Here Ayurvedic and Contemporary concepts of Artificial poisoning along with Line of Treatment and different ways of poisoning explained in detail.

1. Gara Visha (?Artificial Poison)
&
It’s Contemporary Aspects
Dr. Sandip Patil
Professor and HOD,
Shree RMD Ayurved College and Hospital

2. Defination :
गर संयोगजं चान्यद् गरसंज्ञं गदप्रदम्।
कालान्तर विपावकत्वात् न तदाशु हरत्यसून्।। (च.वच. २३/१४)
 Gara visha is a variety of visha
 which is prepared artificially by the combination of
substances
 either poisonous or non-poisonous.
 They are slowly metabolised or digested in the body,
 shows their effects after sometime and hence do not
kill the person instantly.

3.  Two types of gara vishas are explained in our
classics as,
 Nirvishadravya samyogakrtam :- Combination of
2 non poisonous substances. eg: virudhahara
which can be considered as gara.
 Savisha dravya samyogakrtam :- Combination of
poisonous materials which can be termed as
kritrima visha.

4. Intension of administration of gara visha:
सौभाग्यार्थं स्त्रियो भत्रै राज्ञे िाऽरावतचोवदतः।
गरम् आहार सम्पृक्तं यच्छन्त्यासन्निवतिनः ।।
(अ.ह.उ. ३५/४८)
 Women inorder to get love from their husbands or
 the king or any person who is close to the king
 either by herself or because of the influence of the
king's enemies,
 would administer gara visha mixed with the food in
order to incaptive the king/husband.

5. Method of Administration of Gara Visha:
नाना प्राण्यंगश मलान् विरुद्धौषवि भस्मनाम्।
विषाणाम् च अल्पिीयािणाम् योगो गर इवत स्मृतः ।।
(अ.सं.उ. ४०/६२)
 Combination of different body parts of animals and
their excreta or
 the excreta of different body parts of animals,
 the Bhasmas (ashes) of drugs with incompatible
potency (Veerya) and
 poisonous substances of mild potency is known as
gara visha.

6. सौभाग्यार्थिम् स्त्रियः स्वेद रजो नानाङ्गजान् मलान्।
शत्रु प्रयुक्तांश्च गरान् प्रयच्छस्त्रन्त अन्न वमवततान्।।
(च.वच. २३/२३३)
 Women in order to gain favour from their husband
or the king,
 either by their own or due to the influence of the
king’s enemies,
 serve their sweat, menstrual blood or different
types of excreta of their body
 along with the food which acts as gara visha.

7. Signs and Symptoms of Gara Visha:
 The person afflicted with gara visha exhibits different
types of shareerika and manasika lakshanas.
 Shareerika Lakshana (शारीररक लक्षण):
(च.वच. २३/२३४ - २३७)
Symptoms
पाण्डु Anaemia
क
ृ श Emaciation
अल्पाग्रि Poor digestion
कास Cough
श्वास Breathlessness
ज्वर Pyrexia

8. SYMPTOMS
प्रग्रिलोम of वायु Deranged movement of vata.
महा उदर Abdominal enlargement
महा यक
ृ ि् Hepatomegaly
महा प्लीह Splenomegaly
दीनवाक
् Slow speech/low pitched
speech/feeble voice
दुर्बल Lazy
शोफ Oedema (all over the body)
सिि आध्मान Continuous distension of
abdomen
शुष्कपादकर Dryness of palms and sole
क्षय Depletion of dhatus

9.  Manasika Lakshana (मानग्रसक लक्षण):
 स्वप्नवचन्तापरायण - Person is always either dreamy or tensed.
 स्वप्ने गोमायु-माजािर-नक
ु ल-व्याल-िानर - In his dream he
visualises animals like jackal, cat, mongoose, snake,
monkey etc.
 प्रायः पश्यवत शुष्ांश्च िनस्पवत जलाशयान् - Dreams of dry trees or
ponds.
 मन्यते क
ृ ष्णमात्मानं गौरो गौरंच कालक - Thinks that he has
become black instead of fair or vice versa.
 विकणि नासा नयनं पश्यतेत्तविहतेस्त्रियः - Sees his ears, nose, eyes
etc. as rough and distorted.
 The patient of gara visha may suffer from these and
many other difficult and dreadful symptoms and if not
treated soon may die.

