E-ISSN:2456-3110

Case Report

Insect Bite

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2023 Volume 8 Number 11 November
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Ayurvedic management of Unknown Insect Bite (Keeta Visha) - A Case Report

Chaudhari K1*, Lambat R2
DOI:10.21760/jaims.8.11.39

1* Krutika A Chaudhari, Post Graduate Scholar, Dept Of Agad Tantra Evam Vyavahara Ayurveda, Govt Ayurved College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.

2 Rajendra D Lambat, Head of Department, Dept of Agadtantra Evam Vyavahara Ayurveda, Govt Ayurved College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.

Acharya Charaka in Chikitsasthan of Charaka Samhita, Acharya Sushruta in Kalpasthan of Sushruta Samhita and Acharya Vagbhata in Uttartantra of Ashtanga Hridaya recited the origin of Visha and Keeta Visha. Acharya Sushruta has explained Keeta Visha under Jangama Visha (Animate poison) and categorized 67 different type of Keeta under mainly 4 groups. It causes acute as well as severe manifestations in the human beings. The main characteristics of insect bite are itching, burning sensation, erythema at the site of bite. As there are various types of Keeta Visha, hence they vary in their diagnosis and treatment and most of the time they are unidentified as signs and symptoms may resembles the skin disease. This is case report of 25 year old female who had given the history of unknown insect bite and presented to the outpatient department with the complaints of itching, burning sensation, spreading erythema over the skin of neck region. In Sushruta Samhita in Kalpasthan Acharya Sushruta has mentioned Dushivishari Agad as a most potent Agad for all types of Visha. Hence, patient was treated with Dushivishari Agad orally along with local application of Shatdhautghrita which also has Vishaghna properties. In present case Dushivishari Agad and Shatdhautghrita have shown assuring results in the management of unknown insect bite.

Keywords: Insect bite, Keeta Visha, Dushivishari Agad, Shatdhautghrita

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Krutika A Chaudhari, Post Graduate Scholar, Dept Of Agad Tantra Evam Vyavahara Ayurveda, Govt Ayurved College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
Email: 		Chaudhari K, Lambat R, Ayurvedic management of Unknown Insect Bite (Keeta Visha) - A Case Report. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2023;8(11):237-239.
Available From
https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/2893

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2023-09-08 2023-09-13 2023-09-18 2023-09-23 2023-10-17
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None declared Nil Yes 20.78%

© 2023by Chaudhari K, Lambat Rand 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].

J Ayu Int Med Sci 2023;8(11)237
Krutika A. Chaudhari et al. Ayurvedic management of Unknown Insect Bite (Keeta Visha)

Introduction

According to Acharya Charaka, insects are called as Keeta and they explained two types of Keeta Visha i.e., Pranahar Keeta and Dushivisha Keeta and they are produced from Keetas or waste products like stool and urine of the snakes. There is mentioned in Vachaspatya as ‘Krimibhyah Sthoole Kshudra Jantu Bhede’ that means Keeta is a variety of Krimi with macroscopic body.  Acharya  Sushrut  has  described  all Keetas under Jangam Visha and has explained about 67 different types of Keeta and categorised them under mainly four groups, three with the features of individual Doshas and fourth one with all of them together. Poison of insects (Keeta) has predominance of Vata Pitta. When bitten by insects (Keeta) with the predominance of Vata pricking sensation and pain are greatly increased. When bitten by Pitta predominant insects, there is less of exudation, but more of burning sensation, redness and spreading erythema. When bitten by Kapha predominant insects, there is mild pain and swelling appears like a ripe fruit of Udumbara (Ficus glomerata). So, they vary in their treatment and diagnosis and this case will explain the general line of treatment for the case of unknown insect bite based on the Dosha predominance and manifestation of symptoms.

Case Report

A 25 year old female visited the OPD with the complaints of itching, burning sensation, spreading erythema over neck region since night. On history taking she had given the history of unknown insect crawl at night over neck region and at midnight she started developing reddish rash over neck region along with itching and burning sensation.

