1
Critical comparative study of the
concept of VATHARAKTHA in
Charaka and Susrutha Samhitha
Dr. Jayagovinda Ukkinadka
UKKINADKAS AYURVEDA
www.ukkinadkas.com
PRESENTATION BY
Content
• Cardinal features
• Nidana- Caraka and Susrutha
• Samprapthi
• Poorvaroopa
• Roopa
• Upadrava
• Sadhyasadhyatha
• Comparison and discussion
2
Introduction
• Vata shonitha or vataraktha is the disease
first explained in Charaka and Susrutha
Samhitha.
• We can see lot of difference of opinion in
Charaka and Susrutha while explaining the
types and symptoms.
• At some point it seems that the disease
understood as Vatashonitha by Charaka and
Susrutha are different
3
Vata shonitha (VS) as told by
Charaka- Cardinal S & S
4
Cardinal features of VS-Charaka
• The main seat of VS is Phalangeal joints of
Hands and foot and later the features will
be seen in multiple joints
• This is the same explanation what we see
even today in modern texts while
explaining Rheumatoid arthritis and other
Rheumatisms.
Vata shonitha as told by
Susrutha- Cardinal S & S
6
Aakhu Visha Lakshana -Susrutha
7
Cardinal features of VS - Susrutha
• The main seat of the disease is PADA- FOOT,
and occasionally seen in HANDS and if
aggravates spreads like poisonous effect of rat
bite, spreads fast and produces symptoms like
• Rat bite effect- Formation of nodules, circular
skin lesions, severe bullous eruptions, scaly
skin lesions, bodyache, severe pain,
unconciousness, heavyness in the body, fever,
loss of appetite, vomitting.
Nidana & samprapthi- Caraka
9
Vishesha Samprapthi- Caraka
10
Patho physiology- Charaka
• Due to the etiological factors the aggravated
Vayu obstructed by the aggravated Raktha
produces this disease
• Vata because of its subleness and Raktha due
to its liquid nature moves in vessels and gets
obstructed in bends and mostly at joints and
also may interfeared by Pittadi doshas and
produces severe symptoms in those areas.
Nidana and Samprapthi-
Susrutha
12
Nidana and Samprapthi-
Susrutha
13
Vata Pitta and Vata Kapha
involvement- Susrutha
14
Patho physiology in Susrutha
• Some change in etiology seen, but samanya
samprapthi is almost similar, but not explained
the vishesha samprapthi
Poorvarupa- Caraka
16
Prodromal symptoms- Charaka
• Excessive or no sweating, blackish discoloration,
severe pain on hitting, numb or tingling feeling
in skin, stiffness in joints, weakness, formation
of nodules, multiple joint pain, pricking pain,
severe pain, or tingling sensation in joints,
itching in joints, spontaneous remission and
exacerbation of symptoms, skin discoloration
and skin eruptions may be the prodromal
features in Vata shonitha.
Poorvarupa-Samprathi Susrutha
18
Prodromal symptoms- Susrutha
• Due to the etiological factors the aggravated
Vatha and Raktha produces Vataraktha and the
prodromal symptoms are- Symptoms are first
seen in Feet and occasionally in hand and later
symptoms will be seen in all over the body.
• Symptoms are pricking pain, burning sensation,
itching, swelling, numbness, sudden eruption of
blackish or reddish rashes over the skin which
are seen in hand, feet, wrist or ankle.
Poorvarupa Susrutha- in Feet
20
In feet
• In feet the skin condition will be bad, there
may be excessive or no sweating, may be cold
or hot to touch, patient may have pricking
pain, numbness, or severe burning sensaton.
Discoloration of the skin is very common
Two types of Vatarakhta- Caraka
22
Types Charaka
• Uthana- Superficial
• Gambhira- Deep seated
And also
Ubhayashritha- both superficial and deep seated
These are depending upon the extent of damage
and also explained depending upon the doshik
involvement.
