The 37th chapter of Uttara Sthanam of Ashtanga Hridayam is named as ‘Kita Lutadi Visha Pratishedha’. This chapter deals with the explanation of ‘Treatment of poison of insects, spiders etc.’

• Kita Damsha – Insect Bite
• Stages and symptoms of Kita Damsha – Insect Bite
• Vrischika Damsha – Scorpion sting
• Types of scorpion poisoning
• Signs and symptoms of Vrischika Damsha
• Uccitinga Damsha – Bite of Poisonous Crab
• Visha dosha relationship
• Symptoms of Vata predominant scorpion poison
• Symptoms of Pitta predominant scorpion poison
• Symptoms of Kapha predominant scorpion poison
• Vrischika Visha Chikitsa – Treatment of Scorpion sting
• Dashanga Agada
• Bathing the site with medicated ghee or oil
• Ajajyadi Upanaha
• Rajanyadi Churna Pratisarana
• Use of surasa
• Recipes for drinking
• Best antidote for scorpion sting
• Use of camel tooth
• Hingvadi Lepa
• Karanjadi Lepa
• Pathyadi Lepa
• Treatment of severe cases of scorpion poisoning
• Nagaradi Agada
• Chhatradi Gulika
• Shirishadi Agada
• Luta – Spiders
• Signs of Pitta aggravation caused by spider bite
• Signs of Kapha aggravation caused by spider bite
• Signs of Vata aggravation caused by spider bite
• Incurable symptoms of spider bite
• Kinds of spider bite and number of days in which they cause death
• Lutadamsha Lakshana – features of spider bite
• Routes through which spiders emit their poison
• Lutadamsha Chikitsa – treatment of spider bite
• Padmaka Agada
• Champaka Agada
• Gomayadi Yoga
• Mandara Agada and Gandhamandana Agada
• Indications of vishaghna and vishodana
• Yastyahvadi Kvatha for emesis
• Triphaladi Yoga for purgation
• Removal of Karnika
• Use of ghee
• Best Agadas for spider poisoning with doshic involvement
• Lodhradi Agada

Pledge by the author(s)

अथात: कीटलूतादिविषप्रतिषेधं व्याख्यास्याम: ।
इति ह स्माहुरात्रेयादयो महर्षय: ।
After having offered prayers to the God, henceforth we are going to explain the chapter pertaining to the explanation of ‘Treatment of poison of insects, spiders etc.’. Thus, say (pledge) Atreya and other sages.

Kita Damsha: Insect Bite

सर्पाणामेव विण्मूत्रशुक्राण्डशवकोथजाः ।
दोषैर्व्यस्तैः समस्तैश्च युक्ताः कीटाश्चतुर्विधाः ॥ १ ॥
Insects are born from putrefied urine, feces, semen, egg and cadaver of snakes only and are of four types; viz (three) with the features of individual doshas and the (fourth) with the features of all of them combined together.

Kita Damsha: Insect Bite

दष्टस्य कीटैर्वायव्यैर्दंशस्तोदरुजोल्बणः ।
आग्नेयैरल्पसंस्रावो दाहरागविसर्पवान् ॥ २ ॥
पक्वपीलुफलप्रख्यः खर्जूरसदृशोऽथवा ।
कफाधिकैर्मन्दरुजः पक्वोदुम्बरसन्निभः ॥ ३ ॥
स्रावाढ्यः सर्वलिङ्गस्तु विवर्ज्यः सान्निपातिकैः ।
When bitten by Kita (insects) with the predominance of Vata, pricking and pain are greatly increased; when bitten by Agneyi (Pitta) predominant insects, there is less of exudation (but more of), burning sensation, redness, spreading and appears like a ripe fruit of pīlu – Salvadora persica or resembling kharjūra – Phoenix sylvestris; when bitten by Kapha predominant insects, there is mild pain and the swelling appears like ripe fruit of udumbara – Ficus racemosa; when bitten by those of all the doshas, there is copious exudations, presence of all the symptoms, this is to be rejected.

Stages and symptoms of Kita Damsha: Insect Bite

वेगाश्च सर्पवच्छोफो वर्धिष्णुर्विस्ररक्तता ॥ ४ ॥
शिरोऽक्षिगौरवं मूर्छा भ्रमः श्वासोऽतिवेदना ।
सर्वेषां कर्णिका शोफो ज्वरः कण्डूररोचकः ॥ ५ ॥
Stages of poisoning increases just like those of the stages of snake bite poisoning, increase of swelling, the blood becomes foul smelling, feeling of heaviness of the head and eyes, fainting, dizziness, dyspnea and severe pain also manifest. In all types, there is a ring – like swelling, fever, itching and loss of taste / appetite.

Vrischika Damsha: Scorpion Bite

वृश्चिकस्य विषं तीक्ष्णमादौ दहति वह्निवत् ।
ऊर्ध्वमारोहति क्षिप्रं दंशे पश्चात्तु तिष्ठति ॥ ६ ॥
दंशः सद्योऽतिरुक् श्यावस्तुद्यते स्फुटतीव च ।
The poison of the scorpion is penetrating, causes burning sensation in the beginning just like fire, spreads upwards quickly and afterwards gets stabilised at the site of the bite; there is severe pain, blue color, pricking and bursting pain at the site of bite.

