Drug review of Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada

Akanksha Chourasiya; Vijay Soliya; Urmila Shukla; Deepika Thakur; Sharad Rathi

doi:10.21760/jaims.10.3.38

Drug review of Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada

Chourasiya A^1*, Soliya V², Shukla U³, Thakur D⁴, Rathi S⁵

DOI:10.21760/jaims.10.3.38

^1* Akanksha Chourasiya, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Agad Tantra Evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Pt Khushilal Sharma Government Ayurveda College and Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

² Vijay Soliya, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Agad Tantra Evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Pt Khushilal Sharma Government Ayurveda College and Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

³ Urmila Shukla, Professor and HOD, Department of Agad Tantra Evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Pt Khushilal Sharma Government Ayurveda College and Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

⁴ Deepika Thakur, Lecturer, Department of Agad Tantra Evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Pt Khushilal Sharma Government Ayurveda College and Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

⁵ Sharad Rathi, Lecturer, Department of Agad Tantra Evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Pt Khushilal Sharma Government Ayurveda College and Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine in India. It deals with promoting health and preventing disease. The foundation of Ayurveda is based on eight branches i.e., Astanga Ayurveda & in those one of the eight divisions is Agadatantra (Toxicology). It deals with detailed description about the Visha i.e., its classification, diseases caused by it and different treatment principles. It deals with the treatment of various poisons. Agada is one of the remedies explained in the Chaturvimshati Upakarama (24 treatment procedure) as Aushadhi Prayoga. For the management of poisons various treatment procedures have been described, one among them is the use of formulations taken orally. Varied formulations are described of just herbal, animal origin and also herbo-mineral in origin. One among them is Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada that is mentioned in the treatment of Visha. It is a formulation of sixty drugs and the Bhavana Dravya is of animal origin drugs namely Go Pitta (cow’s bile). This is indicated in various conditions such as Pilla, Timir, Ratraandhyam (night blindness), Visham Jwar, Vishucika, etc.

Keywords: Agad, Visha, Maha-Gandhahasthi, Formulation

Corresponding Author	How to Cite this Article	To Browse
Akanksha Chourasiya, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Agad Tantra Evum Vidhi Vaidyaka, Pt Khushilal Sharma Government Ayurveda College and Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Email:	Chourasiya A, Soliya V, Shukla U, Thakur D, Rathi S, Drug review of Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2025;10(3):242-247. Available From https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/4112/

Introduction

Toxicology in Ayurveda also known as Agad Tantra, which is a specialized branch of Ayurvedic medicine focusing on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of poisoning from various sources, including plants, animals, minerals, and artificial substances. The principles of Agad Tantra emphasize the use of herbal antidotes, dietary regulations, and lifestyle modifications to neutralize toxins and restore health. The treatment of poison can be proceeded in two ways i.e. general treatment and specific treatment.^[1] Acharya Charak has described twenty-four types of the general treatment principles of the poisoning and can be applied according to the condition of the poisoning. Agada is one of the remedies explained in the Chaturvinshati Upakarama (24 treatment procedure) as Auoshadhi Prayoga.^[2]Acharya Charaka explained many Agada Yogas. Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada is one of them.^[3]

Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada contains as many as sixty drugs from herbal and mineral origin and one animal origin drug (Gopitta) additionally used as Bhavana Dravya. This formulation which is used as an antidote of poisons is called as Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada. This formulation may be taken internally in the form of drink (by diluting with liquids) or applied in the form of a collyrium in the eyes for ophthalmic disorder or applied externally in the form of a paste to achieve success in skin related problem. If it is used constantly (regularly) along with wholesome diet of useful ingredients in appropriate quantity, it cures eye diseases like Pilla, Kandu, Timira, Ratryandha, Kāca, Arbuda and Patala. It cures Visama-Jvara (irregular fever), indigestion, choleric diarrhoea, externally it is used for Dadru (ring worm), Kandu (pruritus), and Pāmā (scabies). It instantaneously cures the ailments Sthavar and Jangam Visha such as spiders, all types of snake bite, and poisoning from all types of roots and rhizomes.^[4]

Ingredients of Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada^[5]

