Review on Vishajanya Janapadodwamsa Vyadhi with Special Reference to Environmental Toxicity

Introduction

Environmental toxicity is a multidisciplinary field of science concerned with the study of harmful effects of various chemical, biological and physical agents on living organisms.¹ There are numerous sources of environmental toxicity that can result in the availability of toxins in our water, food, and air. Such contributors involve pesticides, organic and inorganic pollutants, and biological agents, each of which is harmful to living. Even 5000 years back, the practice of environmental poisoning was present. In the olden days, the king use to be the prime attention. Enemies defeated in wars awaited a chance to kill the king due to their anger and revenge.Kings and their armies used to travel a long way in search of overcoming various kingdoms, and they were constantly threatened with poisoning. So, before approaching the enemy’s kingdom, the king would inspect the grass, water, path, food, smoke, air, and other elements that could be tainted by enemies.² Acharyas have described the dooshitalaxanas and various methods of purification of these entities.

Review of Literature

According to Acharya Sushrutha

Janpada denotes a large number of people becoming ill and destroying the entire region. The disease that spreads in the form of an epidemic is called “janpadodhvansa rogas”. This disease is caused by a specific infectious agent or its toxic products, and is capable of spreading directly or indirectly from man to man, animal to animal, or from the environment to man or animal.³ Sometimes these diseases are developed as a result of visha. They are called as vishajanyajanpadodwamsa rogas. Acharya Sushrutha has given a detailed description of these conditions in Kalpasthana’s 3^rd chapter. Acharyas have described the dooshitalaxanas and the method of purification of entities like grass, water, path, food, smoke, air, etc. which may be poisoned. 

According to Acharya Charaka

This has been described by Acharya Charaka in Vimana sthana’s chapter 3 in which vayu (air), desha (land), kala (season), and jala (water) all are affected.Charaka has also defined the signs of samanya vayu-normal air, vikrut vayu -polluted air, and vishdushit vayu-poisoned air, as well as poorvarupa -early signs of janpadopdhvansa, which are unusual terms of planets, stars, sun, air, moon, fire, and the environment that disrupt the seasons.⁴

Though the prakriti of each person differs, vayu, udaka, desha, and kala are the same in all individuals. So any vitiation in these entities will bring diseases in people at a time with similar laxanas and intensity.

Visha dushitajala

Water pollution is the release of substances into bodies of water that makes water unsafe for human use and disrupts the aquatic ecosystem.

Vikrita jala lakshana: Water should be considered unacceptably deranged in the 6 groups of vishadushita jala: roopa (sight/color), gandha (odour), rasa (taste), veerya (potency), sparsha (touch), and vipaka (chemical transformation). Toxic water becomes slippery, frothy, strong-smelling,and marked on the surface with (black-colored) lines.⁵

Effects of dooshita jala: Frogs and fish that live in water die for no apparent reason. Poison has caused the birds and beasts that live in the water and on its shores to roam around wildly. Whenever a man, a horse, or an elephant bathes in this poisoned water, they may vomit, faint. have fever, experience a burning sensation, and inflammation of the limbs.6

Diseases due to ingestion of contaminated water: Excessive thirst (trishna), flatulence (adhmana), abdominal disease (udarvyadhi), fever (jwara), cough (kasa), loss of appetite (kshudhamandhya), goiter (granthi), heaviness (angagaurav), abdominal pain (udarshool), constipation (kosthabaddhata), edema (shotha), anemia (pandu), indigestion (ajeerna), asthma (shwasa) and rhinitis (pratishaya) are all caused due to ingestion of contaminated water.

Diseases due to contact with contaminated water: Contact with contaminated water using a bath or any other ways cause skin disorder (kustha), itching (kandu) and conjunctivitis (netrabhishyanda).⁷

Various ayurvedic methods of purification of dooshita jala

a) Davashwakarnadi yoga⁸

To purify the poisoned water, drugs mentioned in the table 1 should be collected and burnt. The cold ashes should then be casted into the poisoned water, which will make the water pure (nonpoisonous). A handful (1 anjali = 160 gm) of this ash should be put into the pot containing drinking water to be used when needed.

a) Mechanical purificationIn this method of purification, clean and neat cotton clothes are applied for filtration to remove mechanical contaminations like mud, crystals of chemicals, etc.

b) Impregnation of kataka (Strychnos Potatorum L.), gomeda (hessonite), bisagranthi (root of lotus), shaivalamoola (root of algae), vastra (cloth), mukta (pearl) and mani (potash alum).⁹

c) Water should be made clear by putting parnimula (a kind of grass that has the property of diluting the water) and knots (tubers) of lotus plants into the water.

d) Chandrakantamani (moonstone) exudates in water removes harmful bacteria, insects, worms, and poison.¹⁰

e) Thermal purification This method of purification is done by heating water on the fire, in sunlight, or by dropping heated solid metals in water. The most effective method is boiling the water for 2–3 minutes. It helps to remove the biological contaminants of water.

