Loota visha

Dr Sanjeev M Joshi
Asso Professor, Dept Of Agada Tantra
SMVVS RKM AMCH & RESEARCH CENTER
Email-sanjeev7j@gmail.com
Mobile -9480208028
 There are more than 30,000 species of spiders
and most of them are venomous. Spider bites also called
as arachnidism, is an injury resulting by the bite of
spider.

Agada Tantra part of Ayurveda has different

approach towards classification of spiders with its
clinical features and treatment. In this article an attempt
is made to conceptualize spider envenomation
according to Ayurveda which will help not only for
differential diagnosis of spider bites but also the easy
availability of herbal medicine treatment .
 Classification of Luta:
1 Based on Dosha vitiation
 Vaatika (Vaayavya)
 Paittika (Agneya)
 Shleshmika (Soumya)
 Sannipatika (Mishrika)
 2. Based on Vishaprabhava (action of poison)
a) Tikshna Visha (acutely and violently):
Occurrence of death is within 7 days.

b) Madhyama Visha (moderate): Occurrence of

death is within 7 to 10 days .

c) Manda Visha (mild): Occurrence of death is

within 15 days.
 3. Based on site of poison in Luta
There are eight poisoning sites of spider.
1)Shvas (Breath), 2) Danshtra (Fangs),
3) Purish (Fecal matter), 4) Mutra (Urine),
5) Shukra (Semen), 6) Lalastrava (Saliva),
7) Nakha (Nails) and 8) Artava (Menstrual fluid)
 4. Based on Sadhya-asadhyata
(prognosis):

a) Krrucha-sadhya (Hard to treat).

b) Asadhya (Untreatable)
 Clinical Features:
1. General Features:
 Appearance of a round shape with rash in white-
black or red or yellow or bluish in color, soft
elevated, its center is either black or blue and
resembles as a net at its edges.
 Spreading in nature like visarpa (erysipelas),
swollen, with burning sensation and severe pain,
fever, undergoes quick ulceration or suppuration,
exudation, sloughing, destruction of muscles, causes
the wound if exudation gets touched to the other
healthy parts .
 2. Specific Features:
a) According to Dosha Vitation:
 Vatika or Vayavya Luta: These are born from the
soil and give rise to diseases of vata. swelling
which is rough, blue in color, giving rise to pain
in joints and bodyache.
 Paitika or Agneya Luta: These are born from
sweat and give rise to diseases of pitta burning
sensation, thirst, and formation of blebs (vesicles),
fever and burning sensation all over the body
 Sleshmika or Saumya Luta: These are born
from eggs (ova) and give rise to diseases of
kapha. hard swelling, white in color, itching
and mild pain.
 Sannipatika or Mishrika Luta: These are also
known as Upadika luta . It causes vitiation of
three doshas. The poison of these luta spread
rapidly causing fire like burning sensation all
over body
b) According to site of poison in Luta:
Breath: Poisoning by breath the person quickly
develops swelling associated with fever and
burning sensation.
Fangs: The site has profound swelling associated
with pricking pain and burning sensation.
Excreta: There is swelling with foul smell, burning
sensation, itching, pricking sensation, it ripens
quickly and when ripe it is yellowish.
 Urine: The swelling has red colored edges and
black center, resembles a whirl, emits foul smell,
spreads outwards and has burning sensation.
 Semen: The swelling resembles a tumor, is hard
and very painful.
 Saliva: The site has pain; elevated rash which is
not deep seated has mild pain, itching and soft to
touch.
 Nails: The site has eruptions, burning
sensation, itching and feels as though hot
smoke is coming out.
 Menstrual Fluid: Red colored eruption appears
resembling garland.
 According to Sadhya-asadhyata (prognosis):
 Kruchasadhya Luta: The bite from these
spiders results in aching pain in the head, pain
and itching at the site of bite and symptoms
peculiar to the aggravated vata and kapha.
 Asadhya Luta: The bites from these spiders are
marked by bleeding, fever, burning sensation,
diarrhea, and disorders due to the concentrated
action of all the three deranged doshas of the
body and the bitten part putrifies .
 Stages of Spider Envenomation: Acharya
Vagbhata described different stages of spider
envenomation in a daywise pattern. He also
mentioned that the lesion at the site of bite does
not manifest for half a day from the time of bite.
 First Day: It appears as though pricked by a
needle, with no discoloration over the affected
part; there will be slight itching and pain.
 Second Day: The site of bite is of raised edges,
surrounded by eruptions with well change in
color of skin, depressed in center and has itching .
 Third Day: The patient suffers with fever,
horripilation, red circular patches at the site with
the shape of a saucer, with severe agonizing pain
and discharge from hair follicles.
 Fourth Day: There is profound swelling causing
fever, dyspnea and giddiness.
 Fifth Day: It gives rise to symptoms of poisoning
related to predominant dosha as per described in
dosha vitiation.
 Sixth Day: The poison invades all the vital organs.
 Seventh Day: The poisoning results in death.
 Treatment:
The treatment measures for Luta visha is as
follows:
 Nasya (Snuffing) : Nasal drops from herbs Shyama
(Ocimum tenuliforum),
Yavaphala( Trachyspermum ammi), seeds of
Phanijjaka (Hyocyamus niger), and Shirisha
(Albizia lebbeck) macerated with the juice of
Vartaka (Solanum melongena) is best to remove the
poison. And it also may be useful when there is
heaviness of head, swelling, salivation and lock
jaw.
 Anjanam (Medicated Collyrium) : If disorders of vision,
swelling and itching in the time are present at the time of
onset of sleep, then the collyrium prepared from Vacha
(Acorus calamus), Trikatu (Zingiber officinale + Piper
longum + Piper nigrum), Triphala (Emblica officinalis +
Terminalia bellerica + Terminalia chebula), Lodhra
(Symplocos racemosa), Tamra (Copper), Mukta (Pearl) and
Pravala (Coral)

 Abhyanga (Unguents) : Medicated ghee prepared with

roots of Katabhi (Careya arborea), Tagara (Valeriana
wallichi), Devadaru (Cedrus deodara), Brihati (Solanum
indicum) and Chandana (Santalum album)
 Panam (Potions) : Sarpakshi (Xanthium
strumarium), Chandana (Santalum album),
Gandhanakuli (Acampe praemorsa), Ela (Elletaria
cardamomum + Amomum subulatum) is made
into paste with Goats Urine is used for internal
drink and external application.
 Dhupanam (Fumigation): Fumigation is done by
antipoisonous drugs.
 Gandusha (Gargling): Gargling is done by
antipoisonous drugs.
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