Traditional Poison-healing System in Kerala: an Overview (original) (raw)
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Indigenous poison healing traditions in Kerala
Indian Journal of History of Science, 2023
Prior to the emergence of modern medicine as a universal method for all diseases across cultures, and geography-specific methods of treatment existed in various regions. It is not to argue here that these cultural particularities in the treatment of diseases totally disappeared. Under the pressure of modern medicine, pre-modern methods reformed, reformulated and re-emerged as a hybrid system to survive and sustain. The history of snake poison healing in Kerala is sufficient for this argument. The modern and indigenous (consisting of textual and folk) poison healing methods have simultaneously been in existence in the state. The viṣavaidyam (poison treatment), an anti-snake venom treatment practiced by different sections of people with known herbs is plural in nature. However, Ayurveda takes second place in authority and hierarchy of treatments because of the textualization of the treatment methods. Other methods lack such authority. However, due to the presence of poisonous reptiles all over Kerala, the practice of different treatment methods by different castes and communities' points to the inclusiveness of the poison healing system. In this paper, an attempt has been made to present an overview of the native poison healers and their healing systems in Kerala, with special attention to their traditions and present condition.
International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2019
Background: Snakebites are well-known medical emergencies in many parts of the world, especially in rural areas.The incidence of snakebite mortality is particularly high in South-East Asia. Rational use of snake anti-venom can substantially reduce mortality and morbidity due to snakebites. Snake bite is an important health problem in India also especially in North Kerala which has an agricultural background. There is a lack of study regarding this topic in this area. North Kerala differs from other areas in the country as hump nosed pit viper bites are more common here due to its proximity to western Ghats where it .Anti snake venom is ineffective to bites by hump nosed pit viper. Authors objectives was to assess the clinical and epidemiological profile and outcome of poisonous snake bites.Methods: Retrospective observational study done among patients with snake bite with envenomation admitted in Academy of Medical education, Pariyaram, Kannur, Kerala from January 2018 to September...
Venom, antivenom production and the medically important snakes of India
Snakebite is a medically and socially significant issue in India, but the quality of treatment and reporting protocols need to be upgraded to international standards. There are currently seven pharmaceutical laboratories in India which produce antivenom against four medically important Indian snake species (cobra (Naja sp.), krait (Bungarus sp.), Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) and saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sp.), the 'big four'. Most venom for antivenom production is sourced from Chennai, South India. While the 'big four' are responsible for a majority of serious and fatal bites, the situation is actually much more complex. In this article, we review the production of venom and antivenom in India and suggest areas of improvement. We show that several factors complicate the treatment of snakebite in India. The first is geographic, intra-species variation in venoms of cobras and Russell's vipers. Secondly, there are four species of cobra, eight species of kraits, two distinct sub-species of saw-scaled viper. In view of these observations, it is felt that identifying , evaluating and implementing changes to venom and antivenom production protocols, public education, snakebite treatment and policy in India should be an immediate priority.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008
Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in four different indigenous groups in Southern parts of Tamilnadu, India, using a questionnaire. The herbal practitioners in the study area were interviewed, and information on medicinal plants was collected from the traditional healers called "Vaidyars". This survey covers 72 medicinal plants belonging to 53 families that are used for the treatment of snakebite in a traditional way. Traditional approach was evaluated scientifically with some selected plant extracts (7.2 mg/kg bw) and partially purified fractions (2.4 mg/kg bw) were orally administered to mice experimentally envenomed with rattlesnake venom s.c. injection (2.5-15 g/kg bw). Tested fractions (Aristolochia indica, Hemidesmus indicus, Gloriosa superba, Strychnos nux-vomica, Eclipta prostrata, and Andrographis paniculata) showed potent neutralizing effect against the venom. Compared to the extracts, administration of purified fractions was more effective in increasing the body weight. Control mice injected with the venom alone showed weight loss and severe toxicity at 15 g/kg bw. The purified fractions (2.4 mg/kg bw) produced significant protection against venom induced changes in serum SOD and LPx levels. The isolated fractions effectively inhibited the toxic effect of snake venoms in vitro than in vivo. The above observations confirmed the protective activity of plants-Aristolochia indica, Hemidesmus indicus, Gloriosa superba, Strychnos nux-vomica, Eclipta prostrata, and Andrographis paniculata against the lethal action of snake venom and need further investigation.
Snake Bite Problem in India: An Overview
2013
Snakebite is a medically and socially significant issue in India. Even in the 21 century India still is an agrarian country. Indian farmers are vulnerable to snake attacks as they mostly work bare foot with limited protection. There are currently seven pharmaceutical laboratories in India which produce anti-venom against four medically important Indian snake species Cobra (Naja sp.), Krait (Bungarus sp.), Russell‘s viper (Daboiarusselii) and Sawscaled viper (Echiscarinatus sp.), the big four‘ further exasperates the situation. The price is also out of reach of most people. In this Review article we are highlighting about the fact that India has the worst snakebite problem in the world, largely affecting poor people and children from rural communities & in India there is need for superior techniques for making antivenoms.