Vishadooshita vayu/dhooma

Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air Particles may contain cchemicals from factories, dust, car emissions, pollen, dust, and mould spores. 

In ancient times, atmosphere poisoning was being done as a military operation to harm the enemy by fumigation of toxic substances.

• Vikrita Vayu Lakshana– Air of this type is known to cause illness such as – not following the season, speedy, excessively moist, harsh, cold, rough, blocking, hot, terribly sounds; excessively clashing with each other and affected with an unsuitable smell, vapor, gravels, dust, and smoke.¹¹
• Characteristics and impact of polluted air: When a bird drops from the sky in a tired condition, it indicates poisoned wind and smoke (of the atmosphere). It is further aggravated with an attack of cough, nasal discharge, headache, and severe eye diseases among people in-hailing the same wind and smoke.¹²

Treatment of vishadooshita dhooma

In the case of poisoned air, the atmosphere should be purified by burning herbal drugs mentioned in table 2 in the open ground. The fumes of these drugs would purify the poisonous air.¹³

Shigruvadiagada: Fine powder of devadaru, arjuna, lodhra, and shigru are to be sprinkled over the trees, flags posts, etc. Poisoned air when comes in contact with the agada gets detoxified.

Vishadooshita bhumi

Land pollution means undesirable physical, biological, and chemical factors introduced by human activities on the land.

Sources: Increased mechanization and urbanization, pesticides, increased leisure and available wealth, increased waste disposal, and increased military presence.

Vikrita bhumi/Desha lakshana: The desha (bhumi) of the following description is known as unwholesome: having color, odor, taste, and touch that are unnatural; excessively damp; abounding in serpents, beasts of prey, mosquitoes, locusts, flies, mice, owls, birds and animals such as the jackal and abounding in woods of weeds and ulupa grass; abounding in creepers where crops have either fallen, withered or been destroyed in an unprecedented manner; where the winds are smoky; where the sound of birds is unceasing; where the baying of dogs always assails the ears; where herds of animals and flocks of birds of various kinds are always in a state of alarm and pain.¹⁴

Effects of vikrita bhumi: Ground, surfaces of rocks, banks of rivers, and sand which have been poisoned and which come in contact with the body parts of cows, horses, elephants, camel, donkeys, and human beings produce swelling, burning sensation and makes falling of hair and nails.¹⁵

Treatment of vishadooshita bhumi¹⁶

Decoction agents are used for the treatment of the affected surface of the body

1. Ananta (Hemidesmusindicus) along with sarvagandha (eladiganadravyas) and madhu, guda made as paste should be dissolved in sura or jala and sprinkled on the poisoned road.

2. Cow milk mixed with soft mud can be sprinkled over the road.

• Vidanga - Embelia ribes
• Pathaa - Cissampelos pareira
• Katabhi - Albizzia procera

The decoction made out of such drugs can be sprinkled over such roads to purify them.

Vishadooshita truna

Grass poisoning: This is the poisoning of the crops to cause casualties

Sources: Cattle poisons, insecticides, fertilizers, chemicals, etc.

Health impacts

If the truna (grass) and bhakta (cattle feed, corn, etc.) are poisoned then the animal who feed on them will become weak, faint, some will vomit and some purge while some animals will die. Hence they should be treated quickly and suitably.¹⁷ 

Treatment of truna poisoning

The poisoned things should be smeared with vishaharaagadas. The animals being intoxicated should be made to hear the melodious sound of musical instruments such as drums, kettledrums, etc., which are beaten hard, being smeared with the paste of taara (silver), sutara (mercury), surendra, gopa (sariva), and kuruvinda (musta). All drugs in equal quantity are macerated in the bile of brown colored cow. By the sound of such musical instruments strong poison gets destroyed.¹⁸

Dooshta kala

Vitiation is nothing but in terms of ritu, there will be ritu vipareeta laxanas, ati, or heena laxanas.