Two stages of Vataraktha-
Susrutha
24
Susrutha- not types they are the stages
of the disease
• Susrutha denies the opinion of Charaka and
says that somebody says that superficial and
deep are the two types but they are not they
are just the stages of the disease as in any skin
disease situated in superficial and deep
structures.
Uttana Vataraktha - Caraka
26
Gambhira Vataraktha- Caraka
27
Uttana and Gambhira of Charaka
• Uttana- There will be itching and burning
sensation, and pain in the joint on movement,
pricking pain in joints and also feeling of
squeezing type of pain. Skin discoloration is also
seen in the skin near the joints.
• Gambhira- Severe itching and pain in the joints
affected, hard to touch, severe pain, within the
joint, burning sensation. Skin discoloraton and
even ulceration is also possible.
Ubhayashrita Vataraktha- Caraka
29
Ubhayashritha- or systemic
• Severe pain, burning sensation, the joint
deformities are very fast, all the features of
Vataraktha will be seen in this variety.
Vataja Vataraktha- Caraka
31
Pittaja Vataraktha- Caraka
32
Kaphaja Vataraktha -Caraka
33
Rakthaja Vataratha- Caraka
34
Features- Susruta
35
Features Importance given only to
Pada
• Burning sensation, pricking pain, and other
features according to doshik involvement seen
in Pada (Kadachith in Hastha)
Upadrava- Caraka
37
Upadrava- Charaka
• Desturbed sleep, breathlessness, poor appetite,
Deep ulcerations, stiffness in the head, loss of
conciousness, delerious, excessive thirst, high
fever, syncope and tremors. Hiccups, limping,
bullous skin lesions, ulcers with suppuration,
pricking pain, giddyness, exausted, Deformities in
fingers, skin eruptions, burning sensation all over
the body, damage to vital organs, and those who
develops cancerous tumors are the main
complications and should not be treated as they
are incurable.
Chikistya Vataraktha-Susrutha
39
Treat those without complicatons like-
Susrutha
• Susrutha advice to treat those without following
complicaton
• Gangrene formation, debilitated, unconcious
ness, poor appetite, high fever, heavyness,
delerious, convulsions,- may be those without
septicemia
• Treat those who are having full strength, with
good will power and having the all shastras and
anushastras ready, then only start the treatment.
Sadhyasadhyatha- Caraka
41
Reason for Asadhyatha- Caraka
42
Prognosis Charaka
• With all upadravas- Asadhya- Incurable
• Mild upadravas- Yapya- can be Maintained
• Without complicaton - Curable
Asadhya Lakshana- Susrutha
44
Prognosis Susrutha
• Those Vataraktha with the ulcers extending up
to Knee with discharge of Pus, with Upadravas
like Murcha, Jvara, Pipasa, etc, those who are
very much debilitated, emaciated are
incurable.
• Vataraktha with history of one year or more
can be maintained with continuous treatment.
The Main differences are- 1
• Charaka has given importance to the
involvement of Joint and Joint Pain as the
main feature.
• Susrutha no where mentions involvement of
the joints and also joint pain.
46
2
• Charaka has also given importance to skin
manifestation but only in Upadravas.
• But Susrutha has explained Vataraktha as a
skin condition with Ulceration which
commonly manifests in foot, rarely in hand.
47
3
• In Asadhya vataraktha Susrutha says that
ulceration with pus and slough which
reaches up to Knee is Asadhya.
• While Caraka explains skin complication
along with Anguli vakrata, Pangulya, Paka,
Toda, Bhrama, Klama, Arbuda, daha,
Murcha, Mada, ruk, Trishna, Pravepaka,
Shirograha etc.
48
4
• Susrutha while explaining Chikitsya
Vataraktha says that those without Prana,
Mamsakshaya, pipasa, Jvara, Murcha,
Shwasa, kasa, sthambha Arochaka vipaka,
visarana Sankochana like Upadrava rahitha
Patients who are Balavantha, Atmavantha
and Upakaranavantha as Chikitsya. There the
symptomatology resembles a septicemia
patient.