Herbal remedies for Snake bites in Ethnic practices of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh
Ancient science of life, 2010
The present study expresses the Age Old Traditional Treatments for Snake Bites in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Tribal people of this area have authentic information about antidotes for poisonous bites. They have been using different plant parts like leaves, fruits, flowers, seeds, stem bark, tubers and roots as antidotes in the form of paste, powder, juice, infusion, decoction, and in crude form. These plant parts are sometimes mixed with other additives like goat milk, butter milk and urine of infants. The present study brought to light the unrevealed age old treatments for poisonous snake bites in general and some particular snake bites. This study consist 32 species belonging to 23 families.
Plants used against snakebite by tribal people of Koraput district of Odisha, India
The aim of the present study is to provide a comprehensive picture of the medicinal plants with anti-snake venom activity that is used by the tribal people of Koraput district, Odisha. Information on ethno-medicinal plants were collected from eight indigenous communities viz. Paraja, Bhumia, Gadaba, Bhatra, Kondha, Gouda, Mali and Paika in eighteen villages under six community development blocks (Boipariguda, Kundra, Koraput, Jeypore, Similiguda and Nandapur) of Koraput district. During the survey a total of 38 plants species belonging to 36 genera and 29 families were identified as being used for treatment of snakebite. The plants were enumerated alphabetically according to their scientific name, habit, local name, family, parts used and mode of preparation of medicine. Maximum number of medicinal plants used for snakebite was recorded under the family Apocynaceae and 68% of plants were used orally or internally, where as 32% of plants were externally applied to the affected area. The most commonly used species for treatment of snakebite was Rauvolfia serpentina with highest use value among tribals followed by Curcuma longa, Achyranthes aspera and Mimosa pudica. The plant with very less use value reported from study area were Rauvolfia tetraphylla, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Andrographis paniculata, Asparagus racemosus, Musa paradisiaca, Nyctanthes arbortristis and Piper longum. Further work is suggested to elucidate the possible mechanism of action of these plant extracts against snake venom.
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2017
Background: Indigenous medicinal practice in Sri Lanka talks about powerful compounds extracted from native plants for treating venomous snake bites which are hardly documented in literature but are used by the indigenous doctors for thousand years. Objective: We screened the neutralizing ability of a herbal preparation practiced in indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka, consisting of Sansevieria cylindrica, Jatropha podagrica and Citrus aurantiifolia, for its ability to neutralize venom toxins of Naja naja (Common Cobra) and Daboia russelii (Russell's viper). Materials and methods: The venom toxicity was evaluated using a 5-day old chicken embryo model observing the pathophysiology and the mortality for six hours, in the presence or absence of the herbal preparation. The known toxin families to exist in snake venom, such as Phospholipase A 2 , Snake venom Metalloprotease, were evaluated to understand the mechanism of venom neutralizing ability of the herbal preparation. Results: The LD 50 of D. russelii venom, as measured using the 5-day old chicken embryo model, was 4.8 ± 0.865 ug (R 2 ¼ 84.8%, P ¼ 0.079). The pre-incubation of venom with the herbal preparation increased the LD 50 of D. russelii venom to 17.64 ± 1.35 mg (R 2 ¼ 81.0%, P ¼ 0.100), showing a clear neutralizing action of D. russelii venom toxicity by the herbal medicine. Whereas the pre-incubation of venom with the 1Â venom neutralizing dose of commercially available polyvalent anti-venom serum shifted the LD 50 venom only up to 5.5 ± 1.35 mg (R 2 ¼ 98.8%, P ¼ 0.069). In the presence of the herbal preparation, Phospholipase A 2 activity of D. russelii venom was significantly reduced from 9.2 Â 10 À3 mM min À1 to 8.0 Â 10 À3 mM min À1 and that of N. naja from 2.92 Â 10 À2 mM min À1 to 0.188 Â 10 À2 mM min À1. Further, the pre-incubation of N. naja venom with the herbal preparation significantly reduced its Metalloprotease activity from 0.069 units min À1 to 0.019 units min À1. Conclusion: The herbal preparation shows a clear neutralizing action against the toxicities of D. russelii and N. naja venoms demonstrating the potential to be used as a plant based antidote for snake envenomation.
Ethnomedicinal plants used for snakebite in India: a brief overview
Integrative Medicine Research, 2017
The result of human interface and assortment of the most desirable, influential, and successful plant species found in the immediate environment at a precise circumstance is attributable to indigenous knowledge of plant species. India has a rich variety of medicinal plants growing under different geographical and ecological conditions; 1500 out of 15,000 privileged plant species have been reported to have medicinal uses. Snakebite is a severe medical, social, and economic problem in many parts of the world, chiefly in tropical and subtropical nations where majority of the world's dangerous snakes are found and where access to treatment is limited. In India, a range of medicinal plants are used as antidotes for snakebites, used either singly or in combination with other agents. The present study makes an effort to assemble information on medicinal plants that are grown and used for snakebite treatment in India. From a range of literature sources, data have been compiled with emphasis on the plants, family, parts used, etc., depending on the availability of information. This paper enumerates 523 plant species belonging to 122 families that act as antidotes against snakebites. We believe this study of herbal antidotes against snake venom is of substantial significance to society.