Hritpatri (Digitalis): An Ayurvedic & Toxicological Overview

-

 

Hritpatri (Digitalis): An Ayurvedic & Toxicological Overview

Hritpatri

In the varst world of medicinal plants, Hritpatri, commonly known as Digitalis, holds a unique and powerful position.

 Revered in Ayurveda for its Hridya (heart-acting) properties and recognized in modern medicine as a potent cardiac drug-and poison, this plant is a classic example of how dosage and knowledge determine whether a substance heals or harms .


This blog explores Hritpatri from Ayurvedic, botanical, and toxicological perspectives, making it especially useful for   students, practitioners, and curious readers interested in Agadatantra and modern toxicology .

 And Important for BAMS 2nd year students 

Hritpatra (Digitalis)

  • Family - Scrophulariaceae
  • Latin name -Digitalis purpurea
  • Type of poison -

  1. Ayurveda - Upavisha
  2. Modern - Cardiac poison

  • Toxic part - Whole plant is poisonous, leaves are more poisonous


  • Synonyms -

  1. Sanskrit - Dhumrapushpi, Tilpushpi, Hrutpatri.
  2. English names - Lady's glove, purple foxglove.
  3. Hindi name - Tilpushpi


Morphology

Rasapanchak Hritpatri

  • Herb - Small evergreen herb.
  • Leaves - alternate.
  • Flower - Glove shaped
  • Stem: Erect, stout & 1–2 m tall.
  • Fruit/Seeds: Small, brown

capsule that splits into two halves, containing numerous tiny seeds.

Rasa Panchaka

Rasa: Tikta

Guna: Laghu ,Ruksha

Virya: Ushna

Vipaka: Katu

Prabhava: Hridya

Active principles:

Digitoxin, Digitalin, Digoxin. 

Prabhav (Action)

Its chemical compounds (glycosides) directly

affect the cardiac muscles, slowing down the heart

rate to the extent that cardiac blockage occurs.

Doshaghna

 Kaphaghna, Vataghna, Pitta vardhak

 Formulation

  • Hritpatri churna 

Toxicity

 Due to the presence of the cardiac glycoside digitoxin, the leaves,

flowers and seeds of this plant are all poisonous to humans and some animals and can be fatal if ingested.

The main toxins in Digitalis are the two chemically similar cardiac glycosides: digitoxin and digoxin.

 Like other cardiac glycosides,

these toxins exert their effects by inhibiting the ATPase activity of a complex of transmembrane proteins that form the sodium

potassium ATPase pump, (Na/K-ATPase).

 Inhibition of the Na/K-ATPase in turn causes a rise not only in intracellular Na, but also in calcium, which in turn results in increased force of myocardial muscle contractions.

Signs and Symptoms of Poisoning

  • Nausea, Vomiting
  • Severe burning and pain in the abdomen
  • Bradycardia
  • Fainting, weakness
  • Headache
  • Confusion, dizziness
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Convulsions , Coma
  • Death from Ventricular Fibrillation 

Fatal Dose

  • Part used - Dried Leaf
  • Dose - 2.5 mg of powder leaf.
  • Digitalis — 2-3 gm
  • Digoxin — 5 mg
  • Digitalin — 15-20 mg

Fatal period

  • 1 - 2 hours 

Treatment

  • Monitor the patient using ECG during treatment.
  • Gastric lavage with tannic acid solution.
  • Use of activated charcoal.
  • Inducing vomiting.
  • Administration of potassium chloride in case of
  • bradycardia.
  • Lignocaine 100 mg IV or Novocaine as an antidote.
  • Atropine 0.6 mg IV for bradycardia.
  • Symptomatic treatment. 

Postmortem Findings

  • No specific signs or symptoms.
  • Erosion of the gastric mucosa.
  • Seeds or fragments of leaves may be found in the stomach.

Medico-legal Aspects

  • Mostly: Accidental
  • Rarely: Homicidal


Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and is based on academic presentation materials. Digitalis is a potent poison; never attempt to self-medicate with this plant.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gunja (Abrus precatorius): The Beautiful Poison

-
Image
  Gunja (Abrus precatorius): The Beautiful Poison – An Ayurvedic and Modern Perspective Category: Agadtantra (Toxicology) Bams 2 nd year In the world of Agadtantra (Ayurvedic Toxicology), few plants are as visually striking and paradoxically dangerous as Gunja. With its vibrant red seeds tipped with black, it resembles a jewel, leading to its use in beads and ornaments. However,  this is beautiful exterior lies a potent poison known as Sthavar Visha Today, we dive deep into the properties, toxicity, and medicinal transformation of Gunja, based on classical Ayurvedic and modern prospective  Introduction Latin name: Abrus precatorius . English - Rosary pea, indian liquorice root. Sanskrit - Raktika, kaakananti,tamrika. Family - Leguminaceae Utpattisthana - Everywhere in india   External Features Characterized by Shrub like climbers with many branches. Leaves - Like tamarind tree, (2-3 inches long) flowers - Small yellowish green Odour - Odourless Rasa Panc...
Read more

