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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s11: Copper

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s11

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English

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Copper

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*Sans.* ताम्र, *Támra*. *Vern.* *Támá*.

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THIN plates of copper such as can be pierced by thorns are used in medicine. They are purified by being boiled in cow's urine for three hours. Copper is reduced to powder by smearing its thin leaves with a paste of sulphur and lemon juice, beating them into a mass, and exposing to heat in a covered crucible within a sand-bath for twelve hours. The powder thus produced is rubbed with *kánjika* and made into a ball, which is introduced into a tuber of *Amorphophallus campanulatus* (ola), as in a crucible and roasted. This last process is said to render the copper innocuous and prevent it from causing purging and vomiting when taken internally.

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Copper thus prepared is a dark coloured powder, somewhat gritty to the feel. On chemical analysis it is found to consist of sulphide of copper. It is described as an alterative, emetic and purgative, and is used in poisoning, dyspepsia, fever, enlarged liver and spleen, anæmia, skin diseases, diarrhœa etc. Dose, as an alterative, grains two to four. In poisoning prepared copper is given in doses of about twenty-four grains with sugar or honey to cause vomiting.¹

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¹ चौद्रजोड़ं ताम्रजोवसनं गरदोषनुत् । चक्रः ।

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Copper enters into the composition of several medicines for ague, remittent fever, enlarged spleen etc. The following are a few illustrations.

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*Sitabhanji rasa*.² Take of orpiment, mercury, sulphur and realgar, two, one, half and quarter parts, respectively, rub them together into a thin paste with the juice of *Momordica Charantia* (*káravella*). Apply this paste on copper plates equal in weight to the other ingredients, enclose the plates in a covered crucible, and roast in a sand-bath over a strong fire for twelve hours. When cool extract the copper plates from the crucible and powder them. Dose, four grains with four black peppers enclosed in a betel leaf. This packet should be chewed. It is given in intermittent fever with shivering fits, followed by burning and heat of skin. A preparation very similar to the above in composition is called *Pliha panchánana rasa*, and used in enlarged spleen.

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² शीतभञ्जरसः । तालकोदरदोझतो पारदोगन्धकः शिला । क्रमाद्भागाद्धं विहितं कारवेल्ल्या प्रमर्हितम् ॥ अनेनास्य प्रमाणेन ताम्रपत्रं प्रलेपयेत् । अधोमुखी दृढे भाण्डे तान्निरुध्याथ पूरयेत् ॥ चुल्यां बालुकापात्राध अग्निं प्रज्वालयेददम् । शीतं संचूर्ण्य माषोऽस्य नागवल्ली दले स्थितः ॥ भक्षितो मरिचैः सार्द्धं समस्तान् विषमज्वरान् । शीतदाहादिकान् हन्ति पथ्यासाद्यौदनं पयः ॥ रसप्रदीपः ।

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*Svachchhanda bhairava rasa*.³ Take of prepared copper and aconite equal parts, rub together with the juice of datura leaves and make into one-grain pills. They are given with ginger juice, sugar and rock salt in fevers complicated with cerebral symptoms.

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³ स्वच्छन्दभैरवरसः । ताम्रभस्मविषं हेम्नः शतधा भावितं रसैः । गुञ्जार्द्धं सन्निपातादिनवज्वरहरं परम् । आर्द्राम्बुशर्करासिन्धुयुतः स्वच्छन्दभैरवः । चौद्र द्वावासिताञ्चापि दधिपथ्यं रुचौददेत् । रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

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1 चौद्रजोड़ं ताम्रजोवसनं गरदोषनुत् । चक्रः ।

