All things are poisonous. It is simply the dose that distinguishes between a poison and a remedy - Paracelsus

1. VISHOPAVISHAS IN
AYURVEDA

2. INTRODUCTION
✓ The sthavara or jangama dravyas that induce toxic symptoms in the body when inhaled or consumed in
unpurified form are calles as visha dravyas
✓ Synonyms of visha : Kshweda, Garala, Kalakuta
✓ Types (2) : Sthavara – Drugs that are obtained from mineral ores and herbal sources
Jangama – Sarpadi janthu prabhava visha
✓ Sthavara visha adhishtas (10) : Kanda, Sara, Niryasa, Pushpa, Mula, Phala, Patra, Twak, Ksheera, Khanija
✓ Sthavara visha types (2) : Visha & Upavisha
✓ Chapters explained in rasasastra : Vishopavishadi Vijnaniya Taranga (RT – 24th )
Musha (RRS – 10th )
✓ Use of vishas in rasasastra : Used in various rasakarmas & parada bandhana

3. CLASSIFICATION OF VISHA
RRS (5) RT (9)
Sringika Sringaka
Kalakuta Kalakuta
Vatsanabha Vatsanabha
Saktuka Saktuka
Pita visha Halahala
Pradipana
Sourashtrika
Brahmaputra
Haridra

4. CLASSIFICATION OF UPAVISHAS
RRS (7) RT (11)
Langali Langali
Vishamushti Vishatinduka beeja
Karavira Karavira
Jaya (Bhanga) Vijaya
Nilaka (Bhallathaka) Bhallathaka
Kanaka (Dattura) Dattura beeja
Arka Arka ksheera
Snuhi ksheera
Gunja
Rechaka (Jayapala)
Ahiphena

5. VATSANABHA
✓ Botanical name: Aconitum ferox
✓ Family: Ranunculaceae
✓ English name : Indian aconite
✓ Synonyms : Vatsanaga, Kshweda, Amrita, Visham
✓ Grahya-agrahyatha
✓ Sodhana
✓ Sthapana of Vatsanabha in Gomutra for 3 days
✓ Dolayantra swedana in Godughda for 1 to 2 yama RT
✓ Dolayantra swedana in Ajadughda for 1 yama
(RT)

6. ✓ Properties
Rasa Panchaka
Rasa: Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kashaya
Guna: Ruksha, Teekshna,Laghu, Vyavayi, Vikashi, Sukshma
Virya: Ushna
Vipaka: Madhura
Karma: Tridoshaghna, Brmhana, Rasayana, Yogavahi, Dipana, Sitasamana, Agnimandhyaharam
Indications
Kushta, Shotha, Swasa, Kasa, Jwara, Pleeha, Udara, Madhumeha, Vatarakta, Abhisyanda, Netrasotha, Grahani , Gulma,
Karnasulam, Sirasulam

7. ✓ Contraindications
Bala, Ativriddha, Garbhini, Atiksheena gatra, Yakshma, Krodhita, Bhrantha, Hrit Daurbalya
✓ Useful part : Tuber
✓ Matra: 1/16 to ⅛ ratti(R.T)
✓ Antidote : Tankana bhasma (AP)
✓ Chemical constituents: Aconitine, Pseudaconitine , Bikhaconitine , Diacetyl pseudaconitin, Aconine, Neopelline,
Picratonitine
✓ Amayika prayogas
Sodhita vatsanabha choorna can be uses as Vatavedana haram, Pravidha raktasanchana samyana, Phuphusa
sothaghna
✓ Yogas: Hinguleshwara rasa, Anandabhairava rasa, Agnikumara rasa, Jaya vati, Kaphaketu rasa, Tribhuvanakeerthi
rasa, Nabhi vati, Vettumaran gulika

8. VISATINDUKA BIJA
✓ Botanical name : Strychnos nuxvomica
✓ Family : Loganiaceae
✓ English name : Poison nut
✓ Synonyms : Kakatundika, Kakapiluka, Karaskara, Vishatinduka
✓ Sodhana
Soaked in kanji for 3 days
Ghrtha bharjanam
Dolayantra swedanam in cows milk
RT

9. ✓ Properties
Rasa panchaka
Rasa : Katu ,Tikta (BP - Kashaya also)
Guna : Laghu,Tiktha,Tikshna,Laghu,Ushna & Ruksha
Veerya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Vatakaphahara, Vishaghna, Grahi, Agneyam, Deepanam, Nadibalavivardhana, Nadisoolanibarhanam,
Nidrajananam
Indications
Kandu, Kapha, Vata roga, Vrana, Arsas, Jwaram, Kushta, Rakta vikaras

