Chapter 22 - Symptoms and Treatment of Sannyasa (malignant swoon)

Its causes and indications.

This (sannyasa) is a disease which attacks a weak man when a highly abnormal excess of vayu, pitta, and kapha, as well as the other dirty matter in the body, have recourse to the vital parts of the body, and especially the heart and the respiratory system, and thereby stop the action of the vocal system, the external body, and of the mind, making the patient fall down as deadlike as a log of wood. Such a patient dies very soon, if not treated with such processes as are considered generally successful in such cases (such as pricking the body with needle, application of strong snuff, collyrium, etc.).

Difference between sannyasa and murcha, etc.:

Victims of intoxication or fainting fit may recover their senses even without treatment, but a victim of sannyasa can never regain his senses without instantaneous treatment

Treatment of sannyasa: Simple remedies.

(1) The following are efficacious in sannyasa:—application of collyrium in the eyes, sniffing of the juice or decoction of suitable herbs, inhaling smoke of suitable drugs, such as jatamansi, blowing medicated snuff through a pipe into the nostrils pricking the skin with needle, burning the skin, torture inside the nails, drawing of hair, biting the skin of the patient, and rubbing his skin with the skin of banari seeds.

(2) In sannyasa of children, purgation by castor oil or by powdered rasa-karpura, and fomentation in the belly are efficacious.

(3) In sannyasa of children due to worms, these should be removed by proper treatment.

Iatro-chemical remedies in Sannyasa.

The same as in murcha.

Diet, etc. in Sannyasa.

The same as in murcha.