The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s18: Lime

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s18

Language: English

Lime

c4.s18.1

Sans. शङ्खभस्म, *Sankha bhasma*. चूर्ण, *Churna*.

SEVERAL sorts of lime are used in Hindu medicine. Thus we have lime from limestone called *churna*. Then we have lime from calcined cowries, conch-shells, bivalve-shells and snail-shells, called respectively, *Kapardaka bhasma*, *Sankha bhasma*, *Sukti bhasma*, and *Sambuka bhasma*. These shells are purified by being soaked in lemon juice, and are prepared for use by being calcined within covered crucibles. Lime is used internally in dyspepsia, enlarged spleen and other enlargements in the abdomen, and externally as a caustic. Lime enters into the composition of a great many prescriptions for different sorts of dyspepsia. The following are a few examples.

c4.s18.3

पलंदत्वा मरिचस्य पलाद्धकं। नवगुञ्जा प्रमाणेन वटिकां कारयेद् भिषक्। एकैकां वटिकां खादेत् रक्तोत्पल जलप्लुताम्। नीलोत्पल रसैर्वापि कुलत्थस्य रसेनवा।
व्याघीक्षीरेण मण्डेन केशराजरसेन वा। निहन्ति विविधं कासं यक्ष्माण-
मपिदारुणम्। वासा गुडूचिका भार्गीसुतकां कण्टकारिका। समभागं कृतंकाथ्यं
प्रत्यहं भक्षयेदतु॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः।

c4.s18.4

*Amrita vati.*¹ Take of calcined cowries five parts, aconite two parts, black pepper nine parts, and make into two-grain pills. They are used in loss of appetite and indigestion.

c4.s18.5

¹ अमृतवटी। अमृतवराटकमरिचैर्दपञ्चनवभागिकैः क्रमशः। वटिका-सप्तद्विमाना कफपित्ताग्निमान्द्यहारिणी। भैषज्यरत्नावली।

c4.s18.6

*Agnikumára rasa.*² Take of borax, mercury and sulphur, each one tolá, aconite, calcined cowries and conch-shells, each three tolás, black pepper eight tolás, rub them together for twelve hours with lime juice and make into twelve-grain pills. This medicine is said to increase the appetite and cure indigestion. Calcined conch-shell in half a drachm doses is recommended to be taken with lime juice in enlarged spleen.³

c4.s18.7

² अग्निकुमाररसः। रसेन्द्रगन्धौ सहटङ्कणे समं विषं योज्यमिह-विभागम्। कपर्दशङ्खाविहनेत्रभागौ मरिच मात्राष्टगुणं प्रदेयम्। सुपक-जम्बीरसेनघृष्टः सिद्धो भवेद्ग्नि कुमारएषः। विसूचिकाजीर्ण समीरणात्तै दद्यात् दिवङ्ग ग्रहणी गदे च। भैषज्यरत्नावली।

c4.s18.8

³ रसेन जम्बीरफलस्य शङ्खनाभिरजः पीतमवश्यमेव। शास्त्रप्रमाणं शमयेदशेषं प्लीहामयं कूर्मसमानमाशु। भावप्रकाशः।

c4.s18.9

Lime is used in various combinations as a caustic for different diseases. Thus a mixture of conch-shell lime, impure carbonate of soda (*sarjiká*) and the ashes of *Raphanus sativus* (*mulaka*), is applied to tumours and enlarged glands.⁴ A mixture of lime, carbonate of soda, sulphate of copper and borax is applied as a caustic to tumours and warts. Lime enters into the composition of depilatories. Thus take of conch-shell lime three tolás, orpiment and the ashes of *Butea frondosa* (*palása*), one tolá each, and rub them together with the juice of plantain stalks or of *Calotropis gigantea* (*arka*). This paste is applied seven times to the part from which the hair is to be removed.⁵

c4.s18.10

⁴ सर्जिकासलवणक्षारः शङ्खचूर्णसमन्वितः। प्रलेपोविहितस्तोषोहन्ति यन्त्याबुं दादिकान्। चक्रदत्तः।

c4.s18.11

⁵ तालकं शाणयुग्मं स्यात् षट्शाणं शङ्खचूर्णकम्। द्विशाणिकं पलाशस्य क्षारं दत्वा प्रमर्दयेत्। कदलीदण्डतोयेन रविपत्रसेन वा। अस्यापि सप्तभिर्लेपै-र्लोम्नांशातनमुत्तमम्। शार्ङ्गधरः।

Linked texts (5)

Cakradatta (Cikitsāsaṅgraha) — Cakrapāṇidatta, Sanskrit
Śārṅgadharasaṃhitā — Śārṅgadhara (physician), Sanskrit
Bhāvaprakāśa — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit
Bhaiṣajyaratnāvalī — Govindadāsa, Sanskrit
Rasendrasārasaṃgraha (Gopāla Kṛṣṇā) — Gopāla Kṛṣṇā 1800, Sanskrit