10. ✓ Contraindications : Paraplegia with muscle wasting, stiffness, loss of sensation.
✓ Matra -1/4 to 1 ratti
✓ Anupanam : Milk ,Ghee or Butter.
✓ Antidote : Juice of stalk of betel leaves along with cows ghee.
✓ Chemical Constituents : Strychnine and Brucine (Alkaloids)
✓ Amayika prayogas
Leaves are used as poultice in the treatment of chronic wound.
Pulp of the ripe fruit is used in paralysis
✓ Yogas : Agnitundi rasa, Vishatinduka vati, Sulanirmulana rasa, Vishatiduka taila, Sarameya vishaharayoga,
Laksshmivilas rasa, Karaskaradi yoga, Suptivatari rasa

11. AHIPHENA
✓ Botanical name: Papaver somniferum
✓ Family: Papaveraceae
✓ English name : Opium poppy
✓ Synonyms : Aphena, Niphena, Ahiphenaka, Aphuka, Phaniphena, Nagaphena , Khastila
✓ Grahyatwa : Fruits are incised with a sharp blade in the evenings and left overnight. Next morning before sunrise,
the milky exudate from the incised part of fruits is collected and used as ahiphena
(RT)
✓ Sodhana
7 bhavanas in ardraka swarasa

12. ✓ Properties
Rasapanchaka
Rasa-tikta,kashaya
Guna-laghu,ruksha,sukshma,vyavayi,vikashi
Veerya-ushna
Vipaka-katu
Prabhava-madaka
Doshakarma-kaphavatasamaka
Indications
Vami, Antrika jwara, Madatyaya, Unmada, Pravahika, Rajasula, Sushka kasa, Antra rakthasrava, phupphusa rakthasrava

13. ✓ Contraindications
Bala,vridha,madhumeharogi,vishoochika,kaphajakasa,vrikkasopha,seetapadakara
✓ Useful parts
Seed, seedoil, unripe capsules, flowers, exudate from fruits and latex
✓ Matra
1/4 ratti-1 ratti on considering the bala kalaadi
✓ Chemical constituents : Morphine, Codein, Noscapine, Papaverine
✓ Amayika prayogas
Garbhasrava – Sudha ahiphena + Pinda kharjura
Pravahika – Sudha ahiphena + Arkamula twak churna
Phuphusotha rakthasrava – Sudha ahiphena + sukshma ela & laksha churna
✓ Yogas : Sukrastambana gutika, Vishuchikahara vatika, Abhrakadi vati, Grahanisardula vatika, Dugdha
vati,Jatiphaladi vati, Vrishya vati,Ahiphena vati, Chayilyadi gutika , Ahiphenasava (5-15 drops)

14. JAYAPALA
✓ Botanical name : Croton tinglium
✓ Family : Euphorbiaceae
✓ English name : Purging croton
✓ Synonyms
Jayapala, Jepala, Rechaka, Saraka, Vibhedana, Maladravi
✓ Sodhana
Dolayantra swedana in godugdha for 1 yama (3 times)

15. ✓ Properties
✓ Indications
Udara roga Vibhanda Navajwara Krimi-kushtahara, Vruschika vishahara
✓ Contra-indications
Bala, Vriddha, Krisa, Ksheena, Garbhini, persons with Pravahika, Amasaya and pakwasaya sotha, Gudabramsa,
Badha gudodara , Antrakala sotha
(RT)

16. ✓ Matra : 1/8 to ¼ ratti (RT)
✓ Antidote : Borax
✓ Yogas
Icchabhedi rasa, Anjanabhairava rasa , Jalodarari rasa , Jwarari rasa , Vrashchika vishahara pralepa

17. DHATURA BEEJA
✓ Botanical name: Datura metel
✓ Family: Solanaceae
✓ English name : Thorn apple
✓ Synonyms
Dhatura, Doortha, Kithava, Unmatha, Swarna namayuktha, Kantaka phala, Siveswara, Sivapriya, Dhusthura,
Kanakahvaya, Devatha
✓ Sodhana
Dolayantra swedana in godugdha for 1 yama
Dolayantra swedana in gomutra

18. ✓ Properties
Rasa panchaka
Rasa: Katu
Guna: Guru
Virya: Ushna (RT)
Vipaka: Katu
Karma: Kaphavatahara, Mohakrit, Jwarahara, Krimihara
Indications
Swasa, Sotha, Amavata, Pralapa, Unmada, Akshepa, Karnasulam, Sphota, Kushta, Visarpa, Abhisyanda, Twak dosha, Mutrarodha

