Abstract

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF VISHAGHNA KALPA IN SAHASTRAYOGAM: CLASSICAL PERSPECTIVES AND THERAPEUTIC SIGNIFICANCE

*Dr. Sharada Chikurte, Dr. Rupali Lanjekar

Abstract

Background: Agada Tantra, one of the eight branches of Ayurveda, deals with the prevention and management of poisoning (Visha). Classical texts describe numerous Vishaghna Kalpas in various pharmaceutical dosage forms, including Ghrita, Taila, Churna, Gutika, Kashaya, Leha, and Rasa Yoga. From the perspective of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, these formulations are important for understanding classical pharmaceutical principles, such as dosage form selection, processing methods, and the use of herbal, mineral, and animal-derived ingredients. Sahasrayogam, a renowned Kerala compendium, contains several unique Vishaghna Kalpas that are widely used in Ayurvedic practice. However, their pharmaceutical characteristics and therapeutic significance have not been critically reviewed in a systematic manner. Objective: To critically review the Vishaghna Kalpas described in Sahastrayogam, classify them according to dosage forms and therapeutic indications, evaluate their pharmaceutical characteristics, and discuss their therapeutic significance in the light of classical Ayurvedic principles and contemporary scientific understanding. Materials and Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using Sahastrayogam as the primary source of data. Classical Ayurvedic texts including Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, and standard textbooks of Agada Tantra were consulted for conceptual understanding. Contemporary literature available through PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and AYUSH Research Portal was reviewed to correlate the pharmacological activities of commonly employed medicinal plants and pharmaceutical principles. Results: Fourteen formulations possessing Vishaghna activity were identified in Sahastrayogam, comprising four Ghrita, one Taila, two Churna, one Rasa, four Gutika, one Kashaya, and one Leha. Triphala was the most frequently employed ingredient, followed by Ela, Chandana, Trikatu, and Vacha. Besides antidotal activity, these formulations demonstrated therapeuticutility in disorders such as Pandu, Jwara, Kushtha, Prameha, infertility, cognitive impairment, chronic respiratory diseases, and neurological disorders. Several formulations also incorporated unique pharmaceutical media such as goat's milk, breast milk, goat urine, cow urine, coconut water, snake bile, and precious metals, highlighting the advanced pharmaceutic concepts described in Sahastrayogam. Conclusion: The Vishaghna Kalpas described in Sahastrayogam constitute a valuable repository of Ayurvedic antidotal formulations with broad therapeutic applications extending beyond detoxification. Their multidimensional pharmacological actions indicate potential relevance in contemporary integrative toxicology. Further pharmacological investigations and well-designed clinical studies are required to establish their evidence-based clinical utility.

Keywords: Agada Tantra, Sahastrayogam, Vishaghna Kalpa, Gara Visha, Dushivisha, Ayurveda, Chronic poisoning, Toxicology, Antidotal Formulations.