Vrischika Damsha: Scorpion Bite

ते गवादिशकृत्कोथाद्दिग्धदष्टादिकोथतः ॥ ७ ॥
सर्पकोथाच्च सम्भूता मन्दमध्यमहाविषाः ।
They (scorpions) are born from the putrefied dung of cow etc., putrefied cadaver of animals killed by poisoned arrow or bite of snakes and putrefied cadaver of snakes and are of three kinds, Manda visha (of mild poison), Madhya visha (of Moderate poison) and Maha visha (of Powerful poison).

Types of scorpion poisoning

मन्दाः पीताः सिताः श्यावा रूक्षाः कर्बुरमेचकाः ॥ ८ ॥
रोमशा बहुपर्वाणो लोहिताः पाण्डुरोदराः ।
धूम्रोदरास्त्रिपर्वाणो मध्यास्तु कपिलारुणाः ॥ ९ ॥
पिशङ्गाः शबराश्चित्राः शोणिताभा महाविषाः ।
अग्न्याभा द्व्येकपर्वाणो रक्तासितसितोदराः ॥ १० ॥
Manda visha vrischika (scorpions of mild poison) are yellow, white – blue, dry, of many colors, of black, hairy, has many joints and their abdomen being red and pale. Madhya visha vrischika – scorpions of moderate poison have smoke colored abdomen, three joints, brown, slight red, reddish brown, body – spotted, variegated and resembling blood. Mahavisha vrischika – scorpions of powerful poison appear like fire, have one or two joints; their belly is either red, black or white.

Signs and symptoms of Vrischika Damsha

तैर्दष्टः शूनरसनः स्तब्धगात्रो ज्वरार्दितः ।
खैर्वमञ्छोणितं कृष्णमिन्द्रियार्थानसंविदन् ॥ ११ ॥
स्विद्यन् मूर्छन् विशुष्कास्यो विह्वलो वेदनातुरः ।
विशीर्यमाणमांसश्च प्रायशो विजहात्यसून् ॥ १२
Bitten by them (scorpions), the person develops swelling of the tongue, rigidity of the body, fever, black colored blood comes out from all the orifices, there is loss ofsensory perceptions, sweating, fainting, dryness of the mouth, unsound mind, suffers from discomfort, wasting of the muscles (emaciation) and probably takes away the life.

Ucchitinga Damsha: Bite of Poisonous Crab

उच्चिटिङ्गस्तु वक्त्रेण दशत्यभ्यधिकव्यथः ।
साध्यतो वृश्चिकात्स्तम्भं शेफसो हृष्टरोमताम् ॥१३॥
करोति सेकमङ्गानां दंशः शीताम्बुनेव च ।
उष्ट्रधूमः स एवोक्तो रात्रिचाराच्च रात्रिकः ॥ १४ ॥
Ucchitinga (crab) bites by its mouth which causes severe pain, curable easily than the bite of scorpion, produces loss of movement/rigidity of the penis, horripilation and the person bitten pours cold water on the site of the bite. It (crab) is also known as Ustradhuma and also as Ratrika since it prowls only at rights.

Visha dosha relationship

वातपित्तोत्तराः कीटाः श्लैष्मिकाः कणभोन्दुराः ।
प्रायो वातोल्बणविषा वृश्चिकाः सोष्ट्रधूमकाः ॥ १५ ॥
Kita visha has predominance of Vata and Pitta, that of Kanabha (wasp) and Undur (mouse) has predominance of Shleshma (Kapha), poison of Vrischika (scorpion) and Ustradhumaka (crab) probably has predominance of Vata.
Visa dosha relationship

यस्य यस्यैव दोषस्य लिङ्गाधिक्यं प्रतर्कयेत् ।
तस्य तस्यौषधैः कुर्याद्विपरीतगुणैः क्रियाम् ॥ १६ ॥
The dosha which so ever presents, more number of symptoms should be assessed and treatment done for it with herbs possessing opposite qualities.
Symptoms of Vata predominant scorpion poison

हृत्पीडोर्ध्वानिलस्तम्भः सिरायामोऽस्थिपर्वरुक् ।
घूर्णनोद्वेष्टनं गात्रश्यावता वातिके विषे ॥ १७ ॥
Pain in the (region of the) heart, stoppage of movement of Anila (Vata) in the upward direction (expiration), engorgement, dilation or formation of network of veins, pain in the bones and joints; rolling on the body (moving to and from), contractures and bluish discoloration of the bodyare the features of poison (of scorpions) predominant of Vata.

Symptoms of Pitta predominant scorpion poison

सञ्ज्ञानाशोष्णनिश्वासौ हृद्दाहः कटुकास्यता ।
मांसावदरणं शोफो रक्तपीतश्च पैत्तिके ॥ १८ ॥
Loss of consciousness, warm expiration, burning sensation in the region of heart, bitter taste in the mouth, scales in the muscles, swelling which is reddish yellow in color are the features of predominance of Pitta.