49
5
• Charaka explains almost all symptoms
involved in Rheumatism except morning
stiffness and symmetric involvement.
• But susrutha no where mentions
involvement of joint or symptomatology
similar to Rheumatism.
50
6
• Charaka explains Uttana, Gambhira and
Ubhayashritha as three types of Vataraktha
which is like articular, extra articular and
systemic involvement explained in rheumatism.
• But Susrutha says that Uttana and Gambhira
are the two stages as superficial and deep in
skin conditions (Kustavat)
51
52
Why vataraktha can be RA and other
rheumatic condition?
THASYA STHANAM KARAU PADAVANGULYAHA
SARVASANDHAYAHA.
HASTHAPADE THU MOOLAM- DEHE VIDHAVATHI.
• LEADING SYMPTOMS SEEN IN SANDHIS, MAINLY
PHALANGEAL JOINTS AND TOES, AND THEN
MULTIPLE JOINTS.
53
VATHARAKTHA- CLINICAL FEATURES
• MULTIPLE JOINT PAIN
• PRICKING PAIN
• TENDERNESS
• RECCURENT EXACERBATION AND REMISSION
• MALAISE
• FORMATION OF NODULES
• SKIN RASHES, EXCESSIVE OR NO SWEATING, TINGLING AND
ITCHING SENSATION OVER JOINTS.
• JOINT DEFORMITIES, STIFFNESS, RIGIDITY
• IN GAMBHIRA VATHARAKTHA, PAIN IS SEVERE AND PAKA
USUALLY OCCURS.
54
VATHARAKTHA FEATURES
• Almost all the features of RA is explained except
morning stiffness and symmetrical involvement,
which is a diagnostic feature to consider RA.
• Extra articular symptoms like necrotic ulcers(paka) as
seen in vasculitis, mandalothpatti (butterfly rash in
sle), visarpa (skin lesions with bullous ulcers, necrotic
or gangrenous ulcers with systemic symptoms)
• Almost all differetials of Rheumatism can be included
under Vatashonita of Charaka including septic
arthritis(Pittaja Vataraktha).
55
Vataraktha of Charaka- Rheumatism, all
differential diagnosis of rheumatism
• SO CONSIDERING ALL THE CRITERIAS, RA MAY
BE CONSIDERED UNDER VATHARAKTHA AND
ALL DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF RA
INCLUDING GOUTY ARTHRITS MAY ALSO BE
CONSIDERED UNDER VATHARAKTHA.
56
SUSHRUTHAS VATHARAKTHA MAY BE
FOOT ULCER AND …
• Sushrutha explains Vatharaktha briefly, but he has
not given importance to the involvement of multiple
joints, but explains symptoms related with skin
lesion, which is painful, reddish, with swelling and
burning sensation or whitish with itching. But the
main site of lesion is mainly feet, but sometimes
hands, and symptom may spread to whole body as
poisonous rat bite.
57
PERIPHERAL VASCULAR OBSTRUCTION &
VENOUS ULCERS MAY ALSO BE CONSIDERED.
• While explaining the symptoms he says that there
may be severe tenderness at the site of lesion or
sometimes numbness.
• Sushrutha while explaining incurable vathashonitha,
says that, if the lesion spreads up to knee (from
foot), and ulcerates with secretion of serum, blood
and pus & in case of muscle wasting & in a
debilitated person,it is incurable. So here he clearly
mentions ulceration in the leg, from foot up to knee
as a complication and also incurable.
58
Gambhira and Uthana Vatharaktha are not
two types according to Sushrutha
• Sushrutha says that gambhira and Uthana are
not two types of vatharaktha, but two stages
of disease.
• So Sushruthas explanation may not be related
with RA, or he may not have given much
importance to vathashonitha with joint
involvement as his main subject was surgery.
CONCLUSION
• Probably Vataraktha of Caraka and Susrutha are
different diseases, but with same name.
