Vatsanabha.

VATSANABH.

It is a cardiac poison. It activates and suppresses the cardiac muscles. Tankan is the antidote for Vatsanabh.

*Synonyms:-

Amrutavisha, Mithavisha, Vachhanag, Dakaravisha, Kshweda.

English- Aconite, Monk’s hood.

Hindi- Bachhanag.

Marathi- Vachhanag.

Latin- Aconitum ferros.

*Classification:-

According to Ayurveda- Sthavar vanaspatik visha.

According to modern- Cardiac poison.

General description:-1) Small plant, 30-60c.m. long.

2) Leaves are soft and hairy. 

3) Divided into 5-6 parts.

4) Flowers are blue coloured.

5) Dry root is tapering slightly arched. Usually winkled, 5-10c.m. long and 1-2c.m.thick at upper extremity and dark brown externally. White internally when freshly cut; but becomes pink when exposed to air. Sweetish in taste. Sparingly soluble in water.

*Poisonous parts: - All parts of the plant are poisonous. Roots are more poisonous.

*Active principle: - The chief principle is alkaloid aconitine and the others are picraconitine, pseudoaconitine and aconine. 

*Fatal dose: - Root-1gm.

Extract-250m.g.

Tincture-25 drops.

Alkaloid-4m.g.

*Fatal period: - 6 hours and maximum 24 hours.

*Signs and symptoms:-

1) Tingling numbness in the lips, mouth, tongue and pharynx followed by salivation, vomiting, diarrhea.

2) Patient feels giddy, his vision and speech are impaired.

3) Limbs become weak and he is unable to stand or walk.

4) Twitching of muscles and convergence may occur.

5) Pulse is slow, irregular, breathing is rapid and forced. But soon becomes slow, labored and shallow.

6) The pupils alternately contract and dilate; but remain fully dilated in later stage.

7) Mind remains clear in the end.

8) Death ensued from cardiac arrhythmia or respiratory paralysis.

*Treatment:-

1) Gastric lavage with solution of tannic acid (10gms in 2 liters of water) or KMnO4 solution.

2) The heart maybe supported by hypodermic injection of atropine 1mg or digitalin 0.25m.l.

3) Cardiac arrhythmias may require 50m.l. of 0.1% novocaine even slowly intravenously.

4) Artificial respiration O2 inhalation and other supportive treatments treatments.

5) In Ayurveda; Tankan is used as a special antidote. Also Arjuna twak churna mixed with goghruta and madha should be given.

*Postmortem appearance:-

1) Remains of root maybe found in stomach.

2) Aconite is largely destroyed in the body and also by alkalis; hence it is difficult to detect it after death.

*Medico legal aspect:-

1) Accidental –From quake remedies, when added to liquor for a greater kick; overdose of its therapeutic preparation.

2) It is homicidal.

3) It is cheap and easily available.

4) Fetal dose and fatal period, both are short.

5) Its colour can be covered by mixing it with pink coloured drink.

6) Its taste can be masked by mixing it in sweets.

 7) It is largely destroyed in the body and therefore cannot be detected by chemical analysis.

8) It is used as catal poison.

9) It is used as abortifacient.

*Therapeutic preparation:-Tribhuvan kirtiras, Anandabhairava ras.