Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s8: Iron

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s8

Language
English

Contents

Iron

c4.s8.1

Sans. लौह, Lauha.

c4.s8.2

THREE varieties of iron are used in Hindu Medicine, namely, Kánta lauha or cast-iron, Mandura or iron rust, and Lauhasára or salts of iron produced by iron being kept in contact with vegetable acids. The form of cast iron used in the manufacture of pans for boiling milk is considered superior to all others for medicinal use. The small particles of iron which are scattered around when hot iron is beaten on the anvil, are called mandura. They are allowed to remain in contact with the earth till they become very rusty and brittle, when they are considered fit for use. The properties of mandura are said to be analogous to those of cast iron. Lauhasára or the granules produced on iron plates, smeared with vegetable acids, are also used in medicine. This variety of iron is said to be especially useful in diarrhœa, chronic bowel-complaints, dyspepsia and nervous diseases.

c4.s8.3

Cast iron is purified by beating it into thin plates, heating the plates in fire and sprinkling them with cow's urine, sour conjee, oil, and a decoction of the pulse of Dolichos uniflorus (kulattha), seven times in succession. The plates are reduced to powder by pounding them in an iron mortar, rubbing them with cow's urine, and roasting the powder in a covered crucible repeatedly till it is reduced to a fine impalpable powder, that will float on water and will not irritate the eyes when applied to them. It is usual to rub the iron with cow's urine and roast it about a hundred times in succession. In some cases it is recommended that iron should be thus roasted repeatedly for a thousand times. Mandura is purified and prepared for uselike cast iron. Prepared iron is a fine impalpable powder of a reddish grey or brick-dust colour. On chemical analysis it is found to be a mixture of the proto and peroxide of iron. Dose grains six to twelve.

c4.s8.4

Iron, it is said, increases strength, vigour and longevity, cures all sorts of diseases and is the best of tonics. When gold and silver are not available, iron is substituted for them. It is used in painful dyspepsia, chronic fever, phthisis, anasarca, piles, enlarged spleen and liver, anæmia, jaundice, obesity, urinary diseases, diseases, of the nervous system, skin diseases etc. When iron is administered, the following articles of diet should be avoided, namely, kushmànda (fruit of Benincasa cerifera), sesamum oil, kulattha (pulse of Dolichos uniflorus), mustard, wines and acids.

c4.s8.5

In chronic fever with anæmia, debility, emaciation, enlarged spleen or other complications, several preparations of iron are used, such as the Vrihat sarvajvara hara lauha, Chandanádya lauha, etc.

c4.s8.6

Vrihat sarvajvara hara lauha.¹ Take of purified mercury and sulphur, prepared copper, iron pyrites, talc, gold and orpiment, each two tolás, prepared iron eight tolás, mix them together, and soak the mixture for seven days, in each of the following fluids, viz, fresh juice of the leaves of *Momordica Charantia* (*káravella*), decoction of dasamula or ten roots (see *Hedysarum Gangeticum*), decoction of *parpata* (*Hedyotis biflora*), and of the three myrobalans, fresh juice of *guruchi*, (*Tinospora cordifolia*), of betel leaves, of *kákamáchi* (*Solanum nigrum*), of *nirgundi*, (*Vitex Negundo*), of *punarnavá* (*Boerhaavia diffusa*) and of ginger. Divide the mass into two-grain pills, and administer with long pepper and treacle. The dose of the medicine may be gradually increased. It is used in all sorts of intermittent fevers, in emaciation, wasting, hectic fever, enlarged spleen, anæmia, loss of appetite etc. A light diet consisting of fine rice and poultry meat should be adopted during the use of this medicine, and all undigested food should be avoided.

