[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877) › c4.s17 # The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s17: Borax The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s17 - **Language:** English ### Borax ### [c4.s17.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17.1) \*Sans.\* टङ्कण, \*Tankana\*. \*Vern.\* Sohága. ### [c4.s17.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17.2) Borax was known to the ancient Hindus from a very remote period, and is mentioned by Susruta. It is brought from Thibet across the Himalaya, and from Nepal, and is used in medicine as well as in the arts. It is purified for medicinal use by being steeped for a night in \*kánjika\*, and dried in the sun. Borax is said to be useful in loss of appetite, painful dyspepsia, cough, asthma, skin diseases and diarrhœa. It is also used for procuring abortion and promoting uterine contractions. Borax enters into the composition of numerous formulæ for dyspepsia, such as the \*Amritakalpa rasa\*, \*Tankanádi vati\* etc. ### [c4.s17.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17.3) \*Amirtakalpa rasa.\*¹ Take of mercury, sulphur and aconite, one part each, borax three parts, soak them for three days in the juice of \*Wedelia calendulacea\* (\*bhringarája\*) and make into two-grain pills. This medicine is said to be useful in loss of appetite, indigestion and dyspepsia. \*Tankanádi vati\* contains the above ingredients with the addition of ginger and black pepper, all in equal parts. ### [c4.s17.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17.4) ¹ अमृतकल्परसः। पारदं गन्धकञ्चैव समानौ कज्जलीकृतौ। तयोरर्द्धं विषंशुद्धं तत् समं टङ्कणं भवेत्। भृङ्गराज द्रवैर्भाव्यं त्रिदिनं यत्नतः पुनः। सुक्ष्ममाणावटिका कर्त्तव्याभिषजांवरैः। वटोहयं हरेच्छूलं अग्निमान्द्यं सुनिश्चितं। अजीर्णं जरयत्याशु धातुपुष्टिं करोति च। नाना व्याधि हराचेयं वटी गुरुवचो यथा। अनुपानविशेषेण सम्यग् गुणकरी भवेत्॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः। ### [c4.s17.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17.5) \*Chandrámrita rasa.\*² Take of the three myrobalans, ginger, long pepper and black pepper, \*Chavica officinarum\* (\*chaviká\*), coriander, cumin seeds and rock salt, each one tolá, and rub them together with goat's milk. Then add mercury, sulphur and iron, each two tolás, borax eight tolás and black pepper four tolás, all in fine powder, mix and make into pills or boluses about eighteen grains each. They are administered with goat's milk in chronic bronchitis and various sorts of cough with copious expectoration. Along with these pills a decoction made of \*gulancha\*, \*Adhatoda vasica\* (\*vásaka\*), \*Clerodendron Siphonanthus\* (\*brahmayashti\*), \*Cyperus rotundus\* (\*mustaka\*), and \*Solanum Jacquinii\* (\*kantakári\*) should be administered. ### [c4.s17.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17.6) ² चन्द्रामृतरसः। त्रिफला त्रिकटुचव्यं धान्यं जीरकं सैन्धवम्। प्रत्येकं तोलकं ग्राह्यं छागीदुग्धेन पेषयेत्। रसेन्द्रक लौहानि प्रत्येकं कार्षिकानिव। टङ्कणस्य ### [c4.s17.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17.7) Borax enters into the composition of several prescriptions for diarrhœa, along with opium, such as the \*Grahanikapáta rasa\* and \*Nripavallava rasa\*, for which see Opium. ### [c4.s17.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17.8) A mixture of equal parts of borax, long pepper and baberung seeds is given for five days, at the menstrual periods for the purpose of preventing conception.¹ It is also used for procuring abortion and inducing labour pains. Borax rubbed into a paste with the root of \*Vallaris dichotoma\* (\*bhadravalli\*) is applied to diseased nails. ### [c4.s17.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17.9) ¹ पिप्पली विड़ङ्ग टङ्कण समचूर्ण या पिवेत् पयसा। ऋत समये नहि तस्या गर्भः सञ्जायते कापि॥ भावः प्रकाशः। ## Linked texts (2) - [Bhāvaprakāśa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.sangraha.bhavaprakasa) — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit - [Rasendrasārasaṃgraha (Gopāla Kṛṣṇā)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.cikitsa.rasendrasarasamgraha) — Gopāla Kṛṣṇā 1800, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s17) · Pramāṇa