10. Treatment :
1. Nidana Parivarjana (ग्रनदान पररवर्बन) :
 Gara is administered intentionally to a person and
hence when the signs and symptoms of gara are
suspected,
 the physician should do a proper interrogation of
the patient regarding
 what food was taken, when it was taken,
 along with whom it was taken and so on
 so as to detect the means through which gara visha
is administered and hence it can be avoided.
तम् आिेक्ष्य वभषक
् प्राज्ञः पृच्छे त् वक
ं क
ै ः कदा सह जग्धवमत्यिगम्य। (च.वच.
२३/२३८)

11. 2. Vamana and Hridaya Shodhana (वमन और हृदय
शोधन):
........ आशु प्रदद्यात् िमनं वभषक
् ।
सूक्ष्मं ताम्र रजस्तस्मै सक्षौद्रं हृविशोिनम् ।।
(च.वच. २३/२३९)
 Having done with proper interrogation,
 the patient should instantaneously be given
vamana with tamra choorna mixed with honey
 which also causes hridaya shodhana.

12. 3. Hema Prashana (हेम प्राशन):
शुद्धे हृवद ततः शाणं हेमचूणिस्य दापयेत्। (च.वच. २३/२३९)
 After hridi shodhana the patient should be given one
shana (शाण) 4gm matra of swarna bhasma.
हेम सिि विषाण्याशु गरांश्च विवनयच्छवत।
न सज्जते हेमपाङ्ग
े विषं पध्मदले अम्बुित्।।
(च.वच. २३/२४०)
 The intake of gold immediately counter acts all the
poisons including the gara visha.
 The poison does not stick to the body if the patient
has taken gold, just as water does not stick to a lotus
leaf.

13. 4. Agada Pana:
 Moorvadi Agada (मूवाबग्रद अगद):
मूिाि अमृत नत कणा पटोली चव्य वचत्रकान् ।
िचा मुस्त विडङ्गावन तक्रकोष्णाम्बु मस्तुवभः ।
वपबेत् रसेन िाऽम्लेन गरोपहत् पािकः।।
(च.वच. ३५/५७-५८)
 Moorvadi agada is administered when the agni is
affected by gara visha.
 The drugs moorva, amruta, nata (Tagar), kana
(Pippali), patola, chavya, chitraka, vaca, musta,
vidanga are powdered and taken along with takra,
or hot water or dadhi mastu or mamsa rasa or
bheejapoora rasa.

14.  Naagadantyadi Ghrita: (च.ग्रच. २३/२४१)
 Buffalo ghee cooked with naagadanti, trivrit, danti,
dravanti, latex of snuhi and madanaphala along with
one adhaka of cow's urine is useful in curing
patients suffering from the poisons of snakes,
insects and from gara.
 Sharkara Suvrnadi Yoga: (अ.ह.उ. ३५/५६)
 The combination of suvarnamakshika bhasma and
swarna-bhasma given along with sugar and honey
cures gara visha.
 Paaravatadi Hima: (अ.हृ.उ. ३५/५९)
 The hima prepared from pigeons meat, shati
(Karchur) and pushkara-moola cures gara and other
disorders trushna, ruja, kasa, shwasa produced by it.

15. CONTEMPORARY ASPECTS OF GARA VISHA :
Introduction :
 Gara visha is a wonderful concept explained by
Ayurvedic Acharyas which throw light on the
changing life style and possibility of exposure of
toxins.
 Through our daily life activities we are knowingly
exposed to one or other type of toxin.
 This increases the risk of disorders like stroke,
heart attack, cancer, skin ailments etc.
 Education and public awareness programme is
necessary to make people aware of the risks.