c4.s8.7

¹ बृहत्सर्व्वज्वरहर लौहम् । पारदं गन्धकं शुद्धं ताम्रं माक्षिकमभ्रकम् । हिरण्यं हरितालञ्च कर्षमेकं पृथक् पृथक् ॥ मृतकान्तं पलं देयं सर्व्वमेकीकृतं शुभम् । वक्ष्यमाणौषधैर्भाव्यं प्रत्येकं दिनसप्तकम् ॥ कारवेल्ल रसेनापि दशमूल रसेन च । पर्पटस्यकषायेन कायेन तफललेनच ॥ गुडूच्याः स्वरसेनापि नागवल्ली रसेन च । काकमाचीरसेनैव निर्गुण्ड्याः स्वरसेनच । पुनर्नवाटिकाभ्योभिर्भावनां परिकल्प्य च ॥ रत्तिकादिक्रमेणैव वटिकां कारयेद्भिषक् । पिप्पली गुडसंयुक्ता वटिका वीर्य्यवर्द्धिनी ॥ ज्वरष्टविधं हन्ति चिरकालसमुद्भवम् । विविधं वारिदोपोत्थं नानादोषोद्भवन्तथा ॥ सततादि ज्वरं हन्तिसाध्यासाध्यमथापि वा । क्षयोद्भवञ्च धातुस्थं कामशोकभवं तथा ॥ भूतावेश ज्वरं हन्ति ऋक्षदोषभवन्तथा । अभिघात ज्वरञ्चैव अभिचार समुद्भवम् ॥ अभिन्यास महाघोरं विषमञ्च त्रिदोषजम् । शीतपूर्व्वं दाहपूर्व्वं विषमं शीतलं ज्वरम् ॥ प्रलेपकज्वरं घोरं अर्द्धनारीश्वरं तथा । प्लीहज्वरं तथाकाषं चातुर्थकविपर्य्ययम् ॥ पाण्डु रोगान् गणान् सर्व्वान् अग्निमान्द्यं महागदम् । एतान् सर्व्वान् निहन्याशु पश्चाद्देनात्रसंशयः ॥ शाल्यन्नं तक्रसहितं भोजयेद्भिषयुतम । ककारपूर्ब्बकं सर्व्वं वर्ज्जनीयं विशेषतः ॥ मैथुनं वर्ज्जयेत्तावत् यावच्च वलवान् भवेत् । सर्व्वज्वर हरं श्रेष्ठ मनुपानं प्रकल्पयेत् ॥ भैषज्यरत्नावली ।

c4.s8.8

Chandanádya lauha.¹ Take of red sandal wood, *Pavonia odorata* (*bálá*), *Cissampelas hernandifolia* (*páthá*), *Andropogon muricatus* (*usir*), long pepper, chebulic myrobalan, emblic myrobalan, ginger, *Nymphæa cyanea* (*nilotpala*), *Chavica officinarum* (*chai*), *Plumbago Zeylanica*, (*chitraka*), and baberung seeds, each one part, prepared iron twelve parts, rub them all together. Dose about ten grains to be taken with the fresh juice of *Tinosphora cordifolia* (*guruchi*) and *Hedyotis biflora* (*parpati*). This medicine is said to cure all sorts of chronic intermittent fever and fever with enlarged spleen.

c4.s8.9

¹ चन्दनाद्यलौहम् । रक्त चन्दनह्रीवेर पाठोशीरकृष्णाशिवा । नागरोत्पल धात्रीभिस्त्रिभदेन समन्वितः । लौहं निहन्ति विविधान् समस्तान् विषमज्वरान् ।। रसेन्द्र सारसंग्रहः ।

c4.s8.10

Vishamajvarántaka lauha.² This is another compound metallic preparation containing iron and much used in chronic fever. To prepare it, take of mercury obtained by sublimation of cinnabar, and sulphur, each one tolá. Rub them together and melt over the fire in an iron ladle as in the preparation called Rasaparpati, described under mercury. Then take of prepared gold, one quarter of a tolá, prepared iron, copper, and talc, two tolás each, prepared tin, red ochre, and corals, half a tolá each, roasted pearls, conch-shell and bi-valve shell, each a quarter of a tolá. Beat all these ingredients together into a mass with the aid of water. Inclose the mass within bi-valve shells, cover the shells with a layer of clay and roast them lightly in cow-dung fire. This medicine is given in doses of four grains with the addition of long pepper, rock salt and assafœtida, each four grains, and a little honey. It is taken once daily in the morning and is said to be useful in chronic fever, spleen and liver diseases etc.

c4.s8.11

² विषमज्वरान्तकलौहम् । हिङ्जुलसम्भवं सूतं गन्धकेन सुकज्जलीम् । पर्पटीरससत्त्वाख्यं सूतंघ्रिहेमभक्षकम् ।। लौहं ताम्रमभ्रञ्च रसस्य द्विगुणं तथा । वङ्गं गैरिकञ्चैव प्रवालञ्च रसाईकम् ।। मुक्ता शङ्खं शुक्तिभञ्च प्रदेयं रसपादिकम् । मुक्ताष्टहे च संस्थाप्य पुटपाकेन साधयेत् ।। भक्षयेत् प्रातरुत्थाय द्विगुञ्जाफलमानतः ।। अनुपानं प्रयोक्तव्यं कणाहिङ्गुससैन्धवम् । ज्वरमष्टविधं हन्ति वातपित्तकफोद्भवम् ।। प्लीहानं यकृतं गुल्मं साध्यासाध्यमथापि वा । सन्ततं सतताख्यञ्च विषमज्वरनाशनम् ।। भैषज्ररत्नावली ।

c4.s8.12

Several preparations of iron are used in piles, such as the Mána suranádya lauha, Arsàri lauha, Agnimukha lauha etc. The first mentioned compound is prepared as follows.

