DUSHI VISHA AND OXIDATIVE STRESS- A CORRELATION

Agadatantra (Toxicology in Ayurveda) is a branch of Ashtanga Ayurveda which deals with different toxicological emergencies and their management with the help of Ayurvedic medicines. On other hand modern science has described a lot of poisonous substances and classified them according to their action and system they are affecting but in classics Acharyas have told that there also exists a fourth variety known as Dushi Visha. Different Brihattrayi have accepted the existence of Dushi Visha. According to Acharya Charaka, Dushivisha causes Dushana of Rakta and causes different symptoms such as Aru (pustules on the scalp), Kitibha (psoriasis), Kotha (urticaria).Understanding DushiVisha (DV)in its real essence is a grim task. Even its formation has not been pinpointed by our Acharyas. There are various factors responsible for its formation and flare up, but these factors are not clearly stated nor are the symptoms or diseases it is said to produce written about clearly. This creates an ambiguity about it and so it can be compared to other analogous conditions. If we try to correlate DV according to its signs and symptoms, some of these signs are similar to oxidative stress. It is a term used to explain detrimental effects of free reactive oxygen species (ROS). This paper aims towards creating the bridge between oxidative stress and concept of DushiVisha.