16. Mode of administration :
Sl. No. (सु.क. १/२५-२७) Mode of Poisoning Compared
1 अन्न Food materials/Fast food
2 पान Drinks/Soft Drinks etc.
3 दन्तकाष्ठ Tooth brush/Paste/Oral hygiene items
4 अभ्यङ्ग
Materials of massage like oil
moisturisers/detaning agents
5 उत्सादन Rubbing the body parts with powders
6 कषाय पररषेक
Medicated decoction which are used for
bath/Soap/ Liquid soaps
7 अनुलेपन
Paste anointed to the body for
improvement of complexion etc.
8 आभरण Ornaments/Artificial jewellery
9 वस्त्र Cloth/ other than cotton
10 अञ्जन Collyrium/Eye cosmetics
11 धूम Smoke/Air pollutants
12 पादुका Foot wear/ Artificial leather etc

17.  Most of the gara visha adhishtanas mentioned in
Ayurvedic classics can be correlated to resources that we
are using daily.
 So any form of incompatible drug combination or less
potent toxins that my get into our daily utensils accidently
or intentionally, will definitely harm the consumers.
 The food, drinks, medicines, cosmetics, washing powders,
tooth paste etc. are now accumulated with one or other
form of poison.
 But people are least aware about this and they even
shows little interest even to read the labels of their daily
utensils.
 The alarming increase of severe diseases like cancer,
stroke, heart attack etc. can also be attributed to the
effect of these poisons through our daily goods.
 Statistics of those disease are distressingly increasing from
past years shows the relevance of this problem.

18.  1. Foods :
 Some foods contain natural toxicants which may
adversely affect our body.
 Kesar dal, faba beans, potato shoots, certain
varieties of mushroom etc. may contain toxic
components, which require Careful selection,
adequate processing cooking etc. that can transform
natural toxins as nontoxic.
 Another burning issue is the addition of adulterants
into the food for improving the profit.
 Main disadvantage of food adulteration is that
consumer is paying more money and getting low
quality products.
 Some form of adulterations are injurious to health
even resulting in death.

19. FOOD ITEM ADULTERANT SYMPTOMS/DISEASES
Edible oil Argemone oil
Dropsy, Glaucoma,
cardiac arrest
Jaggery
Chalk powder,
Washing soda
Vomiting, Diarrhoea
Tea
Used tea / colored
saw dust
Cancer. Injurious to
health
Chilly powder
Saw dust, Artificial
colours
Cancer
Milk Detergent, Urea
Organ malfunctioning,
Cancer, death
Turmeric powder Metanil yellow Cancer
Thoor dhal Kesai dhal Lathyrism
Wheat flour Talcum powder
Intestinal diseases,
cancer
Liquor (Alcohol) Methanol Blindness, Death

20.  Tea, coffee, honey, chili powder etc. are adulterated with
some component which may cause severe ailments.
 Food additives - any non-nutritious substances which
are added intentionally to food, generally in small
quantities to improve appearance, flavor, texture and
storage properties.
 Food additives can be Direct /Intentional additives and
Indirect/ Incidental additives. Sodium Nitrate, BHA &
BHT, Trans fats, Propyl gallate, Monosodium glutamate,
etc are some of the dangerous additives in our common
foods which may cause various cancers, behavioral
problems, heart failure, kidney failure etc.
 Some pesticide residues are also reported from our fruits
and vegetables.
 Defective processing, packaging, unhygienic practices
enhance the presence of microorganisms in our foods

22.  2. Drinks : Now a day’s drinks or beverages are
changing its form to soft drinks, milk, milk shakes,
carbonated water etc.
 As a part of this change
some or other forms of
toxins also get into our
daily drinks.
 Industrialization, globalization, agricultural
revolution etc. also contributed to it.
 Our complete food - milk, is now
termed as white poison owing
to the presence of pesticide
residues, infectious microbes,
adulterants, excessive horm-
ones, are reported from its.