Symptoms of Kapha predominant scorpion poison

छर्द्यरोचकहृल्लासप्रसेकोत्क्लेशपीनसैः ।
सशैत्यमुखमाधुर्यैर्विद्याच्छ्लेष्माधिकं विषम् ॥ १९ ॥
Vomiting, anorexia, nausea, excessive salivation, excess fluid regurgitation, rhinitis, excessive cold, sweetness of mouth is considered as symptoms of Kapha predominant poison.
Vrischika Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of Scorpion sting

पिण्याकेन व्रणालेपस्तैलाभ्यङ्गश्च वातिके ।
स्वेदो नाडीपुलाकाद्यैर्बृंहणश्च विधिर्हितः ॥ २० ॥
पैत्तिकं स्तम्भयेत्सेकैः प्रदेहैश्चातिशीतलैः ।
लेखनच्छेदनस्वेदवमनैः श्लैष्मिकं जयेत् ॥ २१ ॥
In poison predominant of Vata, the wound should be smeared with pinyaka (oil cake of tila) anointing with (medicated) oil, fomentation by steam coming out from a tube or by application of boiled rice etc. and therapies which are brimhana (nourishing) are beneficial. In that predominant of Pitta, the poison should be restrained with cold baths and application of pastes which are very cold. That predominant of Kapha should be won by scraping, incising, fomentation and emesis therapies.
Kita Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of insect poison

कीटानां त्रिप्रकाराणां त्रैविध्येन क्रिया हिता ।
स्वेदालेपनसेकांस्तु कोष्णान् प्रायोऽवचारयेत् ॥ २२ ॥
अन्यत्र मूर्छिताद्दंशपाकतः कोथतोऽथवा ।
For the three kinds of insects (Vata, Pitta, Kapha pradhana), three kinds of treatments (usual to each dosha) are suitable. Sudation/ fomentation, application of herbs and bathing (the lesion) should be generally done warm, except when the person has lost consciousness, when there is ulceration by the bite or putrefaction by the bite.

Vrischika Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of Scorpion sting

नृकेशाः सर्षपाः पीता गुडो जीर्णश्च धूपनम् ॥ २३ ॥
विषदंशस्य सर्वस्य काश्यपः परमब्रवीत् ।
Nrikesha (human hairs), pitasarshapa and jirnaguda used for fumigation (of the bite) is best for him bitten by all kinds of poisonous animals, so said Kashyapa.

Vrischika Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of Scorpion sting

विषघ्नं च विधिं सर्वं कुर्यात्संशोधनानि च ॥ २४ ॥
All anti – poisonous therapies should be administered along with purificatory therapies.

Vrischika Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of Scorpion sting

साधयेत्सर्पवद्दष्टान् विषोग्रैः कीटवृश्चिकैः ।
तण्डुलीयकतुल्यांशां त्रिवृतां सर्पिषा पिबेत् ॥ २५ ॥
याति कीटविषैः कम्पं न कैलास इवानिलैः ।
Equal quantities of taṇḍulīyaka – Amaranthus ­spinosus and trivṛt – Operculina turpethum should be consumed mixed with ghee, cures those bitten by insects and scorpion having strong poisons just like that of snake bite; such a person does not get shaken by the poison of insects just as the mountain Kailasa by the wind.

Vrischika Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of Scorpion sting

क्षीरिवृक्षत्वगालेपः शुद्धे कीटविषापहः ॥ २६ ॥
Applications of paste of bark of trees of milky sap (on the site of) after the person has undergone purificatory therapies, destroys the poison of insects.
Vrischika Visha Chikitsa: Treatment of Scorpion sting

मुक्तालेपो वरः शोफतोददाहज्वरप्रणुत् ।
Applications of paste of mukta (pearls) is best to cure swelling, pricking pain, burning and fever.
Dashanga Agada

वचाहिङ्गुविडङ्गानि सैन्धवं गजपिप्पली ॥ २७ ॥
पाठा प्रतिविषा व्योषं काश्यपेन विनिर्मितम् ।
दशाङ्गमगदं पीत्वा सर्वकीटविषं जयेत् ॥ २८ ॥
vacā – Acorus calamus, hiṅgu – Ferula asafoetida, viḍaṅga – Embelia ribes, rock salt, gajapippalī – Scindapsus officinalis, pāṭhā – Cissampelos pareira, prativiṣā – Aconitum heterophyllum, vyoṣaṃ – vyosha –
Black pepper – Piper nigrum
Long pepper fruit – Piper longum
and
Ginger – Zingiber officinale
are made into nice paste and rolled into pills; this Dashanga Agada formulated by Kashyapa when consumed cures the poison of all kinds of insects.

Bathing the site with medicated ghee or oil

सद्यो वृश्चिकजं दंशं चक्रतैलेन सेचयेत् ।
विदारिगन्धासिद्धेन कवोष्णेनेतरेण वा ॥ २९ ॥
लवणोत्तमयुक्तेन सर्पिषा वा पुनः पुनः ।
सिञ्चेत्कोष्णारनालेन सक्षीरलवणेन वा ॥ ३० ॥
The site of scorpion bite should be quickly bathed with chakra taila (oil fresh from the oil mill which is warm) or by oil boiled with herbs of Vidarigandhadi gana (vide chapter 15 of Sutasthana) or any other which is slightly warmor bathed with warm ghee added with rock salt or with warm rice gruel added with milkand salt, this process repeated often.

Ajajyadi Upanaha

उपनाहो घृते भृष्टः कल्कोऽजाज्याः ससैन्धवः ।
Application of warm poultice of ajāj – Cuminum cyminum, fried in ghee and added with paste of rock salt is ideal.

Rajanyadi Churna Pratisarana

आदंशं स्वेदितं चूर्णैः प्रच्छाय प्रतिसारयेत् ॥ ३१ ॥
रजनीसैन्धवव्योषशिरीषफलपुष्पजैः ।
The site of bite should be incised (to cause bleeding) after steaming (sudation) and then rubbed with the nice powder of rajanī – Curcuma longa, rock salt, vyoṣa – Vyosha –
Black pepper – Piper nigrum
Long pepper fruit – Piper longum and
Ginger – Zingiber officinale śirīṣaphala puṣpajaiḥ – fruits and flowers of Albizia lebbeck.

