A CRITICAL REVIEW ON VRISHCHIKA VISHA: AN AYURVEDIC CONCEPT

Ayurveda is the Oldest, Traditional, Indian System of Health Science. It gives the knowledge of longevity and healthy life. Thus ‘Ayurveda’ totally means ‘Science of life’ having the eight main branches. Agadatantra is one among the main branch which deals with the study of poisons (Toxicology), their signs and symptoms, fatal dose, antidotes and management. Acharya Sushruta has described in detail about all the keeta visha in Kalpa Sthana of Sushruta Samhita, Vriddha Vagbhata in Uttaratantra of Ashtanga Sangraha, Laghu Vagbhata in Uttaratantra of Ashtanga Hridaya and in other Ayurvedic classics and textbook. Vrishchika (Scorpion) is one among keeta visha. It is mainly neurotoxic in nature especially belonging to the buthidae family are more dangerous to the human. It causes severe pain, burning sensation, swelling and redness at the site of bite. According to its severity, Acharya’s have described all the type of vrishchikas, their signs and symptoms, complications and treatment. Keywords: Ayurveda, Visha, Vrishchika visha, Scorpion poison