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2 शीतभञ्जरसः । तालकोदरदोझतो पारदोगन्धकः शिला । क्रमाद्भागाद्धं विहितं कारवेल्ल्या प्रमर्हितम् ॥ अनेनास्य प्रमाणेन ताम्रपत्रं प्रलेपयेत् । अधोमुखी दृढे भाण्डे तान्निरुध्याथ पूरयेत् ॥ चुल्यां बालुकापात्राध अग्निं प्रज्वालयेददम् । शीतं संचूर्ण्य माषोऽस्य नागवल्ली दले स्थितः ॥ भक्षितो मरिचैः सार्द्धं समस्तान् विषमज्वरान् । शीतदाहादिकान् हन्ति पथ्यासाद्यौदनं पयः ॥ रसप्रदीपः ।

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3 स्वच्छन्दभैरवरसः । ताम्रभस्मविषं हेम्नः शतधा भावितं रसैः । गुञ्जार्द्धं सन्निपातादिनवज्वरहरं परम् । आर्द्राम्बुशर्करासिन्धुयुतः स्वच्छन्दभैरवः । चौद्र द्वावासिताञ्चापि दधिपथ्यं रुचौददेत् । रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

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*Mahámritunjaya lauha.*¹ Take of mercury, sulphur, talc, orpiment and realgar, each one part, iron two parts, copper four parts, *yavakshára* and *sarjikákshára* (impure carbonates of potash and soda), borax, black salt, burnt couries, and conch-shells, plumbago-root, assafœtida, root of *Picrorrhiza Kurroa* (*katuki*), *Amoora rohitaka* (*rohitaka*,) and *Ipomœa Turpethum* (*tivrit*); tamarind pulp, colocynth root, root bark of *Anogeissus latifolius* (*dhava*), root of *Alangium decapetalum* (*ankota*), *Achyranthes aspera* (*apámárga*), ashes of the spikes of the palm-tree, turmeric and wood of *Berberis Asiatica* (*dáruharidrá*), croton seeds, sulphate of copper, *rusot* and *Oxalis corniculata* (*amlaloniká*), all in equal parts, with the exception of *rohitaka* bark, which should be two parts. Powder the ingredients, mix, soak the mixture in the fresh juice of ginger and *gulancha* and add to it thirty-two *tolás* of honey. Make into six grain pills with honey. One pill is given every morning in enlarged liver, spleen disease, ascites etc.

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¹ महामृत्युञ्जयलौहम् । शुद्धसूतं समं गन्धं जारिताभ्रं समं तथा । गन्धकाद्विगुणं लौहं मृतताम्रं चतुर्गुणम् । द्विक्षारं टङ्कणविडं वराटीमधुशङ्खकम् । चित्रकं कुनटीं तालं रामठं कटुकीं तथा । रोहितकं त्रिवृत् चिञ्चा विशाला धवसङ्कठम् । अपामार्गं ताललण्डमल्लिका च निशायुगम् । कानकं तुल्यकञ्चैव यकृन्महारसाञ्जनम् । एतानि समभागानि चूर्णयित्वा विभावयेत् । आर्द्रकस्य रसेनैव गुडूचीस्वरसेन च । मधुना कूडवैर्भाव्यं वटकां मासमात्रकम् । भक्षयेत् प्रातरुत्थाय सर्वोदरकुलान्तकृत् । प्लीहानं ज्वरमुग्रञ्च कासञ्च विषमज्वरम् । कासं श्वासं शिरोरोगं कर्णरोगं सशोथजम् । चिरजं कुब्जञ्चैव श्लीपदं हन्ति दारुणम् । रोगानोकविनाशाय धन्वन्तरिकृतं पुरा । मृत्युञ्जयमिदं लौहं सिद्धदं शुभदं नृणाम् ॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

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In enlargements of the abdominal viscera, designated by the term *gulma*, copper is used in a variety of forms. Thus, prepared copper in doses of two grains rubbed with ginger juice and enclosed in betel leaf may be given, or the following composition may be used.²

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² केवलं जारितं ताम्रं शृङ्गेररसैः सह । दातव्यं पर्णखण्डे न सर्वगुल्म निवारणम् ॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

