Strategic Uses of Poison in Ancient Times According to Ayurved

Abstract

In both ancient Samhitas and contemporary texts, poisoning is thoroughly discussed. Collective use of poison for mass destruction has been going on since ancient times. In ancient times, food, water and atmosphere etc. were contaminated by using poison (Samrika Vish Prayog) etc. to win over the enemy. At present, the form of this poison has taken the form of various types of chemical weapons and nuclear weapons, which, if used, leads to mass destruction of the enemy army in a very short time. A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) It is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological or other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans or cause great damage. For personal gain throughout ancient times, the Visha was blended with food, beverages, and cosmetics. Chemical weapons are chemical agents, whether gaseous, liquid, or solid, those are employed because of their direct Toxic effects on humans, animals, and plants. They inflict damage when inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested in food or drink. Chemical agents become weapons when they are placed into artillery shells, land mines, aerial bombs, missile warheads, mortar shells, grenades, spray tanks, or any other means of delivering the agents to designated targets.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

Enemies engrossed by valor/heroism and this wicked mind who develop hatred towards the king generate poison of anger, finding faults in his behavior and trying to kill him by poisoning.  Women who desire wealth sometimes administer different kinds of poisons prepared by them.  The person loses their life quickly by engaging himself with 'Vishakanya' (poison girl)1.

King causes the spread of poison in the kingdom of enemies by poisoning the grass, water, roads, food materials (corns), smoke, and air, and by understanding these by their features the physician should purify them2. The enemy may likely poison the roads, reservoirs of water, shades, edibles, fodder, fuel, the land, water, grass woods, rocks, open and hidden pathways, forests, trees, and herbs.  The physician should identify them by testing them and also purifying them.  The king without prior intimation to the physician should not embark upon a new journey or camp of the army in a place without the knowledge of that particular region, its water, crops, forest, rocks, pathways, both hidden and open, its trees and plants3.

A. Poisoned Water Characteristics

Poisoned water will be slimy, possess strong odor and froth, and has lines on its surface; frogs and fish living in such water die of intoxication, birds living in marshy places fly around intoxicated; men, horses, and elephants which immerse in this water will develop vomiting delusion, fever, burning sensation, and swelling.  The doshas which get aggravated in these animals should be eliminated and attempts made to purify the contained water4.

If the water of ponds and wells is poisoned, then the water becomes foul smelling, dirty and discolored.  Intake of this poisoned water causes edema, urticaria and pimples, and even death5.

B. Treatment of Poisoned Water

Dhava, Ashvakarna, Asana, Paribhadra, Patala, Sidhaka, Mokshaka, Rajadruma (Amalatasa) and Somavalka should be burnt and the ash spread on the water of lakes, reser voirs of water and a handful of this ash should be put into the pot containing drinking water to be used when added6.

For detoxification 'Sigravadi Agada' (mentioned for detoxifying the poisoned land) is given to drink.  The ash of Ajashringi, Vishala, Vishghni, Uttamarani, Phanijjaka and Prativisha is dissolved in water and filtered many a time to this Kalka prepared from Sarala, Rajanidvaya, Ela, Udichya, Manjishtha, Sunanda and Bakuchi are added and boiled again, after reduction the water is sprinkled and when over it is sprinkled those parts get rid of poisonous effect7.

To detoxify water drugs such as Patala, Paribhadra, Ashvakarna, Shamyaka, and Shigruka are kept in a pot and closed with a lid, and put on fire.  After getting the ash it is sprinkled all over the water7.

C. Poisoned Land Characteristics

Ground, surfaces of stones(boulders), banks of rivers, and sand dunes that have been poisoned and which come in contact with body parts of cows, oxen, elephant, camel, donkeys, and men produce swelling, burning sensation and makes hairs and to Karpura, etc.) and sweets (Honey, jaggery, etc.) made as paste should be dissolved in sura With Sarvagandha (fragrant drugs such as (beer) or water and sprinkled on the (poisoned) road or water boiled with Vidanga Patha and Katta be sprinkled8.

The land which is poisoned appears as if burnt from fire, and the grass and the bush loss their vitality.  In that area the insects and the crawling animals like snakes etc. seen dead, when the land gets poisoned the hoofs and nails of horses etc.  Animals moving on it become cracked and fall off.  Owing to poisoning they also (both army and animals) develop vomiting shock, fever, delusions, and pain in the head9.

D. Treatment of Poisoned Land

Under such conditioned (poisoned land), a drink is prepared from the roots of Sobhanjana, Somavalli, Usheera, Matulunga Swarasa, Hingu mixed with little quantity of curd is given10.