• Lot of difference of opinion may be because of
disease consideration which may be Rheumatism
and Gout by Caraka and Gangrenous and other non
healing ulcers by Susrutha
• Further we can also consider the commentaries and
the other texts further eloborate on this subject
• The gap between period of Charaka and Susrutha is
100 to 300 years according to the historians which
could be the another reason for misunderstading.
59
Thank You
60

Vathashonitha charaka and susrutha

  • 1.
    1 Critical comparative studyof the concept of VATHARAKTHA in Charaka and Susrutha Samhitha Dr. Jayagovinda Ukkinadka UKKINADKAS AYURVEDA www.ukkinadkas.com PRESENTATION BY
  • 2.
    Content • Cardinal features •Nidana- Caraka and Susrutha • Samprapthi • Poorvaroopa • Roopa • Upadrava • Sadhyasadhyatha • Comparison and discussion 2
  • 3.
    Introduction • Vata shonithaor vataraktha is the disease first explained in Charaka and Susrutha Samhitha. • We can see lot of difference of opinion in Charaka and Susrutha while explaining the types and symptoms. • At some point it seems that the disease understood as Vatashonitha by Charaka and Susrutha are different 3
  • 4.
    Vata shonitha (VS)as told by Charaka- Cardinal S & S 4
  • 5.
    Cardinal features ofVS-Charaka • The main seat of VS is Phalangeal joints of Hands and foot and later the features will be seen in multiple joints • This is the same explanation what we see even today in modern texts while explaining Rheumatoid arthritis and other Rheumatisms.
  • 6.
    Vata shonitha astold by Susrutha- Cardinal S & S 6
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Cardinal features ofVS - Susrutha • The main seat of the disease is PADA- FOOT, and occasionally seen in HANDS and if aggravates spreads like poisonous effect of rat bite, spreads fast and produces symptoms like • Rat bite effect- Formation of nodules, circular skin lesions, severe bullous eruptions, scaly skin lesions, bodyache, severe pain, unconciousness, heavyness in the body, fever, loss of appetite, vomitting.
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
    Patho physiology- Charaka •Due to the etiological factors the aggravated Vayu obstructed by the aggravated Raktha produces this disease • Vata because of its subleness and Raktha due to its liquid nature moves in vessels and gets obstructed in bends and mostly at joints and also may interfeared by Pittadi doshas and produces severe symptoms in those areas.
  • 12.
  • 13.
  • 14.
    Vata Pitta andVata Kapha involvement- Susrutha 14
  • 15.
    Patho physiology inSusrutha • Some change in etiology seen, but samanya samprapthi is almost similar, but not explained the vishesha samprapthi
  • 16.
  • 17.
    Prodromal symptoms- Charaka •Excessive or no sweating, blackish discoloration, severe pain on hitting, numb or tingling feeling in skin, stiffness in joints, weakness, formation of nodules, multiple joint pain, pricking pain, severe pain, or tingling sensation in joints, itching in joints, spontaneous remission and exacerbation of symptoms, skin discoloration and skin eruptions may be the prodromal features in Vata shonitha.
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Prodromal symptoms- Susrutha •Due to the etiological factors the aggravated Vatha and Raktha produces Vataraktha and the prodromal symptoms are- Symptoms are first seen in Feet and occasionally in hand and later symptoms will be seen in all over the body. • Symptoms are pricking pain, burning sensation, itching, swelling, numbness, sudden eruption of blackish or reddish rashes over the skin which are seen in hand, feet, wrist or ankle.
  • 20.
  • 21.
    In feet • Infeet the skin condition will be bad, there may be excessive or no sweating, may be cold or hot to touch, patient may have pricking pain, numbness, or severe burning sensaton. Discoloration of the skin is very common
  • 22.
    Two types ofVatarakhta- Caraka 22
  • 23.
    Types Charaka • Uthana-Superficial • Gambhira- Deep seated And also Ubhayashritha- both superficial and deep seated These are depending upon the extent of damage and also explained depending upon the doshik involvement.
  • 24.
