Achushana (sucking of blood): An emergency management of snakebite

Snakebite has been considered as a burning and difficult situation not only for the affected individuals but also for the doctors. An individual, seeing the snake feels terrified. When there is bite by a snake one feels that the life is in danger now and death is unavoidable. This is, as evidence say, the main cause of death due to snakebite. So a patient with snakebite when comes to the physician shows the serious signs and symptoms and the physician also faces dilemma in diagnosis which is the prime important factor to become success. A patient of snakebite commonly visits the physician with a huge number of attendants with anxiety, fear and lots of questions. This makes the situation more confusing and even the physician has to take tension.

Ayurveda is unanimously agreed to be the most ancient health science dealing with almost all unwanted states of health (disease). The great scholars and founders of Ayurveda, along with the medical and surgical disease conditions, also discuss poisoning with priority. Among all the poisonings snakebite is considered to be potent one which need prompt action of the physician in absence of which the life of the patient may be lost.

The Ayurvedic scholars Charaka, Susruta and Bagbhata very nicely describe the seriousness of snakebite (SARPADANGSA) and advice to take step to prevent the spread of the bisha by following a number of procedures. Out of all one procedure is (ACHUSHANA) which is said to apply with the aim to expel out the poison contaminated blood by applying sucking.

This procedure is not supported by the modern Toxicologists. Hence, a discussion on the topic is seemed to have importance. Hope this discussion will be able to convey information not only to the Ayurvedic fraternity but also to the Modern field with a message to re-evaluate the concept in modern scientific character.