Charak Samhita – Nidana Sthana – Chapter 7 (Unmada Nidana)
Abstract
Acharya Charaka was the writer of the Charak Samhita which explains about the various diseases, its causes, pathogenesis, risk factors, and the treatment. Along with this they also explained the panchkarma and herbal formulations to manage various conditions. In Charak Samhita, there are a total of 120 chapters and 8 Sthana which are named as Sutra sthana, Nidana sthana, Chikitsa sthana, vimana sthana, indriya sthana, kalp sthana, Siddhi Sthana, Sharira Sthana. In this article we will discuss the seventh chapter of Nidana Sthana named Unmada Nidana.
Introduction
Unmada can be correlated with insanity. It is a Cognitive Distortion which pertains the mind, Intellect, Memory, Consciousness, knowledge, behaviour, attitude, thinking ability and can be seen as the depicted range of the psychological conditions. In this condition the Chitta (mind) is disturbed which causes the loss of buddhi (Intelligence) due to which the individual loses the power of the discrimination of good and bad and he/she indulges in faulty activities. It is divided into two- Doshaja and Agantuja which is again divided into 5 types mentioned below.
Types
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
- Saninipata
- Agantuja
Causes
- Timid
- Distressed mind
- Aggravation of the dosha
- Those who use Dirty, Damaged And unsuitable food items
- Irregular dietary habits
- Improper practice of tantrika
- Practices body posture in an complicated way
- Extremely emaciated
- Giddiness due to intensity of the other diseases
- Affected by Passion
- Anger
- Greed
- Exhilaration
- Fear
- Confusion
- Exhaustion
- Grief
- Anxiety
- Excitement
- Frequent injuries
- Mind gets damaged and intellect becomes insatiable, in this state the doshas get aggravated and spread to the heart and obstruct the channels and give rise to insanity.
Definition
Insanity can be defined as wandering about the mind, Consciousness, intellect, knowledge, Memory, Inclination, Manners, Activities and the conduct.
Prodromal Symptoms
- Vacantness of head
- Excitement in eyes
- Dizziness in ears
- Increased inspiration
- Aversion towards food
- Excessive salivation
- Anorexia
- Indigestion
- Stiffness in the cardiac Region
- Meditation
- Exhaustion
- Bewilderment
- Excitement without any occasion
- Constant Horripilations
- Frequent fever
- Abnormalcy in mind
- Urticarial patches
- Facial paralysis
- Frequent dreams of Rolling, Moving, Unstable visual objects
- Riding over the wheels of oil press
- Being churned by the whirlwind
- Drowning in a whirl of turbid water
- Divergence of eyes
Sign And Symptoms Of Vata Unmada (Insanity)
- Constant moving
- Sudden movement of the eyes
- Movement of eyebrows, Shoulders, Jaw, Forearms, Legs and Other Parts
- Constant and irrelevant speech
- Foaming of mouth
- Frequent and irrelevant smiling
- Irrelevant laughing, Singing, playing musical instruments.
- Imitating the sounds of flute, Conch, Samya and Tala
- Moving on non vehicles
- Decorating from non decorating materials
- Longing for non available eatables
- Strong Disregard For available ones
- Emaciation
- Roughness
- Projected and reddish eyes
- Unsuitability of things opposite to suitability of vata.
Sign And Symptoms Of Pittaja Unmada
- Intolerance to the things
- Anger
- Inopportune excitement
- Inflicting injury to own people
- Inflicting injury to other people with weapons, brickbats, whips, wooden sticks and fists
- Desire for shade, cold food and water
- Dislike excessive heat
- Coppery, greenish, Yellowish and Congested eyes
- Unsuitability of things opposite to the suitability for pitta
Sign And Symptoms Of Kaphaja Unmada
- Standing at one place
- Observing silence
- Little walking
- Oozing of nasal mucus
- Oozing of Saliva
- Aversion towards food
- Likes loneliness
- Loathsomeness
- Dislike for cleanliness
- Frequent sleeping
- Swelling on the face
- Moist, white and Dirty eyes
- Unsuitability of the things opposite to suitability of kapha.
Sannipataj Unmada
In combination with all the doshas, It should be taken as the sannipatika, which is said to be incurable.
Therapeutic measures
- Unction
- Fomentation
- Emesis
- Purgation
- Non unctous and unctous enema
- Snuffing
- Smoking
- Fumigation
- Collyrium
- Inhalation of the herbal juice
- Massage
- Paste
- Herbal bath
- Striking
- Tying
- Confinement
- Frightening
- Inducing surprise
- Forgetting
- Desaturation
- Bloodletting
- Dietetic regime according to the Doshas
- Remedies which are contrary to aietiology
Note: The physician should treat the curable types of insanity which are caused by the doshas with methodical measures.