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Gulma kálánana rasa.¹ Take of mercury, sulphur, copper, orpiment, borax, and yavakshára (impure carbonate of potash), each two tolás, tubers of Cyperus rotundus (mustaka), black pepper, ginger, long pepper, fruit of Pothos officinalis (gajapippuli), chebulic myrobalans, Acorus Calamus (vacha) and Aplotaxis auriculata (kushtha), each one tolá. Powder them all, mix and soak the mixture in the juice of Hedyotis biflora (parparti), Heliophytum Indicum (hastisundi), Achyranthes aspera (apámarga) and Trichosanthes dioica (patala) respectively and dry. This medicine is given in the form of a powder in doses of eight grains with the decoction of chebulic myrobalans.

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¹ गुल्मकालाननरसः । सूतं गन्धकं ताम्रं तालकं टङ्कणं समम् ॥ तोलद्वयमितं भागं यवक्षारञ्च तत्समम् ॥ सुतं मरिचं शुण्ठी पिप्पली गजपिप्पली । हरीतकी वचाकुष्ठं तोलैकं चूर्णयेत् सुधीः ॥ सर्वमेकीकृतं पात्रे भावना क्रियते ततः । पर्पटी वारुण शुण्डीमपामार्ग पटोलकैः ॥ तत्पुनः सूर्य्ययेत् पश्चात् सर्वगुल्मविनाशनम् । गुञ्जाचतुष्टयं खाद्यं हरीतक्यनुपानतः ॥ वातिकं पैत्तिकं गुल्मं सैन्धिकं च त्रिदोषजम् । हन्त्याशु वातगुल्मं विशेषतः ॥ श्रीमङ्गननाथेन निर्मितो विश्व सम्मदे । गुल्मकालानलो नाम्ना रसोयं भुविदुर्लभः ॥ रसेन्द्रसारसङ्ग्रहः ।

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Several preparations of copper are recommended for use in asthma and heart disease, as for example, Suryávarta rasa, Hridayárnava rasa etc.

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Suryávarta rasa.² This preparation of copper is recommended for use in asthma by Sárangadhara and other writers of note. It is thus prepared. One part of mercury and one of sulphur are rubbed together with the juice of Aloe Indica for six hours. Two parts of copper leaves are pasted with the above mixture, and roasted within a closed crucible in a sand-bath for twelve hours. When cool the copper leaves are taken out from the crucible and powdered. Dose four grains with the addition of honey and the juice of Adhatoda Vasica (vásaka).

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² सूर्य्यावर्त्तरसः । सूतं गन्धकञ्चैव यामैकं कज्जलीकृतम् । द्वयोस्तुल्यं ताम्रपत्रं

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*Hridayárnava rasa.*¹ Take of purified mercury and sulphur, each one part, prepared copper two parts, rub them together for twelve hours with the decoction of the three myrobalans, and with the fresh juice of *Solanum nigrum* (*kákamáchi*). Make into pills about four grains each. These pills are administered with a decoction of the fruits of *Solanum nigrum* and the three myrobalans, prepared with two tolás, in all of the drugs and thirty-two tolás of water, which is boiled down to one-eighth, or four tolás. They are said to be useful in heart disease.

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¹ हृदयार्णवरसः। शुद्धसूतं समं गन्धं मृतताम्रं तयोः समम्। मर्दयेत् त्रिफला क्वाथे काकमाचीद्रवैर्दिनम्।। चनमालावटीं खादेद्रसोयं हृदयार्णवः। काकमाचीफलं कर्षं त्रिफलाफलसंयुतम्।। द्वात्रिंशत्तोलकं तोयं क्वाथमेवावशेषयेत्। अनुपानं पिबेच्चाल हृद्रोगेह कफालके।। रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः।

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*Támresvara.*² Take of prepared copper, mercury, borax, and iron, sulphur, and long pepper, equal parts, soak in the decoction of the leaves, bark, fruit, root, and flowers of *Azadirachta Indica* (*nimba*), of the pulp of *Cassia fistula* and of the three myrobalans. Dose four grains, in skin diseases of various sorts. During the administration of this medicine a cooling regimen should be observed.

