Snake Meat

Sarpa (Snake) meat is described among burrowing animal meats. It is light and hot. It is said to pacify Vata and counteract poison effects. Snake meat was used in specific therapeutic formulations in classical Ayurveda. Verses: 19.

• Vatahara (pacifies Vata)
• Vishanashaka (removes poison effects)

Sarpa visa pratisedha (treatment of snake bite poison).

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ayushkameeya Adhyaya

46 Bileshaya - group of creatures that live in burrows तुदाः भे कगोधा ह वा वदा या बलेशयाः Bheka (frog), godha (iguana lizard), Ahi, (snake), swavid (hedgehog) etc.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

51 Matsya varga – group of fish म या रो हतापाठ नकूमकु भीरककटाः शुि तश खो श बूकशफर व म चि काः चुलूक न मकर शशुमार त म गलाः राजी च ल चमा या च मांस म याहुर टधा म ृ यं वै क रकं क च ातुदं च बलेशयम ् ासहं च महाम ृ यमपचरं मा यम टधा Rohita (red fish), pathina (boal), kurma (tortoise), kumbhira (gavial, alligator), karkata (crab), sukti (pearl mussel), sankha (conch shell), urdu (otter), sambuka (comman snail), safari (large glistening fish), varmi candrika 9a kind of cat fish) culuki 9propoise,

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

32 18, Instrument for extracting the stone from the urinary bladder अ मयहरणं सपफणाब कम तः Instrument for extracting the stone from the urinary bladder, shall be shaped like the hood of a snake and bent inwards at its tip.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Yantra Vidhi

33-34 Jalauka- leechesजलौकस तु सु खनां र त ावाय योजयेत ् Leeches should be made used of for letting out blood from happy persons Leeches are born in dirty water contaminated by putrifying dead bodies of fish, frog and snake or their excreta;

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Shastra Vidhi

After getting afflicted with this disease, if one indulges in unwholesome regimens, then disease gets aggravated and results in death just as from fatal snake venom.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 17: Hiccup and Dyspnea Treatment (Hikka Shvasa Chikitsa / हिक्काश्वासचिकित्सा)

Then Agnivesha choosing the appropriate time asked politely to his enlightened teacher, “Oh Lord, I observe the acute emergency disease in the body of human being which spreads with the virulence of snake-venom.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)

When managed with negligence both may cause death of patients like snake venom.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)

A person having smeared his body with the paste of this potion can catch a snake and drink its venom with immunity.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

Fumigation with nata (Valeriana wallichii), kushta (Saussurea lappa), head of bhujagapati (snake having two heads or fangs) and flower of shirisha (Albizzia labbec) by adding ghee is called dhumagada, and it cures all types of poison and edema.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

If a leech, bee, snake, or ant bites one (in a dream) — a sick person recovers, and a healthy person gains wealth.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 3: Nadiparichha Adividhi (Pulse Diagnosis etc.)

Dantaghata (tooth trauma), Dantashabda (teeth grinding), Akaladanta (premature teething), and Ahiputana (a snake-like affliction).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 7: Rogagananam (Enumeration of Diseases)

Fill with clarified ghee or ghee washed a hundred times, or snake-derived ghee, at comfortable temperature.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 13: Netra Prasadana Karma (Eye Care Procedures)

Someone thinks: 'Surely a snake has entered my belly! It constantly moves around in my abdomen and eats whatever I eat.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 6: Health Anxiety and Hypochondria (Gadodvega Adhikara)

A vivid example of somatic delusion/hypochondriacal belief — the conviction that a snake lives inside one's body.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 6: Health Anxiety and Hypochondria (Gadodvega Adhikara)

Agadatantra (Toxicology) deals with the identification of poisoning from snake bites, insect bites, spider bites, rat bites, and similar envenomations, as well as the treatment of various forms of poisoning and toxic combinations.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 1: Vedotpatti Adhyaya - Origin of Ayurveda

Covers both animal venoms (snake, spider, insect) and artificial/combined poisons (samyoga-visha).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 1: Vedotpatti Adhyaya - Origin of Ayurveda

Kalpa Sthana chapter listing: (1) Anna-ratna-vijnana (Knowledge of Food Gems/Nutrients), (2) Sthavara-vishaya (Plant Poisons), (3) Jangama-vishaya (Animal Poisons), (4) Sarpa-dashta-visha-jnana (Knowledge of Snake-bite Poisoning), (5) Sarpa-dashta-chikitsita (Treatment of Snake Bites), (6) Dundubhi (Musical Drum Antidote), (7) Mushika (Rat-bite Treatment), (8) Kitanama-kalpa (Insect-bite Treatment).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 3: Adhyayana Sampradaniya Adhyaya - Method of Study and Teaching

Hen's droppings, hair, leather, snake skin, and old torn rags should be prepared for fumigation.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 33: Andhaputanapratishedha

One should also wear (as amulets) the tongues of a blue jay and a snake.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 35: Mukhamandakapratishedha