23.  Some heavy metals are also reported to present in
tea and coffee. Some coloring agents are also
added into this.
 Most of the carbonated and soft drinks require
additives and preservatives which consists of
chemical substances that are harmful to our body.
 Artificial sugars like Aspartame
is added to these soft
drinks which shows
carcinogenic effect.
 Drinking water also contain
many types of micro organisms,
pesticides, heavy metals and
even rocket fuel.
Carbon
dioxide
Artificial
sweeten
ers and
colours
Acids
(Phospho
ric acid)
Preserva
tives

24.  3. Cosmetics:
 Cosmetics in the form
of face creams, lotions,
sun screen, lipsticks,
sprays, etc has become
part of this modern life style.
 Talc which is seen in cosmetics, lotion, powder etc is
a proven carcinogen linked to ovarian cancer.
 Imadazolidinyl is a chemical found in hair dyes is
also carcinogenic.
 Synthetic colors and fragrance contain PHTHALATES
which interferes with immune system.
 Sodium lauryl sulfate is a compound commonly
seen in face creams for the removal of dirt and oil
from skin is proved carcinogenic.

25.  Dibutyl phthalate, seen in nail care products is an
endocrine disrupter & reproductive toxicant.
 BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated
hydroxytoluene) in lipsticks, moisturisers
etc causes liver, thyroid and kidney
problems and affects blood
coagulation in experimental animals.

26.  4. Drugs:
 Various modern drugs and chemicals are also
proved as toxic like erythromycin, aspirin, oral
contraceptives, paracetamol etc.
 Aspirin can cause acute and chronic overdose
effect. Acute effect may be intentional or
accidental, and chronic may occur in a day normal
daily dose built up in the body.
 Use of aspirin during viral illness inhibits fat
metabolism. This may increase risk of Reys
syndrome.
 Paracetamol is an active metabolite of phenacetin
and acetanilide and overdose cause liver damage.
 Toxic and nontoxic products are produced by the
metabolizes of paracetamol in the liver.

27.  Toxic metabolite is NAPQI, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone
 Some Banned Drugs in India :
 Herbal medicines are also not free from side effects.
Many plant products from Semecarpus anacardium,
Abrus precatorius, Aconitum ferox known to have side
effects.
Drug Name Indication Side Effect
Fenfluramine Obesity
Disease of heart
valve, Fibrosis
Phenoformin Anti Diabetic
High risk of Lactic
Acidosis
Rofecoxib Arthritic Pain Heart Attack, Stroke
Nimesulid Pain Killer Liver Failure
Phenophthaline Pain Killer Cancer

28.  Many ayurvedic preparation are also now prepared
with dangerous preservatives for improving shelf
life.
 Drugs and Cosmetic Act 1940 suggest that
Ayurvedic drugs contaning Ahiphena, Arka,
Bhallataka, Bhanga, Danti, Gunja etc & metals &
minerals like As, Hg and Pb cannot be sold as OTC
products.

29.  Rx Principles and Prevention :
 Due to the changing life style people are exposed to
one or other kind of poisons in their day to day life.
 This exposure is in the form of food, drinks, drugs,
cosmetics etc. This concept can be well correlated
with gara visha explained in the classical books of
ayurveda.
 Gara visha concept is very vast and can be
applicable in the elimination aspect also.
 The treatment principle mentioned in gara visha can
be make applicable in similar contemporary
conditions.

30.  Education & public awareness activities should be
conducted to make the people aware of the
possible toxins they are exposing through their
daily utensils.
 Eating organic and whole food and make use of
organic personal care products may also help to
reduce the risk.
 Always buy products from authentified shops and
frequent testing of those in labs.
 Following Dinacharya and Ritucharya and Seasonal
evacuation of Doshas as per Ayurvedic classics may
be beneficial.

31. REFERENCE :-
1) Textbook of Agadtantra – Dr. Shobha Bhat. K,
Publication - Chaukhambha Orientalia.
2) Article : International Journal of Herbal Medicine
2015; 2 (6): 13-15
 Contemporary significance of gara visha by Jyothi
Sajayan, Anusree Mohan.
3) Few Internet collections….