SN	Drug Name	Botanical Name	Family	Parts Use
1.	Tejpatta	Cinnamomum tamala	Lauraceae	Leaves
2.	Agar	Aquilaria agallocha	Thymelaceae	Oil, extract
3.	Motha	Cyperus rotundus	Cyperaceae	Tuber
4.	Ela	Elettaria cardemomum	Zingiberaceae	Seeds
5,	Rala	Shorea robusta Gaertn.	Dipterocarpaceae	Bark, resin, oil,
6.	Guggul	Commiphora mukul	Burseraceae	Extract
7.	Ahiphen	Papaver somniferum	Papaveraceae	Extract
8.	Shilajit	Asphaltum punjabinum	-	Extract
9.	Lohban	Styrax venzoin	styracaceae	Resin, Extract
10.	Sweta Chandan	Santalum album	Santalaceae	Wood, volatile oil
11.	Sprkka	Delphinium brunonianum	Ranunculaceae	Rhizome, root
12.	Tvaka	Cinnamomum zeylanicum	Lauraceae	Stem bark, oil
13.	Jatamansi	Nordostachys jatamansi	Velerianaceae	Rhizome
14.	Utpala	Nymphaea stellata	Nymphaceae	Whole plant
15.	Sugandhabala (Balak)	Pavonia odorata	Malvaceae	Root
16.	Harenu	Pisum sativum	Fabaceae	Seed
17.	Ushir	Vetiveria zizanoides	Poaceae	Root
18.	Kevati Motha (Vanya)	Cyprus platystilis	sypraceae	Root
19.	Nakha	Capparis sepiaria	capparidaceae	Root, leaves
20.	Devdaru	Cedrus deodara	Pinaceae	Bark, wood, oil, resin
21.	Nagkesar (Kanak)	Mesua ferrea	Guttiferae	Stamens, leaf
22.	Dhyamak (Kumkum)	Valeriana pyrlaefolia	Caprifoliaceae	-
23.	Kuth	Saussurea lappa	Asteraceae	Root
24.	Priyangu	Callicarpa macrophylla	Verbenaceae	Root, bark
25.	Tagar	Valeriana offcinalis	Valerianaceae	Root
26.	Shirish	Albizia lebbek	Mimosaceae	Root
27.	Shirish			Bark
28.	Shirish			Leaves
29.	Shirish			Flower
30.	Shirish			Fruit

31.	Shunthi	Zingiber officinale	Zingiberaceae	Rhizome
32.	Pipar	PiperR longum	Piperaceae	Root, fruit
33.	Marich	Piper nigrum	Piperaceae	Fruit
34.	Haritala	Arsenic trioxide (As2S3)	-	-
35.	Manahshila	Arsenic dioxide (As2 S3)	-	-
36.	Jirak	Cuminum cyminum	Umbelliferae	Seeds
37.	Shweta	Celastres paniculatus	celastraceae	Root, seed
38.	Katabhi	Clitoria ternatea	Fabaceae	Root, root bark, seed
39.	Lata Karanj	Caesalpinia bonduc	Caesalpiniaceae	Root bark, seed
40.	Pit Saraso	Brassica campestris	brassicaceae	Seed, seed oil
41.	Sindhuwar	Vitex negundo	verbenaceae	Leaf, root
42.	Haridra	Curcuma longa	Zingiberaceae	Tuber
43.	Tulsi	Ocimum sanctum	Labiatae	Leaves, root, seed
44.	Rasvat	Stibnites (Sb2S3)	-	-
45.	Geru	Ferrous oxide (Fe2O3)	-	-
46.	Manjith	Rubia cardifolia	Rubiaceae	Root
47.	Neem	Azadirachta indika	Meliaceae	Root, flower, leaf, seed,
48.	Vansa	Bambusa arundinaceae	Poaceae	Root, nodes, bark
49.	Aswagandha	Withania somnifera	solanaceae	Root
50.	Hingu	Ferula foetida	Apiaaceae	Resin
51.	Kapitha	Feronia limona	Rutaceae	Fruit, leaves
52.	Amlavetasa	Gacinia pedunculata	Guttiferae	Fruit
53.	Laksha	Leccifer lacca	Lacciferidae	-
54.	Madhu	(english name - honey)	-	-
55.	Mulethi	Glycyrrhiza glabra	Fabaceae	Root
56.	Bakuchi	Psoralea corylifolia	Fabaceae	Seeds
57.	Vaca	Acorus colamus	Acanthaceae	Rhizome
58	Durva	Cynodon dectylon	Gramineae	Whole plant
59.	Gorochana	Felbovinum purifactum	-	Gorocana
60.	Tagara	Valeriana wallichi	Valerianaceae	Root

