PG Module 8

JALAUKAVACARAṆA

जलमासामायुरिति जलायुकाः, जलमासामोक इति जलौकसः ||[i]

The organism is called as jalāyukā as its life (āyu) is depended on water. It is also called as Jalaukas its habitat (oka) is water bodies.

शीताधिवासा मधुरा जलौका वारिसम्भवा |

तस्मात् पित्तोपसृष्टे तु हिता सा त्ववसेचने ||६|| [ii]

As Jalaukas are living in cold habitat and it is born out of water it is considered as the best type of raktamokṣaṇa for Pitta Pradhana Vyādhis.

INDICATIONS

नृपाढ्यभीरुसुकुमारबालस्थविरनारीणामसृग्विस्रावणाय जलौकसो योजयेत्||२||[iii]

Nṛpa, Adya, Bhīru, Sukumāra, Bāla, Stavira, and Nārī.

शीताधिवासा मधुरा जलौका वारिसम्भवा |

तस्मात् पित्तोपसृष्टे तु हिता सा त्ववसेचने ||६|| [iv]

As Jalaukas are living in cold habitat and it is born out of water it is considered as the best type of raktamokṣaṇa for pitta pradhāna vyādhis.

CONTRA INDICATIONS

• Sarvānga Śodha (Generalised oedema)
• Pāṇḍu (Anaemia)
• Garbhiṇī (Pregnancy)
• Udara (Abdominal diseases)
• Śoṣa (Emaciated)
• Kṣīṇa (Weak)

[i] Su. Su. 13/9

[ii] Su. Su. 13/6

[iii] AS. Su 35/2

[iv] Su. Su. 13/6

Jalauka is generally classified into two types: Saviṣa and Nirviṣa

Saviṣa Jalauka

तत्र सविषाः- कृष्णा, कर्बुरा, अलगर्दा, इन्द्रायुधा, सामुद्रिका, गोचन्दना चेति |[i]

This type is again classified into six:

• Kṛṣṇā
• Karbura
• Alagarda
• Indrāyudha
• Sāmudrika
• Gocandana

Nirviṣa Jalauka

अथ निर्विषाः- कपिला, पिङ्गला, शङ्कुमुखी, मूषिका, पुण्डरीकमुखी, सावरिका चेति |[ii]

This type is again classified into six:

• Kapila
• Piṅgala
• Śaṅkumukhi
• Mūṣika
• Puṇḍarīkamukhī
• Sāvarika

VARIOUS TYPES OF JALAUKA

• Saviṣa Jalauka

तासु, अञ्जनचूर्णवर्णा पृथुशिराः कृष्णा; वर्मिमत्स्यवदायता छिन्नोन्नतकुक्षिः कर्बुरा; रोमशा महापार्श्वा कृष्णमुखी अलगर्दा; इन्द्रायुधवदूर्ध्वराजिभिश्चित्रा इन्द्रायुधा; ईषदसितपीतिका विचित्रपुष्पाकृतिचित्रा सामुद्रिकाः; गोवृषणवदधोभागे द्विधाभूताकृतिरणुमुखी गोचन्दनेति |[iii]

• Kṛṣṇa looks similar to Anjana cūrṇae., black in colour, with big head.
• Karbura looks like varmi matsya with small and elevated kukshi.
• Alagarda is with body full of roma, big flanks and black mouth
• Indrāyudha is colourful like rainbow
• Sāmudrika is having numerous spots over body like different flowers which is whitish yellow in colour
• Gocandana is having lower body splitted in the shape similar to testis of ox and with minute buccal cavity.

ताभिर्दष्टे पुरुषे दंशे श्वयथुरतिमात्रं कण्डूर्मूर्च्छा ज्वरो दाहश्छर्दिर्मदः सदनमिति लिङ्गानि भवन्ति | तत्र महागदः पानालेपननस्यकर्मादिषूपयोज्यः | इन्द्रायुधादष्टमसाध्यम् | इत्येताः सविषाः सचिकित्सिता व्याख्याताः ||११||[iv]

If a person is bitten by Saviṣa Jalauka, it may produce Atimātra Svayadhu, Kaṇḍu, mūrchā, Jvara, Dāha, Chardi, Mada and Sadana. It should be treated with Mahāgada, Pāna, Ālepana, Nasyādi Karma. If bitten by Indrāyudha it is considered as Asādya.

• Nirviṣa Jalauka

तत्र, मनःशिलारञ्जिताभ्यामिव पार्श्वाभ्यां पृष्ठे स्निग्धा मुद्गवर्णा कपिला; किञ्चिद्रक्ता वृत्तकाया पिङ्गाऽऽशुगा च पिङ्गला; यकृद्वर्णा शीघ्रपायिनी दीर्घतीक्ष्णमुखी शङ्कुमुखी; मूषिकाकृतिवर्णाऽनिष्टगन्धा च मूषिका; मुद्गवर्णा पुण्डरीकतुल्यवक्त्रा पुण्डरीकमुखी; स्निग्धा पद्मपत्रवर्णाऽष्टादशाङ्गुलप्रमाणा सावरिका, सा च पश्वर्थे; इत्येता अविषा व्याख्याताः ||[v]

• Kapila is having colour similar to manaḥśilā in flanks, towards the tail end it is smooth and like green gram in colour.
• Piṅgala is little reddish brown in colour with round body and very quick in movement.
• Śaṅkumukhi is having colour similar to liver and very fast moving.
• Mūṣika looks similar in shape and colour of mouse and also have bad odour.
• Puṇḍarīkamukhī is having green gram colour and shape of mouth resembles puṇḍarīka (lotus)
• Sāvarika is having smooth skin with the colour of lotus leaf and 18 aṅgula in length. It is used in Raktamokṣaṇa for animals.