c4.s8.13

Mána suranádya lauha.¹ Take of the root-stocks of Colocasia Indica (mána) and Amorphophallus campanulatus (surana), of the roots of Ipomœa Turpethum (trivrit) and Baliospermum montanum (danti), marking nuts, the three myrobalans, black pepper, long pepper, ginger, seeds of Embelia Ribes (baberung), root of Plumbago Zeylanica (chitraka) and the tubers of Cyperus rotundus (mustaka), equal parts, prepared iron in quantity equal to all the above ingredients. Powder and mix. Dose about a scruple. This medicine is said to be useful in piles with constipation.

c4.s8.14

¹ मानसूरणाद्यलौहम् । मानसूरणभल्लातत्रिवृद्दन्तीसमन्वितम् । त्रिकटय-समायुक्तमयोगुर्दनाशनम् ।। भेषजरत्नावली

c4.s8.15

Lauhásava.² Take of powdered iron, of the three myrobalans, ginger, long pepper and black pepper, ajwain, baberung seeds, plumbago root, and tubers of Cyperus rotundus (*mustaka*), each thirty-two tolas, honey eight seers, treacle twelve and a half seers, water one hundred and twenty-eight seers. Powder the solid ingredients and steep them in the honey and water in an earthen jar smeared with ghee, for a month, or till complete fermentation takes place. This iron-wine is said to be tonic and stomachic, and useful in anæmia, spleen, anasarca, ascites, enlargements of the abdominal viscera, piles etc.

c4.s8.16

² लौहासवम् । लौहचूर्णं त्रिकटुकं त्रिफलाञ्च यमानिकाम् । विङ्गं चित्रकं मुस्तं चतुःपञ्चमितं पृथक् । चूर्णीकृत्य ततः चौद्रं चतुःषष्टिपलं क्षिपेत् । दद्यात् गुडतुलां तत्र जलद्रोणद्वयं तथा । घृतभाण्डे विनिक्षिप्य निदध्यान्मासमात्रकम् । लौहासवमिदं मर्त्यः पिबेदग्निकरं परम् । पाण्डुक्षयगुल्मानि जठराण्यर्शसां रुजम् । कुष्ठलीहामयं कण्डु कास श्वासं भगन्दरम् । अरोचकञ्च ग्रहणीं हृद्रोगञ्च विनाशयेत् ।। शार्ङ्गधरः ।

c4.s8.17

*A'malakádya lauha*.¹ Iron enters into the composition of several medicines for hæmorrhagic diseases, such as the *Khandakádya lauha*, *Sudhánidhi rasa*, *A'malakádya lauha* etc. We will here transcribe the mode of preparing the last which is the simplest and shortest. Take of emblic myrobalan and long pepper, each one part, sugar two parts, prepared iron four parts, powder and mix them together. Dose six to twelve grains in hæmoptysis, hæmaturia etc., with suitable adjuncts.

c4.s8.18

¹ आमलकाद्यलौहम्। आमलपिप्पलीचूर्ण तुल्यया सितया सह। रक्तपित्तहरं लौहं योगराजमितिसृतम्। दृष्याग्निदीपनं बल्यं चाभ्लपित्तविनाशनम्। पित्तोत्थानपि वाोत्थान् निहन्ति विविधान् गदान्। रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः।

c4.s8.19

*Guda mandura*.² A preparation nearly similar to the above and called *Guda mandura* is used in dyspepsia. It is composed of old treacle, emblic and chebulic myrobalans one part each, and iron rust three parts. These are rubbed together with honey and ghee, and made into boluses about a drachm each. One of these is taken in divided doses before, along with, and after meals, in dyspepsia with pain after digestion.

