Review Study on Vishapranahara Kriya

Abstract

Agadtantra is an important branch of Ashtanga Ayurveda that deals with signs and symptoms and also with the
management of poisoning, resulting from the bites of snakes, insects and worms, spiders, rodents, etc. and various other
poisons produced by improper combinations of substances or drugs. Vata plays the major role in the visha pranahara
kriya which is explained in our classics. When poison enters the body, first it acts on the blood, then on doshas, along
with their aashayas, it reaches the heart and affects it and destroys the life. Because of dryness property, vayu gets
aggravated; due to hot property, pitta gets vitiated; subtleness leads to vitiation of rakta; Due to avyakta rasa (indistinct
taste), kapha is vitiated; due to rapidly acting, it quickly permeates through the nutrient fluid; vyavayi guna spreads it
throughout the body instantaneously. Tikshna guna (sharply acting) property causes injury to marmas,
vikashi guna results in death of the patient. Due to laghu guna it becomes difficult to manage therapeutically; because
of vaishadya guna, it pervades all over the body with dosha without any obstruction in circulation. Depending upon the
location of dosha and prakriti of patient, visha produces several other complications.