Use of surasa

मातुलुङ्गाम्लगोमूत्रपिष्टं च सुरसाग्रजम् ॥ ३२ ॥
लेपः सुखोष्णश्च हितः पिण्याको गोमयोऽपि वा ।
surasāgrajam – The flowers of Ocimum sanctum made into a paste with sour mātuluṅga – Citrus medica and cow urine, or pinyaka (oil cake of Sesamum indicum) or fresh cow dung, these may be applied warm over the site is beneficial.

Recipes for drinking

पाने सर्पिर्मधुयुतं क्षीरं वा भूरिशर्करम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Ghee mixed with honey or milk added with more of sugar are best for drinking (milk added with ghee and honey or with more quantity of sugar is best for drinking).

Best antidote for scorpion sting

पारावतशकृत्पथ्या तगरं विश्वभेषजम् ।
बीजपूररसोन्मिश्रः परमो वृश्चिकागदः ॥ ३४ ॥
Excreta of pigeon, pathyā – Terminalia chebula, tagaraṃ – Valeriana wallichii, viśvabheṣajam – and Zingiber officinale, bījapūra rasonmiśraḥ – mixed with juice of
Bijapura – Citrus medica is a best antidote for scorpion bite.

Use of camel tooth

सशैवलोष्ट्रदंष्ट्रा च हन्ति वृश्चिकजं विषम् ।
Paste of tooth of a camel mixed with śaivala – Ceratophyllum demersum, destroys the poison of scorpion.

Hingvadi Lepa

हिङ्गुना हरितालेन मातुलुङ्गरसेन च ॥ ३५ ॥
लेपाञ्जनाभ्यां गुटिका परमं वृश्चिकापहा ।
Pill prepared with hiṅgunā – Ferula asafoetida, purified arsenic trisulphide, along with the juice of mātuluṅga – Citrus medica, used for application on the bite and collyrium is best to remove the poison of the scorpion.

Karanjadi Lepa

करञ्जार्जुनशेलूनां कटभ्यां कुटजस्य च ॥ ३६ ॥
शिरीषस्य च पुष्पाणि मस्तुना दंशलेपनम् ।
karañja – Pongamia pinnata, arjuna – Terminalia arjuna, śelūnāṃ – Cordia dichotoma, kaṭabhyāṃ – Celastrus paniculatus, kuṭaja – Holarrhena antidysenterica and flowers of śirīṣa – Albizia lebbeck macerated with mastu (water of curds) is a paste to be applied on the site of the bite.
Pathyadi Lepa

यो मुह्यति प्रश्वसिति प्रलपत्युग्रवेदनः ॥ ३७ ॥
तस्य पथ्यानिशाकृष्णामञ्जिष्ठातिविषोषणम् ।
सालाबुवृन्तं वार्ताकरसपिष्टं प्रलेपनम् ॥ ३८ ॥
The patient who becomes unconscious, breathe heavily, talks irrelevantly and has severe pain should be anointed with the paste of pathyā – Terminalia chebula, niśā – Curcuma longa, kṛṣṇā – Piper longum, mañjiṣṭhā – Rubia cordifolia, ativiṣa – Aconitum heterophyllum, ūṣaṇam – Piper nigrum, sa alābu vṛntaṃ – and Lagenaria siceraria macerated with juice of
Solanum melongena.
Treatment of severe cases of scorpion poisoning

सर्वत्र चोग्रालिविषे पाययेद्दधिसर्पिषी |
विध्येत्सिरां विदध्याच्च वमनाञ्जननावनम् |
उष्णस्निग्धाम्लमधुरं भोजनं चानिलापहम् ॥ ३९ ॥
In severe cases of scorpion poisoning, the patient should always be made to drink dadhi (curds) and sarpi (ghee); vein should be cut and blood let out administer emesis, collyrium and nasal medication therapies should be administered, partake food which is warm, unctuous, sour, sweet and mitigating Vata.

Nagaradi Agada

नागरं गृहकपोतपुरीषं बीजपूरकरसो हरितालम् ।
सैन्धवं च विनिहन्त्यगदोऽयं लेपतोऽलिकुलजं विषमाशु ॥ ४० ॥
nāgaraṃ – Zingiber officinale, excreta of a domestic pigeon, arsenic trisulphidum and rock salt, macerated in the juice of Citrus medica; this agada (antidote) immediately destroys the poison of the scorpions of all kinds when applied.

Visha Lepa

अन्ते वृश्चिकदष्टानां समुदीर्णे भृशं विषे ।
विषेणालेपयेद्दंशमुच्चिटिङ्गेऽप्ययं विधिः ॥ ४१ ॥
In the end (when other treatments have failed), if the poison is found to be increased in its effect in those stung by scorpion, then the site of the bite should be applied with a paste of visha (sthavara visha or vegetable poison); even in case of bite of ucchatinga (poisonous crabs) this is the treatment.

Chhatradi Gulika

नागपुरीषच्छत्रं रोहिषमूलं च शेलुतोयेन ।
कुर्याद्गुटिकां लेपादियमलिविषनाशनी श्रेष्ठा ॥ ४२ ॥
Mushroom growing on elephant’s dung and root of rohiṣa – Cymbopogon martinii­, are made into a paste with water (decoction) of śelu – Cordia dichotoma and then rolled into pills. This is best to remove the poison of scorpion etc. by external application.

