VISHA IN AYURVEDA AND MODERN TOXICOLOGY: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF CLASSICAL TOXICOLOGICAL CONCEPTS AND CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

Background: Agada Tantra is the specialized branch of Ayurveda concerned with the identification, classification, prevention and management of poisoning. Classical Ayurvedic texts describe Visha with respect to its source, properties, clinical manifestations, progression and management. Contemporary toxicology similarly evaluates poisoning according to the nature of the toxicant, dose, route of exposure, toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics and characteristic clinical patterns. Toxidromes represent recognizable clusters of clinical manifestations that can assist in the early identification of poisoning. Aim: To critically review the classical concept of Visha in Ayurveda and explore its conceptual relationship with contemporary toxicological principles. Materials and Methods: A narrative review was conducted using major Ayurvedic classics, including Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya, together with contemporary literature on poisoning, toxicology, toxidromes and chronic toxic exposure. Relevant literature was identified using biomedical and Ayurvedic literature databases. Discussion: Ayurvedic toxicology describes Visha through several dimensions, including Visha Guna, Visha Lakshana, Vishavega, Sthavara Visha, Jangama Visha, Gara Visha and Dushi Visha. Contemporary toxicology uses clinical manifestations and characteristic toxidromes to support recognition of toxic exposure. Conceptual similarities can be observed particularly in clinical pattern recognition and the description of progression. However, Ayurvedic constructs and modern toxicological mechanisms arise from different theoretical frameworks. Therefore, direct one-to-one equivalence should not be assumed. Recent literature has explored both the relationship between Dushi Visha and chronic toxic exposure and the relationship between Vishavega and modern toxicological progression.[1-4] Conclusion: Agada Tantra provides a detailed classical framework for understanding poisoning. Comparative study with contemporary toxicology may generate useful hypotheses for research, but correlations should be scientifically validated through toxicant measurement, biomarkers, pharmacological studies and clinical investigations.