Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s2.t7.5

v1.c5.s2.t7.5

Ancient bhallataka was also transmitted to Persia (present-day Iran), Arab, Greece and Rome. Doctors mainly use its juice or fruit as medicine to treat the discomfort of central nervous system, epilepsy and improve memory. The herb works and medical prescription collections such as *Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb* by Ibn Sina, *Al-Saydanah fi’l-tibb* by Al-Biruni, *Al-Kulliyyat* by Ibn Rushd (Averroes in Latin), *Kitab al-jami’fi-mufradat al-adwiya wa al-aghdhiya* by Ibn Al Baytar and *The Small Dispensatory* by Sabur Ibn Sahl all record the properties and usage of bhallataka. Bhallataka was also called *habb ai-fahm* (nut of apprehension) and famous for its capability of enhancing and improving memory. The use of bhallataka by Islam medical science was transmitted to China again through *Huihui Formularies* of Yuan Dynasty. The remaining volumes of *Huihui Formularies* have reserved two groups of names of bhallataka namely the translations of Arabic baladhur and Persian baladur, “Baladu’er”, “Biladi’er”, “Biladu’er” and “Boladi’er” and translations of Arabic anaghardiya or *anaqardiya* (Greek anacardia), “Anha’erdiya” and “Anjia’erdiya”. The related medical prescriptions in *Huihui Formularies* such as “Dabiladi’ermazhun”, “Biladi’ermazhun”, “Xiaobiladi’ermazhun”, “Mazhunbiladi’er”, “Mazhunibaladu’er”, “Anha’erdiya” and “Dawawuxisana” can basically be deemed as the interpretations of bhallataka prescriptions from Islam medical works in China.