    Two stages ofVataraktha- Susrutha 24
  • 25.
    Susrutha- not typesthey are the stages of the disease • Susrutha denies the opinion of Charaka and says that somebody says that superficial and deep are the two types but they are not they are just the stages of the disease as in any skin disease situated in superficial and deep structures.
  • 26.
  • 27.
  • 28.
    Uttana and Gambhiraof Charaka • Uttana- There will be itching and burning sensation, and pain in the joint on movement, pricking pain in joints and also feeling of squeezing type of pain. Skin discoloration is also seen in the skin near the joints. • Gambhira- Severe itching and pain in the joints affected, hard to touch, severe pain, within the joint, burning sensation. Skin discoloraton and even ulceration is also possible.
  • 29.
  • 30.
    Ubhayashritha- or systemic •Severe pain, burning sensation, the joint deformities are very fast, all the features of Vataraktha will be seen in this variety.
  • 31.
  • 32.
  • 33.
  • 34.
  • 35.
  • 36.
    Features Importance givenonly to Pada • Burning sensation, pricking pain, and other features according to doshik involvement seen in Pada (Kadachith in Hastha)
  • 37.
  • 38.
    Upadrava- Charaka • Desturbedsleep, breathlessness, poor appetite, Deep ulcerations, stiffness in the head, loss of conciousness, delerious, excessive thirst, high fever, syncope and tremors. Hiccups, limping, bullous skin lesions, ulcers with suppuration, pricking pain, giddyness, exausted, Deformities in fingers, skin eruptions, burning sensation all over the body, damage to vital organs, and those who develops cancerous tumors are the main complications and should not be treated as they are incurable.
  • 39.
  • 40.
    Treat those withoutcomplicatons like- Susrutha • Susrutha advice to treat those without following complicaton • Gangrene formation, debilitated, unconcious ness, poor appetite, high fever, heavyness, delerious, convulsions,- may be those without septicemia • Treat those who are having full strength, with good will power and having the all shastras and anushastras ready, then only start the treatment.
  • 41.
  • 42.
  • 43.
    Prognosis Charaka • Withall upadravas- Asadhya- Incurable • Mild upadravas- Yapya- can be Maintained • Without complicaton - Curable
  • 44.
  • 45.
    Prognosis Susrutha • ThoseVataraktha with the ulcers extending up to Knee with discharge of Pus, with Upadravas like Murcha, Jvara, Pipasa, etc, those who are very much debilitated, emaciated are incurable. • Vataraktha with history of one year or more can be maintained with continuous treatment.
  • 46.
    The Main differencesare- 1 • Charaka has given importance to the involvement of Joint and Joint Pain as the main feature. • Susrutha no where mentions involvement of the joints and also joint pain. 46
  • 47.
    2 • Charaka hasalso given importance to skin manifestation but only in Upadravas. • But Susrutha has explained Vataraktha as a skin condition with Ulceration which commonly manifests in foot, rarely in hand. 47
  • 48.
    3 • In Asadhyavataraktha Susrutha says that ulceration with pus and slough which reaches up to Knee is Asadhya. • While Caraka explains skin complication along with Anguli vakrata, Pangulya, Paka, Toda, Bhrama, Klama, Arbuda, daha, Murcha, Mada, ruk, Trishna, Pravepaka, Shirograha etc. 48
  • 49.
    4 • Susrutha whileexplaining Chikitsya Vataraktha says that those without Prana, Mamsakshaya, pipasa, Jvara, Murcha, Shwasa, kasa, sthambha Arochaka vipaka, visarana Sankochana like Upadrava rahitha Patients who are Balavantha, Atmavantha and Upakaranavantha as Chikitsya. There the symptomatology resembles a septicemia patient. 49
  • 50.
    5 • Charaka explainsalmost all symptoms involved in Rheumatism except morning stiffness and symmetric involvement. • But susrutha no where mentions involvement of joint or symptomatology similar to Rheumatism. 50
  • 51.