Method of Preparation

All the 60 drugs are to be taken in equal quantity, powdered separately by integrator and sieved through a cloth to get fine powder of the drugs and mix all powdered drugs properly. Then Bhavana (trituration) has to be done with Go Pitta (cow’s bile) and tablet are made (Gutika) by tablet making machine.^[6]

Administration^[7]

It can be used as Pana, Anjana and Pralepa.

Indication^[8]

This Agada is particularly beneficial for ailments like Pilla (eye disease), Kandu (eye itching), Timira Roga, Kancha (cataract), Arbuda, and Patala diseases. It provides relief for individuals who continuously use it and follow a moderate diet.

It also helps to cure fever (Visham Jvar), indigestion, ringworm, itching, cholera, and skin diseases. It neutralizes the poisons of rats, lice, and all types of snake bite, as well as the effects of all types of root and tuber poisons. When a person is on the verge of death due to animate and in animate poisons, this Agada can cure them and allowing them to survive. This Agada is beneficial for abdominal bloating by applying it to the anus. In complicated pregnancy (Mudgarbha) this Agada is useful when applying it in to the vagina. For those who are suffering from fainting spells, applying this Agada primarily to the forehead is recommended.

Anupana

As the specific Anupana is not mentioned, in general, based on the condition of poisoning and mode of administration the suitable adjuvant can be adopted.

Properties of ingredients of Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada

SN	Drug	Rasa	Guna	Veerya	Karma
1.	Tejpatta	Katu, Tikta, Madhur	Ushna, Laghu,	Ushna	Kaphahar, Vatahar, Raktshodhak
2.	Agar	Katu, Tikta	Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Kushthaghna, Raktshodhak