Shirishadi Agada

अर्कस्य दुग्धेन शिरीषबीजं त्रिर्भावितं पिप्पलिचूर्णमिश्रम् ।
एषोऽगदो हन्ति विषाणि कीटभुजङ्गलूतोन्दुरवृश्चिकानाम् ॥ ४३ ॥
Seeds of śirīṣa – Albizia ­lebbeck soaked and macerated for three times in the milky sap of Calotropis gigantea and then mixed with pippalicūrṇa – powder of Piper longum, this agada (antidote) destroys the poison of insects, snakes, spiders, mice and scorpions.

Shirishadi Agada

शिरीषपुष्पं सकरञ्जबीजं काश्मीरजं कुष्ठमनःशिले च ।
एषोऽगदो रात्रिकवृश्चिकानां सङ्क्रान्तिकारी कथितो जिनेन ॥ ४४ ॥
śirīṣapuṣpaṃ – Flowers of Albizia lebbeck, sa karañja bījaṃ – seeds of Pongamia pinnata, kāśmīrajaṃ – Crocus sativus / Costus speciosus, kuṣṭha – Saussurea lappa, and realgar are converted into paste and rolled into pills; this agada (antidote) described by Jina, destroys the poison of scorpions which in the night.

Luta: Spiders

कीटेभ्यो दारुणतरा लूता: षोडश ता जगुः ।
अष्टाविंशतिरित्येके ततोऽप्यन्ये तु भूयसीः ॥ ४५ ॥
सहस्ररश्म्यनुचरा वदन्त्यन्ये सहस्रशः ।
बहूपद्रवरूपा तु लूतैकैव विषात्मिका ॥ ४६ ॥
Spider are more dreadful than the insects and are said to be of sixteen types; some others say they are of twenty – eight types; Some that they are innumerable; yet others say that they are the retinue of the sun and of thousands of kinds; since they produce many diseases and associated symptoms by the venomous bite of spider, they are of one kind only viz poisonous.

रूपाणि नामतस्तस्या दुर्ज्ञेयान्यतिसङ्करात् ।
नास्ति स्थानव्यवस्था च दोषतोऽतः प्रचक्षते ॥ ४७ ॥
Knowing / distinguishing them by their name is very difficult since they are heterogeneous, there is no specificity regarding their habitat, hence they are described only on the dosha (i.e., dosha predominant following the bite).

कृच्छ्रसाध्या पृथग्दोषैरसाध्या निचयेन सा ।
Aggravation of each dosha individually is difficult to cure and of all the doshas togetheris incurable.

Signs of Pitta aggravation caused by spider bite

तद्दंशः पैत्तिको दाहतृट्स्फोटज्वरमोहवान् ॥ ४८ ॥
भृशोष्मा रक्तपीताभः क्लेदी द्राक्षाफलोपमः ।
That bite causing aggravation of Pitta producing burning sensation, thirst, vescicles, fever, delusion, great heat (at the site), red and yellowish color, exudation, swelling resembling a grape fruit.

Signs of Kapha aggravation caused by spider bite

श्लैष्मिकः कठिनः पाण्डुः परूषकफलाकृतिः ॥ ४९ ॥
निद्रां शीतज्वरं कासं कण्डूं च कुरुते भृशम् ।
Bite causing aggravation of Kapha, produces hard, pale swelling resembling a fruit of Grewia asiatica, causes more of sleep, fever with rigors, cough and severe itching.

Signs of Vata aggravation caused by spider bite

वातिकः परुषः श्यावः पर्वभेदज्वरप्रदः ॥ ५० ॥
Bite causing aggravation of Vata is rough, bluish in color accompanied with cutting pain in the joints and fever.

Incurable symptoms of spider bite

तद्विभागं यथास्वं च दोषलिङ्गैर्विभावयेत् ।
असाध्यायां तु हृन्मोहश्वासहिध्माशिरोग्रहाः ॥ ५१ ॥
श्वेतपीतासितारक्ताः पिटिकाः श्वयथूद्भवः ।
वेपथुर्वमथुर्दाहस्तृडान्ध्यं वक्रनासता ॥ ५२ ॥
श्यावौष्ठवक्त्रदन्तत्वं पृष्ठग्रीवावभञ्जनम् ।
पक्वजम्बूसवर्णं च दंशात्स्रवति शोणितम् ॥ ५३ ॥
सर्वापि सर्वजा प्रायो व्यपदेशस्तु भूयसा ।
By these symptoms the subdivisions of the doshas separatelyshould be determined. In case of spider bites which are incurable there is delusion, dyspnea, hiccup, catching pain in the head, appearance of eruptions which are white, yellow, black or red, swelling, shivering, vomiting, burning sensation, thirst, blindness, distortion of the nose, blue color of the lips, mouth and teeth, bending of the back and neck, blood of the color of ripe Jambu – Eugenia jambolan fruit or of its color (dark blue) flows from the site of the bite. All kinds produce aggravation of all the doshas generally, but designation is by the predominant dosha.

Kinds of spider bite and number of days in which they cause death

तीक्ष्णमध्यावरत्वेन सा त्रिधा हन्त्युपेक्षिता ॥ ५४ ॥
सप्ताहेन दशाहेन पक्षेण च परं क्रमात् ।
Bite is of three kinds (1) Tikshna – powerful/ strong/severe, (2) Madhya – medium/moderate and (3) Avara – Poor/mild/weak; by neglecting (without treating), these kill the person in seven days, ten days or fifteen days respectively.