[i] Su. Su. 13/11

[ii] Su. Su. 13/12

[iii] Su. Su. 13/11

[iv]  Su. Su. 13/11

[v] Su. Su. 13/12

• Collection of Jalauka

तासां ग्रहणमार्द्रचर्मणा, अन्यैर्वा प्रयोगैर्गृह्णीयात् ||१६||[i]

Jalauka has to be collected from water bodies by using wet leather or fresh meat.  This will attract the Jalauka in the water and gets attached to it. Then it should be collected. The best time for collection is śarat ṛtu.

• Preservation of Jalauka

अथैनां नवे महति घटे सरस्तडागोदकपङ्कमावाप्य निदध्यात्; भक्ष्यार्थे चासामुपहरेच्छैवलं वल्लूरमौदकांश्च कन्दांश्चूर्णीकृत्य; शय्यार्थं तृणमौदकानि च पत्राणि; त्र्यहात्त्र्यहाच्चाभ्योऽन्यज्जलं [१२] भक्ष्यं च दद्यात्; सप्तरात्रात् सप्तरात्राच्च घटमन्यं सङ्क्रामयेत् ||[ii]

Collected Jalauka are kept in a new big earthen pot with little amount of water and mud. Food for Jalauka in the form of small pieces of meat, stem of lotus and lily etc. has to be given. The floor of the pot should be arranged with water and small grass. Every third day water and food should be given and every seventh day the pot has to be changed.

• Selection of Jalauka

स्थूलमध्याः परिक्लिष्टाः पृथ्व्यो मन्दविचेष्टिताः |

अग्राहिण्योऽल्पपायिन्यः सविषाश्च न पूजिताः || [iii]

Jalauka with broad middle portion, exhausted like and slow in movement on surface, which is not getting attached, slow sucking and saviṣa should be discarded from using for the treatment.

• Śodhana of Jalauka

गृहीताश्च ताः सर्षपरजनीकल्कोदकप्रदिग्धगात्रीः सलिलसरकमध्ये मुहूर्तस्थिता विगतक्लमा ज्ञात्वा ताभी रोगं ग्राहयेत् |[iv]

After taking the Jalauka from pot, it should be anointed with mustard seed paste and turmeric paste. It should be then placed in a tray containing water in it for 1 Muhūrta. When the Jalauka becomes active, it should be used for the treatment purpose.

• Selection of Patient

अथ जलौकोवसेकसाध्यव्याधितमुपवेश्य संवेश्य वा|[v]

Patient have to be checked whether fit for Jalaukāvacarana.

• Preparation of Patient

विरूक्ष्य चास्य तमवकाशं मृद्गोमयचूर्णैर्यद्यरुजः स्यात् |[vi]

After proper Snehana and Sweda, the oily area has to be rubbed with mud or cow dung. 

[i]  Su. Su. 13/16

[ii]        Su. Su. 13/17

[iii]      Su. Su. 13/17

[iv]     Su. Su. 13/18

[v]    Su. Su. 13/18

[vi]   Su. Su. 13/18

श्लणशुक्लार्द्रपिचुप्रोतावच्छन्नां कृत्वा मुखमपावृणुयात्; अगृह्णन्त्यै क्षीरबिन्दुं शोणितबिन्दुं वा दद्यात्, शस्त्रपदानि वा कुर्वीत; यद्येवमपि न गृह्णीयात्तदाऽन्यां ग्राहयेत् ||[i]

The Jalauka has to be held in hand with the help of soft white cloth or cotton by covering its head and without obstructing its mouth. If Jalauka is not sucking, a drop of milk or blood or even a prick can be given on the site. If the Jalauka is still not attaching another Jalauka has to be taken.

यदा च निविशतेऽश्वखुरवदाननं कृत्वोन्नम्य च स्कन्धं तदा जानीयाद्गृह्णातीति; गृह्णन्तीं चार्द्रवस्त्रावच्छन्नां कृत्वा धारयेत् ||[ii]

When the Jalauka start sucking blood the mouth appears like a horse shoe. It also elevates its neck portion. Then a wet cloth or cotton has to be place over the body of Jalauka.

दंशे तोदकण्डुप्रादुर्भावैर्जानीयाच्छुद्धमियमादत्त इति; शुद्धमाददानामपनयेतः अथ शोणितगन्धेन न मुञ्चेन्मुखमस्याः सैन्धवचूर्णेनावकिरेत् ||[iii]

If swelling, itching etc. appears on the site of bite, it is considered as śuddha Rakta. Then the Jalauka has to be removed. If it doesn’t detach due to smell of blood, Saindhava Cūrṇa can be utilised for detaching.

SAMYAK LAKṢAṆA

दंशे तोदकण्डुप्रादुर्भावैर्जानीयाच्छुद्धमियमादत्त इति|[iv]

If swelling, itching etc. appears on the site of bite, it is considered as Samyak Lakṣaṇa. Then the Jalauka has to be removed.

[i]  Su. Su. 13/19

[ii] Su. Su. 13/20

[iii]  Su. Su. 13/21

[iv] Su. Su. 13/21