Ayurveda is oldest science known to mankind and
mainly aims at maintenance of health. According to Ayurvedic science
from the time of birth to death, doshas influence the health status and
physical constitution of a person, either positively or negatively.
Ayurvedic science is so elaborate and vast that it is divided into eight
branches of Ayurveda known as Ashtang Ayurveda and each branches is
specialized in a particular treatment. Agada tantra or toxicology is a
branch of Ashtang Ayurveda, which includes the science of poisons.
Damstra chikitsa branch of ayurveda deals with various methods of
cleaning the poisons out of the body as well as recommends antidotes for
particular poisons. It deals with a wide range of natural toxins
originating from wild lives like animals, birds, insects etc., plants
including herbs (belladonna, aconite etc.), vegetables, minerals (leads,
mercury, arsenal etc.) and artificial poisons prepared from poisonous
drugs. This branch also deals with air and water pollution, which are
basically the causes of various dangerous epidemics.
The three samhitas described about this branch of toxicology, which
also include description, and disadvantages of food of opposite
qualities, drugs and food causing chronic poisoning symptoms. In
ayurveda certain poisons are used as medicines after proper processing
and quantification. Precious stones like diamond, ruby and poisonous
minerals like lead and mercury were in use for this purpose. This branch
also has information regarding fatal doses of various poisons, which are
resorted to in a view to administer those into an enemy's body system.
