agada perspective of Vatsanabha

Introduction

Vatsanabha is included in Mahavisha having Latin name Aconitum ferox and family Rananculaceae with tall and erect stem with blue, purple, white zygomorphic flowers with numerous stamens.[1]

All the parts of the plant are poisonous, the root being most potent. The root is mostly used for medicinal purpose. Its root are useful in the treatment of various diseases such as sciatica, fever, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and after Shodhana it also act as a Rasayana.[2-4]

Acharya Charaka has categorized Vatsnabha under Sthavara Visha, Acharya Sushruta under Kanda Visha and Acharya Kaideva Nighantu under Visha Varga.[5]

Synonyms & Vernacular Names

  • Latin: Acontium ferox Wall ex Seringe
  • Botanical Synonym: Aconitum ferox
  • English: Indian aconite
  • Hindi Name: Meetha Telia, Bachnag, Meetha Visha
  • Sanskrit names: Vatsnabh, Amrit, Visha
  • Punjabi name: Meetha Telia

Rasa Panchaka[6]

Guna - Ruksha, Laghu, Vyavayi, Vikashi, Tiksna

Rasa - Madhur

Vipaka - Madhur

Virya - Usna

Karma - Kapna Vatahara

Toxic constituents[7]: The tuber of Vatsnabha contains 0.4-0.8% diterpene alkaloids and the concentration of aconite in the fresh plant is between 0.3% and 2.0% in tubers and 0.2% and 1.2% in the leaves. The highest concentration of aconite is found in the winter. The major alkaloids are aconitine, pseudaconitine, bikhaconitine, diacetyl pseudaconitine, aconine, picro-aconine, veratry pseudaconitine and chamaconitine.

Fatal Dose[8]

  • Vatsanabh root - 1gm
  • Extract of Vatsnabha - 250 mg
  • Alkaloid - 4mg

Fatal Period[9] - Usually 1-5 hrs

Toxic symptoms[10-12]

According to Acharya Sushruta

  • Greeva Stambha (neck stiffness)
  • Peeta Vinmootra Netrata (yellowish discoloration of faeces, eyes & urine.)

According to Acharya Vagbhata

Rasa Vagbhata enumerated Ashta Vegas (eight stages) of poisoning as:

Stage 1st - Twak Vikara (skin changes)

Stage 2nd - Vepathu (tremors)

Stage 3rd - Daaha (burning all over the body)

Stage 4th - Vikrtavastha (deformities)

Stage 5th - Phenodgama (froth from mouth)

Stage 6th - Skanda Bhanga (drooping of shoulders)

Stage 7th - Jadata (comatose)

Stage 8th - Marana (death)

According to Modern

Aconite and relative alkaloids found Aconitum species causes cardio toxicity, GIT Toxic Neurotoxicity.

GIT Manifestation - Burning & tingling sensation in lips, throat, and mouth. - Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Cardio Manifestation - Pulse is slow, feeble irregular, Hypothermia, Hypotension and Cardiac Arrhythmia.

Neurological Manifestation - Vertigo, Loss in vision, hearing and speech. In Vatsanabha poisoning there is alternate contraction and dilation pupils which is known as hippus reaction in early stage hippus sign in seen but in later stage pupil gets dilated.

Shodhana of Vatsnabha[13-15]

Aconitum root is tied in a piece of cotton cloth, kept dipped in cow urine. It is exposed to sunlight for three days. Each day, urine of cow is replaced with fresh one.

After third day, it is dried and preserved.




Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences 2023;8(6)237
Priyanka et al: Exploring the Agada perspective of Vatsanabha

Mechanism of Action[16]

  • Aconitine acts on nerve axons by opening sodium channels. It also inhibits complete repolarization of the membrane of myocardial tissue causing repetitive firing.
  • It stimulates vagal medullary centre.

Therapeutic Indications

Vatsnabha should be used for therapeutic purpose after Shodhana It is indicated in following health conditions: Indigestion, Fever, Respiratory infections, Asthama, Common cold, Cough, Diabetes, Loss of Appetite.

Management

Treatment according to Ayurved[17-18]

  • Tankan used as an antidote of aconite due to its Hrudya
  • Tankan Laahi along with Goghrta should be given.
  • Use of juice of Tanduleeyak.
  • Use of Arjun Twak, Churna along with Honey & cow’s clarified butter.
  • Use of Ajaadugdh (Goat milk) - According to Ayurved Prakash, emetics should be used in the beginning then goat milk should be used until the vomiting stops. The goat milk is retained in the stomach it indicates that the toxic effect of aconite is abolished.
  • Use of juice of

Treatment according to modern[19-20]

  • Gastric lavage
  • Strong tea
  • KMNO4
  • Tannic acid
  • Symptomatic treatment
  • Cardiac monitoring
  • For collapse give IV fluids
  • For syncope give injection Digitalin in 0.25mg doses
  • For cardiac arrhythmia give 50 ml of 0.1% Novacaine slow IV
  • Due to vagal inhibition, can cause heart failure, in that situation give injection Atropine 1mg.