c4.s8.20

² गुडमण्डुरम्। गुडामलकपथानां चूर्ण प्रत्येकशः पलम्। त्रिपलं लौहकिट्टञ्च तत्सर्वं मधुसर्पिषा।। समालोड्य समश्नीयादक्षमात्रप्रमाणतः। आदिमध्यावसानेषु भोजनस्य निहन्ति तत्।। अन्नद्रवं जरत्पित्तमम्लपित्तं सुदारुणम्। परिणाम समुत्थञ्च शूलं संवत्सरोत्थितम्।। भावप्रकाशः।

c4.s8.21

*Vidyádharábhra*.³ Take of baberung seeds, tubers of Cyperus rotundus (*mustaka*), the three myrobalans, gulancha, root of *Baliospermum montanum* (*danti*), of *Ipomœa Turpethum* (*trivrit*), of *Plumbago Zeylanica* (*chitraka*), ginger, long pepper and black pepper, each two tolás, prepared iron thirty-two tolás, old iron rust thirty-two tolás, prepared talc eight tolás, purified mercury one tolá and a half, sulphur two tolás. Rub together the sulphur and mercury, then mix them with the other ingredients, add sufficient ghee and honey, and rub them together for twelve hours. Preserve the confection in an earthen pot smeared with ghee. Dose from ten to thirty grains with milk or cold water. This medicine is used in chronic dyspepsia, especially in that form of the disease in which the pain comes on after digestion is completed, and in chronic fever, diarrhœa, phithisis etc.

c4.s8.22

³ विद्याधराभ्रः। विडङ्गमुस्तत्रिफला गुडूची दन्ती त्वगेलात्रिकटुतयञ्च। प्रत्येकमेषां पिचुभागचूर्ण पचानिचत्वार्य्य सोमलस्य। गोमूत्रगुडस्य पुरातनस्य

c4.s8.23

*Naváyasa lauha*.¹ In anæmia iron is much used in a variety of forms. The following compound powder called *Naváyasa lauha* is a popular and well known medicine. To prepare it take of ginger, long pepper, black pepper, the three myrobalans, baberung seeds, tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*) and plumbago root, each one part, prepared iron nine parts, powder the ingredients and mix. Dose four grains, gradually increased to eighteen grains, to be taken with honey and ghee. This medicine is used in anæmia, jaundice, piles, heart disease etc. It is given on the first day in four-grain dose. Every second day the dose is increased

c4.s8.24

¹ 1.

c4.s8.25

यदायसन्तानि भिराटिकायाः। कणाभ्रचूर्णस्य पलविशुद्धनिस्त्रिंशकस्य लक्ष्मतीव सूतात्। पादोनकर्षं खरसेन खल्वे शिलातले मन्युमनोदजस्य। विमद्य पश्चादतिशुद्धगन्धपाषाणचूर्णेन पिचूनितेन। युक्ता ततः पूर्व्वर्जांश्च दत्त्वा सर्पिर्मधुभ्यां परिमर्द्य यत्नात्। निधापयेत् स्निग्धविशुद्धभाण्डे ततः प्रयो ज्यास्य रसोत्तमस्य। प्राङमाषकोदावथ वात्रयो वा गवां पयो वा शिशिरं जलं वा। पिवदयं योगवरः प्रभूतकालप्रनष्टानलदीपनेषु। योगेषु हन्यात् परिनामशूलं शूलं तथाद्रवसंज्ञकञ्च। यक्ष्माम्लपित्तं ग्रहणीं प्रवृद्धां जीर्णज्वरं लोहितपित्तकुष्ठम्। न सन्ति ते यानि निहन्ति रोगान् योगोत्तमः सम्यगुपास्यमानः। रसेन्द्रसार संग्रहः।

c4.s8.26

1. नवायसंलौहम्। त्र्यूषणत्रिफलामुस्ताविडङ्गचित्रकाः समाः। नवायोरजसो भामास्तच्चूर्ण मधुसर्पिषा। भक्षयेत् पाण्डुहृद्रोगकुष्ठार्शः कामलापहम्॥ चक्रः। by two grains till the maximum quantity is reached. The above preparation with the addition of one part of the watery extract of gulancha is called *Guduchyádi lauha*,¹ and is given in burning of hands and feet and in diseases supposed to be caused by deranged air.

c4.s8.27

¹ [Footnote text missing in original]

c4.s8.28

*Mahásvásári lauha* and *Pippuládi lauha*² are the two forms in which iron is used in asthma. They are similar in composition. The former is thus prepared. Take of prepared iron four tolás, prepared talc one tolá, honey and sugar four tolás each, the three myrobalans, liquorice root, raisins, long pepper, kernel of jujube fruits, bamboo-manna, *tálisapatri* (leaves of *Pinus Webbiana*), *baberung* seeds, cardamoms, root of *Aplotaxis auriculata* (*kushtha*), and flowers of *Mesua ferrea* (*nágakesara*), each one tolá, powder and rub them together in an iron mortar. Dose about one scruple, to be taken with honey two or three times a day.

