Contemplating Vyadhi Bala, Agni Bala and Purusha Bala in Figuring out the Dose of Shamana Aushadha

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Acharya Sushruta, after explaining completely different teams of herbs which can be utilized as palliative medicines, explains concerning the preferrred dose of taking the medicines and what components ought to be considered earlier than administration of medicines. These guidelines are relevant for ‘shamana aushadhas’ i.e. palliative medicines however might be typically understood as being preferrred in administering varied medication varieties additionally, together with shodhana – purificatory medicines.

Ref – Sushruta Sutra Sthana, Chapter 39, verse 10 (Su.Su.39/10)

Preferrred dose of Shamana Aushadhas: Palliative Medicines and the components to contemplate

तत्र सर्वाण्येवौषधानि व्याध्यग्रिपुरुषबलान्यभिसमिक्ष्य विदध्यात्। तत्र, व्याघिबलादधिकमौषधमुपयुक्तं तमुपशम्य व्याधिं व्याधिमन्यमावहति; अग्रिबलादधिकमजीर्णं विष्टभ्य वा वच्यते; पुरुषबलादधिकं ग्लानिमूर्च्छामदानावहति  संशमनम् ; एवं संशोधनमतिपातयति। हीनमेभ्यो दन्तमकिंचित्करं  भवति। तस्मात् सममेव विदध्यात् ॥१०॥

All medicines and herbs ought to be administered after contemplating the under talked about three components in each affected person. Contemplating these components could be very important and performs a significant half within the success of the remedy.

The components to be thought of are –

1.    Vyadhi bala – power of the illness,
2.    Agni bala – power of the digestive hearth and
3.    Purusha / Atura bala – power of the physique of the affected person

Dose of drugs vs power of illness

The dose of the medication shouldn’t be in extra of the power of the illness. If the power of the illness is much less i.e. weak illness or reasonable, if extreme dosage of palliative medication is run than what’s required, the medication would relieve the illness however then again would additionally give rise to one more illness or complication. This isn’t desired within the remedy plan for any illness. We anticipate the medication to alleviate the signs, mitigate the doshas and treatment the illness and to not worsen a illness or trigger a brand new one.

Dose of drugs vs power of digestive hearth

The dose of the medication ought to be ideally in sync with the power of agni i.e. digestive capability of the person. If the digestion energy of the agni is low to reasonable i.e. weak digestive hearth, and if the palliative medication is utilized in extreme dosage, it can lead to manifestation of painful situations within the stomach. Additionally, the medication would get digested after a very long time because the agni is weak and therefore the medication is not going to have the specified impact.

Dose of drugs vs power of the physique of the affected person

Earlier than administering the medication, the doctor must also analyse the bodily power of the affected person. The dose of the palliative medication ought to be preferrred to the power of the affected person. The medicines shouldn’t be utilized in extra of the power of the affected person. If the bodily power of the affected person is low or reasonable, and if the medication is given in giant dose, it could give rise to the under talked about signs / problems –

–   Glani – exhaustion,
–   Murcha – fainting and
–   Mada – intoxication / toxicity

Ought to the identical ideas be adopted in case of Shodhana Aushadha additionally?

Sure, even in case of shodhana aushadha i.e. purificatory medicines additionally the power of vyadhi, agni and bala ought to be thought of. If shodhana medicines are administered in extra of power of the illness, digestive hearth and physique of the affected person, they’d cleanse the physique (evacuate) excessively and in flip hassle the affected person immensely.

Ought to the identical components be thought of in administering low dose medicines?

Sure, if the medicines (palliative) are administered in inadequate portions of the power of vyadhi, agni and atura is not going to produce any impact i.e. the medicines would develop into futile.

Due to this fact, these medicines ought to be used solely in appropriate portions as applicable to the power of vyadhi – illness, agni – digestive hearth and atura – affected person.

Aushada matra: Dose of drugs

व्याध्यादिषु तु  मध्येषु क्वाथस्याञ्जलिरिष्यते ॥
बिडालपदकं चुर्णं देयः कल्कोऽक्षसंमितः ॥१४॥

Under talked about are the doses of varied drug varieties when the power of the illness, digestive hearth and affected person are reasonable –