Clinical Consequences of Microbial Infections in Charaka Samhita
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Published online in http://ijam.co.in ISSN: 0976-5921 Panja AK, et al., Microbial Infections in Caraka Samhita Review article Clinical Consequences of Microbial Infections in Charaka Samhita Panja AK*, Patra A1, Chaudhuri S2, Chattopadhyaya A3 1. Ayurvedic Medical officer, Uluberia Sub-divisional Hospital, Govt. of West Bengal 2. Dept of Sanskrit Samhita & Siddhanta, J.B.Roy. State Ayurvedic MCH, Kolkata 3. Dept. of Sharir & Samhita, Institute of Post Graduate Ayurvedic Education & Research, S.V.S.P. Hospital, Kolkata Abstract The diseases in Ayurveda are categorized into endogenous and exogenous. Infections exercise a major part among the exogenous categories. A vivid description of infectious diseases, their pathogenesis and treatment have been documented in Ayurvedic treatises. Microbes are responsible factor for infection. So to combat the microbes and their newly developing strains is a great challenge. Though, the term microbes or microbial activity have not been clearly described in Ayurvedic texts but similar concept, their functional activities and remedies have been depicted. Charaka Samhita, on the basis of its own underline philosophy and the then prevailing thoughts, has described almost all possible aspects of microbial infections in rational consequential way. The present article deals with the ancient approach of microbial infections and its clinical consequences in Charaka Samhita. Key words: Microbes, Microbial infection, Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita Background: basically the etiology was categorized in the The diseases are the outcome of the purview of incompatible diet and conduct etiological factors and subsequently the but apart from those the rudimentary view of complex phenomena of the substantial different segmental etiology were sequenced pathogenesis. The quality of the disease is in causation of disease. Some invisible specified in-terms of its etiological factors. factors were also specified for producing the The qualitative etiology is responsible for disease. But with the advent of era, those the production of the respective disease and rudimentary views in respect to etiology are therefore the analysis of the etiology in the explored and now a day it seems that very specific disease is essential. The infective diseases caused due to microbial fundamental aim of the treatment or organism are very dreadful entity. The diagnosis is to detect the responsible concepts of microbes were incorporated in etiological factors. In the ancient era the terms bhuta. Narrating the quality of the sign and symptom of different diseases * Corresponding Author: mentioned in the ancient text, the essence of Dr. Panja. A. K. infection can be revealed. The identical Dept of Basic Principles, views of microbes for pathology are National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur similarised. The conceptual study is hereby E-mail: [email protected] presented maintaining the chronological Phone: +91-9982082832 107 Published online in http://ijam.co.in ISSN: 0976-5921 International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine, 2011, 2(3), 107-114 chapters of the diseases mentioned in the particularly vulnerable as they favour the Chikitsa sthana of Charaka Samhita. growth of the anaerobic bacillus (8). Transformation represents the The Conceptual study: various changes that accompany the The concepts of microbes were also conversion of a normal cell into a malignant highlighted in Charaka Samhita and as such cell (9). These phenomena may also produce the significance is justified in the etiologies, granthi (10) & arbuda (11). The detail signs and symptoms of different diseases. etiologies of kushtha (12) are very important The relevancies of microbial infections are illustration for microbial contamination or almost seen in every disease and therefore in culture and growth (13). Intake of uncooked the succeeding paragraphs the consequences food material, performance of physical of the microbial infections are analyzed to exercise in excessive heat and cold are one magnify the said perspective in different of causative factor for microbial invasion. dimensions. Variations of temperature are very much The affection of abhighata (trauma) important factors for microbial growth (both and abhishanga are external causes for jvara bacteria and virus) (14). Bacteria vary in (1). Bhuta (external invisible aetiologies their requirement of temperature for growth. disrupt body homeostasis) is also included The affected dhatus like skin, blood, under abhishanga variety. From the views muscle, and body fluid, lymph (15) show the of pathogenesis of jvara, the aggravation of trans-migratory pathway of the microbes. It doshas are also considered like vayu and is