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² ताम्रेश्वरः। ताम्रं रसं टङ्कनगन्धलोहं भस्मीकृतं मागधिका समतम्। पञ्चाङ्गनिम्बेन फलत्रयैश्च विभावितं राजतरोस्तथैव।। नियोजयेदल्पयुगं प्रमाणं कुष्ठेषु सर्वेष्वपि रोगसंघे।। उपाचरेत् कुष्ठ जुष्टं नान्यथा सिद्धमिच्छति।। रुक्षो स्निग्धा क्रियाकाय्यं विपरीतौ विपर्यये।। रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः।

Sulphate of Copper

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*Sans.* तुत्थ, *Tuttha*. *Vern.* *Tutia*.

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SULPHATE of copper was known in India from a very remote period. It is prepared by roasting copper pyrites, dissolving the roasted mass in water and evaporating the solution to obtain crystals of the sulphate. It was known as a salt of

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कन्याकल्कं लेपयेत् । दिनैकं डण्डिकायन्त्रं पचेत् शीतं सङ्ग्रहेत् । सूर्यावर्त्ती रसोनामदिगुञ्जः श्वासकासजित् ।
रसरत्नावली ।

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copper, for the Bhávaprakása says it contains some copper and therefore possesses some of the properties of that metal.* It is described in this work as astringent, emetic, caustic, and useful in eye diseases, skin diseases, poisoning etc. It is purified for internal use, by being rubbed with honey and ghee and exposed to heat in a crucible. It is then soaked for three days in whey, and dried. Sulphate of copper thus prepared is said not to produce vomiting when taken internally. Dose, one to two grains.

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Sulphate of copper dissolved in hot water is administered in insensibility from poisoning to excite vomiting. It enters into the composition of some medicines for remittent fever, such as the Jvaránkusa mentioned in Bhávaprakása, but arsenic is the active ingredient in these preparations. In quartan fever the following, called Cháturthakàri,¹ is recommended by many writers. Take of orpiment, realgar, sulphate of copper, burnt conch-shell and sulphur, equal parts, rub them together with the juice of Aloe Indica and roast in a covered crucible. When cool extract the powder and make into four-grain pills with the juice of Aloe Indica. They are administered with powdered black pepper and ghee. Butter-milk should be taken before these pills which relieve the fever by inducing vomiting.

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¹ चातुर्थकारिरसः । हरितालं शिलातुल्यं शङ्खचूर्णञ्च गन्धकम् । समांशं मर्दयेत् प्राज्ञः कुमारीरसभावितम् । शरावसंपुटे कृत्वा लिप्त्वा गजपुटे पचेत् । कुमारिकारसेनैव वल्लमात्रा वटीकृता । दत्वा शीतज्वरं हन्ति चातुर्थकं विशेषतः । मरिचघृतयोगेन तक्रं पीत्वा चरेइटोम । एतया वमने जाते ज्वरः सद्यो विनश्यति ॥ भैषजरत्नः ।

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Grahanikapáta rasa.² Sulphate of copper is used in chronic bowel complaints along with other medicines, as for example in the following called Grahanikapáta rasa. Take of sulphate of

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² ग्रहणीकपाटः । तुल्यं तालं रसं कान्तं माक्षिकं टङ्कणं तथा । सपादनिष्कं प्रत्येकं पञ्चनिष्कावराटिका । दिनिष्कं गन्धकं सर्वं पिष्ट्वा जम्बीरजैर्दवैः । अर्द्ध-

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*तुल्यं बितुच्चकापि शिखियीवं मयुरकम । तुल्यन्तान्नोप धातु हि किञ्चि-सावेण तद्भवेत् ॥ किञ्चिन्नात गुषन्तञ्चमाष गुषञ्च तत् । भावप्रकाशः । copper, orpiment, mercury, iron, iron pyrites and borax, each five máshás. Prepared couries two and a half tolás and sulphur one tolá. Rub them all together with lemon juice and roast the mass lightly. This medicine is given in chronic bowel complaints, consumption etc.