Post - Mortem Appearance[21]

External - Mucus membrane of Mouth may be pallor.

Internal

a. Inflammation and congestion of stomach

b. Fragments of root residue may be found in the stomach contents

c. Congestion and engorgement of the brain & lungs.

Medico legal Importance[22]

Accidental - Rarely found due to ingestion of Vatsnabha accidently.

Suicidal - It found rarely by ingestion of Vatsnabha for suicidal intent.

Homicidal - It is Ideal Homicidal poison.

Cattle Poison - Root will be used as an Arrow poison in tribal area.

Important Ayurvedic formulations of Vatsnabha[23]

  • Mahashankha Vati
  • Sanjivani Vati
  • Tamra Parpati
  • Kaphketu Rasa
  • Tribhuvan Kirti Rasa
  • Saubhagya Vati
  • Rambana Rasa
  • Anand Bhairava Rasa
  • Hinguleshvara Rasa
  • Panchamrita Rasa
  • Vatavidhvamsani Rasa

Conclusion

Vatsnabha (Aconitum ferox) is a Sthavara Visha. Vatsnabha is highly toxic in nature. It can be used as medicine after Shodhana or purification process. Pharmacologically it relives coldness, improves digestion, Useful in treatment of sciatica, backache, night blindness, inflammation, headache, vision problem, inflammation and eyes related problems. Due to some properties like Ashukaritwa, Ushna, Teekshna Visha Dravya get spread rapidly in the body.


Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences 2023;8(6)238
Priyanka et al: Exploring the Agada perspective of Vatsanabha

So, for the quick action of medicines many Ayurvedic formulations contain these Vishadravyas like Vatsnabha as their ingredient. By utilizing these properties of Vishadravyas medicines can be made more effective. This review article explored the Agad perspective of Vatsanabha.

Reference

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2. Ffrench G. Aconitine – induced cardiac arrhythmia. Br. Heart J, 1958; 20:140-2

3. Makino T, Kato K, Mizukami H. processed aconite root prevents cold- stress- induced hypothermia and immune-suppression in mice. Biol pharm Bull, 2009; 32: 1741-8

4. Rastogi S. A review of aconite (Vatsanabh) usage in Ayurvedic formulations: Traditional views and their references. Spatula DD, 2011; 1: 233-44

5. Shastry J.L.N., Dravyaguna vijnana, vol 2, Chaukhambha orientalia, Varanasi, ed. 1st, 2004; 2

6. Sharad Portey, Agadtantra (Vish Chikitsa Vigyaan), Ayurved Sanskrit Hindi Pustak Bhandar, Jaipur, ed.1st, 2016; 201

7. www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov- Overdose effect of aconite containing Ayurvedic Medicine (‘Mahashankha Vati’) by Ashok Kumar Panda and Saroj Kumar Debnath

8. C.K.Pareek, Textbook of medical jurisprudence forensic medicine, forensic medicine & Toxicology, CBS Publisher Delhi, Sixth edition reprint, section 10, 2005; 10: 65

9. Modi’s Medical jurisprudence and Toxicology, Lexis Nexis Butterworths; Edition.23rd,2005; 469

10. Shastri Ambikadatta, Sushrut Samhita, Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi, Reprint 2000;565

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12. Modi′s Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, Lexis Nexis Butterworths; Edition.23rd 2005;469

13. Sastri A. Vagbhattacharya: Rasaratna Samuchchaya, Varanasi, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Series Office; Edition 6th,1978;590.

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19. Shastry J.L.N., Dravyaguna vijnana, vol 2, Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi, ed. 1st, 2004;16

20. Rajesh Bardale, Principles of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, New Delhi, Second Edition;2017,566.

21. Sharad Portey, Agadtantra (Vish Chikitsa Vigyaan), Ayurved Sanskrit Hindi Pustak Bhandar, Jaipur, ed.1st, 2016; 203

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23. Sharad Portey, Agadtantra (Vish Chikitsa Vigyaan), Ayurved Sanskrit Hindi Pustak Bhandar, Jaipur, ed.1st, 2016; 204


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