The water is mixed with the urine, flesh, and blood of the goat, sheep, and elephant and to it, the fragrant drugs are added and boiled and such water is sprinkled all over the land suspected to have been poisoned.  Similarly, the water processed and boiled with drugs like Somaraji, Sunanda (Rasna), Sarala (Trivirit), Gandhanakuli, Charati, Padmacharini and Trayamana should be sprinkled all over the land in order to detoxify it. 

E. Poisoned Fodder

If grass (fodder), and bhakta (cattle feed, corn etc.) are poisoned, then the animals become weak, faint, some vomit, some purge and some even die.  They should be treated quickly and suitably; fodder etc. should be smeared with antitoxic and anti-poisonous drugs, they (animals) should be made to hear the melodious sound of musical instruments such as drums, kettle drums etc. which are beaten hard being smeared with the paste of Tara (Silver), Sutara (Mercury), Surendra (Gold), Gopa (Sariva) and Kurvinda (Musta) all equal in quantity, macerated in the bile of brown colored cow.  By the sound of such musical instruments (drums, kettledrum, etc.) poison though strong becomes destroyed11.

F. Poisonous Plants

Due to poisoning the shade of the tree appears to be unnatural.  The flower of such trees is unnatural either they have more fragrance or lose the fragrance and may cause heart pain and headache as well.  The fruit and flowers of which cause pruritus, suppuration, and diarrhea.  The treatment is similar to that mentioned for poisoned land12.

G. Polluted air Characteristic

If smoke and air are poisoned, birds fall to the ground exhausted, develop cough, nasal catarrah, headache and severe eye diseases.  Then Laksha, Haridra, Ativisha, Abhaya, Abda (Musta), Harenuka, Eladala (leaf of Ela), Vakra (Tagara), Kushtha, Priyangu should be put on fire and the resulting smoke purifies the air13.

The air which is poisoned will exhibit perverted characteristics such as cool in summer, hot in winter and causes Bhrama, Murccha etc.  symptoms.  Sigrvadi agad is to be used in this condition.  To detoxify the poisoned air, fine powder of the following drugs such as Devadaru, Nata, Ananta, Madhuka, Anjana, Gairika, Vajrakanda, Lata, and Lodhra is sprayed on the top of the trees flag posts and on the tall mansions etc14.

H. Wounds by Poisoned Weapon

When the person gets injured by a poisoned arrow, he faints often, becomes discoloured, grief-stricken, feels a tingling sensation all over the body as though insects are crawling on it, there is a pain in the pelvis, back, head and shoulders and joints, the blood coming out from the wound is black and vitiated (with bad smell), thirst, fainting, fever, burning sensation, turbidity of vision, vomiting, dyspnoea, and cough develop instantaneously; the wound has reddish yellow edges and the bluish central portion, with severe pain, gets swollen, ripens (pus formation) quickly makes the muscle tissue black, moist, slimy and liquified (decomposition) very soon15.

I. Treatment of Wound by Poisoned Weapon

If vital spots are not injured (by the poisoned arrow) then hridayavarana therapy to protect the heart should be done immediately.  Then the arrow should be pulled out and the wound burnt (cauterized) with heated iron road or kshara (caustic alkali) prepared from Mushkaka, Shveta, Somatvak, Tamravalli, Shirisha and Grdharanakha should be applied to the wound; and paste of Shukanasa, Prativisna and Vyaghrimula should be applied16.

Therapies advocated for consumed poison (vegetable) and bitten poison (animal poison) should also be adopted to this patient which ever suitable to him.  Treatment similar to Pitta Visarpa is to be undertaken for treating wounds which is foul smelling (eg. cold applications such as Satadhauta ghrita etc for external applications17.

Conclusion

Collective use of poison for mass destruction has been going on since ancient times. In ancient times, food, water and atmosphere etc. were contaminated by using poison etc. to win over the enemy. At present, the form of this poison has taken the form of various types of chemical weapons and nuclear weapons, which, if used, leads to mass destruction of the enemy army in a very short time. One of the key strategies for destroying adversaries in ancient times was poisoning. So, in ancient times, it was a fairly frequent practice among monarchs and affluent people. Since World War I, several types of chemical agents have been developed into weapons. These include choking agents, blister agents, blood agents, nerve agents, incapacitate and herbicides. A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) It is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological or other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans or cause great damage. Chemical warfare (CW) involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapon eg. Mustard gas. Nuclear warfare-nuclear warfare can produce destruction in a much shorter time-frame a can have a long-lasting radiological warfare dimension. Effects of WMD: Malignancy, Infertility, Visual disturbance, Deafness, Genetic disorders & Mental retardness.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2022 Dr. Aruna Tiwari, Dr. Ritu Kapoor, Dr. Manoj Adhalaka. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.