Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa
154 - Diseases
Dhanvantari said:
1. O Sushruta, now I shall explain the cause and pathology of Hrudroga, (Ailment of the heart) etc. They are of five types, one due to germs and the other four due to the three humours severally or in combination.
2. If the cause is Vayu, a feeling of emptiness is observed. The patient eats much and cries. The heart is benumbed, seems to break asunder and dries up; dizziness is experienced.
3. Suddenly, the patient is dejected, feels grief and is frightened. He cannot bear to hear the least sound. He shivers and faints as a result. There is difficulty in breathing and sleeplessness.
4. As a result of the attack of Pitta the symptoms are thirst, exhaustion, burning sensation, perspiration, eructation with acidity, vomiting of acid or bilious matter, fever and cloudy vision.
5. If deranged kapha causes Hrudroga the heart becomes numbed, the digestion is impaired, the face is distorted; hiccough, pain in the bone, spitting of mucous matter, drowsiness, lassitude, fever non relish of food are observed.
6. If the ailment of the heart is caused by the combined action of all the three doshas all the different symptoms are observed. If the ailment is due to germs the symptoms are - blackish yellow colour in the eyes, dizziness and dark vision, cardiac oedema, disquietude, itching sensation in the limbs and expectoration of kapha.
7. The patient thinks that his heart is being sawn with scissors. This ailment shall be treated in the early stages, otherwise it is fatal.
8. Thirst may be caused by Vata, Pitta or Kapha. Debility is caused by their combination. A sixth variety of Hrudroga is caused by contact with the persons who are sick. The exciting factors may be Vata and Pitta.
9. In all these ailments it is their aggravation that brings about spasmodic jerks in all the limbs, palpitation, agitation, and burning sensation in the heart and fainting through the withering up of all the dhatus.
10. Thirst arises as a result of the drying up of the root of the tongue, throat, lungs, palate and the water carrying vessels. This is a common characteristic symptom of all kinds of Hrudroga.
11-12. Parchedness of the mouth, insatiable thirst for water, hatred for fond, weakness in voice, difficulty in putting out the tongue due to the roughness of throat, palate and the lips, prattling in delirium, mental aberration and eructation are also the symptoms in Hrudroga.
13-16. The derangement of Vayu causes emaciation, dejection of spirit, dizziness of the head, breaking pain at the temples, impaired sense of smell, loss of juiciness in the mouth, dullness of hearing, insomnia and general debility. The derangement of the Pitta brings about slight increase in the acidity, fainting, bitterness in the mouth, redness in the eyes, perpetual drying up of the body and burning sensation and a feeling as of fumes escape through the skin. The aggravated Kapha obstructs the Vayu in the water-carrying vessels. The ducts with the accumulated Kapha absorb the heat as in the case of mud. The throat appears to be pierced with the awn of barley. Sleepiness with a sweet taste in the mouth is experienced. A continuous sluggishness felt in the head, lassitude, vomiting, nonrelish for food and indigestion-these symptoms are in brief brought about by all humours in combination.
17. Blood is obstructed due to the accumulation of mucous and undigested matter thus causing the aggravation of both Vayu and Pitta. So the patient while experiencing intense heat experiences an unbearable chillness.
18. If thirst obstructs the humour in the viscera the ailment is definitely caused by Pitta. The aching pain caused by drinking too much water is due to the digestion and dilution of albuminous content.
19. The thirst generated by taking in greasy, pungent, acid and saline stuffs is due to Kapha. The thirst due to the loss of lymph and other secretions is an indication of onset of consumption:
20. The thirst generated by the admixture of atrophy, fainting and fever with other chronic ailments is called Up asargatmika (foreboding evil).
Summary of chapter 154 of the Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa is as follows:
The Supreme Being presents effective treatments for various forms of indigestion, Ajīrṇa. As it happens, Bhagavān Vishṇu explains simple yet potent remedies including ginger, rock salt, warm water, and controlled fasting to burn accumulated metabolic toxins, Āma, and restore digestive appetite.