Adhimantha – Meaning, Causes, Types, Symptoms, Treatment

By Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S

Adhimantha is an eye disorder. It is included in Sarvagata Netra Roga i.e. diseases afflicting all parts of the eye. This means to tell that when these set of diseases occur, they afflict all the parts of the eye instead of appearing in particular parts of the eye.
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Table of Contents

Causes, Pathogenesis

People suffering from Abhishyanda i.e. conjunctivitis, consumption of incompatible foods and indulgence in unwholesome life activities lead to worsening of conjunctivitis. This will lead to 4 types of adhimantha which are very painful.

Causes – Abhisyanda is the cause of all eye disorders, including Adhimantha. When conjunctivitis is not treated or when person suffering from conjunctivitis is exposed to etiological factors adhimantha is manifested.

The common causative factors mentioned for manifestation of all eye disorders are also applicable for causation of adhimantha.

Symptoms

Utpatyata iva – feeling of someone trying to pull out the eyes
Atyartham netram nirmathyate – feeling as if someone is churning one’s eyes
Shiraso ardham – pain in half portion of head

The symptoms caused due to involved doshas will form different symptom complexes in the sub-types of the disease.
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Types and Symptoms

Types of adhimantha are said to be as many as abhisyanda. There are 4 types.

Vatadhimantha

As if the eye is being forcibly removed / pulled out from within
Severe pain as if the eye is being churned with piece of wood for churning fire
Feel as if the eye is being scrubbed
As if the eye is being pierced with needle
Pain as if the eye is torn with a sharp instrument
Loss of muscles in the eye (ocular muscles)
Eye looks dirty / dirt appears spread over the eyes
Constriction of the eyes
Feeling as if the eyes are getting burst open
Increased tension in the eyes (explains increased intraocular pressure i.e. IOP, hallmark of glaucoma)
Tremors in the eyes
Severe headache in half part of the head

Master Vagbhata adds tinnitus, giddiness and severe pain in the forehead, eyes and eyebrows in the list of symptoms.

Pittadhimantha

Red colored lines manifest in the entire eye
Discharges from the eye
Burning sensation as if the eyes are burnt with fire
Eyes are dark coppery in color resembling piece of liver
Burning pain similar to wounds caused by alkali
Suppuration and swelling in the margins of the eyelids
Excessive sweating
Every material appears yellow
Loss of consciousness intermittently
Burning sensation in the head
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Shleshmadhimantha

There is absence of burning sensation, redness or pain as in inflammation of eyes but discharges, itching, coldness, heaviness, stickiness, collection of dirt in the eyes and horripulation are present
Objects are seen as if they are covered with dust and are unclearly seen
Dirtiness of the eyes
Blockage in the nose
Headache

Raktadhimantha

Eye becomes red resembling the flowers of Japa i.e. hibiscus
Feel of darkness in front of the eyes
Tenderness of the eyes
Bleeding or red colored discharges from the eye
Throbbing pain in the eyes
Everything around seems to be burning in fire
The black of the eye looks like soap nut immersed in blood
Eye appears as if burning in fire and there is redness around the eyes
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Sanskrit Verses

Prognosis

With consumption of incompatible foods and getting indulged in unwholesome activities or when not treated properly there is loss of vision in –

7 days in kaphadhimantha
5 days in raktadhimantha
6 days in vatadhimantha
Immediately in pittadhimantha

Treatment

All four types of Adhimantha are classified under vyadhana sadhya rogas i.e. diseases which are curable by bloodletting, especially venesection type of bloodletting.

Since the adhimanthas are formed from their respective abhisyandas, the treatments of related abhisyandas are applicable to the subtypes of adhimantha. This means to tell that –