155 - Diseases 

Dhanvantari said:

1. I shall explain the pathology of Madatyaya (distemper due to inebriation) as mentioned by sages. Wine is sharp, acid, dry, parchifying and light and induces quickness in sexual intercourse. 

2. It pervades even the minutest capillaries of the system but its effect on the fat is just opposite. The qualities of sharpness etc. mentioned by the sages have disturbing effect on the mind. 

3. Excessively drunk, wines and spirits are fatal. With their qualities of sharpness, etc. they destroy the vitality of the addict and bring about sluggishness. 

4. Exciting the sense organs wine upsets the mind. On taking it for the first time or second time it may have an exciting and exhilarating effect on the drinker. 

5-6. The fool carried away by indecision and uncertainty considers it pleasing. A king who becomes an addict to wine becomes unbridled like an unchecked serpent. There is nothing that he will not do in his inebriation: Wine is the source of unspeakable mischiefs and supports wickedness. 

7-9. It is the sole guide of wretchedness that has a hundred paths leading to it. Bereft of all energetic actions the addict in the third stage of inebriety may yearn for wine always, The sinful wretch has now come to a stage worse than death. He cannot distinguish between righteousness and evil, pleasure and pain, honour and dishonour, and wholesome and unwholesome. Withered up and deluded, highly pleased at times and dejected at other he loses his power of memory and falls unconscious. Well-built strong persons of gluttonous habits may not become too intoxicated after drinking wine over a heavy meal. 

10. The ailment of inebriety may be caused by the three humours-Vayu, Pitta and Kapha severally or in combination. Unconsciousness and pain in the heart characterize all varieties. 

11-13. Thirst engendered by frequent loose motions, mild dejection, fever and nonrelish for food, constipation, darkness of vision, hiccough, difficulty in breathing sleeplessness, excessive perspiration, obstruction of ordure (Vishthambha), intumescence, and mental agitation too characterize all types of inebriety. The patient is in a dreamy state and does not speak when addressed. Due to the attack of Pitta there is a burning sensation, fever and perspiration, fainting and a continuous palpitation of the heart. Due to the action of Kapha there is vomiting, disquietude, sleepiness and Udaragaurava (Tympanites heaviness in the stomach due to gas trouble). 

14-15. In the ailment of inebriation due to the action of all humours in combination all the symptoms can be observed. Those who knowingly take to wine become victims thereof and lose the power of thinking and mental disorders set in. Everything is pleasing to them whether a chip of wood or an article of food. They do not differentiate between them. Due to the action of Vayu many of these symptoms occur. The patient spits out mucous matters of phlegm and experiences parchedness of throat and somnolence. 

16. He does not brook sounds. His sound is distracted. He feels Rheumatic pain all over the body. His heart and throat are effected. He falls into fainting fits. He gasps for breath. Excessive thirst, nausea and fever also oppress him. 

17. A person who controls himself and intelligently refrains from drinking wine, is never afflicted by any disorder whether physical or mental. 

18-19. Deluded persons of irascible temperament indulging in injudicious diet suffer from the three disorders of inebriation, epileptic fits and abject prostration more and more powerful in the order of enumeration. This is due to the obstruction of ducts carrying fat, blood and other lymphatic secretions. Inebriation is caused by the derangement of all the humours, impure blood, and presence of wine and toxic matter in the system. 

20. In the ailment of inebriation due to the derangement of Vayu, the patient becomes anaemic and all brightness of complexion vanishes. The body assumes a coarse dark reddish hue. The patient becomes deceitful in behaviour and fickle minded. 

21. The intoxicated person becomes irritable and quarrelsome due to the affliction of Pitta and his body assumes a reddish yellow hue. The affliction of Kapha is responsible for the symptoms of somnolence, loose irrelevant talks or when the patient appears to be in a trance. 

22-26. The combined action of all the doshas brings about all the above symptoms as well as obstruction of the circulation of blood and paralysis of the limbs. If the patient exhibits a loathsome desire or fails to recognize familiar voices it is an indication of derangement of Pitta. He may be exhausted utterly and go to deep sleep but the body may be shaking vigorously: The signs of an affliction of Vayu must be carefully noted. The inebriated patient may either see the sky red, blue and black or without seeing anything sink in darkness. He may regain consciousness immediately but may experience pain in the cardiac region, a shivering sensation and vertigo. In epileptic fits brought about by derangement of Vayu the patient has hiccough and brownish red colour of the skin. Afflicted by Pitta the patient, seeing the sky red and yellow, may sink into swoon. When he wakes up he perspires profusely and is oppressed with excessive thirst and a burning sensation. During the fit a portion of the body may be yellow and the other blue. His eyes may be red, yellow or crimson, 

27-28. In Kapha affliction the epileptic patient sees the sky enveloped with clouds as it were, sinks into a deep coma and regains consciousness very late. He complains of disquietness in the cardiac region. There is salivation. Heavy and benumbed in limbs he falls in a thud like a goat in the unconscious state. In the combined action of all the doshas it appears like an Apasmara (epilepsy). 

29-30. He falls down motionlessly and does not have any frightful convulsive movements of limbs. In the ailment of mada, murccha, the morbid humours spread themselves out and become calm without medication when the patient sinks into prostration. Speech, body and the mind do not function properly but he does not lose strength. 

31. Patients who fall down in prostration, fall like logs of wood, no better than dead but with risk of death. 

32. If the treatment is not immediately carried out he may die like a person in a deep sea full of crocodiles. 

33. A person in prostration (like the person in the sea) should be immediately taken out of it. A person suffering from inebriation may be irritated or pleased, it is certain. 

34-35. Used judiciously wine relieves persons of worries, otherwise leads him to hell. It gives ability to work, helps the natural functions, and blesses with beauty. Judicious use of wine is like that of nectar.