3.	Motha	Tikta, Katu, Kashaya	Laghu, Ruksha	Sheeta	Kaphpittashamak, Raktaprashadhak, Jvaraghna
4.	Ela	Katu, Madhur	Laghu, Ruksha	Sheeta	Tridoshshamak, Durgandhnashak, Mukhashodhak
5.	Rala	Kashay, Madhur	Ruksha	Sheeta	Vedanasthapan, Pittakaphshamak, Vranropan
6.	Guggul	Tikta, Katu	Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna	Ushna	Tridoshshamak, Raktaprashadhan, Arshoghna
7.	Ahiphen	Tikta, Kashay	Laghu, Ruksha, Sukshma, Vyavayi, Vikashi	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Vedanasthapan, Swedjanana, Jvaraghna
8.	Shilajit	Katu, Tikta	Ushna	Ushna	Rasayan, Tridoshshamak
9.	Lohban	Madhur, Tikta	Ruksha, Laghu, Tikshna	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Garbhashayshodhak, Jvaraghna
10.	Sweta Chandan	Tikta, Madhur	Laghu, Ruksha	Sheeta	Kaphpittashamak, Raktshodhak, Jvaraghna
11.	Sprkka (Asvarga)	Madhur	Sheeta	Sheeta	Tridoshahar, Kushthaghna
12.	Tvaka	Katu, Madhur	Laghu, Ushna	Ushna	Vishaghna, Kramighna
13.	Jatamansi	Tikta, Kashay, Madhur	Laghu, Snighdha	Sheeta	Bhutaghna, Tridoshahar, Kushthaghna
14.	Otpala	Madhur, Kashaya, Tikta	Laghu, Snighdha, Pichhila	Sheeta	Tridoshahar, Raktpittashamak, Garbhsathapan
15.	Sugandhabala (Balak)	Tikta	Ruksha, Laghu	Sheeta	Pittakaphahar, Jvarghna
16.	Harenu	Madhur	Laghu, Ruksha	Sheeta	Kaphpittahar
17.	Ushir	Tikta, Madhur	Laghu, Ruksha	Sheeta	Kaphpittashamak, Raktaprashadhak, Jvaraghna
18.	Kevati Motha (Vanya)	Tikta, Katu, Kashay	Laghu, Ruksha	Sheeta	Kaphpittashamak
19.	Nakha	Madhur	Laghu	Ushna	Kaphvathar, Jvarhar, Raktdoshhar
20.	Devdaru	Tikta,	Laghu, Snigdha	Sheeta	Kaphvatshamak, Kushthaghna, Garbhasayshodhan
21.	Nagkesar (Kanak)	Madhur, Kashay	Laghu, Ruksha	Sheeta	Kaphpittashamak, Raktpittashamak
22.	Dhyamak (Kumkum)	Tikta, Katu Kashay	Laghu, Snighdha	Ushna	Vatkaphshamak
23.	Kuth	Tikta, Katu, Madhur	Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Kushthaghna, Jvaraghna
24.	Priyangu	Tikta, Kashay, Madhur	Guru, Ruksha	Sheeta	Tridoshshamak, Raktashodhak, Dahprashaman
25.	Tagar	Tikta, Katu, Kashay	Laghu, Snighdha	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Chakshushya, Vranropak, Vishaghna
26.	Shirish Root	Kashay, Tikta, Madhur	Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna	Ishad-Ushna	Tridoshshamak, Vishaghna, Chakshushya
27.	Shirish Bark
28.	Shirish Leaves
29.	Shirish Flower
30.	Shirish Fruit
31.	Shunthi	Madhur, Katu	Laghu, Snighdha	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Raktshodhak, Jvaraghna
32.	Pipar	Katu	Laghu, Snighdha, Tikshna	Anushnasheeta	Raktashodhak, Yakratuttejak, Jvarghna
33.	Marich	Katu	Laghu, Tikshna	Ushna	Kramighna, Kaphshamak, Artavjanana, Vishamjvarpratibandhak
34.	Haritala	Katu, Kashay	Snighdha	Ushna	Varnashodhan, Vishaghna
35.	Manahshila	Katu, Tikta	Guru, Snighdha	Ushna	Vishnashak
36.	Jirak	Katu	Laghu, Ruksha	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Raktshodhak, Jvaraghna
37.	Shweta	Katu, Tikta	Tikshna	Ushna	Vatkaphshamak, Medhya, Jvaraghna
38.	Katabhi	Katu, Tikta, Kashay	Laghu, Rooksha	Sheeta	Tridoshhar, Medhya,
39.	Lata Karanj	Tikta, Kashay	Laghu, Ruksha	Ushna	Tridoshshamak, Raktshodhak, Vishamjvaraghna
40.	Pit Saraso	Katu, Tikta	Tikshna, Ruksha	Ushna	Kaphvatnashak, Kusthaghna
41.	Sindhuwar	Katu, Tikta	Laghu, Ruksha	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Kushthaghna, Jvaraghna
42.	Haridra	Tikta, Katu	Ruksha, Laghu	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Pitaarechak, Raktaprashadak, Vishaghna
43.	Tulsi	Katu, Tikta	Laghu, Ruksha	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Raktshodhak, Vishaghna
44.	Rasvat	Katu, Tikta	Ushna	Ushna	Rasayan, Kaphnashak, Chakshusya
45.	Geru	Kashay, Madhur	Snighdhs	Sheeta	Kaphpittashamak, Raktshodhak, Vishghna, Chakshusya
46.	Manjith	Tikta, Kashay, Madhur	Guru, Rooksha	Ushna	Kaphpittashamak, Raktshodhak
47.	Neem	Tikta, Kashay	Laghu	Sheeta	Kaphpittashamak, Raktshodhak, Vishamjvarpratibandhak
48.	Vansa	Madhur, Kashay	Ruksha, Laghu, Tikshna	Sheeta	Kaphpittashamak, Raktshodhak, Vishaghna
49.	Aswagandha	Tikta, Katu, Madhur	Laghu, Snighdha	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Mastiskashamak, Raktshodhak
50.	Hingu	Katu	Laghu, Snighdha, Tikshna	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Jvaraghna, Sanghyasthapan
51.	Kapitha	Madhur, Amla	Guru, Snighdha	Sheeta	Vatpittashamak
52.	Amlavetasa	Amla	Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Hridayuttejak, Mutral,
53.	Laksha	Kashay	Snighdha, Laghu	Sheeta	Kaphvathar, Kushthaghna, Balya
54.	Madhu	Madhu	Laghu, Ruksha	Ushna	Kaphpittashamak, Vranropan,

