namaḥ śrīpurabhairavyai ||
After listening to a lecture from a dear friend, a dean at Stanford on “Medical Accidents”, the relevance of some simple tips given by our sages seemed to make a lot more sense. Various ancient men of medicine discuss some general aspects that need to be kept in mind when administering medicine.
1. Time
Only when the medicine is administered at the right time, it becomes effective. Medicine administered to the patient before or after the prescribed time only causes harm. Based on the type of medicine and the nature of the illness, there are eleven times to administer medicine:
a. Abhakta: on an empty stomach
b. Prāgbhakta: before the consumption of a meal
c. Madhyabhakta: administering medicine midway between a meal
d. Adhōbhakta: immediately after the meal
e. Sabhakta: consuming medicine along with the meal
f. Antarabhakta: administering medicine in the time period between two successive meals
g. Samudga: consuming medicine before and after a meal
h. Muhurmuhuḥ: frequently without a direct association with the meal cycle
i. Sagrāsa: mixed with the meal, such that every gulp of food consumed includes the medicine
j. Grāsāntara: consuming medicine between successive gulps of food
k. nishi: during the night, at bedtime
2. Quantity
The quantity of medicine administered is of great importance as consuming medicine in quantities lower than the requirement does not cure the disease and excessive consumption adversely affects the patient. The appropriate dose or mātrā is determined based on the following criteria:
mātrāyā nāstyavasthānam dōṣamagnibalam vayaḥ |
vyādhim dravyañca kōṣṭhañca vīkṣya mātrām prayōjayēt ||
a. Dōṣa: can be vāta, pitta or kapha
b. Agni: can be mandāgni or tīkṣṇagni
c. Bala: a strong medicine cannot be administered in a big dose to a physically weak person. The strength of the medicine and the physical capacity of the patient should be proportional
d. Vayaḥ: age of the patient
e. Vyādhi: the nature and intensity of the illness
f. Dravya: the ingredients used in the preparation of the medicine to be administered
g. Kōṣṭha: bowels, can be mr̥du or krūra
Mātrā or quantity is an important factor that can judge the quality of medicine as adhama, madhyama or uttama. A particular medicinal preparation is said to be best if:
a. It cures most of the illness
b. Acts rapidly
c. Needs to be administered in small doses
d. Is pleasing to one’s prakr̥ti (like the smell, taste, etc.)
e. Easily digested by the body
The same is stated slightly differently elsewhere:
alpamātram mahāvēgam bahudōṣaharam sukham |
laghupākam sukhāsvādam prīṇanam vyādhināśanam ||
3. Dōśa
Like the triple natured prakr̥ti is comprised of sattva, rajas, and tamas, in terms of the physical body, we have vāta, pitta, and kapha. These three dhātus, when abused, result in various dōṣas. The reasons for these three dōṣas can be lack of moderation or adequacy in terms of food, sleep, hygiene, sexual activity etc. or seasonal changes that change the weather.
The common reasons for vāyu dōṣa are described below:
vyāyāmādapatarpaṇāt prapatanāt bhaṅgāt kṣayāt jāgarāt vēgānāñca vidharaṇāt atiśucaḥ śaityāt atitrāsataḥ | rukṣakṣōbhakaṣāyatiktakaṭukairēbhiḥ prakōpam vrajēt ||
Exercise, fasting, fall, injury, kṣaya of dhātus like blood, loss of sleep, withholding mala, mūtra, vīrya etc forcibly, extreme cleanliness, excessive exposure to water, fear, physical and mental tension, excessive consumption of astringent, dry, pungent or acrid foods: can lead to vāyu prakōpa.
kaṭvamlōṣṇavidāhi tīkṣṇa lavaṇa krōdhōpavāsātapaiḥ |
strīsamparka tilātasīdadhisurāśuktāranālādibhiḥ ||
Excessive consumption of spicy, sour, hard and salty food, anger, fasting, heat, sambhōga dōṣa, unmoderated consumption of tila, dadhi, gravel, liquor, etc. can result in pitta prakōpa.
gurumadhurarasātisnigdhadugdhēkṣubhakṣya dravadadhidinanidrāpūpasarpiḥprapūraiḥ |
Excessive consumption of heavy, sweet, oily foods or of milk, sugar, jaggery, liquids, curd, etc., sleeping during the day, excessive consumption of foods like kachoris, puranpolis, etc., result in kapha prakōpa.
The disease is treated based on the diagnosis of one of these dōṣas and suitable medicine is administered.
Apart from these key concepts, sahapāna, anupāna (syrups), pralēpa (ointments), nāḍī (pulse), tapamāpa (temperature), śvāsa (breath) are to be considered during diagnosis and treatment.
tadēva yuktam bhaiṣajyam yadārōgyāya kalpatē |
sa caiva bhiṣajām śrēṣṭhō rōgēbhyaḥ yaḥ pramōcayēt ||
sahasrapatrāmbujakarṇikāntaḥ
jyōtiḥprakāśam paramādimūlam |
tējōmayam janmajarāvihīnam
śrīrāghavam nityamaham namāmi ||