General management of janpadodhwansha according to Acharya Charaka¹⁹

Panchkarma therapy (vamana- emesis, virechana-purgation, niruha, anuvasanam, nasya- errhines) is the best treatment. Thereafter, proper use of rasayana (rejuvenative therapy/immuno-modulator) measures and management with the drugs collected in a normal environment is recommended. Sadvritta and aachar rasayana (good behavioral activity and personal hygiene) is also helpful in reducing the effect of adharma (i.e. not following the rules and regulations said by ancestors) which is the main reason for janpado dhvansa (imbalance of the ecosystem).

Environmental toxicity

Environmental toxicology is defined as the science that deals with the effects of pollutants on the environment and wildlife. Environment particularly includes air, soil, and water. A pollutant is a substance that occurs in the environment at least in part because of human activity and which has a deleterious effect on the living organisms (Table 3).

Water pollution: Water pollution refers to the pollution of bodies of water caused by various human activities, industrial waste, and so on.

Sources of water pollution²⁰

A) Organic: Detergents, insecticides, herbicides, lubricants, petroleum hydrocarbon, fuel (gasoline, diesel, fuel oil), volatile organic compounds, chlorinated solvents.

B) Inorganic: SO₂ , NH₃ , nitrates, and phosphate fertilizer, heavy metals

C) Macroscopic: Garbage (paper, plastic, and food waste)

D) Thermal pollutants: Includes wastes from atomic, nuclear, and thermal power plants.

Effects of water pollution on living beings

• Pollution of water bodies by mercury causes minamata disease in humans and dropsy in fishes

• A high amount of lead in water causes dyslexia • Increased level of cadmium cause Itai-Itai disease.

• Oil pollution of the sea kills marine birds and adversely affects other aquatic life and beaches.

• Pollution due to pesticides and inorganic chemicals may enter the food chain

Methods of controlling water pollution

A) Storage: Water is drawn out from the source and impounded in natural or artificial reservoirs. When water is stored, it acts as a reserve from which further pollution can be avoided.

B) Filtration: Filtration is the second phase in water purification and is very important because it removes 98%-99% of bacteria as well as other impurities.

C) Disinfection: For a chemical or an agent to be potentially useful as a disinfectant in water supplies following methods should be followed:

• Proper treatment of sewage water by sedimentation, coagulation, filtration, disinfection, softening, and aeration.

• Water recycling after treatment should be practiced to the maximum extent possible.

• The quantity of wastewater discharge should be minimized.

Air pollution

Air pollution is the result of industrial gases, vehicles, deforestation, chemical warfare, certain domestic activities, and so on. Air pollution can be defined as any solid, liquid, and gaseous substances including noise and radioactive substances in the atmosphere in such a concentration that may be directly or indirectly injurious to humans and other organisms, and plants which interferes with the normal environmental processes.

Sources of Air pollution²¹

A) Automobiles: One of the major sources of air pollution is motor vehicles. These vehicles emit hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

B) Industries: Industries emit large amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere. Combustion of fuel to generate heat and power produces smoke, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fly ash.

C) Domestic Sources: Domestic usage of coal, wood, or oil smoke, contains dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide.

D) Miscellaneous: These comprise burning refuse, incinerators, pesticide, spraying natural sources (e.g. windborne dust, fungi, and bacteria), and nuclear energy programs.

E) Indoor air pollution: Tobacco smoke, stove, aerosol sprays, solvents, resin products, building material, etc.

Prevention and control of air pollution²²

The following procedures for the prevention and control of air pollution are recommended by World Heath Organization (WHO):

A) Containment: Prevention of escape of toxic substances into the ambient air.

B) Replacement: Replace a technological process that causes air pollution with a new process that does not affect the air.

C) Dilution: Establishment of ‘green belts’ between the industrial and residential areas for diluting the condensed air.

D) Legislation: Air pollution is controlled in many countries by suitable legislation, e.g. Clean Air Acts.

E) International action: To address global air pollution, WHO has developed a worldwide connectivity of laboratories for air pollution surveillance and research.

Soil pollution

• The addition of certain substances which adversely affect the environment by polluting the soil and its fertility is called soil pollution.

• Plastic clothes, glass, metals, organic matter, sewage wastes, building debris, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and non-biodegradable things cause soil pollution.

Sources –

• Increased mechanization and urbanization

• Pesticides and increased leisure, Increased waste disposal and increased military presence

Health impact –

• Cancers, skin diseases, respiratory disorders, and birth defects

• Liver, kidney, and lung diseases Landfills become breeding grounds for mice, rodents, flies, and birds that can transmit diseases.