Lutadamsha Lakshana: Features of spider bite

लूतादंशश्च सर्वोऽपि दद्रूमण्डलसन्निभः ॥ ५५ ॥
सितोऽसितोऽरुणः पीतः श्यावो वा मृदुरुन्नतः ।
मध्ये कृष्णोऽथवा श्यावः पर्यन्ते जालकावृतः ॥ ५६ ॥
विसर्पवांश्छोफयुतस्तप्यते बहुवेदनः ।
ज्वराशुपाकविक्लेदकोथावदरणान्वितः ॥ ५७ ॥
क्लेदेन यत्स्पृशत्यङ्गं तत्रापि कुरुते व्रणम् ।
In the bite ofall types of spiders, the site develops swelling like a dadrumandala (circular, raised patch), white, blackish, red, yellow or blue; soft, elevated, black or blue in the centre and sieve like at the edges, swelling spreads sidewards, torments the body greatly with severe pains, fever, quick suppuration, exudation, putrefaction and tissue loss, all develop: ulcer will form on that part which comes in contact with the pus.

Routes through which spiders emit their poison

श्वासदंष्ट्राशकृन्मूत्रशुक्रलालानखार्तवैः ॥ ५८ ॥
अष्टाभिरुद्वमत्येषा विषं वक्त्राद्विशेषतः ।
They (spiders) emit poison through eight routes i.e., their breath, teeth, excreta, urine, semen, sliva, nail and menstrual blood, especially by the mouth (bite).

Lutadamsha Lakshana: Features of spider bite

लूता नाभेर्दशत्यूर्ध्वमूर्ध्वं चाधश्च कीटकाः ॥ ५९ ॥
तद्दूषितं च वस्त्रादि देहे पृक्तं विकारकृत् ।
Spider bite (man) above the (level of the) umbilicus whereas insects biteboth above and below; cloth and others contaminated by its (spiders) poison, produce diseases when these come in contact with the body.

दिनार्धं लक्ष्यते नैव दंशो लूताविषोद्भवः ॥ ६० ॥
सूचीव्यधवदाभाति ततोऽसौ प्रथमेऽहनि ।
अव्यक्तवर्णः प्रचलः किञ्चित्कण्डूरुजान्वितः ॥ ६१ ॥
The lesion of spider bite does not manifest till half a day, then on the first day, it appears like a mark made by a needle, without any manifestation of color, it is very unsteady with mild itching and associated with pain.

Lutadamsha Lakshana: Features of spider bite

द्वितीयेऽभ्युन्नतोऽन्तेषु पिटिकैरिव वाचितः ।
व्यक्तवर्णो नतो मध्ये कण्डूमान् ग्रन्थिसन्निभः ॥६२॥
On the second day, there is elevation at the edges or gets covered by numerous eruptions, with well manifested color, depressed in the center, has itching and spreads like a tumor.

Lutadamsha Lakshana: Features of spider bite

तृतीये सज्वरो रोमहर्षकृद्रक्तमण्डलः ।
शरावरूपस्तोदाढ्यो रोमकूपेषु सास्रवः ॥ ६३ ॥
On the third day, there is fever, horripilation, red colored, saucer shaped rashes with severe pricking pain and bleeding appearing at the hair follicles.

महांश्चतुर्थे श्वयथुस्तापश्वासभ्रमप्रदः ।
विकारान् कुरुते तांस्तान् पञ्चमे विषकोपजान् ॥ ६४ ॥
षष्ठे व्याप्नोति मर्माणि सप्तमे हन्ति जीवितम् ।
इति तीक्ष्णं विषं मध्यं हीनं च विभजेदतः ॥ ६५ ॥
On the fourth day, there is profound swelling, great heat, dyspnea and dizziness; on the fifth day, it gives rise to many symptoms of poisoning (enumerated so far) and on the six day, it spreads to the vital spots and on the seventh day, it destroys the life; this is mode of action of strong poison, from this the (modes of) moderate and mild poisons should be classified.
Lutadamsha Lakshana: Features of spider bite

एकविंशतिरात्रेण विषं शाम्यति सर्वथा ।
Poison (of spider bite) gets mitigated by twenty – one days completely.

Lutadamsha Chikitsa: Treatment of spider bite

अथाशु लूतादष्टस्य शस्त्रेणादंशमुद्धरेत् ॥ ६६ ॥
दहेच्च जाम्बवौष्ठाद्यैर्न तु पित्तोत्तरं दहेत् ।
In a person bit by spider, the teeth of the spider should be removed with the help of a knife immediately, the place burnt (cauterized) by heated stone etc.; that which is Pitta predominant should not be burnt (cauterized).

कर्कशं भिन्नरोमाणं मर्मसन्ध्यादिसंश्रितम् ॥ ६७ ॥
प्रसृतं सर्वतो दंशं न छिन्दीत दहेन्न च ।
The bite site which is very rough, having damaged hairs, located on vital parts, bony joints etc. with copious exudation should neither be cut nor burnt.

लेपयेद्दग्धमगदैर्मधुसैन्धवसंयुतैः ॥ ६८ ॥
सुशीतैः सेचयेच्चानु कषायैः क्षीरिवृक्षजैः ।
After cauterization, the place must be applied with a paste of agada (anti – poisonous recipe) added with honey and rock salt; then the part bathed often with the decoction of (bark of) trees of milky sap made very cool.

