166 - Diseases

Dhanvantari said: 

1-3. O Sushruta, I shall explain the pathology of Vatavyadhi (discase of the nervous system). If we are to speak of disorders the reason thereof is an obstruction to the natural flow (of the wind). The Vayu element in the body is actually the Vishvakarma (the architect of the universe), Vishvatma (the soul of the universe) Vishvarupa (having all forms), Prajapati (lord of the created beings) Srashtru (creator) Dhatru (the originator) Vibhu (all pervading) Vishnu, Samhartru (Annihilator) Mrutyu (Death) Antaka (Finisher). Hence one should endeavour to preserve it in equilibrium.

4. A correct knowledge of Prakruta (physiological) and Vaikruta (pathological) aspects with the diverse actions of the morbid principles in combination and severally must be had. 

5. The vaikruta actions are of five types. They are being mentioned along with their pathology and characteristic signs. 

6. Vayu is aggravated by the defiling factors of the seven fundamental elements of the system. Such things shall not be used by the patient too much. The Vayu obstructs the fourfold passages (ducts or vessels). 

7-8. When there vessels are filled with the aggravated doshas the vitiated Vayu produces acute pain, tympanites, rumbling sound in the intestines, suppression of the stools, loss of voice, impaired sight, grip in the buttocks and the back and other similar grave disorders. 

9. The Vatavyadhi originating from the abdomen gives rise to vomiting, dyspnea, cough, cholera, itching sensation and other ailments above the navel whose main characteristics will be some sort of obstruction. 

10. The Vayu located in the ducts produces ill functioning of the sense organs, roughness of the skin, eruptions, acute pain, dyspnea and symptoms of poisoning with discoloration.

11. The Vayu located inside the entrails produces obstruction to evacuation, nonrelish for food leanness and vertigo knotty eruptions in the flesh and fat and roughness of the skin too are caused. 

12. The body appears to be heavy and pains as if hit with the fist or a baton. The Vayu located in the bone produces severe pain in the thighs and bones. 

13. The Vayu located in the marrow produces loss of firmness in the bones, loss of sleep and severe pain. A rapid emission of the semen and other disorders too are produced.

14. If the Vayu is located in the semen or in the womb (in women) involuntary emission of semen or miscarriage is produced. The Vayu located in the head produces scantness of faeces. The Vayu located in any place produces intumescence when aggravated, which cannot be cured. 

15. If the Vayu is located in the joints the abdomen to the touch feels like a leather bag full of water and located atrophy is generated. If it is located in different limbs a piercing pain, a breaking ache, throbbing, etc, in the limbs are felt. 

16. Numbness, convulsive jerky movements, somnolence, breaking and shaking of joints are observed. When the excited Vayu permeates the nerves, it produces constant convulsive movements of the limbs. The ailment is called Akshepana (convulsion). 

17. The enraged Vayu when obstructed from below courses upwards and presses against the heart. It then generates pain in the head and the temples.

18. It may toss up the whole body and bend down his cheek bone. The victim then breathes hard closing both the eyes. 

19-20. He may coo like a dove without any attachment to anything (unconscious). This ailment is called Apatantraka. When the enraged Vayu moves on to the heart and the left nostril he may feel some slight relief and there may be relapse immediately. This and similar ailment caused by a violent flow cannot be cured easily. 

21. When the body is severed by the wind the patient perspires and his body becomes rigid. When the body is stretched again the wind pervades the whole body. 

22-23. The Vayu lodged inside the vital constituents of the body produces the obstruction to the locomotion of the eyes, yawning, loss of energy and pain in the teeth: excruciating pain in the sides, grips in the cheek, back and the head, external curvature of the body at the back and a sense of heaviness in the heart and the head. 

24. The chest is thrown up or the shoulders droop down. There is discoloration in the teeth and face. There is no perspiration in the limbs. 

25-26. The external curvature and rigidity of the cheekbone indicate that the man is a victim of Vatavyadhi. The morbid principles after permeating the faeces urine and blood and being incited by the Vayu bend the whole body from head to foot. The victim standing with the pale body finds the wound and curvature increased. 

