Introduction to Viddha karma Viddha karma is mentioned in Ayurveda for instant pain management. It is a sterile procedure in which specific points are pierced or punctured using disposable hollow Viddha needles. Viddha karma is performed on specific points with all precautions to avoid injury to marma. Viddha karma is performed superficially or deep on the affected part of patient’s body according to patient’s tolerance and severity of pain.
Correlation with Chinese medicine Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines are contemporary. Indonesia is also related by cultural bonds with India and neighbouring countries since last many centuries and hence the traditional therapeutic medicines developed in this region are having a quite close resemblance with each other. There are definite proofs that various types of exchanges in many respects was a routine practice during that era. One similar principle applied in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine is – Ushna and sheeta. This is applied in both the external and internal regimens. The equilibrium of both these elements is equal to health and derangement means disease. This is basic theme of both the sciences. Because of the fear of over description, many descriptions in Ayurvedic texts are quite brief and need explanation with the help of other sciences as per Ayurveda’s advice. It was heard that Viddha chikitsa and Agni chikitsa are practiced in Chinese medicine. But it was not practiced in India. This was the outcome of bias minded international policies of British government, whereby, in view of promoting allopathic pharmaceutical products, the therapies like Viddha and Agni karma lagged behind as compared to china. Hence, for analysing the claims made by other similar sciences, I retrieved the literature related to Chinese acupuncture and Moxibustion from the publications of Chinese government and studied them at depth twice. It was noted that both the sciences have several similarities. Ayurveda has quoted very few sites for Viddha for many ailments to relieve pain. Following points are worth noting while considering the similarities between both the sciences; 1. Both have stated Anguli pramana. It is to be taken in relation to every individual patient. Surface anatomy is important here. 2. There is clear explanation in the Chinese medicine while measuring the points horizontally as well as vertically. 3. Ayurveda has advised Viddha chikitsa for the conditions like Aavrita/Margavrodhaja vata, collected fluid substances like in mutravriddhi, dakodara, pooya from vidradhi (Asthigata vata, Asthi vidradhi) or vitiated blood. Chinese acupuncture has advised on the same line. 4. For Agni karma, Ayurveda has stated use of plant products like Pimpali, Bibba, Harida, Jaggery etc. Chinese medicine has used garlic, Davana and likewise for Moxibustion. 5. Chinese medicine has advised iron needle rod for Agni karma, while Ayurveda has advised pancha dhatu shalaka. 6. Ayurveda has advised Agni karma for non recurrence of tumours. This is not mentioned in Chinese medicine. 7. Ayurveda has duly considered the marma points while implementing Agni karma, which has not been mentioned by Chinese medicine. 8. Moxibustion has been advised for ailments due to shaitya(coldness) in Chinese therapy, which is similar in the case of Ayurveda. 9. Viddha chikitsa has been advocated in the diseases due to vitiation of vata in both the sciences. 10. Ayurveda advocated Agni karma where Viddha is not beneficial. In Chinese medicine Moxibustion has been advised at many places after acupuncture. 11. Whenever the pathogenesis is related to Snayu – sandhi, the procedures like snehana, Swedana, Agni karma and Viddha Chikitsa are to be performed repeatedly. Chinese science has advocated the same thing. The Viddha and Agni karma sites are same in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. But Ayurveda has avoided naming them by personal characters, while Chinese medicine has given names of scholars. Following are some of the examples: Viddha sthana per Ayurveda and same point by Chinese medicine with a name: 1. जिव्हा मूले व्यधेत Vuve, Jinjng 2. उपनासिके – नासासमीपे Bitong, Vingxiang 3. ललाट्यां नासाग्रे Ygngbai, Moxibustion application. 4. भ्रृपुच्छे Si Zhukong. 5. हनुसंधिमध्यग Xiaguan, Moxibustion application 6. नासाग्रे Daheng, sulioo – Moxibustion application. The points noted for Viddha are same for Agni karma. And I utilize them without any complication in practice. Ayurveda has presented Ushna and sheeta principles primarily. Ushna has an upward tendency while sheeta has downward tendency. (Agni and Jala) As per Chinese science, the upward part of body is Yang (heat) and lower part is Yin (cold) Ayurveda has stated 20 guna but there are 10 principle guna and remaining 10 as their deficient. (Opposite guna) The dominance of one overrides its Opposite guna. E.g. – if Ushna is dominant, Sheeta is dominated or vice – a – versa. Although, the pathological changes that occur in disease are complicated, they can be generalized and explained by imbalance of Yin and Yang. Excess of Yin – Cold syndrome. Excess of Yang – Heat syndrome. Deficiency of Yin – Heat syndrome. Deficiency of Yang – Cold syndrome. Reference: Chinese medicine. This discussion leads to clarify that both the sciences have a similar view regarding the basic principles monitoring our body as well as its therapeutic principles. It is debatable issue, who transferred this knowledge to whom or both were the same country during a certain period; this is a subject of the specialist in the concerned field. The deranged status of Ushna and Sheeta guna can be corrected within a short time, without giving any medicines like NSAIDs and very economical with the help of Agni karma and Viddha Chikitsa. This achieves instant pain relief. I expect that every practitioner should follow these therapeutic measures. It was decided by me not to write any book without completing 5000 patients. Which has been achieved now without any complication. Hence it is requested to rejuvenate all this therapeutics at a wider level and make Ayurveda everlasting. Nevertheless, Ayurveda is itself everlasting.