सर्वतोऽपहरेद्रक्तं शृङ्गाद्यैः सिरयाऽपि वा ॥ ६९ ॥ सेकलेपास्ततः शीता बोधिश्लेष्मातकाक्षकैः ।
Blood should be let out by using the sucking horn etc. or by cutting the vein, then bathing the part with the decoction of (bark of) bodhi – Ficus religiosa, śleṣmātaka – Cordia dichotoma and akṣaka – Terminalia bellerica often and applying their paste in cold condition.

Padmaka Agada

फलिनीद्विनिशाक्षौद्रसर्पिर्भिः पद्मकाह्वयः ॥ ७० ॥
अशेषलूताकीटानामगदः सार्वकार्मिकः ।
phalinī – Callicarpa macrophylla, dviniśā – the two nisha –
Haridra – Curcuma longa
Daruharidra – Berberis aristata, honey and ghee are made into a paste and rolled into pills, this known as Padmaka agada, bestows all the good effects in poisons of spiders and insects of all kinds.
Champaka Agada

हरिद्राद्वयपत्तङ्गमञ्जिष्ठानतकेसरैः ॥ ७१ ॥
सक्षौद्रसर्पिः पूर्वस्मादधिकश्चम्पकाह्वयः ।
haridrādvaya – The two Haridra –
Haridra – Curcuma longa
Daruharidra – Berberis aristata, pattanga – Caesalpinia sappan, maṅjistā – Rubia cordifolia, nata – Valeriana wallicii, kesara – Mesua ferrea with honey and ghee, converted into pills; this known Champaka Agada is more effective than the earlier.

Gomayadi Yoga

तद्वद्गोमयनिष्पीडशर्कराघृतमाक्षिकैः ॥ ७२ ॥
Similarly, the juice of fresh cow dung mixed with sugar, ghee and honey is consumed.
Mandara Agada and Gandhamandana Agada

अपामार्गमनोऽह्वालदार्वीध्यामकगैरिकैः ।
नतैलाकुष्ठमरिचयष्ट्याह्वघृतमाक्षिकैः ॥ ७३ ॥
अगदो मन्दरो नाम तथाऽन्यो गन्धमादनः ।
नतलोध्रवचाकट्वीपाठैलापत्रकुङ्कुमैः ॥ ७४ ॥
apāmārga – Achyranthes aspera, realgar, arsenic trisulphidum, Berberis aristata, dhyāmaka – Cymbopogon schoenathus, purified red ochre, nata – Valeriana wallicii – Elettaria cardamomum, kuṣṭha – Saussurea lappa, marica – Piper nigrum, yaṣṭyāhva – Glycyrrhiza glabra, ghee and honey is made into agada known as Mandara agada, make Gandhamadana Agada when following herbs are made into paste (added with ghee and honey) –
nata – Valeriana wallicii, lodhra – Symplocos racemosa, vacā – Acorus calamus, kaṭvī – Picrorrhiza kurroa, pāṭha – Cissampelos pareira, elā – Elettaria cardamomum, patra – Cinnamomum tamala, and kuṅkuma – Crocus sativus.

Indications of vishaghna and vishodhana

विषघ्नं बहुदोषेषु प्रयुञ्जीत विशोधनम् ।
When there is an increase of doshas, then anti – poisonous, purificatory therapiesshould be administered (as described further).

Yastyahvadi Kvatha for emesis

यष्ट्याह्वमदनाङ्कोल्लजालिनीसिन्धुवारिकाः ॥ ७५ ॥
कफे ज्येष्ठाम्बुना पीत्वा विषमाशु समुद्वमेत् ।
शिरीषपत्रत्वङ्मूलफलं वाऽङ्कोल्लमूलवत् ॥ ७६ ॥
In Kapha, the poison should be removed quickly by producing vomiting by making the patient drink the decoction of yaṣṭyāhva – Glycyrrhiza glabra, madana – Randia dumetorum, aṅkolla – Alangium salvifolium, jālinī – Luffa acutangula andsindhuvāra – Vitex negundo or of the leaves, bark, root and fruit of śirīṣa – Albizia lebbeck added with the root of aṅkolla – Alangium salvifolium mixed with rice wash.

Triphaladi Yoga for purgation

विरेचयेच्च त्रिफलानीलिनीत्रिवृतादिभिः ।
Purgation should be done by using
triphalā – triphala –
Haritaki – Terminalia chebula
Vibhitaki – Terminalia bellerica
Amalaki – Emblica officinalis,
nīlinī – Indigofera tinctorea, trivṛt – Operculina turpethum
etc.

Removal of Karnika

निवृत्ते दाहशोफादौ कर्णिकां पातयेद्व्रणात् ॥ ७७ ॥
कुसुम्भपुष्पं गोदन्तः स्वर्णक्षीरी कपोतविट् ।
त्रिवृता सैन्धवं दन्ती कर्णिकापातनं तथा ॥ ७८ ॥
मूलमुत्तरवारुण्या वंशनिर्लेखसंयुतम् ।
तद्वच्च सैन्धवं कुष्ठं दन्ती कटुकदौग्धिकम् ॥ ७९ ॥
राजकोशातकीमूलं किण्वो वा मथितोद्भवः ।
कर्णिकापातसमये बृंहयेच्च विषापहैः ॥ ८० ॥
After burning sensation and swelling subside, firstly the karnika (ring like muscular growth in the wound) should be made to fall off from the wound; kusumbhapuṣpaṃ – flowers of Carthamus tinctorius, cow’s tooth/gypsum, svarṇakṣīrī – Argemone mexicana, excreta of pigeon, trivṛtā – Operculina turpethum, rock salt and dantī – Baliospermum montanum are best for removing muscular ring (ring like muscular growth in the wound); also the root of uttara vāruṇyā – Crataeva nurvala added with thin fibers of vaṃśa – Bambusa arundinacea­; similarly, rock salt, kuṣṭhaṃ – Saussurea lappa, dantī – Baliospermum montanum, kaṭuka – Picrorhiza kurroa, daugdhikam – Euphorbia hirta, and root of rājakośātakī – Luffa acutangular or kinva (yeast) produced from churning of buttermilk. At the time of removal of the muscular ring the person should be given nourishing food which is anti – poisonous.