Ahiphena (Opium): Bridging Ayurvedic Wisdom and Modern Toxicology

-
Image
 Ahiphena (Opium): Bridging Ayurvedic Wisdom and Modern Toxicology Category: Agadtantra (Toxicology) Bams 2 nd year In the world of Agadtantra (Ayurvedic Toxicology) and modern forensic medicine, few substances are as fascinating—and dangerous—as Ahiphena, commonly known as Opium or the Poppy plant. Known for its potent medicinal properties and high potential for abuse, understanding Ahiphena requires a look at both its traditional Ayurvedic classification and its modern pharmacological profile. Introduction Latin Name : Papaver Somniferum. Family : Papaveraceae. Vernacular Names   Sanskrit : Aaphuk, Ahiphen, Naagphen,   Niphen, Amal. Marathi : Aphu Hindi : Afim English : Opium, Poppy plant . Classification: According to Ayurved - Sthavara vegetative poison Upavisha (Bhavaprakash & Rasatarangini) According to Modern science - Neurotic Cerebral Somniferous Properties   Guna : Laghu, Ruksha,Sukshma, Vyavayee, Vikasee. Rasa : Tikta. Vipaka : Katu. Veerya : ...
Read more

The Suicide Tree : Unveiling the Secrets of Cerbera odollam

-
Image
  The Suicide Tree: Unveiling the Secrets of Cerbera odollam Category: Agadtantra (Toxicology) Bams 2 nd year Nature is full of contradictions.  the most beautiful flora harbors the deadliest secrets . A prime example of this paradox is Cerbera odollam, a plant known by the ominous moniker  " The Suicide Tree " . Native to South India and Southeast Asia, this plant is a subject of significant interest in both Ayurveda and modern toxicology . Let’s dive deep into the morphology , toxicity , and medicolegal importance of this deadly beauty of Cerbera Odollam. Cerbera Odollam    Name of Poison: Cerbera Odollam   Botanical Name: Cerbera odollam   English Names: Suicide Tree, Pong-pong tree   Sanskrit Names : Auddalalka, Svanamara   Family : Apocynaceae Classification   Ayurveda : Plant poison (Sthavara Visha)   Modern : Cardiac poison (affects the heart) Description  Origin: Native to South India and Southeast Asia  Habitat: ...
Read more

आरोग्यवर्धिनी वटी: रसरत्नसमुच्चयांतर्गत एक सर्वांगीण शास्त्रीय व चिकित्सकीय समीक्षा

-
आरोग्यवर्धिनी गुटिका (रसरत्नसमुच्चय... विसर्पादी चिकित्सा) १) घटक द्रव्य द्रव्य — प्रमाण शु. पारद — १ भाग शु. गंधक — १ भाग लोह भस्म — १ भाग ताम्र भस्म — १ भाग अभ्रक भस्म — १ भाग हरितकी — २ भाग } बिभितकी — २ भाग } (त्रिफळा) आमलकी — २ भाग } शु. शिलाजतू — ३ भाग शु. गुग्गुळ — ४ भाग चित्रक — ४ भाग कुटकी (Main) — २२ भाग - यकृत उत्तेजक, तिक्त रसात्मक निम्ब स्वरस / पत्र (भावना देण्यास २ दिवस) २) निर्माण विधी - पारद आणि गंधक कज्जली खल्व मध्ये टाकावी. भस्म घ्यायचा, त्रिफळा घ्यायचा खल्व मध्ये कुटुन घ्यायच (२ दिवस) गुग्गुळ टाकून वटी तयार करायची. वटी सुकवून काचेच्या भरणी मध्ये साठवून ठेवली. निम्ब स्वरस टाकून भावना तयार करायची एकजीव करायच - २ दिवस ३) मात्रा - 250 - 500 mg tablet ४) अनुपान - आर्द्रक स्वरस, मध, जल ५) उपयोग - कुष्ठ कुष्ठ रोग, वातज पित्तज कफज ज्वर, यकृत उत्तेजक, मेदज रोग ६) अशुद्ध असल्यास - रोग अधिकार (१) सर्व प्रकारचे कुष्ठ (२) वातज, पित्तज, कफज कुष्ठ (३) यकृत उत्तेजन (४) मेदज रोग ७) Chemical Composition :-  Mercury (Hg)  Sulphur (S)  Iron (Fe_2So_3) Ferric oxide.  P...
Read more

Spider Poison (लूता विष) : Ayurvedic and modern aspect

-
Image
  Spider Poison (लूता विष) : Ayurvedic and modern aspect  Category: Agadtantra (Toxicology) Bams 2 nd year निसर्गात अनेक जीव आहेत, ज्यांच्यापासून आपल्याला इजा होऊ शकते. आयुर्वेदामध्ये अशा विषारी प्राण्यांचा आणि त्यांच्या विषाचा सखोल अभ्यास 'अगदतन्त्र' या शाखेमध्ये केला जातो. आज आपण अशाच एका विषयावर माहिती घेणार आहोत, तो म्हणजे लूता विष (Spider Poisoning) .  Introduction अगदतन्त्राची व्याख्या: “अगदतन्त्रं नाम सर्पकीट लूता मूषकादि दष्ट विष व्यञ्जनार्थं  विविध विषसंयोगोपर्शमनार्थञ्च | (सु. सु.१/१४)" आयुर्वेदाच्या आठ शाखांपैकी एक असलेल्या अगदतन्त्राचा उद्देश सर्प (साप), कीट (कीटक), लूता (कोळी), मूषक (उंदीर) इत्यादींच्या दंशाचे निदान आणि विविध प्रकारच्या विषांवर उपचार करणे हा आहे.   लूता विष म्हणजे कोळी चावल्यामुळे होणारे विषबाधा.   याचे वर्णन जांगम विष (प्राणीजन्य विष) या अंतर्गत केले जाते. Classification (वर्गीकरण) संख्येनुसार सुश्रुत - १६   वाग्भट - २८   विषाच्या तीव्रतेनुसार  तीक्ष्ण विष लूता : ७ दिवसांच्या आत मृत्यू होतो....
Read more