Agada
Encyclopedia
Agada is one of the eight branches into which ayurveda
medicine is traditionally divided. Literally, gada means a disease and agada means any agent which makes the body free from disease; however the term agada is used specifically for the branch dealing with toxicology
, the description of the different types of poison
s, and their antidote
s.
Agada Tantra is defined as a section of toxicology that deals with food poisoning, snakebite
s, dog bites, insect bite
s, etc. The school of toxicology was founded and run by Kashyapa, also known as Vriddhakashyapa, another contemporary of Atreya Punarvasu. He lived in Taksashila
in what is now modern-day Pakistan
. His text was called the Kashyapa Samhita. This, however, is a different book than the Kashyap Samhita
of pediatrics
. This text is not available now but the references of this text are found mentioned in different commentaries. Some other texts written by Alambayana, Ushana
, Saunaka, and Latyayana were known to exist. However except for references to them, the original texts are no longer available.
The traditional practice of toxicology is still practiced by different families of vishavaidyas (poison doctors) who specialize in toxicology. However, their knowledge is limited compared to the knowledge possessed by the earlier ayurvedic physicians. In ancient times, it was the job of Vishavaidyas to protect members of the royal families from being poisoned, as well to poison enemies of the kings.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
medicine is traditionally divided. Literally, gada means a disease and agada means any agent which makes the body free from disease; however the term agada is used specifically for the branch dealing with toxicology
Toxicology
Toxicology is a branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms...
, the description of the different types of poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
s, and their antidote
Antidote
An antidote is a substance which can counteract a form of poisoning. The term ultimately derives from the Greek αντιδιδοναι antididonai, "given against"....
s.
Agada Tantra is defined as a section of toxicology that deals with food poisoning, snakebite
Snakebite
A snakebite is an injury caused by a bite from a snake, often resulting in puncture wounds inflicted by the animal's fangs and sometimes resulting in envenomation. Although the majority of snake species are non-venomous and typically kill their prey with constriction rather than venom, venomous...
s, dog bites, insect bite
Insect bite
Insect bites and stings occur when an insect is agitated and seeks to defend itself through its natural defense mechanisms, or when an insect seeks to feed off the bitten person. Some insects inject formic acid, which can cause an immediate skin reaction often resulting in redness and swelling in...
s, etc. The school of toxicology was founded and run by Kashyapa, also known as Vriddhakashyapa, another contemporary of Atreya Punarvasu. He lived in Taksashila
Taxila
Taxila is a Tehsil in the Rawalpindi District of Punjab province of Pakistan. It is an important archaeological site.Taxila is situated about northwest of Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi in Panjab; just off the Grand Trunk Road...
in what is now modern-day Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. His text was called the Kashyapa Samhita. This, however, is a different book than the Kashyap Samhita
Kashyap Samhita
Kashyap Samhita , also known as Braddha Jivakiya Tantra, is an important treatise on Ayurveda medicine written in ancient India by the sage Kashyap, since it is suffixed as a Samhita which means means "Compilation of Knowledge", he was probably one of the first compilers of the ancient knowledge...
of pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
. This text is not available now but the references of this text are found mentioned in different commentaries. Some other texts written by Alambayana, Ushana
Ushana
Ushna or Yat was a brave king in Yadava Vansh born after three generations of Maharaja Shashabindu, who was born after six generations of Yadu. Maharaja Ushana performed hundred Ashvamedha Yagyas and got the title of yat. According to the historian Ram Lal Hala, the word Jat is derived from word...
, Saunaka, and Latyayana were known to exist. However except for references to them, the original texts are no longer available.
The traditional practice of toxicology is still practiced by different families of vishavaidyas (poison doctors) who specialize in toxicology. However, their knowledge is limited compared to the knowledge possessed by the earlier ayurvedic physicians. In ancient times, it was the job of Vishavaidyas to protect members of the royal families from being poisoned, as well to poison enemies of the kings.