Use of ghee

स्नेहकार्यमशेषं च सर्पिषैव समाचरेत् ।
विषस्य वृद्धये तैलमग्नेरिव तृणोलुपम् ॥ ८१ ॥
During the treatment of spider bite poisoning, only ghee should be used for all oleation/lubrication therapies, since oil increases the poison greatly, like a bundle of hay put on fire.
Best Agadas for spider poisoning with doshic involvement

ह्रीबेरवैकङ्कतगोपकन्यामुस्ताशमीचन्दनटुण्टुकानि ।
शैवालनीलोत्पलवक्रयष्टीत्वङ्नाकुलीपद्मकराठमध्यम् ॥ ८२ ॥
रजनीघनसर्पलोचनाकणशुण्ठीकणमूलचित्रकाः ।
वरुणागुरुबिल्वपाटलीपिचुमन्दामयशेलुकेसरम् ॥ ८३ ॥
बिल्वचन्दननतोत्पलशुण्ठीपिप्पलीनिचुलवेतसकुष्ठम् ।
शुक्तिशाकवरपाटलिभार्गीसिन्धुवारकरघाटवराङ्गम् ॥ ८४ ॥
पित्तकफानिललूताः पानाञ्जननस्यलेपसेकेन ।
अगदवरा वृत्तस्थाः कुगतीरिव वारयन्त्येते ॥ ८५ ॥
hrībera – Pavonia odorata, vaikaṅkata – Flacourtia indica, gopakanyā – Hemidesmus indicus, mustā – Cyperus rotundus, śamī – Prosopis cineraria, candana – Santalum album, ṭuṇṭukāni – Oroxylum indicum, śaivāla – Ceratophyllum demersum, nīlotpala – Nymphaea stellata, vakra – Valeriana wallichii, yaṣṭī – Glycyrrhiza glabra, tvak – Cinnamomum zeylanica, nākulī – Rauwolfia serpentina, padmaka – Prunus cerasoides, and rāṭha madhyam – seeds of Randia dumetorum, rajanī – Curcuma longa, ghana – Cyperus rotundus, Ophiorrhiza mungos, kaṇa – Piper longum, śuṇṭhī – Zingiber officinale, kaṇamūla – Root of Piper longum, citrakāḥ – Plumbago zeylanica, varuṇa – Crataeva nurvala, aguru – Aquilaria agallocha, bilva – Aegle marmelos, pāṭalī – Trichosanthes dioica, picumanda – Azadirachta indica, āmaya – Saussurea lappa, śeluka – Cordia dichotoma, kēsaram – Mesua ferrea, bilva – Aegle marmelos, candana – Santalum album, nata – Valeriana wallicii, utpala – Nymphaea alba, śuṇṭhī – Zingiber officinale, pippalī – Piper longum, nicula – Barringtonia racemosa, vetasa – Salix caprea, kuṣṭham – Saussurea lappa, pearl mussel, śākavara – Leptadenia reticulata, pāṭali – Trichosanthes dioica, bhārgī – Clerodendrum serratum, sindhuvāra – Vitex negundo, karaghāṭa – Randia dumetorum and varāṅgam – Cinnamomum zeylanica; these three efficacious recipes described in the three kinds of poetical metresused for drinking, collyrium, nasal medication, external applicationand bathing the part curesthe poison of spiders predominant of Vata, Pitta and Kapha respectively, just as a prosperous persondispels poverty.
Lodhradi Agada

लोध्रं सेव्यं पद्मकं पद्मरेणुः कालीयाख्यं चन्दनं यच्चरक्तम् ।
कान्तापुष्पं दुग्धिनीका मृणालं लूताः सर्वा घ्नन्ति सर्वक्रियाभिः ॥ ८६ ॥
lodhraṃ – Symplocos racemosa, sevyaṃ – Vetiveria zizanioides, padmakaṃ – Prunus cerasoides, padmareṇuḥ – Nelumbo nucifera, kālīyākhyaṃ – Santalum album, candanaṃ yat ca raktam – raktha chandana – Pterocarpus santalinus, kāntāpuṣpaṃ – Callicarpa macrophylla, dugdhinīkā – Euphorbia hirta, mṛṇālaṃ – lotus stalk – Nelumbo nucifera made into agada (antidote) and used in all therapies destroys the poison of all kinds of spiders.

इति श्री वैद्यपति सिंहगुप्तसूनु श्रीमद्वाग्भटविरचितायामष्टाङ्गहृदयसंहितायां षष्ठे उत्तरस्थाने कीटलूतादिविषप्रतिषेधो नाम सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्याय: ॥ ३७ ॥
Thus, ends the chapter Keeta luthaadi visha pratishedha – thirty seventh in Uttarasthana of Ashtanga Hridaya Samhitha composed by Shrimad Vagbhata, son of Shri Vaidyapati Simhagupta.