Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa
165 - Diseases
Dhanvantari said:
1. Krumis (bodily germs) are of two types: the external and the internal. The external ones are of four types being caused by 1) faecal matter 2) mucous matter 3) blood and 4) other discharges of waste matter.
2. The external parasites born of the waste matter are enumerated as twenty in number. They are of the shape and colour of gingelly seeds and take refuge in hair or garments.
3. Though they are very minute they have many feet. Two principal classes of these named Yukas (lice) and Likshas (nits or ticks) bring about Kotha (Urticaria) and Kanduganda (itches in the neck).
4-6. The internal parasites cause kushtha. The external ones are caused by deranged kapha by the intake of sweet rice, jaggery, milk, curds, fish and newly harvested grains. From the abdomen they spread all over the body. Some are potshaped and some are like earthworms. Some are like the germinating seeds of grains, some slender and long, some are like specks, some are white and some are copper coloured. They are seven with seven names.
7-8. They are Antradas (gnawers of entrails), Udaraveshtas (permeating the abdomen) Hrudayadas (eating the heart), Mahagudas (rectal mousters) Cyurus (falling off), Darbhakusumas (like darbha flowers) and Sugandhas sweet smelling). They cause disquietude, water discharge from mouth, indigestion, nonrelish for food, epilepsy, vomiting, fever, tympanites, emaciation, sneezing and Chatarrh.
9. There are some parasites in the blood and the blood vessels. They have no feet. They are copper coloured and circular in shape. Some of them are so minute that they cannot be seen by the naked eye.
10. They are Keshadas (eating the hair) Romavidhvamsas (destroyers of hair) Romadvipas (hair-islanded), Udumbaras, Aurasas and Matrus and these produce Kushtha quickly.
11-12. Some parasites grow in the abdomen originating from faeces. They take a downward course. But when they are fully grown they proceed towards the abdomen. Then they produce a foul faecal smell in the mouth, breath and eructations. They are like big circles, some small, some stout, tawny, yellow, white or black in colour.
13-14. They are five in number named Kakeruka, Make-ruka, Sausurada, Sashula, and Leliha. They produce loose motions, acute pain, obstruction to excretion, emaciation, pallor, horripilation, impaired digestion and itching sensation in the anus by travelling in wrong directions.
Summary of chapter 165 of the Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa is as follows:
Bhagavān Vishṇu details comprehensive therapies for Vāta disorders including paralysis, sciatica, and joint stiffness. As it happens, the text specifies warm medicated oil massages, Nirguṇḍī, Dashamūla decoctions, and herbal steam baths to relieve pain and restore bodily mobility.