COMPARATIVE STUDY ON GARA VISHA AND DOOSHI VISHA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CHRONIC TOXICITY

Nowadays, due to better access to education, media, and healthcare information, people are more aware of common and easily encountered types of poisons. But what about the hidden and concocted poisons? People knowingly or unknowingly are exposed to these poisons, which has led to an increased rate of serious diseases such as cancer, heart failure, and kidney disorders.[1] In Ayurveda, these poisons are explained as Gara Visha and Dooshi Visha. Acharya Charaka describes Gara Visha as Sanyogaja Visha, which is different from Sthavara (plant origin) and Jangama (animal origin) poisons, Gara Visha refers to a combination form of poison, formed when two or more individually non-poisonous substances, when combined together and become toxic.[2] Acharya Sushruta describes Dooshi Visha as a type of poison that remains in the body for a long time and gradually produces ill effects. Acharya Bhavaprakasha classifies both Gara Visha and Dooshi Visha under Kritrima Visha (artificial poisons).