    6 • Charaka explainsUttana, Gambhira and Ubhayashritha as three types of Vataraktha which is like articular, extra articular and systemic involvement explained in rheumatism. • But Susrutha says that Uttana and Gambhira are the two stages as superficial and deep in skin conditions (Kustavat) 51
  • 52.
    52 Why vataraktha canbe RA and other rheumatic condition? THASYA STHANAM KARAU PADAVANGULYAHA SARVASANDHAYAHA. HASTHAPADE THU MOOLAM- DEHE VIDHAVATHI. • LEADING SYMPTOMS SEEN IN SANDHIS, MAINLY PHALANGEAL JOINTS AND TOES, AND THEN MULTIPLE JOINTS.
  • 53.
    53 VATHARAKTHA- CLINICAL FEATURES •MULTIPLE JOINT PAIN • PRICKING PAIN • TENDERNESS • RECCURENT EXACERBATION AND REMISSION • MALAISE • FORMATION OF NODULES • SKIN RASHES, EXCESSIVE OR NO SWEATING, TINGLING AND ITCHING SENSATION OVER JOINTS. • JOINT DEFORMITIES, STIFFNESS, RIGIDITY • IN GAMBHIRA VATHARAKTHA, PAIN IS SEVERE AND PAKA USUALLY OCCURS.
  • 54.
    54 VATHARAKTHA FEATURES • Almostall the features of RA is explained except morning stiffness and symmetrical involvement, which is a diagnostic feature to consider RA. • Extra articular symptoms like necrotic ulcers(paka) as seen in vasculitis, mandalothpatti (butterfly rash in sle), visarpa (skin lesions with bullous ulcers, necrotic or gangrenous ulcers with systemic symptoms) • Almost all differetials of Rheumatism can be included under Vatashonita of Charaka including septic arthritis(Pittaja Vataraktha).
  • 55.
    55 Vataraktha of Charaka-Rheumatism, all differential diagnosis of rheumatism • SO CONSIDERING ALL THE CRITERIAS, RA MAY BE CONSIDERED UNDER VATHARAKTHA AND ALL DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF RA INCLUDING GOUTY ARTHRITS MAY ALSO BE CONSIDERED UNDER VATHARAKTHA.
  • 56.
    56 SUSHRUTHAS VATHARAKTHA MAYBE FOOT ULCER AND … • Sushrutha explains Vatharaktha briefly, but he has not given importance to the involvement of multiple joints, but explains symptoms related with skin lesion, which is painful, reddish, with swelling and burning sensation or whitish with itching. But the main site of lesion is mainly feet, but sometimes hands, and symptom may spread to whole body as poisonous rat bite.
  • 57.
    57 PERIPHERAL VASCULAR OBSTRUCTION& VENOUS ULCERS MAY ALSO BE CONSIDERED. • While explaining the symptoms he says that there may be severe tenderness at the site of lesion or sometimes numbness. • Sushrutha while explaining incurable vathashonitha, says that, if the lesion spreads up to knee (from foot), and ulcerates with secretion of serum, blood and pus & in case of muscle wasting & in a debilitated person,it is incurable. So here he clearly mentions ulceration in the leg, from foot up to knee as a complication and also incurable.
  • 58.
    58 Gambhira and UthanaVatharaktha are not two types according to Sushrutha • Sushrutha says that gambhira and Uthana are not two types of vatharaktha, but two stages of disease. • So Sushruthas explanation may not be related with RA, or he may not have given much importance to vathashonitha with joint involvement as his main subject was surgery.
  • 59.
    CONCLUSION • Probably Vatarakthaof Caraka and Susrutha are different diseases, but with same name. • Lot of difference of opinion may be because of disease consideration which may be Rheumatism and Gout by Caraka and Gangrenous and other non healing ulcers by Susrutha • Further we can also consider the commentaries and the other texts further eloborate on this subject • The gap between period of Charaka and Susrutha is 100 to 300 years according to the historians which could be the another reason for misunderstading. 59
  • 60.