INTRODUCTION
Vathsanabha is known to the ayurvedic pharmacopeia since very early times. The word VISHA is delineated in ADHARVANA VEDA and BRAHMANA GRANDHA. Among the brihaththrayi’scharakacharya mentioned it under STHAVARA VISHA. He also denoted it as visha which is one of the ingredients of iendryrasayana. Vishadharana is one of the prophylactic measures for vishamajwara according to charakacharya. Vathsanabhi is described under 13 verities of kandhavisha by susruthacharya. It is very important to note that he quoted 4 verities of vathsanabhi for first times probably there are 4 varieties which are elaborated by Yogarathnakaralater.Susruthacharya elaborated the poisonous effects of vathsanabhi also. He included it among the KUSHTAHARA YOGAS. Vagbhatacharya preferred the name Visha to denote Vathsanabhi and used it in the treatment of KUSHTA,THIIRA,GANDAMALA,NADIVRNA,and APACHY etc.
Sarangadhara and Bhavamisra delineated Vathsanabhi in the texts while almost all nighadu’s mentioned it. Though Dhanvantharinighanduposses descriptions of Vathsanabhi synonyms and properties, most of the nighandu made little mentionings,Rajanighandu included it in the PANCHA MAHA VISHA. The utility of vathsanabhi definitely increased after the development of rasasastra.
PARYAYAS
VATHSANABHA: The root resembles the umbilicus of vathsa
VISHA
HALAHALA
AMRUTHA
GARALA
GARA
GARADA
BHOGARA
KALAKODA
KSHWEDA: Which act as madaka
SOWRASHTRIKA: Native origin
RAKTHASRUNGIKA: Poison
VISHAMUKTHA
MAHUSHADAM
MARANAM
NAGAM
KSHWEDA
TANKANA
VARIETIES
Susruthacharya quoted about four verities of vathsanabhi. Rasavagbhada have elaborated the four verities as brahma, kshthriya, vaisya, sudra
Brahmana- panduvarnavaisya-pithavarna
Kshatriya-rakthavarnasudra-krishnavarna
But rasatharanginy described only three variety of vathsanabhi on the basis of colour Krishna, kapisa, and panduvarna. They are considered as superior to each other in the same order.
Regarding the colour of market samples of aconite it is observed that in and around Amrithasar the roots of aconite are artificially coloured by using several techniques
For ex: Kasesa mixed with cow’s urine and then the roots are soaked and boiled in it for some time. Later the roots are shade dried and Mustard oil is applied over them. This method avoid insect and bugs but leading to confusion some times.
VERNACULAR NAMES
English : Monk’s hood, Aconitum
Hindi :Bachanag, Bis, Bish, Mhoor
Kannada :Vatsanabhi
Malayalam: Vatsanabham
Tamil : Vashanavi
Telugu : Ativisa, Nabhi
Assam : Bish
Bengal : Bish, Butsnabish, Katbish
Gujerath : Shingadivachanag
Marathi : Bachag, Vachnag
Arabic : Bish
Persian : Bishnag, Zher
PART USED
The tuberous root is medicinally used in various preparations. Both the ancient and modern descriptions indicate that the collection of root is preferred during winter.
DESCRIPTION OF PART: Abconical, abruptly tapering roots, more often paired as mother and daughter tubers, 2-5 cm in length and up to 2.5 cm in diameter at the thickest part. Surface dark brown in color, densly covered with remnants of root lets or root scars arranged in an annular fashion. Fracture short exposing a medially surface of yellowish brown color odor nil. Taste slightly sweet followed by tingling sensation.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Root- roots contains pseudo-aconite, a toxic substance (similar to that of aconite) which is obtained approximately 4 gm in about half kg root material.
Aconite: 0.97-1.23%, Picro-aconine, Benzoin-aconine and Homonipoline are also present.
PROPERTIES
RASA – MADHURA
GUNA – LAGHU, RUKSHA, TEKSHNA, VYAVAY, VIKASI
VIRYA – USHNA
VIPAKA – KATU
KARMA
- vathakaphahara
- -jwarahara
- -jangma
- -vishahara
- -madakary
- -kushtagna
- -vedanasthapaka
- -sodhahara
- -depana – pachana
- -hridya
- -sukrasthambana
- -mootrala
- -arthavajanana
- -Amavaathagna
- -sandhivathahara
- -vyavay
- -swedala
INDICATION
-NADIDOURBALYA,HRUTDOURBALYA
-PAKSHAGADA, SANDHIVATHA,AMAVATHA
-SIRASOOLA
-KASA, SWASA
-IKSHUMEHA,BAHUMUTRA,SAYYAMUTRA
-MUTRASARKARA,PREMEHA
-JWARA,SANNIPATAJWARA,JEERNAJWARA
-SODAVEDANAYUKTHA VIKARA,JWARA
-AGNIMANDYA,UDARA VIKARA,SULA
-YAKRUT PLEEHAVIKARA
-JANGAMAVISHA
-KUSHTA
-MADHUMEHA
-VATHA ROGA
THERAPEUTIC USES
Shirashoola: yeshtichurna 1 thola&vatsanabha powder 2.5g is used as pradhamananasya in a dose of 1 sarshapa mg.
Shoola:pippali,pippalimoola&vatsanabhachoorna are mixed in equal proportion
DOSAGE
In Rasartnasamuchaya
1st day – 1 sarshapa
2-4th day – 2 sarshapa
5-7th day – 3 sarshapa
9th day onwards – 1 sarshapa quantity increased for every 4 days till it reaches a maximum dose of 1 ratty(120mg)
In Ayurveda prakasa
1st day – 1 sarshapa
2-7th day – 1 sarshapa increased per day
8-14 days – 1 sarshapa reduce per day
3rd week – 1 sarshapa increased per day
4th week – 1 sarshapa reduce per day
RasaratnasamuchayaandAyurvedaprakasamentiond to increse gradually and tappering of vatsanabha like Vardhamana yoga.
-The maximum dose of Vatsanabha is 8 Yava only.
-P.V Sharmaji prescribes 1/8 ratty ie, 15 mg of root powder and VaidyaBapalal advocates 60-125 mg of root powder.
VISISHTA YOGA’S
- -Anathabhirava rasa
- -Amrutharasayana
- -Hinguleswara rasa
- -Indryrasayana
- -Jwaramurary
- -Jaya vaty
- -Kaphakethu rasa
- -Mritunjaya rasa
- -Panjamrutha rasa
- -Panjavaktra rasa
- -Rambhanarasa
- -Saubhagyavatika
- -Siratandava rasa
- -Tribhuvanakeerti rasa
- -Visharasayana
- -Vishataila
RECENT RESEARCH ADVANCES
Vaidya Bapalal reported that Dr. Kartika Chandra Basu created a case of leprosy by administering low dose (10grains/clay) of vatsanabhi and cured it
It is documented that unless the skin is sound a dangerous quantity may be absorbed systemically even when applied externally as liniment.
-S.N. Bal