Significance of Toxin
In Ayurveda, a toxin refers to harmful substances accumulating in the body, removed through therapies like Panchakarma. Rasashastra considers toxins as harmful or poisonous substances, while science defines toxins as agents causing cellular damage. Health sciences views toxins as harmful substances produced by living organisms, impacting various bodily functions. They can originate from various sources, including food, microorganisms, and environmental factors, and contribute to illness and disease.
Synonyms: Poison, Venom, Pollutant, Noxious agent
In Dutch: Toxine; In Finnish: Toksiini; In Spanish: Toxina
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Hindu concept of 'Toxin'
In Hinduism, toxins are harmful substances accumulating in the body from various sources, causing illness and mental distress. Ayurvedic practices like Panchakarma, Nasya, and Swedana are used to remove these toxins, promoting health and well-being. Agada Yoga is used to neutralize their effects.
From: Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
(1) Purification procedure should be done periodically so as to remove these from the body, preventing Dushi Visha.[1] (2) These enter the body through various routes and, if not excreted completely, convert into Dushivisha.[2] (3) These are harmful substances that can accumulate in the body and are addressed by Panchakarma therapy to be removed.[3] (4) This unique treatment involves careful application of medicated oils and herbal extracts administered through nasal passages. By doing so, Nasya works diligently to eliminate toxins that reside in head and neck areas[4] (5) These are substances that, when introduced into the body, are capable of damaging health or destroying life and the Agada Yoga is used to neutralize their effects.[5]
From: Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine
(1) A toxin is a substance that produces ill-health in the body and fear/unhappiness in the minds, and ayurveda classifies toxins in different mechanistic categories, also applying to mycotoxins.[6]
From: Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 2: Minerals (uparasa)
(1) Substances that can be harmful or poisonous, with sasyaka mentioned as effective in addressing related health issues.[7]
The concept of Toxin in scientific sources
The text defines "toxin" as a naturally produced, harmful substance from various sources (plants, animals, microbes). It can impair an organism's function, cause illness, and affect organs like the liver. Different types of toxins are discussed, from those in food to those produced by specific organisms.
From: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
(1) These are poisonous substances produced by living organisms, and plasmids can impart an assortment of survival enhancing genes such as for fertility, drug resistance, and these.[8] (2) Toxins are small proteins (< 10 kilo Daltons) and compact, with globular fold with β-sheets in their core, and have more lifespan than antitoxins.[9] (3) This is what EDTA was found effective in chelating and removing, such as lead, from the blood.[10] (4) These are substances that can harm an organism, and the gut serves as a home to microbes which in turn provide necessary protection to the host from ingested toxins.[11]
From: International Journal of Pharmacology
(1) A poisonous substance, such as an organophosphorus compound, that can be scavenged by bioscavengers like butyrylcholinesterase in plasma.[12] (2) Toxins have been shown to affect the adrenocorticotropic hormone cells within the pituitary gland.[13] (3) Toxins are compounds produced by many soft corals, including those belonging to the genus Sinularia, which can possess various biological activities.[14]
From: Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research
(1) A poisonous substance produced by a living organism, such as the Apx toxins produced by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, which contribute to the disease's virulence and are targeted in vaccine development.[15] (2) This refers to a poisonous substance produced by a living organism, and the study focuses on the protective antigen toxin produced by Bacillus anthracis and the antibodies developed in vultures.[16]
From: African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine
(1) These are the poisonous substances that can cause sickness, and are a common factor in the incidents that are addressed in the provided text.[17]
From: International Journal of Pharmacology
(1) A journal publishing research on poisons, including studies on ricin identification in serum and cell death induction.[18] (2) This is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms, which can cause damage to host cells or tissues.[19] (3) Toxins are agents that can cause chronic liver injury, leading to the activation of hepatic stellate cells.[20] (4) Eschar contains toxins that, along with pathogenic microorganisms, can diffuse into the circulation, causing organ dysfunction and sepsis.[21]