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Gárbhavilása rasa.¹ Sulphate of copper enters into the composition of some medicines for diseases of the pregnant and puerperal state, such as, the Sutikàvinoda or Garbhavilása rasa. To prepare it take of mercury, sulphur and sulphate of copper, each one part, rub them together with lemon juice for three days. Then take of cumin seeds, kálájirá, long pepper, black pepper and ginger each one part, mix and make into eight-grain pills. They are used in bowel complaints and indigestion during the puerperal and pregnant state.

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¹ गर्भबिलासरसः। रस गन्धकतुत्थञ्च त्यहं जम्बीरमर्हितम् । द्विजोरकं त्रिक-टुना देयं गुञ्जाचतुष्टयम् । गर्भिण्याः शूलविट्स्तम्भ ज्वराजीर्णेषु केवलम् ॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः

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Sulphate of copper is applied to sinuses and fistula-in-ano with the object of stimulating and healing them. It is added to ointments for foul ulcers.² A solution of sulphate of copper is poured into the eyes in opacity of the cornea.³ The following compound powder is applied to chancres. Take of mercury, sulphur, sulphate of copper, cinnabar, and sulphate of iron, equal parts, powder and mix. This composition may be used in the form of powder or paste.

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² व्रणविशोधने । कुष्ठं त्रिफलादन्तीमागध्यः सैन्धवं मधु । रजनी त्रिफलां तैलं हितं व्रणविशोधनम् ॥ चक्रः

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³ चक्षुःरोगे । तुत्थकं वारिणायुक्तं शुक्तं इत्यक्षिपूरणात् ॥ चक्रः

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TIN.

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Sans. वङ्ग, Vanga. Vern. Ráng.

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TIN, though not indigenous to India, has been known from a very ancient period and is mentioned by Susruta. Dr. Royle

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आग करीषेण पुटितं भक्षशोभनम् । योजितं ग्रहणीगुल्मक्षयकुष्ठप्रमेहजित् ॥

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observed “But the Hindoos like the Egyptians have employed tin for various purposes from very ancient times. And though there is no proof of its being found in the present day in the peninsula of India yet it is abundant on the opposite coast of the Bay of Bengal, as in Burma, Tenasserim, Junkseylon and Malacca. There must in very ancient times have been a trade between India and these places.”

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Tin is purified by melting it over the fire and pouring the melted fluid into the milky juice of *Calotropis gigantea* (*arka*). It is prepared for medicinal use by melting it in an iron cup, adding to it one-fourth part of its weight of *yavakshára* (impure carbonate of potash) and powdered tamarind shells, and agitating with an iron rod till the mass is reduced to a fine powder. It is then washed in cold water and dried over a gentle fire. The resulting product is a greyish white powder consisting chemically of oxide of tin with some impurities. It is chiefly used in urinary disorders in a variety of forms. Thus the simple powder may be given in four-grain dose every morning with honey, or one of the following preparations may be used.

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*Trinetra rasa*.¹ Take of prepared tin, mercury and sulphur equal parts, rub them together in an iron mortar and soak seven times respectively in the juice of *Cynodon dactylon* (*durvá*) and the decoctions of liquorice root, gum of *Bombax Malabaricum* (*Mocharasa*), and *Tribulus terrestris* (*gokshura*). Then roast in a covered crucible, again soak in the above mentioned fluid medicines and make into four-grain pills. This medicine is given with a decoction in milk of the above named vegetable drugs, in painful micturition.

