Śafaśifa Enna Viṣacikilsa: a review

Abstract

The book Śafaśifa Enna Viṣacikilsa, central to the present study, is a traditional medical treatise
written in the Arabi-Malayalam literary dialect by 19th-century author Konaganamveettil
Ibrahimkutty Musliyar. This concise yet comprehensive text addresses all aspects of poisoning as
understood in 19th-century Kerala. It draws from a rich blend of toxicological knowledge found
in Ayurvedic, Arabic, and local Kerala texts up to the 19th century CE. The book categorizes
various types of poisoning and integrates both physical and metaphysical approaches. While
certain sections reflect clear parallels to Ayurvedic practices, others present unique perspectives
that diverge from conventional Ayurvedic methods.