Agantuja Unmada
The insanity which is different from the insanity which is caused by the doshas in terms of the Aetiology, Prodromal, Symptoms, Suitability and Complaints is known as Exogenous (Agantuja). According to some, the inauspicious actions done in the past life can be a cause. It also can be caused by Intellectual error said by punarvasa Atreya. Due to the intellectual error, the person suffering disregards from the Gods, Sages, Forefathers, Gandharvas, Yakshas, rakshas, Preceptors, Elders, Accomplished persons, Teachers and other elder persons. He behaves differently or Performs other such inauspicious activities. Have been inflicted by own and further inflicted by gods etc. Thus made insane.
Prodromal Symptoms
- Inclination to violence on gods
- Violence on Cow, Brahmins
- Anger
- Cruel disposition
- Uneasiness
- Impairment of the ojas
- Loss of Complexion
- Loss of lustre
- Loss of strength and body
- Dreams about approaching and incitement by devata’s (Gods)
Attack Of Agantuja Unmada
The different features of initiation of insanity in the subject by insanity producing agents such as gods producing insanity by their looking, elders, preceptors, accomplished persons and the great sages by cursing, Gandharva’s by touching, Yakshas by entering, Rakshas by getting their Odour smelled and Pisachas by riding and driving.
Symptoms Of Agantuja Unmada
- Supernatural strength
- Energy
- Manliness
- Retention
- Knowledge
- Speech and Understanding
- Uncertain time of paroxysm
Time and place of Attack by God, Demon, Ancestors, Vampires
The humans who become susceptible to the Gods, Sages, Gandharvas, forefathers, Yakshas, Rakshas would be the producers of the insanity. During the period such as, In the beginning of the sinful act, at the time of maturation of the previous deed, Living in a lonely residence or in a deserted house or staying at the crossroads, Loss of control during evenings and twilights, Having Sexual intercourse in the new moon and full moon days, Approaching a women during at the time of menses, Defective timing for the recitation, Offerings, Eclipses, Defective applications of Auspicious rites, Oblations, Breaking Rules, Vows and Celibacy, Great wars, destruction of the country, city or family, At the time of Delivery of the women, Because of Unclean and inauspicious touch of various Creatures, During emesis, During purgation and bloodletting therapy. Approaching the religious temples and places while being unclean and carelessly leaving the remnant of meat, sesamum, meat, jaggery and wine naked. Visiting town, Corporation, Crossroads, Gardens, Slaughter houses, cremation grounds at night, Insulting the Brahmins, Gods, Precepters, Ascetics and respectable persons. Failure in narration of the religious scriptures and doing any inauspicious act.
Causes for Entering of God, Demon, Ancestors, Vampires and other negative spirits
- Violence
- Offering prayers
- To play
The intention of the unmada patient should be judged from their features. When the intention of the agents is to force someone to be injured, then the patient enters into fire or he/She may sink into the water, strike himself with water or fall into a pit, Brickbats, Whips, Stick etc. Or he may also opt for many other means for Harming or killing himself. This type of insanity is considered incurable. If the intensity of the causative is only two that is to pleasure or Worship then it is considered as curable.
Remedies
The therapies or remedies for these types of insanities are recitation of the Mantras, Wearing of jewels and talisman, performing the Auspicious rites, religious rites, religious sacrifices, Oblations, Taking a vow, Performing religious duty, fasting.
Prognosis
Although five, they are in fact divided into the two that are innate and Exogenous, curable and incurable. However, they are associated with each other by the combination of their respective causes.
Thus, it has been said that Not the Gods or the gandharvas nor pisachas and not the Rakshas affect a person who has not done any Misdeeds and the other agents. There cannot be the manifestation of the things which are already manifested. Thus the man shouls not blame gods etc. because they are not act as a cause for insanity.
Observance And Causes Of Wholesome Regimens
The Human should not blame Anyone, rakshasa, ancestors or the Gods for diseases because those are caused by his own misdeeds due to intellectual error, the affliction is not caused by them, Nor there any sense of accomplishment. One should always follow the Right Path.
Offering Prayers to the gods etc. and restoring to the wholesome regimens can act as an antidote to clarify the misdeeds of the individual. Thus the power either invites or avert the attack of insanity with the individual himself.
Conclusion
In this chapter there is an complete explanation about the insanity and its types which are vata, pitta, kapha, sannipataja and agantuja. The premonitory symptoms of various types of insanity, Curability or otherwise the treatment principles are described in this chapter. This condition arises due to the disturbance of the mind and intelligence which makes the patient unable to distinguish between the good and bad. The acharyas explained about this condition’s treatment in chikitsa sthana of charak samhita.
