AGANTU ROGA

AGANTU ROGA – CONCEPT AND MANAGEMENT

(from Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana, Chapter 4)

• Āgantu Roga refers to diseases caused by external factors, unlike diseases of internal origin (Nija Roga) which arise due to vitiation of doshas.

• These diseases are initiated by external agents such as trauma, injuries, poisons, weapons, psychological shock, or supernatural causes (abhichāra, graha, etc.).

• Though external factors initiate the disease, the involvement of doshas occurs secondarily.

TYPES OF ĀGANTU ROGA

• Physical trauma (śastra, astra, daṃśa – weapons, bites)

• Animal or insect bites (viṣa)

• Fire, poison, or heat exposure

• Emotional or psychological trauma (bhaya, śoka)

• Supernatural influences (graha, abhichāra)

CAUSATIVE FACTORS AND PATHOGENESIS

"शस्त्रास्त्रदंशनाग्न्यादिजं यच्चोपसर्गजं।
तदागन्तु यथोक्तेन दोषेणोन्मूल्यते न हि॥"

• Meaning: The diseases caused by external factors such as weapons, bites, fire, poison, and those resulting from afflictions (like bhūtābādha) are called Āgantu Roga. These cannot be rooted out merely by treating doshas, as the external factor must first be removed or neutralized.

PATHOGENESIS (SAMPRĀPTI)

• Initially, external agent causes injury or trauma.

• Then, doshas get involved, especially Vāta, which is the first to get aggravated.

• The aggravated Vāta spreads the pathology and invites pitta or kapha depending on the nature of the trauma.

• Later symptoms reflect a mix of external injury and internal doshic imbalance.

SYMPTOMS OF ĀGANTU ROGA (GENERAL)

• Swelling, redness, pain, bleeding

• Burning sensation (if agni or pitta is involved)

• Fever, inflammation

• Psychological symptoms if mental trauma or graha-related

• Discoloration, pus formation in chronic cases

TREATMENT PRINCIPLES OF ĀGANTU ROGA

• The first line of treatment is directed at removing or neutralizing the external cause.

• Once external cause is dealt with, treat the involved doshas.

• The treatment is thus two-fold:

  • Bāhya chikitsā (external/local treatment) – removing agent, cleansing wound, bandaging

  • Ābhyantara chikitsā (internal treatment) – dosha-shamana or shodhana

GENERAL LINE OF TREATMENT

"तस्मात्तेष्वपि तद्विद्या दुःखमूलं निराकरोति।
सामान्यमाश्रयं हित्वा यथास्वं चोपशाम्यति॥"

• Meaning: Even in diseases caused by external agents, the treatment must begin by eliminating the root cause of suffering. Then, based on the involved dosha, suitable therapies are employed for pacification.

DETAILED MANAGEMENT ACCORDING TO TYPE

1. SHASTRA-ABHIGHĀTA (TRAUMA DUE TO WEAPONS)

• Symptoms:

  • Lacerations, bleeding, swelling, acute pain

• Treatment:

  • Śastrakarma (surgical intervention if needed)

  • Raktasthambhana (hemostatic measures)

  • Shodhana (cleansing) of wounds

  • Bandhana (bandaging) with healing herbal pastes (like jaṭyādi taila)

  • Vata-shamana therapy (abhyanga, snehapāna if pain persists)

2. DANSHĀDI (BITES – SNAKES, INSECTS, ETC.)

• Symptoms:

  • Burning, discoloration, swelling, pain

  • May progress to systemic toxicity

• Treatment:

  • Viṣa pratyanika chikitsā (anti-poison treatment)

  • Dahana (cauterization) if poison spreads

  • Vamana or virechana based on dosha involvement

  • Local applications of antidotal herbs (arka, haridra, nimba)

3. AGNIDAHA (BURNS/HEAT TRAUMA)

• Symptoms:

  • Burning pain, blisters, pus, ulcers

• Treatment:

  • Cooling substances (śītala dravyas like chandana, usheera)

  • Application of ghrita or medicated oils like yaṣṭimadhu taila

  • Internal pitta-shamana drugs

  • Rasāyana therapy in healing phase

4. BHUṬĀBĀDHA (POSSESSION / SUPERNATURAL CAUSES)

• Symptoms:

  • Abnormal behavior, delusions, insomnia, fear

• Treatment:

  • Mantra, japa, bali, homa (spiritual measures)

  • Medhya rasāyanas (memory and mind-enhancing herbs like brahmi, shankhapushpi)

  • Satvavajaya chikitsā (psychological counseling)

5. SHOKA, BHRAMA, BHAYA (EMOTIONAL TRAUMA)

• Symptoms:

  • Heart pain, palpitations, anxiety, disinterest

• Treatment:

  • Medhya rasāyanas

  • Snigdha ahara-vihara (unctuous food, pleasant environment)

  • Abhyanga, shirodhara

  • Satvavajaya chikitsā (mental support and emotional healing)

DOSHA INVOLVEMENT AFTER EXTERNAL TRAUMA

"तेषु सन्निपातजं व्याधिं वायुरादौ प्रवर्तयेत्।
तेन बाध्यन्ते दोषास्ते भवेयुस्तं निराकृत्य शान्ताः।"

• Meaning: In āgantu diseases, Vāta is first to be disturbed, which then vitiates other doshas. Treating these doshas after managing the external cause results in pacification.

TREATMENT SEQUENCE - IN SHORT

• Identify and remove external agent (āgantu nidāna)

• Local management of trauma (bandhana, lepa, śodhana)

• Dosha-based internal treatment (vāta-pitta-kapha chikitsā)

• Rasāyana therapy in chronic conditions

• Psychological and spiritual management for mental/emotional causes