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¹ त्रिनेत्ररसः । वङ्गं सूतं गन्धकं भावयित्वा लौहपात्रे मह्ययेदेकघस्रम् । दूर्वायष्टी शाल्मलीगोक्षुरैस्तु सुधामध्ये भूधरे पाचयित्वा । तत्तद्द्रवैर्भावयित्वा- स्ववङ्गं दद्याच्छोत पायसं वक्ष्यमाणम् । दूर्वायष्टी शाल्मलीवल्कतुल्यैर्दुग्धैः कुर्यात् पायसं तद्धृत । प्रातःकालेशीत पानीयपानात् मूत्रेजातेस्यात् सुखो- चक्रमेण ॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

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*Vangesvara rasa*.² Take of the preparation of mercury called Rasasindura, and of prepared tin, equal parts and mix. Dose about four grains with honey in urinary diseases and diabetes.

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² वङ्गेश्वरः । रसभस्मसमायुक्तं वङ्गभस्म प्रकल्पयेत् । अस्यमाषद्वयं हन्ति प्रमेहं चौद्रसंयुतम् । रसेन्द्र सारसंग्रहः ।

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Vrihat Vangesvara rasa.¹ Take of prepared tin, mercury, silver and talc, sulphur and camphor each two tolas, prepared gold and pearls, each half a tola, mix them together, soak the mixture in the juice of Eclipta prostrata (kesarájá), and make into four-grain pills. This medicine is said to cure all sorts of urinary diseases, and to act as an alterative tonic. It is given in diabetes with the juice of the ripe fruit of Ficus glomerata (udumbara).

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¹ वृहद्वङ्गेश्वरः। वङ्गभस्मस गन्ध रौप्य कर्पूरमभ्रकम् । कर्ष कर्ष मानमेषां सूताद्वि हेममौक्तिकम् । केशरराजरस भाव्यं द्विगुञ्जाफलमानतः । वृहद्वङ्गेश्वरनाम सोमरोगं निहन्त्यलम् । बङ्गमूतं बङ्गविधं मूत्रमेहं व्यपोहति । मूतातिसारकृच्छ्र चोषणानां पुष्टिवर्द्धनम् । ओजखेजस्करं स्त्रीषु सम्यक्चापि वृषायते । बलवर्णकरं रुच्यं शुक्रसञ्जनकं परम् । छागं वा यदि वा गव्यं पयो वा दधिनिर्मितं अनुपानं प्रयोक्तव्यं बुध्वा दोषगतिं भिषक् । दद्यात् बालेच प्रौढेच सेव्येच्च रसायनम् ।। भैषज्य रत्नावली ।

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Svarnavanga.² Take of mercury, sulphur and tin, equal parts, andrub them together, then take sal-ammoniac in quantity equal to all the above ingredients and rub together in a mortar. Introduce the mixture in a glass bottle and expose to heat in a sand-bath. The resulting powder called Svarna Vanga or golden preparation of tin has a beautiful golden lustre and flaky texture. It is given in urinary complaints in doses of five to ten grains with honey and the juice of emblic myrobalans. This preparation is the bisulphuret of tin or mosaic gold “used in the arts as a bronze powder especially for the manufacture of paper hangings.” It is noticed by Pereira. . The Sanscrit text for its preparation quoted below, is taken from a manuscript compilation in the possession of Kaviraja Benod Lal Sen. It is evidently a recent innovation if not an imitation of the European preparation.

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² स्वर्णवङ्गः। सूतेन महितं वङ्गो गन्धकेन सुकञ्जुकी । नसारेण तत पश्चात् सर्वतुल्येन खल्लयेत् । पश्चात् तं वालुका यन्त्रे काच कुप्याम् निधापयेत् । पाकं कुर्याद्भिषक प्राप्त स्वर्णवर्णं यदा भवेत् । तदासिद्धं विजानीयात् सर्वमेहेषु योजयेत् । वातिकं पैत्तिकं चैव श्लैष्मिकं सान्निपातिकं । सर्वव्याधि विनाशाय महादेवेन निर्मितः ।।

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