c4.s8.29

² [Footnote text missing in original]

c4.s8.30

In enlarged spleen *Rohitaka lauha* is the favourite form in which iron is used. It will be described under *Rohitaka* (*Amoora Rohitaka*). In enlarged liver the following called *Yakridari lauha*³ is used. Take of prepared iron, talc and copper, each four tolás, root of *Citrus Bergamia* (*limpáka*) eight tolás, burnt deer-skin eight tolás,

c4.s8.31

³ [Footnote text missing in original]

c4.s8.32

1. गुडूच्यादिलौहम्। गुडूचीसारसंयुक्तां त्रिफलात्रयसंयुतम्। वातरक्तं निहन्त्याशु सर्ववातहरं परम्॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः।

c4.s8.33

2 महाश्वासारिलौहम्। कर्षद्वयं लौहचूर्णं कर्षार्द्धं सभ्रमेव च। सिताकर्षद्वयं चैव मधुकर्षद्वयं तथा। त्रिफला मधुकं द्राक्षा कष्णा कोलास्थिवंशजा। ताली-पत्रं वैडङ्गं च पुष्करं च गदं तथा। एतानि श्लक्ष्णचूर्णानि कर्षार्द्धं समांशकम्। लौहे च लौहदण्डेन मर्दयेत् प्रहरद्वयम्। ततो मात्रां लिखेत् चौद्रैर्वा दोष-बलाबलम्। इदं श्वासारिलौहञ्च महाश्वासं विनाशयेत्॥ कासं पञ्चविधञ्चैव रक्तपित्तं सुदारुणम्। एकजं द्वन्दजञ्चैव तथैव सान्निपातिकम्। निहन्ति नात्र सन्देहो भास्करस्तिमिरं यथा॥ भेषजरत्नावली।

c4.s8.34

3. यकृदरिलौहम्। द्विकर्षं लौहचूर्णस्य अभ्रस्यापि तथैव च। कर्षद्वयं मृतं ताम्रं लिम्पाकाद्वित्वचः पलम्। मृगाजिनपलं भक्ष सर्वमेकत्रकारयेत्। नवगुञ्जा प्रमाणेन वटिकां कारयेद्भिषक्। यकृत्प्लीहोदरं हन्ति कामलाञ्च हलीमकम्। कासं श्वासं ज्वरं हन्यादलवर्णाग्निर्वर्द्धनम्। यकृदरिमिदं लौहं बालरोगविनाशनम्॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः। rub them together with water and prepare a pill-mass. Dose grains nine to eighteen in enlarged liver, spleen, jaundice etc.

c4.s8.35

In anasarca, iron is given in combination with carbonate of potash, as in the following called *Tryushanádi lauha*.¹ Take of *yavakshára* (impure carbonate of potash), ginger, long pepper and black pepper, one part each, iron four parts. Make into six-grain pills with water.

c4.s8.36

¹ त्र्यूषणादिलौहम् । अयोगरजस्त्र्यूषण यावसूकं चूर्णं च पीतं त्रिफलारसेन । शोथं निहन्यात् सहसा नरस्य यथाशनिर्वज्रसुदीनवेगम् ॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

c4.s8.37

In erysipelas, carbuncles and boils the following called *Kálágnirudra rasa*2 is recommended. Take of mercury, sulphur, prepared talc, iron, iron rust, and iron pyrites, each one part, rub them together with water, and roast the mixture within a covered crucible; when cool add to it one-tenth part of its weight of aconite, mix intimately, and divide the mass into twenty-two grain pills.

c4.s8.38

In urinary diseases the following, called *Meha mudgara rasa*,³ is used. Take of *rusot*, black salt, wood of *Berberis Asiatica* (*dáruharidrá*), root of *Ægle Marmelos* (*bilva*), *Tribulus terrestris* (*gokshura*), pomegranate seeds, chiretta, long pepper-root, long pepper, black pepper, ginger, the three myrobalans and root of *Ipomœa Turpethum* (*trivrit*), each one *tolá*, prepared iron fifteen *tolás*, bdellium eight *tolás*, mix them together and beat into a uniform mass with ghee. Dose twenty-two grains with water or goat's milk. This medicine is said to be useful in gonorrhoea, strangury, chronic fever, anæmia, jaundice etc.