27-28. In its impetuosity the patient does not get any relief due to the ailment of Akshepana (convolusion). Scraping the tongue, intake of hot food, and opening the mouth beyond measure enrages the Vayu located at the root of the check-bone which makes the mandible rigid thus causing the mouth to be permanently gaping or firmly closed.

29. The above ailment is called Hanustambha (rigidity of the mandible). Due to this the victim will find it very difficult to chaw or speak. The nerve carrying the faculty or force of speech becomes rigid and Vayu benumbs the tongue. 

30-31. This is called Jihvastambha (Rigidity of the tongue). Due to this the patient becomes incompetent to eat, drink or speak. Carrying heavy loads on the head, boisterous laughter and loud talks, resting the head on uneven or rough pillows and chewing hard foodstuffs aggravates the Vayu lodged in the upper regions of the body. 

32-34. Loud laughter and sudden glancing to the sides makes the face permanently distorted. Then the power of speech becomes lower and the eyes become numbed and motionless. Gnashing of the teeth, aphonia, impaired hearing, blurring of vision, loss of the power of smell, loss of memory, fright, dyspnea, Nishthiva (Ptyalism--frequent spitting) pricking pain in the sides, permanent closure of an eye, severe pain above the clavicle and hemiplegia are the disorders in the wake of Vatavyadhi. 

35. This ailment is called Ardita (Facial Paralysis) by some and Ekanga (Hemiplegia) by others. The blood flowing in the Vessels, especially those that traverse the head are affected. 

36-37. The nerves become rough and black and produce severe pain and a sort of hemicrania which is incurable. The Vayu affects a part of the body with all the nerves there. It is called Pakshaghata (Partial paralysis). One half of the entire body becomes inoperative and insensible. 

38. Some call this Ekangaroga by the name Kaksharuk. If the Vayu affects the entire body there is obstruction and rigidity in all the limbs. 

39. The Paksha ailment caused by deranged Vayu alone is curable though difficult. In conjunction with other morbid principles, it is incurable as it is aggravated and hence causes debility. 

40. The Vayu in combination with Kapha with its path obstructed by mucous secretions rigidifies the limbs causing the ailment Danda Patanaka which is incurable.

41. The Vayu located at the root of the shoulder blades contracts all the veins in the locality and prevents the circulation of blood there. The Ailment of Avabahuka is caused.

42. The Vayu located in the fingers and palms affecting the sinews in the back arm renders the arms inoperative. This ailment is called Vishvachi. 

43. When the Vayu located in the hips draws up the sinews in the thighs, the victim becomes lame due to the para lysis of both the thighs. The ailment is called Khanja vata. 

44. The victim begins to totter when he starts walking and goes like a lame man. The joints seem to be very loose. The ailment is called Kalayakhanja. 

45-48. When one takes too hot or too cold watery or dry heavy and emulsive foodstuffs injudiciously, when one indulges in extremely fatiguing physical labour immediately after the meal or after digestion or keeps awake till very late in the night, the fat with deranged Kapha gets accumulated and attacks the other principles too. The Kapha gets stuffed about the thigh bones and numbs the locality. The bones of the thighs become loose. The complexion assumes a dull tawny colour; Fever, somnolence, non-relish for food and lassitude are the disorders that arise. This is called Urustambha which some call Bahya vata. 

49. A swelling in the middle of the knee caused by Vayu in combination with contaminated blood is called Kroshtukashirsha since it is like the head of a jackal. It is big and produces acute pain. 

50. The Vayu located in the heels causes an ailment called Vatakantaka. After exhaustion when one takes a false step severe pain is felt in that locality. 

51. Vayu located in the heels, toes, umbilicus and throat violently tosses the locality and grips at them. This ailment is called Grudhrasi (Sciatica). 

52-53. When the foot becomes insensible and horripilation is present, the ailment is called Padaharsha. It is caused by the deranged Vayu and Kapha. Vayu in combination with Pitta and contaminated blood causes burning sensation especially when one walks. It is called Padadaha.