VATSANABH VISHA AS MEDICINE: AN OVERVIEW

Background: Agadtantra is one of the branches of Ashtanga Ayurveda which deals with Poison, their manifestation and treatment. In Charak samhita it is mentioned that any drug which is used injudiciously is a poison and any poison which is used judiciously is a Medicine. Vatsanabh is included in Visha Category by Rasatarangini while it is included in Cardiac poison by modern toxicology. If it is used judiciously, it can act as excellent medicine. All Visha and Upavisha are used internally as a medicine only after their shodhana sanskara. Vatsanabh formulations are used in various diseases for therapeutic purpose. Objective: To review Vatsanabh Visha as a medicine through classical textbooks and Research articles. Methodology: Vatsanabh is reviewed through various Ayurvedic Samhitas and Research articles. After reviewing it, its therapeutic use is emphasized in this review. Basic principle of Ayurveda, injudicious use of drug convert it into harmful poison and judicious use of poison will convert it in to excellent medicine is focused in this review. Vatsanabh is mainly used in Vata Kapha disorders and is contraindicated in conditions with aggravated Pitta. Several pharmacological studies have shown that Vatsanabh possesses anaesthetic, anti-arthritic, diuretic, sedative, nerve stimulating, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidote, and cardiac stimulant characteristics. Conclusion: If Vatsanabh is used injudiciously, it is a poison. But by Shodhana Sanskara mentioned in Ayurveda, it is used in various formulations for various therapeutic use like jwara, kasa etc. and it works as Amrit for the patient.