164 - Diseases

Dhanvantari said: 

1-3. Injudicious diet and conduct, sinful actions, ridiculing or killing good people, sinful fights, abductions, accumulated evils of the previous births—all these in combination aggravate the morbid principles Vayu, Pitta and Kapha. They permeate the various ducts and vessels of the body and contaminate the skin, the fat, the blood and the flesh. After drying them up when the doshas come out they discolour the entire skin. Authorities call this Kushtha (cutaneous affections, leprosy etc.). 

4. When neglected at the outset these Kushthas spread all over the body and vitiate the fundamental principles and constituents of the organism external and internal. 

5. The affected part gets contracted or covered with perspiration and clammy discharges. Minute terrible germs infest the region. The hair, the skin, the sinews, and the vessels of various secretions are infested by them.

6. The body of the patient appears to be covered with ashes. Kushthas are of seven types being caused by the doshas severally and in twos or all combined together.

7-10. Although all the doshas are present in every case the prevalent dosha is to be considered as the main cause. The Kushtha Kapala is due to Vayu. Audumbara is due to Pitta and Mandala is due to Kapha. Vicharchi and Rushyajihva are due to Vata and Pitta. Charmaikakushtha (Prurigo) and Kitima (Keloid tumour), Sidhma, Alasa and Vipadika are due to Vayu and Kapha: Dadru (Ring worm) and Shatarus are due to Pitta and Kapha. Pundarika, Visphota, Pama, hCarmadala and Kakana are due to the combined action of all the three doshas. The first three (i.e., Kapala, Audumbara and Man dala), Dadru, Kakana, Pundarika and Rushyajihva are the seven Mahakushthas. 

11-14. Some of the affected patches are soft and some are rough; in some cases there is perspiration, in some cases there is no perspiration; Pallor, burning and itching sensations, somnolence (loss of feeling), pricking pain, affection of the optic nerves, darkness of vision, excessive pain in the limbs, rapid appearance and permanent stay of the patches, roughness to the touch, aggravation when the slightest cause is present, horripilation and dark black colour of the blood-all these are the preliminary symptoms of Kushtha. The patches in the Kapala type of Kushtha resemble a black and reddish skull, are attended with excruciating pain. They are dry and rough, of irregular formation and are covered over with dirty hair. This Kushtha is highly dreadful. 

15-17. The patch in the Audumbara type of Kushtha has the colour of the Udumbara fruit (Ficus Indica); it is circular in shape; it exudes copious discharge of pus; it is attended with excessive pain and a burning sensation. The patches are not contiguous nor do they burst. Many germs are found in them. In the Mandalakushtha (Erythema) the patches are firm, thick, glossy, exuding white and red discharge, congested and overlapping one another, raised, excessively irritating, of copious discharge and infested with parasites. They are of glossy yellow colour. 

18. The Vicharchika type of Kushtha is irritating, black in colour and covered with exuding postules. Rough to the touch they are red in the extremities and black within and slightly raised. 

19. The Kushtha known as Rushyajihva is infested with a number of germs. It resembles the tongue of the deer Rushya. In the Charmakhya Kushtha the patch is rough to the touch like the skin of an elephant. 

20. In the Kitima type of Kushtha the patch is dry and resembles the scales of a fish. It is hard and shining and has the colour of fire. It irritates. 

21-22. A kind of patch rough within and glossy outside by rubbing which dust is scattered is smooth to the touch. There is no perspiration. It resembles a flower without dew-drops. It is usually formed in thin layers at its upper ends. It is characterised by itching sensation and red marks. This is called Vipadika and usually affects hands and feet.

23-24. In the type of Kushtha called Dadru (ring worm) the ulcer gives excruciating pain and itching sensation. The eruptions are red. They spread like the Durva grass tinged with a colour like that of an Atasi flower (linseed). It has an elevated ring-like groove. It produces itching sensation. Its roots are thick. It is characterised by burning sensation. It emits blood and is full of wounds. 

25-26. It gives a burning sensation and is generally caused by all the humours in combination. The surrounding zone is red or tawny coloured. It gives an itching sensation and excruciating pain. The pustules are white or red and the patch appears like leaves of lotus covered with drops of water. This Kushtha is called Pundarika. 

27. In the type of Kushtha called Pama the ulcers exude discharges and give itching sensation and excruciating pain. They have a dusky or reddish hue and are very rough. Generally, they appear in elbows and buttocks.

28. An excruciating pain and burning sensation characterise the Kushthas Charmadala and Kakana where the eruptions can be touched but emit blood when scratched. 

29. The Kakana type is at first red but turns into black, resembling the washings of Triphala. All ulcers in all types of kushtha become black due to their own respective reasons. 

30. The different types of kushtha must be understood through their symptoms and actions. That which is caused by all the doshas shall be abandoned (as incurable).

31. The Kushtha that affects the bones, marrows and semen is incurable, that which affects the fat Yapya (treated by palliatives) and that which affects our bones or flesh can be cured.

32. The Kushtha produced by Kapha and Vayu in com bination is not very difficult to cure. So also, is the case of a kushtha that has affected only the skin and does not secrete any discharge. When the kushtha has affected only the skin, discoloration and roughness in the skin is observed. 

33-34. Perspiration, heat and swelling, eruptions in hands and feet and in the joints, extreme pressure as if the fat is being crushed on account of the doshas-all these symptoms characterise the kushtha attacking the blood and flesh. The ability of the patient to feel sensations is impaired slightly. Voice becomes sunk and hollow, eyesight is affected, fat and marrow in the bones are destroyed. 

35. When the germs affect the semen the patient transmits the disease to his wife and children. All these ailments with the characteristic symptoms affect even animals. 

36. Shvitra (Leucoderma) and the dreadful disease Kilasa have the same exciting factors as Kushtha. They are not of the bleeding type. All the three dhatus are affected by them. All the doshas cause them. 

37-38. Shvitra caused by Vayu is rough and red, that of pittaja type is copper-coloured and shaped like lotus leaves. It gives a burning sensation and the hair in the affected part fall off. The kaphaja type of shvitra is thick and white and gives an itching sensation. It gradually affects the blood, flesh and fat. Both these are incurable. 

39. Ashvitra with plenty of hair not turned white, not contiguous and of recent origin, can be cured, if it is not caused by scalds or burns. Other types are to be abandoned as incurable. 

40. A Kilasa (Psoriasis) in the private parts, lips or on the palms, even of recent origin has to be avoided as incurable by persons wishing for success.

41. All discases are transmitted from person to person by touching, taking food together, sexual intercourse, sharing the same bed or seat or by using the same clothes, garlands, unguents, etc.