Sthavara Visha Adhisthana: Sources and origin points of plant/mineral poisons.
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Sthavara Visha Adhisthana plant mineral poison origin Ayurveda Agada Tantra
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Sthavara Visha Adhisthana - Seats and Origin Points of Plant/Mineral Poisons
Overview
In Ayurvedic Agada Tantra (toxicology), Sthavara Visha (from Sanskrit: sthavara = immovable/stationary) refers to all poisons derived from inanimate sources - plants and mineral/metallic substances. The word Adhisthana means "seat," "abode," or "origin point" - the specific part of a plant or mineral substance where the toxic principle (Visha) resides.
The knowledge of Sthavara Visha was revealed by the venerable Dhanvantari and elaborated upon in detail by:
- Acharya Sushruta (Sushruta Samhita, Kalpasthana)
- Acharya Charaka (Charaka Samhita)
- Vagbhata (Ashtanga Hridayam / Ashtanga Sangraha)
Classification of Sthavara Visha
Sthavara Visha is broadly divided into two categories:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Sthavara Visha (Vegetable) | Poisons residing in plants |
| Sthavara Visha (Mineral/Dhatu Visha) | Poisons in metals, minerals, and mineral ores |
There are 55 types of Sthavara Visha in total across all Adhisthanas.
The 10 Adhisthanas (Seats/Origin Points)
According to the Acharyas, there are ten Adhisthanas (receptacles) where Sthavara Visha resides:
| No. | Adhisthana (Seat) | Sanskrit Term | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | Moola Visha | Toxic principle in underground roots and rhizomes |
| 2 | Leaf | Patra Visha | Toxic principle in leaves |
| 3 | Flower | Pushpa Visha | Toxic principle in flowers |
| 4 | Fruit | Phala Visha | Toxic principle in fruits/seeds |
| 5 | Bark | Tvak Visha | Toxic principle in the bark |
| 6 | Hard wood / Heartwood | Sara | Toxic principle in the hard/inner wood |
| 7 | Gum / Resin | Niryasa | Toxic principle in exudates, resins, and gums |
| 8 | Sap / Latex | Ksheera | Toxic principle in milky latex or sap |
| 9 | Tuber / Rhizome | Kanda | Toxic principle in underground tubers and rhizomes |
| 10 | Minerals / Metal ores | Dhatu | Toxic principle in minerals, metals, and ores |
Note: Some classical texts merge Moola and Kanda (root and tuber) or treat Dhatu as a separate mineral category. The tenth seat - Dhatu - specifically covers the mineral/metallic poisons (e.g., arsenic, mercury, lead ores).
The 55 Sthavara Visha by Adhisthana
1. Moola Visha - 8 Poisonous Roots
| Plants | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Klitaka |
| 2 | Asvamara |
| 3 | Gunja (Abrus precatorius) |
| 4 | Sugandha |
| 5 | Gargaraka |
| 6 | Karaghata |
| 7 | Vidyutsikha |
| 8 | Vijaya (Cannabis sativa) |
2. Patra Visha - 5 Poisonous Leaves
| Plants | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visapatrika |
| 2 | Lamba |
| 3 | Varadaru |
| 4 | Karambha |
| 5 | Mahakarambha |
3. Phala Visha - 12 Poisonous Fruits
Includes: Shringivisba, Prapundarika, Mulaka, Halahala, Mahavisha, Karkataka and others (full 12 enumerated in Sushruta Samhita Kalpasthana)
4. Pushpa Visha - Poisonous Flowers
Classified separately in the classical texts
5. Tvak (Bark) / Sara (Hard wood) / Niryasa (Gum-Resin) Visha
These three are often grouped together in classical enumeration
6. Ksheera Visha - Poisonous Sap/Latex
Latex-bearing plants with toxic milky exudate
7. Kanda Visha - Poisonous Tubers/Rhizomes
Includes plants like Vatsanabha (Aconitum ferox) and related rhizome-based poisons
8. Dhatu Visha - Mineral Poisons
Also named separately - well-known Dhatu Visha origins include:
- Vatsanabha (arsenic-related), Sauviranjana (antimony), Haratala (orpiment/arsenic trisulfide), Manashila (realgar), Anjana (kohl/antimony), Hingula (cinnabar/mercuric sulfide)
Prominent Origins of Sthavara Visha (Sushruta's List)
From the classical listing of poisonous roots (Moola), Sushruta enumerates:
Mustaka, Pushkara, Krauncha, Vatsanabha, Balahaka, Karkata, Kalakuta, Karavira, Palaka, Indrayudha, Taila, Meghaka, Kusha, Puspaka, Rohisha, Pundarika, Langalika, Anjanabhaka, Sankocha, Markkata, Shringivisba, Halahala and other poisonous roots.
Visha Lakshana (Clinical Features) by Adhisthana
Each Adhisthana produces characteristic clinical features when poison from that seat enters the body:
| Adhisthana | Clinical Features (Visha Lakshana) |
|---|---|
| Moola (Root) | Udvestana (voluntary stretching), delirium, delusion |
| Patra (Leaf) | Excessive yawning, body stretching, dyspnoea |
| Phala (Fruit) | Scrotal swelling, burning sensation inside body, aversion to food |
| Pushpa (Flower) | Vomiting, flatulence, delusion |
| Tvak/Sara/Niryasa (Bark/Heartwood/Resin) | Bad oral odour, roughness, headache, discharge/flow |
| Ksheera (Sap/Latex) | Specific mucosal and gastrointestinal effects |
| Kanda (Tuber/Rhizome) | Neurological and systemic toxicity |
| Dhatu (Mineral) | Systemic heavy metal toxicity - varies by metal |
Significance in Agada Tantra
The concept of Adhisthana is practically important in Ayurvedic toxicology for several reasons:
- Diagnosis - The presenting clinical features help identify which Adhisthana the poison originated from
- Treatment - Treatment is directed first at the Dosha associated with the seat of poison:
- Vata Dosha site - Paste of Nata (Valeriana wallichi) + Kushta (Saussurea lappa) with curd
- Pitta Dosha site - Ghee, honey, milk, and cold water; cold affusion/bath
- Shodhana (Purification) - Detoxification methods vary based on the mineral or plant part involved
- Upavisha - Substances less virulent than full Visha but sharing toxic properties are classified separately as sub-poisons
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