Control of soil pollution

• Indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes should be avoided.

• Ban plastic bags.

• Sewage should be treated properly.

• Organic matter from domestic, agricultural, and other wastes should be segregated and vermicomposted. 

• Industrial waste should be properly treated to remove hazardous materials.

Discussion

Environmental toxicity is a global issue. It is been proven to be hazardous to public health and safety. About 5000 years back, the environment was being intentionally poisoned by the hunger of conquering the kingdoms. In the present scenario, the environment is being poisoned by the toxicants produced from pesticides, industrial wastes, and biological weapons that are being used for the same purpose. As per reports, the present global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus is also developed as a biological weapon. The whole world has severely got affected by the disease. Purification of the environment and management of such conditions can be tried by the methods mentioned in the classics. Vishadooshita vayu or air becoming toxic is nothing but an increased percentage of irrespirable gases in the environment. The presence of particulate matter suspended in the air, leads to different diseases in people who are breathing that air. The shigruvadiagada mentioned by Acharya Sushruta is having vishagnadravyas helps in detoxifying the air. Agada will be applied to the things like flags, posters, etc. It releases its active principles constantly into the air and purifies the environment. The resultant smoke from burning of vishagna drugs like devadaru, haridra, shigru, eladala, and ativisha purifies the environment immediatey.

Recent studies

1. Medicinal smoke reduces airborne bacteria²³ 

• This study shows the impact and pharmacological aspects of medicinal smoke on aerial bacteria in an indoor environment. Smoke was originated from burning wood and a complex mixture of odoriferous and medicinal herbs (havan material) like Aegle marmelos (L.), Cedrusdeodara (Roxb. Ex D. Don), etc. The obtained results showed a 94% reduction in bacterial count in 60 min and the effective time was up to 24h in the closed room.

2. Agnihotra: A non-conventional solution to air pollution²⁴

• Under the natural lab conditions and local artificial indoor pollution, a noticeable reduction was observed in SO₂ and NO₂ concentration by almost 51%, and 60%, respectively. The effect was more by yagya in comparison to to without yagya. In this study materials used for yagya (fire rituals) included cow’s ghee (clarified butter), peepal wood (Ficus religiosa), guggula (Commiphora mukul hook ex stocks), etc.

3. Experimental study of Shushrutokta jala prasadana vidhi wsr to gomeda²⁵ 

• The objective of this study was to discover the possibility of jala prasadana vidhi with the help of gomeda (hessonite). Containers used for water in this study were made up of glass and earthen vessels. Values were observed by applying the ANOVA test and unpaired ‘T’ test and the obtained results showed a very significant effect of gomeda on water impurities. In this experiment, 1 carat of gomeda was used against 1 liter of water. One carat is equal to 200 mg (approximately).

4) An experiment on the potency of vangbhatokta jala nirvishikarana yoga on polluted water²⁶

• Jala nirvishikarana yoga was created using the traditional method. The best dose and period were discovered to be 3 drops per 100 ml for 30 minutes of contact time. Before and after treatment, the sample was tested for various physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters. At room temperature, Jala nirvishikarana yoga exhibits efficient antimicrobial activity and effectiveness for at least one year.

Conclusion

Environmental toxicology is a multidisciplinary science that investigates the toxic impacts of different chemicals and physical hazards on living organisms. Ecotoxicology is a branch of environmental toxicology that studies the adverse affects of toxicants on populations and ecosystems.. When we go through the history of environmental toxicity, earlier it was with less intensity and to a restricted area, but in the present situation, the hazardous effects of environmental toxicity are bothering globally. Toxicants from pollutants, insecticides, pesticides, and fertilisers, for example, can have a negative impact on an organism and its community by lowering species diversity and abundance. A lterations in population dynamics have an impact on the ecosystem by minimising productivity and stability.Though a lot of acts and regulations have been enforced by the government in this regard, the control of environmental toxicity is not effective and purification methods practiced in the present day are expensive and need a lot of manpower. As a result, adopting ayurvedic purification methods for detoxifying natural sources will help avoid harmful consequences for living beings. These methods are simple and can be done at the household levels. Although “prevention is always better than cure,” avoiding sources of pollution and toxicants from entering the environment should be guided in order to maintain the integrity of the environment for upcoming generations.

Conflict of Interest

None