already evident and mentioned in the vayu or pitta in case of abhighata or context of leprotic infection early in Vedic abhishanga jvara respectively, but here period in India and from Biblical times in sudden onset of cardinal features, i.e., Middle East (16). santapa is manifested before aggravating Kushtha is regarded as chronic features of doshas (2). Some external disease developed gradually (17). etiologies are also mentioned as the cause of Superficial infections comprise the various doshaja jvara (3). The vitiated doshas are types of tinea or ring worm affecting skin, located in rasa, rakta, etc. dhatus, sign and hair and nails are having very mild and symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, both chronic in nature (18). The features of vata, diarrhoea and emesis, discolouration of pitta and kapha predominance in skin body, pain abdomen etc. are manifested and disease (kushtha) are roughness, dryness, associated with high rise of temperature coarseness, etc. caused by vayu; burning (4).When the vitiated doshas in aggravated sensation, redness, itching, exudation, srota afflict the deeper dhatu like asthi, suppuration, foul smell, stickiness are majja, then that condition is difficult to cure, caused by pitta; white colouration, itching, and in case of afflicted shukra it is incurable localization, elevation, maggot formation, (5). In case of virulent organisms, it may be etc. are caused by kapha. These are common difficult to cure or incurable when the multi- signs and symptoms causes by bacterial and systems are involved. fungal infection on skin. Daruvaha’ is microbial invasion The history of infection by yakshma which spreads all over the body through (19) from outside into immunocompromised circulating media and activates fever in ‘Chandra’ due to excessive sexual acute or delayed basis (6). Vitiation of vata intercourse directly refers the existence of in both abhighataja and vataja jvara is due microbes. The source of infection is usually to cold affliction (7). Puncture wounds are an open case of pulmonary tuberculosis. The 108 Published online in http://ijam.co.in ISSN: 0976-5921 Panja AK, et al., Microbial Infections in Caraka Samhita mode of infection is by direct inhalation of and symptoms of the svayathu roga, the aerosolized bacilli contained in droplet infected cellulites. nuclei of expectorated sputum, the majority Parasitic invasion causes painful of inhaled bacilli are arrested by the natural abscess in the sites of anal orifice and the defenses of the upper respiratory tract. abscess if get suppurated and burst, the Concept of sosha and or rajayakshma is also condition is known as infected vagandara documented the immunocompromised state (29). The pitta predominant aggravated referring the concept of AIDS due to HIV dosas cause serious type of migratory infection. The pathogenesis of dhatukshaya swelling associated with high fever and in either pratiloma or anuloma route denote morbid thirst afflicting the blood results the transmission through body fluids (like suppuration, known as jalagardhava (30). rasa, rakta, shukra, etc.). In both ways it This condition is result of bacteria. All the affects at first rakta and other deep tissue exogenous swelling are caused due to later (20). aggravated vata along with vitiated blood The aetiologies like viruddha- which in terms causes localized reddish dushta-ashuchi diet (21) of unmada roga swelling and infected swelling is required denote the microbial infection of psycho- antimicrobial therapy (31). neurology. Here the viruddha-dushta- The ingestion of the contaminated ashuchi is incompatible, contaminated, and food aggravates the doshas and obstructs the impure food substances respectively (22) channels resulting indigestion as the which are common growth places of manifestation of udara (32) and in paittik pathogenic microorganisms. Description of udara, the pitta gets immediate accumulated eight types of bhutagraha for the because of ingestion of same, aggravating manifestation of agantuka unmada (23) is vata and pitta subsequently, obstructs the caused by abuse or contamination of any channels later and moving upwards it type, either by improper present habit or past suppresses digestive power and metabolism deeds (genetic spread) (24). with the severe manifestation of burning Clinical features of kshata and fever, thirst, fainting, diarrhoea, and kshina are the chest pain and haemoptysis; giddiness (33). The complication of cough and haematuria, pain in flanks and udakodara (34) itself signifies the back respectively (25) refer the manifestation of the bacterial infection. inflammatory sign due to respiratory Arsha is a disease characterized by infection or urinary tract infection. The the morbid growth by muscle tissue (35) and strong evidence of transmission of organism the characteristics of the paittika type of the by the cited