[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.s3.27 # The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s3.27 The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s3.27 - **Language:** English ### [c4.s3.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s3.27) तैलपाक \*Tailapáka\* or medicated oils. In preparing these, sesamum oil should be used unless otherwise specified. Sesamum oil, before being boiled with medicinal substances, is coloured and purified as follows :—First of all it is heated to deprive it of any water that may be mixed with it ; then the following substances are steeped in it for twenty-four hours, viz., madder one sixteenth part in weight of the oil, turmeric, wood of \*Symplocos racemosa\* (lodhra), tubers of \*Cyperus rotundus\* (mustaka), a bark called naliká, the three myrobalans, root of \*Pavonia odoráta\* (bálá) and the tender shoots of \*Pandanus odoratissimus\* (ketaki), each one sixty-fourth part in weight of the oil. These ingredients in fine powder should be soaked in the oil, with the addition of an equal quantity of water for a day. The mixture should then be boiled till the water is evaporated, and finally strained. To the oil thus prepared, medicinal substances, in the form of paste, decoction, etc., are added in the same proportions as for the preparation of \*ghritapáka\*. They are then boiled together till the watery parts are all evaporated. When cool, the oil is strained through cloth so as to separate the solid particles. Some medicinal oils, and especially those used in the treatment of nervous diseases, rheumatism, etc., are subjected to a third process of boiling with various aromatic and fragrant substances. This is called the \*Gandha páka\* or boiling for rendering the oil fragrant. The following substances, or as many of them as are available, are used for scenting medicated oils, namely, cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, fenugreek seeds, saffron, leaves of \*Cinnamomum Tamala\*, white sandal wood, aloes wood, \*jatámansi\* root, \*Curcuma Zedoaria\* (sati), \*Cyperus rotundus\* (mustaka), kakkola (an aromatic seed,) resin of \*Pinus longifolius\* (\*gandhavirájá\*), storax, long pepper root, root of \*Andropogon muricatus\* (usira), nakhi (\*Unguis odoratus\*),\* pouch of civet cat (\*khattási\*), camphor, musk, \*Permelia perlata\* (\*saileya\*,) root of \*Aplotaxis auriculata\* (\*kushṭa\*), seeds of \*Abelmoschus moschatus\* (\*latákasturi\*), etc. - [Previous: c4.s3.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s3.26) - [Next: c4.s3.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s3.28) - [Up: c4.s3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s3) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s3.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c4.s3.27) · Pramāṇa