19. ✓ Matra
Beeja choorna: ¼ to ½ ratti
Patra choorna: ½ to 1 ½ ratti
✓ Antidote: Milk added with sugar, 1 pala of swarasa of vrintakaphala
✓ Chemical constituents: Tropane alkaloids, Scopolamine, Hyoscyamine, Hyosine, Daturadiol, β-sitosterol,
Daturanalone
✓ Amayika prayogas
Alarka visa-Dhatura & Sveta punarnava
Visarpa: Mandukaparni swarasa& dhattura mula kalka
✓ Yogas: Kanakasava, Sutasekhara rasa, Jwarankusa rasa, Kanakasundara rasa, Kanaka lepa, Lakshmivilasa rasa

20. VIJAYA(BHANGA)
✓ Botanical Name : Cannabis Sativa
✓ Family : Cannabiaceae
✓ English name : Indian hemp
✓ Synonyms : Bhanga, Bhangi, Matulani, Matuli, Tandrakarini
✓ Sodhana
Salila nimajjana followed by soshana and bharjanam in goghritha
Swedana in baboola twak kwatha for ½ an hour
•
✓ Marijuana, ganja, charas, bhang, hashish are different forms

21. ✓ Properties
(RT)
Karma : Grahini, Kaphaharini, Dipani, Pachani, Pithala, Madakarini, Nidraprada
Indications - Dwajabhanga, Swapna meha & Vedana
✓ Matra : 2 - 4 gunja
✓ Chemical constituents : Cannabinoids (tetrahydrocannabinol )
✓ Amayika prayogas
Paste formed with leaves and goats milk applied daily over soles to induce good sleep in patients.
Leaves paste used as warm poultices over the inflammed pile masses to bring down theinflammation and pain.
Tamakaswasa with convulsions ,dhumapana with dry powder of bhanga provides instant relief
✓ Yogas
Trailokyasammohana rasa , Trailokyavijaya vati, Madanodaya Modaka

22. GUNJA
✓ Botanical name : Abrus precatorius
✓ Family : Leguminoseae
✓ English name : Rosary pea
✓ Synonyms : Raktha, Rakthika, Thamrika, Krushna choodika, Ucchada, Sitapaki, Aruna, Chudamani, Tamrika,
Shikhandi, Krushnala
✓ Asudha sevalakshana – Vanti, Teevrarechana
✓ Shodhana
Dolayantra svedana in godugdha for 2 yamam (6hrs) - RT
Dolayantra svedana in kanji for 1 yamam (3 hrs) – RT (1 Prahara - A.P)

23. ✓ Properties
Rasa panchaka
Rasa : Tikta,Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu,Ruksha,Tikshna
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Keshya, Ropana, Garbhanirodhaka
Dosha samana : Kapha pitta samana (Kaiyyadeva Nighantu)
Vata samana (Raja Nighantu)
✓ Indications
Kesyam, Mukha sosham, Bhramam, Svasa, Trushna, Mada, Nethramayahara, Vrushyam, Balyam, Kandugnam, Vrana
haram
✓ Matra : Shodhita gunja bijam – ½ to 1 ½ ratti
✓ Antidote
Meghanada swarasa+sugar,followed by ksheera panam (Ra.ja.ni)
Nimbu swarasa+ sugar
Babula tvak kvatha+shunti kalka

24. ✓ Chemical constituents
Seeds – Abrine, Abrin A, B, C, I, II, III, Abrus agglutinin, Saponin, Flavonoids, Abrectorin, Precatorin,
Lectin, campestanol etc
Leaf - Glycyrrhizin, Abrol, Abrasine, Precasine, Precol,Abraline, Abricin, Gallic acid, Triterpanoids,
Saponins, Glycyrrhizinandolenanolic acid etc
Root - Glycyrrhizin,Abrine, Abruslactone, Abrusoside A, B C, D, Inositol ,Asabrusoside
✓ Amayika prayogas
Gunja bija lepam with water – Sandhi vedana,Sotha
Gunja bija kalka – indraluptha,Pakshaghata,Ghrdrasi,Avabahuka,Vatavyadhi
Gunja bija+Chitraka moola twak+water-Switra
Sweta gunja patra kshalanam+Lepanam- Sastra vrana
✓ Yogas
Neelibhringadi keram, Neeli ghrita, Gunjadya taila, Gunjajivana rasa, Gunja bhadra rasa

25. BHALLATHAKA
✓ Botanical name : Semicarpus anacardium
✓ Family : Anacardiaceae
✓ English name : Marking nut
✓ Synonyms : Bhallatha, Tapana, Arushkara, Agnika, Krimighna, Vatari
✓ Description :
Tree of sakhi variety
Found more in hilly areas and mountain ranges
✓ Grahya lakshanas : The well grown seeds of bhallathaka that sinks in water are considered fit for sodhana.
Those which float in water are considered unfit for sodhana
(RT)

