Chapter 6.8: Consumption and Wasting Disease Treatment (Rajayakshma Chikitsa / राजयक्ष्मचिकित्सितं)
Management of wasting diseases (primarily tuberculosis) addressing four causative factors, eleven cardinal symptoms, specific meat therapies, medicated ghees, wine prescriptions, and prognosis based on symptom count and tissue depletion.
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan by Vagbhata
Chapter 8 addresses rajayakshma — the 'king of diseases' encompassing wasting/consumptive conditions including tuberculosis. The chapter opens with the mythological story of Chandrama (Moon) afflicted by yakshma. Four causative pathways are established: overexertion, urge suppression, tissue depletion, and irregular diet. The triple pathogenesis involves channel obstruction, tissue depletion, and enzymatic failure. Treatment is primarily nutritive rather than purificatory — drastic purification is contraindicated. Major therapeutic modalities include medicated ghees (dashamula, panchamula, duralabhadi, jivantyadi), meat therapies (specific animals for different doshas, disguised preparation for reluctant patients), wine as a channel-opener, and the famous Sitopaladi and Talisadi churnas. Prognosis depends critically on tissue integrity rather than symptom count.