Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Kshatakshina (galloping phthisis) according to Caraka’ found in the study on diseases and remedies found in the Atharvaveda and Charaka-samhita. These texts deal with Ayurveda—the ancient Indian Science of life—which lays down the principles for keeping a sound health involving the use of herbs, roots and leaves. The Atharvaveda refers to one of the four Vedas (ancient Sanskrit texts encompassing all kinds of knowledge and science) containing many details on Ayurveda, which is here taken up for study.
Kṣatakṣīṇa (galloping phthisis) according to Caraka
Tuberculosis occurs as a consequence of Kṣatakṣīṇa. But Kṣatakṣīṇa cannot be called tuberculosis. In Western languages, a Kṣatakṣīṇa is called a galloping phthisis. Maharṣi Caraka discusses disease of Kṣatakṣīṇa and treatment of phthisis or Kṣatakṣīṇa-cikitsā. The causes of Kṣatakṣīṇa are: a person having excessive attachment for women and indulgence in taking ununctuous food, food in small quantity and untimely food etc. Due to the above causative factors the chest gets wounded and gets emaciated; thus, Kṣatakṣīṇa develops. The symptoms in unmanifested form constitute the premonitory symptoms of Kṣatakṣīṇa disease.
The general symptoms of Kṣatakṣīṇa are: the chest gets broken, punctured and cracked; haemoptysis, cough, haematuria, pain in sides, back and waist.
The general treatment of Kṣatakṣīṇa diseases is: if a person with the strong power digestion and if the disease has newly occurred with few symptoms, then it is curable; If, all the signs and symptoms of the disease are manifested, then such a patient should not be treated and one year old disease is incurable. When Kṣatakṣīṇa disease is not given appropriate treatment at the earliest, it gets associated with Yakṣmā.
The treatment of Kṣatakṣīṇa includes: intake of laksa with honey, followed with milk; and food with milk and sugar. Use of formulations to cures of this disease, namely, Elādi guṭikā, Yaṣṭyāhvādi ghṛta, Kolādi ghṛta, Amṛta prāśa ghṛta, Sarpirguḍāḥ, Sarpirmodakāḥ, Saindhavādi cūrṇa etc.[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
C. Cikitsāsthāna–XI.4-95; Caraka Saṃhitā Vol. II with elaborated Vidyotini Hindi Commentary, trans. Kasinatha Pandey & Gorakha Natha Chaturvedi, Varanasi, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2015, pp. 340-352.