26. ✓ Ausha bhallathaka prayoga phala
Contact with skin causes daruna daha, atidaruna vrana
Contact with oral mucosa causes teevra daha samanvitha sotha like that of visarpa
✓ Sodhana
Gharshana with ishtika churna
Dolayantra swedana in narikelambu
✓ Properties
(RT)
✓ Useful parts
Fruit seed, Kernel and bark

27. ✓ Matra
1 ratti – 3 ratti
✓ Chemical constituents : Bhilwanols, Phenolic compounds, Bioflavonoids, Sterols and Glycosides
✓ Amayika prayogas
Pleeha, Pandu, Jwara, Swasa, Kasa – 1 part each of Bhallataka churna + Harithaki churna +Tila churna +
Guda
✓ Formulations
Bhallthaka tailam, Bhallathaka sakthu, Bhallathakadi madaka, Bhallathaka lavana, Sanjivani vati
Bhallathaka tarpana, Bhallathaka rasayana, Bhallathaka sarpi , Bhallathaka ksheeram, Bhallathaka kshoudram,
Guda bhallathaka, Bhallathaka yusha, Bhallathaka palala

28. ARKA KSHEERA
✓ Botanical name : Calotropis procera
✓ Family : Apocynaceae
✓ English name : Sodom apple
✓ Synonyms : Ravi ksheera, Surya ksheera, Arka dugda, Surya dugda, Ravi dugda
✓ Properties :
(RT)

29. ✓ Chemical Constituents: Cardenolides, Terpenoids
✓ Ph of latex – 7.2 to 8.1
✓ Amayika prayogas
Krimidanta – 1 part Arka ksheera + 1 part Honey
Mukhakshatha – 1 part Arka ksheera + 3 part Honey (Lepana)
Arsas – Arka ksheera + Haridra churna + Sirisha bija churna (Lepana )
✓ Yogas : Sirisha beejadi agada

30. SNUHI KSHEERA
✓ Botanical name : Euphorbia nerifolia
✓ Family : Euphorbiaceae
✓ English name : Common milk hage
✓ Synonyms
Snuhi ksheera ,Sudha ksheera Sehunda ksheeraka ,Snuhi dugda ,Sudha dugda , Snug dugda , Vajradruma ,
Vajrakantaka
✓ Sodhana
Visoshana of mixture of 2 pala snuhi ksheera with 2 tola cincha patra swarasa in sunlight

31. ✓ Properties
Rasa panchaka
Rasa : Katu , tikta
Guna : Laghu, teekshna
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kapha vata hara
Indications
Vatahara, Gulma udara vinasana, Visha hara, Admana hara, Gudankura hara param (arsas), Virechanakaram param,
Kshara karma karam param, Kushta hara
✓ Amayika prayoga
Chronic pile mass – snuhi ksheera + haridra churna + kosataki choorna + saindava lavana (all 1 part) with
gomutra applied externally - cure pain, inflammation, etc
Used in ksharasutra nirmana
✓ Yogas : Jalodarari rasa, Vishatintuka taila, Arsha kutara rasa , Shanka dravaka

32. LANGALI
✓ Botanical Name : Gloriosa superba
✓ Family : Liliaceae
✓ English name : Glory lilly
✓ Synonyms : Halini, Kaliharika, Swarnapushpa, Garbhapatini, Langalini
✓ Hazards of internal administration : Causes Daruna daha, Moha, Atisara and vibramam
✓ Sodhana : Swedana in gomutra for one day(A P)

33. ✓ Properties
(RT)
✓ Amayika prayogas
Used only for external application
Krimikarna - Langali mula toya
Krimi – Langali mula toya + Suryavarta swarasa + Trikatu churna

34. KARAVIRA
✓ Botanical name : Nerium indicum/Nerium oleander
✓ Family : Apocynaceae
✓ English name : Oleander
✓ Synonyms : Hayari, Hayamara, Aswamara, Aswantaka, Aswaghna, Chandaka
✓ Types(RT) : Sweta pushpa karaveera, Rakta pushpa karaveera, Pita pushpa karaveera

35. ✓ Properties
Rasa panchaka
Rasa : Katu, tikta
Guna : Laghu, ruksha
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kapha vatahara
Indications
Kushtaghna , Vranahara ,Chakshushya
✓ Chemical constituents : Neriodorin , Nerizorine, Carabine , Scopolin, Oliandrin
✓ Amayika prayogas
Karavira mula kalka lepana in upadamsa vrana
Karavira daladrava in netrabhishyanda and jalasrava
✓ Yogas : Karaviradi taila

36. “All things are poisonous.
It is simply the dose that distinguishes
between a poison and a remedy”
- Paracelsus

37. THANK YOU