Shirishapushpadi Yoga in Sarpa Visha: A Review

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine and healthcare; there are mainly eight clinical specialities in it, and Agada tantra is one among the eight branches which deals with different types of poisoning conditions, their diagnosis & management. Several Agada yogas (Therapeutic formulations) have been explained by Acharyas for treating various diseases, poisoning conditions & skin manifestations due to poisoning. Shirishapushpadi yoga is one among the Agada yogas that has minimal & easily available ingredients, which is explained in Astanga Sangraha in the context of sarpa visha chikitsa (Treatment of snake envenomation). Snake bites affect an estimated 5.4 million people worldwide each year, with 1.8 to 2.7 million cases of envenomation. Around 81,410 to 137, 880 people die each year because of snake bites, and around 3 times as many amputations and other permanent disabilities are caused by snakebites annually¹. A recent study reported a mortality rate of 0.33 deaths per 100,000 population. In India, the researchers extrapolated their findings to estimate approximately 120,852 snakebite cases annually.² In Agada tantra, various formulations & therapeutic approaches have been described for the management of snake envenomation that remain unexplored through contemporary scientific research; therefore, further systematic research of such formulations may help to determine their therapeutic potential & possible complementary role in snakebite management. In this article, an attempt is made to review the ingredients, properties, method of preparation, mode of action, administration and uses of shirishapuspadi yoga, which is indicated in sarpa visha chikitsa (Treatment of snake envenomation).

AIM AND OBJECTIVE:

To review the formulation shirishapushpadi yoga.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Various classical Ayurveda texts such as Charaka Samhita, Astanga Sangraha, Astanga Hridaya, Agada Tantra & Dravyaguna literature, and their available commentaries and translations were referred.

Relevant literature was identified using keywords such as Ayurveda, Agada tantra, Shirishapushpadi yoga, Sarpa visha, Snake envenomation in PubMed, Google Scholar, HeliNet and other accessible sources.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

Shirishapushpadi yoga is explained in Agada Tantra for treating Sarpa visha (snake envenomation), Sarpa visha pratishedha adhyaya of Ashtanga Sangraha³; it is also mentioned in Ashtanga Hrudaya4 & Charaka Samhita in the context of sarpa visha chikitsa (Treatment of snake envenomation)⁵.

Table 1: Ingredients of Shirishapushpadi yoga

RASA PANCHAKA

Table 2: Properties of Shirishapushpadi yoga

Method of preparation8:

Shigrubeeja/ sita maricha (seeds of Moringa oleifera) soaked and macerated in the juice of flowers of Shirisha (Albizia lebbeck) for seven days (saptavasaran bhavitam).

Mode of administration: Pana (Drink), Nasya (Nasal administration), Anjana (Collyrium)

Dose: Exact dose is not mentioned in texts; hence standard dosage can be considered for different modes of administrations

Indication: Sarpa visha (Persons bitten by snake)

RESULTS:

Shirishapushpadi yoga is mainly mentioned in Sarpavisha pratishedha adhyaya of Astanga Sangraha. It has 2 ingredients: Shirisha (Albizia lebbeck Benth.) & Shigru beeja, also referred to as sita maricha, which is mentioned by Indu commentary in Astanga Sangraha (seeds of Moringa oleifera Linn.)⁴; its action on sarpa visha (snake envenomation) can be explained based on rasa panchaka

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Figure 1: Analysis of rasa (Taste) of shirishpushpadi yoga (Table 2)

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Figure 2: Analysis of guna (Properties)of shirishpushpadi yoga (Table 2)

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Figure 3: Analysis of veerya (Potency)of shirishpushpadi yoga (Table 2)

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Figure 4: Analysis of vipaka of shirishpushpadi yoga (Table 2)

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Figure 5: Analysis of doshaghnata of shirishpushpadi yoga (Table 2)

Most of the drugs in the formulation have Kashaya, tikta, Madhura & katu rasa. Laghu, rooksha, teekshna and sara guna. Ushna & anushna veerya. Katu vipaka & in dosha karma, it is tridosha shamaka, mainly vata-kaphashamaka. Both of the drugs have vishaghna (Anti-venomous), vranahara (wound healing), shothahara (anti-inflammatory) & kandughna etc properties.

DISCUSSION:

Agada tantra describes several approaches to Visha chikitsa, including formulations for different types of poisoning. In this context, Shirishapushpadi yoga is noteworthy because of its indication in sarpavisha chikitsa; it has only 2 ingredients, which are also easily available. This review brings together the classical references, ingredients, preparation method, properties, and modes of administration associated with the Shirishapushpadi yoga. Shirisha and Shigru are the two principal ingredients identified in the formulation. This formulation is predominant in kashaya, tikta, madhura & katu rasa; it is vatahara due to madhura rasa & ushna veerya, pittashamaka due to kashaya, tikta, madhura rasa & kaphashamaka due to katu vipaka, which in turn might act as tridoshashamaka, which pacifies the tridosha vitiation due to visha & can be useful in all kinds of sarpa dashta (snake bites) as indicated in the text. Their individual properties, as described in literature, provide a traditional basis for understanding their inclusion in the preparation. However, the properties of individual ingredients cannot, by themselves, establish the therapeutic action of the complete formulation against snake venom.

The seed extract of shirisha (Albizia lebbeck) is tested in laboratory assays & mice, which reported the inhibition of certain venom-associated enzymes, reduction in venom-induced haemorrhage & myotoxicity under study conditions⁹. As shirishapushpa is mentioned in the part used for preparation of this yoga, both the shirisha seeds and flowers have a few similar compounds like saponins (Albiziasaponins, Lebbecksides, Echinocystic acid derivatives), Flavonoids & phenols (like Quercetin, kaempferol, Rutin), which describe the Vishaghna (Antivenomous activity) of shirisha.^10,11 Similarly, the experimental study examined ethanolic leaf extract of Shigru (Moringa oleifera) in rats and reported effects on venom-induced haemorrhage, haemolysis and selected biochemical changes.¹² As the seed of shigru is mentioned in the formulation, both seeds and leaves present a few similar phytochemical constituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins^13, which may be contributing to the vishaghna (anti-venomous activity) of the drug. These findings may be discussed in relation to the traditionally described Vishaghna (anti-venomous activity), Vranahara (wound-healing) and Shothahara (anti-inflammatory) properties of Shirisha & Shigru. However, further research is required to establish the relationship between these traditional properties and the observed experimental effects.

The preparation method explained in the text, involving the use of Shirisha flower juice for processing Shigru seeds, is an important feature of the formulation. This method needs further investigation to determine whether processing influences the chemical composition, stability or biological activity of the resulting preparation. The classical references also describe different routes of administration, namely Pana, Nasya, and Anjana. Their suitability, safety, dosage, and clinical relevance require further scientific evaluation.

CONCLUSION:

Shirishapushpadi yoga is a classical Ayurveda formulation described for Sarpavisha chikitsa. The present review mentions its ingredients, traditional preparation method, Ayurvedic pharmacological properties and modes of administration based on the literature.

The formulation represents an area of traditional knowledge that merits systematic scientific investigation. Further research is needed to establish its composition, standardisation, safety and possible biological activity, followed by appropriately designed studies to assess its clinical relevance.

A careful integration of classical textual knowledge with modern toxicological research may help clarify the potential role of Shirishapushpadi yoga while maintaining patient safety as the primary consideration in snakebite management.

Ethical approval: Not applicable

Conflicts of interest: None

Source of funding: None

Acknowledgement: None

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