Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Hikka (hiccup) and Shvasa (asthma) 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.
Hikkā (hiccup) and Śvāsa (asthma) according to Caraka
Maharṣi Caraka discusses disease of Hikkā and Śvāsa and treatment of Hiccup and Asthma and Hikkā and Śvāsa-cikitsā. Hikkā and Śvāsa originated from the site of pitta, and are caused by the aggravation of kapha and vāyu. If Hikkā and Śvāsa are not treated, it can cause death.
The disease of hikkā is of five types, namely,
The first three of these are considered to be incurable. The last two types are curable.
Similarly, the disease of śvāsa is of five types, namely,
- Mahāśvāsa,
- Urdhva-śvāsa,
- Chinna-śvāsa,
- Tamaka-śvāsa and
- Kṣudra-śvāsa.
The first three of these are inherently incurable. The line of treatment in both hiccup and asthma is the same due to the identical etiology, location and the dosas involved. The general treatment of Hikkā and Śvāsa includes fomentation therapy, elimination therapy, diet, drinks, pañcakarma therapy, massage with salted oil, etc. Use of formulations to cures of this disease, namely, Śatyādi-Cūrṇa, Muktādya- Cūrṇa, Daśamūlādi-Ghṛta, and Manaḥśilādi-Ghṛta, etc.[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
C. Cikitsāsthāna–XXI.3-85; Baidyacharya Kalikinkar Sensarma & Ayurbedacharya Satyasekhar Bhattacharya (eds.), Caraka-Samhita–Vol. III, trans. Kabiraj Jasodanandan Sirkar, Kolkata, Deepayan Publication, 2013, pp. 13-30.