Damstra Chikitsa

Damstra Chikitsa is stream of Ayurveda toxicology which works around the prevention and treatment of toxins (poisonous conditions). The poisons may entre in human body through poisonous animals, insects, birds, worms and plants. The Damstra or Agada Tantra helps in the treatment of such types of poisonous conditions. This branch also contributes towards the management of disease which may arises due to the administration of poisonous vegetables, metals and synthetic poison, etc. There are two types of poisons that have been described in the Agadatantra, the Natural poisons and the Artificial poisons. The natural poisons are classified as inanimate (Sthaavara) and animate (Jangama). Inanimate poisons or the Sthavara comprise of poisons that have plant origin and toxic minerals, metals or metal ores that are found inside the earth. The use of metals in traditional medicines is very often seen as matter of concern these days, especially the Bhasma preparations which are always under strict observations for containing highly reactive inorganic elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic and others. If any Bhasma in medicine is not prepared properly or Shodhana procedure is not done properly, it acts as a poison. To indicate its toxic potential, Ashtamahadoshas (eight major ill effects) have been quoted in classics and due emphasis have been given to its Shodhana procedure. Nagabhasma (Lead) is used in various Ayurvedic preparations. If it is not prepared properly or Shodhana procedure is not done; it acts as a poison.

General therapeutic principles of Agadtantra

• Removal of poison through feces, urine, sweat and breath.
• Delaying effects of poisons
• Reveres the effects of poisons
• Prevent fast circulation of poison in body
• Administration of medicines of opposite qualities
• Adsorption of poison followed by removal using natural adsorbent so to prevent movement of poison in body.

Poisons, which remain in the body for a long period of time and cause diseases, are known as garaviṣha. Intentional poisoning, to harm other fellow human beings, gives rise to the formulation of artificial poisons. Ayurvedic texts have listed antidotes for many commonly known poisons from both the animal and plant kingdom. When it comes to the use of minerals and metals, the texts are clear that these are extremely toxic substances that can have a fatal impact on the body. However, elaborate methods of purification and processing have been described to render them nontoxic and safe for human use.

For every individual’s cancer is the one word which is very scary and it is the second largest cause of death. In India there are nearly about 8,00,000 new cancer patients get registered with the national cancer registry program every year.

Ayurveda which deals with management of toxicity is called Agadtantra. The study about the principles of Agadatantra and the etiology of cancer like diseases assume that the diseases are mostly due to toxic substances which enter through food, air, water or medicine etc. Agadtantra is a branch in which treatment of poison is explained and it is done by panchakarma by means of Shodhana (purification) method followed by various agada kalpas (Antidotes) which are mentioned in samhitas for the treatment of Visha (poison). Now a days there are various environmental factors causing cancer such as pollution, foods, foundation, perfume, hairspray, products such as shampoo lipstick, hair dye. These factors lead to deposition of toxins called as Dushi visha (cumulative toxins). Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy are the therapy that are used in cancer treatment will produce harmful toxic effects along with their beneficial effects. In case of cancer, fresh cases do not report to Ayurvedic physicians (exceptions are there) for treatment. Mostly those people who try modern treatment procedures such as Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy come for Ayurvedic treatment. The first few doses in chemotherapy will act as therapeutic doses and it destroys the neoplastic cells and usually don’t cause much damage to healthy tissues. But later the doses will cause serious damage to healthy tissues. The tendency of the Body fails to eliminate the excess drugs which deposits chemicals in the body and causes health problems for a long duration• These chemicals are indigestible and inexcretable by the body which lead to production of Ama (indigested part). The Ama which is produced in the body shows the lakshanas of visha. In Ayurveda for the removal of such accumulated toxins various panchakarma procedure (purification) are described followed by various agada kalpas (formulation) that are useful to reduce or to remove toxicity.

Ayurveda, the oldest Indian indigenous medicine system of plant drugs is known from very early times for preventing or suppressing various tumors using these natural drugs. And nowadays scientists are keener to do researches on complementary and alternative medicine for the management of cancer. In Ayurvedic concept, according to ‘Charaka’ and ‘Sushruta Samhitas’ cancer is described as inflammatory or non-inflammatory swelling and mentioned either as ‘Granthi’ (minor neoplasm) or ‘Arbuda ‘(major neoplasm). The nervous system (Vata or air), the venous system (Pitta or fire) and the arterial system (Kapha or water) are three basics of Ayurveda and very important for normal body function. In malignant tumors all three systems get out of control (Tridoshas) and lose mutual coordination that causes tissue damage, resulting critical condition. Tridoshas cause excessive metabolic crisis resulting in proliferation. The main goal of Ayurvedic therapy is to find the ultimate root cause of an illness while the therapeutic approach of it. Ayurveda is divided into four categories, as Prakritisthapani chikitsa (health maintenance), Rasayana chikitsa, (restoration of normal function), Roganashani chikitsa (disease cure) and Naishthiki chikitsa (spiritual approach). Commonly used herbal decoctions reported in Ayurveda are made of multiple herbs possessing great potential for a cancer cure; scientifically these formulations work on multiple biochemical pathways and influence different organ systems all together and nourish the body as a whole by supporting body‘s defence systems. Instead of using targeted therapies for destruction of the tumors, ayurvedic drugs/modes of treatment attempt to correct metabolic defects and restore normal tissue functions (“Sama Dhatu Parampara”). Like most forms of traditional medicine, ayurvedic medicine is holistic, since immunotherapy (Rasayanaprayoga) for rejuvenating the body’s support systems, forms a significant component of cancer therapy. A review of Ayurvedic concepts of cancer and herbal anti-cancer drugs is available in the literature.