Introduction
Around 17.5% of adult population are experiencing infertility as per the recent article published by WHO. That is around 1 in 6 person is affected by infertility. The prevalence rate was seen in all types of income (high, middle and low) people. The reason behind increased infertility cases are due to lifestyle, food habits etc. The food which we are consuming is readily mixed with chemicals like BPA, Phtalates, food additives, preservatives, colorants etc which acts as endocrine disruptors leading to many diseases among which reproductive system is one.
The concept of Gara Visha and Viruddha Ahara deals with combination of poisons and non - poisonous substances. Symptoms caused by these types of Visha can be correlated to disorders caused by endocrine disruptors.
Bilwadi Agada which is mentioned in Sarpa Visha Pratisheda Adhyaya of Ashtanga Hridaya Uttaratantra 36th states that, it can not only be given in Jangama Visha but also be given in the conditions like, Visuchika, Ajeerna, Gara, Jwara, Bhoota Bhada.
Materials and Methods
This article is an overview of the impression of endocrine disruptors and Gara Visha in female reproductive system comprising of information collected from medical database, Samhitha’s and few research article published till date.
Discussion
Endocrine disruptors are natural or man-made chemicals that may mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones, known as the endocrine system. These chemicals are called endocrine disrupting chemicals which are present in the environment, food source, personal cares products etc which hampers the normal function of endocrine system.
People get exposed to these chemicals through food, air, soil and water etc. Local application of these chemicals can also affect the body as it can pass through the skin. Common example for EDC’s are BISPHENOL-A(BPA)[3], atrazine, phthalates, triclosan, phytoestrogens, PFAS, perchlorate, metals like(mercury, lead, arsenic etc).
These chemicals not only affects reproductive system but also affects complete endocrine system which include pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pineal, thymus, parathyroid, hypothalamus and pancreas. These chemicals are seen in the names of food colorants, preservatives, sweeteners, dyes, taste enhancers, acid regulator, emulsifiers, etc in food products. They are also found in pesticides, fungicides which are sprayed to plants and they come in contact with air, soil and water nearby, which when consumed affects the human system.
The similar description is given in our Ayurveda Samhita in the name of Gara Visha and Viruddha Ahara.[4] While explaining the concept, Acharya Charaka says, Gara Visha is the combination of poison which takes longer duration for digestion and doesn’t kill a person immediately but produces various kinds of diseases including Pandu, Shwasa, Kasa, Mahodara etc.[5] Viruddha Ahara is the improper combination of food and is one of the examples of Gara Visha. Mode of administration of Gara Visha explains that the person is exposed to Visha through food, water, tooth brush and paste, comb, oil massage, creams, shampoos, cloths, slippers, ornaments, flowers etc.
Gara Visha and Viruddha Ahara does aggravation of dosha and Dhatus which in turn leads to vitiation of Agni. Agni is responsible of biotransformation in the body. When Jataraagni is hampered it affects the Dhatvagni and Bhutagni. Loss of Jataragni causes Ajirna which leads to formation of Aama Visha. This Aama Visha does breaking down of immune system. On the whole Tridosha’s are affected due to Aama Visha, the Vata Dosha gets easily provoked, following this Pitta and Kapha causes functional defects to reproductive organs like infertility, inhibition of ascent or descent of sperm, uterine fibrosis, cysts etc.
Bilwadi Gutika is an herbal preparation, consisting of 14 ingredients like Bilwa, Surasa, Karanja, Natam, Surahva, Triphala, Trikatu, Dwaya Nisha these dry drugs are made into very minute powder and mixed with goats’ urine and made into pills. These Gutika’s are given in condition like Bhujanga (snake bite), Luta (spider poison), Unduru Visha (rat bite), Vrischika Visha (scorpion sting), Visuchika (food poisoning with pain / Cholera), Ajirna (indigestion), Gara Visha (artificial poison), Jwara (fever) & it has also got Bhutaghna properties (antimicrobial, antiviral).[6]
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