55.	Mulethi	Madhur	Guru, Snighdha	Sheeta	Pittashamak, Jvaraghna Chakshusya
56.	Bakuchi	Katu, Tikta	Laghu, Ruksha	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Kushthaghna, Jvaraghna
57.	Vaca	Katu, Tikta	Laghu, Tikshna	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Medhya, Swedjanana, Jvaraghna
58.	Durva	Kashay, Madhur	Laghu	Sheeta	Kaphpittashamak, Raktshodhak Vishaghna
59.	Gorocana	Tikta	Ruksha	Sheeta	Raktdoshahar, Grahdoshhar
60.	Tagara	Katu, Tikta, Kashay	Laghu, Snighdha	Ushna	Kaphvatshamak, Medhya, Vishaghna, Jvaraghna, Chakshusya

Percentage of Veerya of contents

Discussion

Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada is a formulation of sixty herbomineral ingredients, in it Bhavna Dravya is Gopitta.

Among the sixty ingredients, thirty-one drugs are Ushna Virya, twenty-three drugs are Sheeta Virya, five drugs are Eshad Ushna Virya and one drug is Anushnasheeta in Virya.

Among all the ingredients nearly twenty-one drugs are Jvaraghna, thirty-one drugs are Raktshodhak/Twachagatroghar, fifteen drugs are Vishaghna and ten drugs are Chakshusya.

Among sixty drugs, twenty-one have Kaph-Vatshamak, fourteen drugs Kaph-Pittashamak, fourteen drugs Tridosha Shamaka properties. By analyzing all these properties like Rasa, Guna, Veerya and Dosha Shamakta of the Agada.

So due to Shothahara, Kapahahara properties of the ingredients the drug acts on swelling, due to Vatahara and Shulahara properties it acts on pain,

due to Chaksuya properties it drug act on various type of eye diseases, Due to the actions like Kaphahara and Kandughna it reduces itching and due to Pittahara, Dahaprashamana and Jvaraghna properties it helps to reduce burning sensation and fever. Also, some of the ingredients have Vishahara, Raktashodhana, Jantughna, Vranaropana actions which help to combat poisoning condition and its complications. This formulation helps in relieving the symptoms of poisoning because of its multifold properties. The mode of administration of Agada is Pana (internal administration), Anjana (collyrium) and Lepa (ointment). It is indicated in various diseases and all general as well as systemic disorders in the body. All the drugs which are mentioned have Jvaraghna, Vishaghna, Kushthaghna, Raktaprashadhak etc. properties.

Conclusion

Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada is the herbo-mineral preparation which is mentioned under the context of Visha Chikitsa in Charak Samhita. It is indicated in all types of Visha and also used in the complications caused by Visha (poison). And also used in various type of diseases like skin diseases, fever, eye diseases, etc. According to Charak Samhita Aushadi Prayoga is mentioned as one of the mode in Chaturvimshati Upakrama to remove the Visha from the body or to pacify the action of spreading of Visha in the body. Most of the drugs are available in the market except Gopitta for the preparation of this Agada Yoga. As no research works are carried out on it, this formulation can be clinically tried and brought in practice.

References

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Manuscript Received	Review Round 1	Review Round 2	Review Round 3	Accepted
2025-02-13	2025-02-25	2025-03-05	2025-03-15	2025-03-25
Conflict of Interest	Funding	Ethical Approval	Plagiarism X-checker	Note
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Review Article

Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

Drug review of Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada

Chourasiya A^1*, Soliya V², Shukla U³, Thakur D⁴, Rathi S⁵

Introduction

Discussion

Conclusion

References

Review Article

Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

Drug review of Maha-Gandhahasthi Agada

Chourasiya A1*, Soliya V2, Shukla U3, Thakur D4, Rathi S5

Introduction

Discussion

Conclusion

References

Chourasiya A^1*, Soliya V², Shukla U³, Thakur D⁴, Rathi S⁵