Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Meaning of Abheshaja
Bheshaja generally means medicine. The term also includes any material or non-material or methods, measures and comforts which help in curing a disease.
Bheshaja is exactly opposite of Bheshaja, in terms of meaning and also action.
Word Split
– A = not
– Bheshaja = medicine
– Abheshaja = A + Bheshaja – (that which is) not a medicine
Abheshaja, thus, can be anything –
– which is not a medicine
– which does not cure any disease or does not have capacity to do so i.e. no therapeutic benefits
– which cannot prevent a disease
– which does not have capacity to break the cycle of pathogenesis i.e. samprapti vighatana
– which can cause trouble, miseries, side / adverse effects, complications or worsening of disease immediately after their use or after a long time of their usage
Types of Abheshaja
अभेषजं च द्विविधम् बाधनं सानुबाधनं।च.चि.१.१/५।
Abheshaja is of two types. They are –
- Badhana – those which cause miseries or adverse effects and complications immediately after their usage i.e. they cause side effects in very quick time
- Sanubadhana – those which cause miseries or adverse effects and complications or diseases after they are used continuously for long period of time i.e. their impact is slow and will produce side effects after a long time
But as a rule, Abheshaja will and should produce misery or adverse effects, sooner or later and hence not safe to use.
Some medicines (modern) have been banned from manufacturing or prescription or sale and have been withdrawn from the pharmaceutical market branding them as ‘generally not safe to use’ since they have produced adverse effects or life-threatening complications every time, in a general population. They can be considered as Abheshaja.
Context & Clinical Significance
Acharya Charaka mentions Abhesaja and its types in the same context as he explains Bheshaja and its types, in fact immediately after giving the synonyms of Bheshaja and mentioning its types.
By this Acharya Charaka has pointed towards the significance of knowing not only Bheshaja but also about the Abheshaja. A physician should know Abheshaja to differentiate it from Bheshaja and also avoid using them in his clinical practice. By doing so, he would avoid complications and undesired side effects of treatment.
It is important to differentiate between Abheshaja and Anupashaya. Anupashaya is generally ‘a medicine not helping therapeutically or causing some complication or triggering of problem’ in a particular person and may not be generalized to everyone. Abheshaja is something which is not a medicine and when administered would cause adverse effects in everyone, sooner or later, as a rule and hence should not be used.
Reference – Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana Chapter 1, section 1, verse 5 (Cha.Chi.1.1/5)
Since we do not have an elaborate explanation of Abheshaja, it makes sense in understanding it from the perspective of the explanation available for ‘Bheshaja’, since Abheshaja is opposite of Bheshaja and is everything which Bheshaja is not.
Related Reading – ‘Bheshaja’
Related Reading – ‘Difference between Bheshaja and Abheshaja’