Local Examination

  • Site of insect bite - Neck region
  • Color - Reddish
  • Discharge - Absent
  • Skin - Reddish colored
  • Pain - Absent
  • Blisters - Absent
  • Demarcation - Absent
  • Tenderness - present


Ashtavidha Pariksha

Nadi (pulse) : 74/min
Mala (stool) : Regular bowel movement
Mutra (urine): 3-4 times a day
Jivha (Tongue) : Niram
Shabda (speech) : Spashta
Sparsha (Touch) : Anushnasheet
Drik (eyes) : Prakrut
Akriti (Appearance) : Madhyam

Therapeutic intervention

Dushivishari Agad 1 Tablet (500mg) with warm water 2 times a day after meal for 5 days was given.

Shatdhautghrita for local application was given.

Progress of the treatment - Follow up was taken for 0, 4 and 6 days

ObservationDay 0Day 4Day 6
Itching++00
Burning sensation++00
Erythema+++0

Result

Jaims_2893_1.jpg
Before Treatment

Jaims_2893_2.jpg
After 4 days of Treatment Itching, redness, burning sensation reduced


J Ayu Int Med Sci 2023;8(11)238
Krutika A. Chaudhari et al. Ayurvedic management of Unknown Insect Bite (Keeta Visha)

Jaims_2893_3.jpg
Complete cure after 6 days leaving no scar mark

Discussion

Acharya Charaka in Chikitsasthan has explained about Dushivisha Keeta Lakshanas as ‘Gatram Raktam Sitam Shyavam Va Pidakanvitam Sakandudahavisarpapaki’ which means red, black or brownish black discoloration along with itching, burning sensation, spreading erythema that resembles the symptoms of present case of unknown insect bite (Keeta Visha). Patient prescribed with Dushivishari Agad mentioned in Sushrut Samhita Kalpasthan as the most potent Agad for all types of Visha. Contents of Dushivishari Agad are Pippali, Rohisha, Jatamansi, Lodhra, Ela, Shyonak, Tagar, Kustha, Yashtimadhu, Chandan, Suvarchika, Gairik. It is also mentioned in Ashtanga Hridayam Uttarsthan that it comprises the effect in various poisonous conditions along with Keeta Visha. Effect is due to Vishaghna action of the drug content like Jatamansi, Lodhra, Yashtimadhu, Koshtha, Chandan. Shatdhautghrita has Shothahara, Dahahar, Vedanasthapan, and Vishaghna properties so it helps in reducing inflammation caused due to insect bite and was given for local application at the site of insect bite.

Conclusion

In this patient improvement has been found after 6 days of treatment. By the result of this case study we can conclude that Vishaghna Aushadhipan along with Vishaghna Lepan can give assuring and quick result without any local or systemic side effects.

References

1. Gogate K.G., Sarth Vagbhat Uttarsthan Visha Adhyay, chapter 35, verse 39, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan 2016, pg no. 460.

2. Ambikadattashastri, Sushrut Samhita Kalpasthan Sthavarvishavidyaniya Adhyay, chapter 2, verse 50-52, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan 2017, pg no 37.

3. Sharma P., Charak Samhita, Chikitsasthan, Vishachikitsa Adhyay chapter 23, verse 142-143, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan 2014, pg. no. 550.

4. Patel D., Inchulkar S.R., A Critical review on Keeta Visha an ayurvedic concept, JAHM 2019 ;5(4): 147-151.

5. Ajith M., Pol N.K., Agada Prayoga in the management of Keeta Visha (Insect Bite) A case report, WJPR 2022, Volume 11, Issue 12, 1285-1289.

6. Phartale R., Phartale V., Antimicrobial properties of Dushivishari Agad and its ingredients an overview, WJPR 2021, Volume 10, Issue 8, 1318-1329


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