c4.s8.39

² कालाग्निरुद्ररसः । सूतकान्ताभ्रलोहानां भस्म माक्षिकगन्धकम् । भूधराख्ये पुटे पञ्चाहिनैकं तदिपाचयेत् । दशमांशं विषं योज्यं माषमात्रञ्च भक्षयेत् । रसः कालाग्निरुद्रोयं दशाहिन विसर्पधृत् ॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

c4.s8.40

³ मेहमुद्गररसः । रसाञ्जनं विडं दारुविल्वगोक्षुरदाडिमाः । भूनिम्न पिप्पलीमूलं त्रिकटु त्रिफलातिवत् ॥ प्रत्येकं तोलकं देयं लौहचूर्णन्तु तत् समम् । पलैकं गुग्गुलुं दत्वा घतेन वटिकां कुरु ॥ माषप्रमिताचेयं मेहमुद्गररसङ्गिनी । श्रीमद्हननाथेन लोकनिस्तारकारिणी ॥ अनुपानं प्रयोक्तव्यं छागीदुग्धं जलञ्च वा । विण्मूत्रं निहन्याशु मूत्रकृच्छ्रं हलीमकम् ॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

c4.s8.41

*Vrihat Somanátha rasa.*¹ Take of mercury obtained by subliming cinnabar and purified with the juice of *Erythrina Indica* (*pári-bhadra*), and of sulphur, rubbed with the juice of *Salvinia cucullata* (*Leandá*) each one part, prepared iron four parts, prepared talc, tin, silver, *kharpara* or calamine, iron pyrites, and gold, each half a part. Rub them together with, and soak in the juice of *Aloe Indica* (*ghritakumári*) and *Hydrocotyle Asiatica* (*mandukaparni*) and divide into four-grain pills. They are administered with honey in diabetes and other urinary diseases, female complaints etc. A preparation similar to the above in composition, and called *Somesvara rasa* is given in leucorrhoea and other female complaints. Besides the preparations mentioned above numerous other combinations of mercury, iron and talc with the addition of gold, silver, copper etc, in varying proportions and combinations, are described under different names. In fact the three first mentioned drugs constitute the basis of the great majority of the pills used by *Kavirájas*.

c4.s8.42

¹ बृहत्सोमनाथरसः । हिङ्गुलात् सम्भवं सूतं पालिधारस मर्हितम् । रण्डा-शोधित गन्धञ्च तेनैव कज्जली कृतम् ।। तद्यद्विगुणं लौहं कन्यारसवि मर्हितम् । अभ्रकं वङ्गकं रौप्यं खर्परं माक्षिकं तथा ।। सुवर्णञ्च समं सर्वं प्रत्ये कञ्च रसाई-कम् । तत्सर्वं कन्याद्रावैर्मह्यैद्रावयेत्तथा । भेकपर्णीरसेनैव वटों गुञ्जाद्वयां हिताम् । मधुना भक्षयेच्चापि सोमरोग निवृत्तये । प्रमेहं विंशतिं हन्ति बहुमूत्रञ्च सोमगम् । भूतातिसारकच्छञ्च सुताघातं सुदारुणम् । मूत्रदोषं बहु-विधं प्रमेहं मधुसङ्ककम् । हस्तिमेहमिहन्मेहं लालामेहं विनाशयेत् । गृहे यस्य शतं स्त्रीणां विद्यते च व्यवायिनः । न तस्यलिङ्गशैथिल्यं शुक्रक्षयो न जायते । अग्निञ्च कुरुते दीप्तमम्लपित्तञ्च नाशयेत् । वातिकं पैत्तिकं चैव श्लैष्मिकं सोमनामकम । नाशयेत् बहुमूत्रञ्च प्रमेहं विकल्यतः॥ रसेन्द्रसारसङ्ग्रहः ।

c4.s8.43

Iron forms an ingredient of hair dyes. The following is an illustration. Take of powdered iron two tolás, mangoe stones five tolás, chebulic and emblic myrobalans two tolás each, belleric myrobalan one tolá, rub them together with water in an iron vessel and steep for one night. This paste is applied to grey hairs for turning them into black.²

c4.s8.44

² लौहच र्णस्य कर्षंत द्वयाङ्ग चूर्णमज्जतः । धात्रीफलद्वयं पथ्ये हेतयैकं विभी-

Sulphate of Iron

c4.s8.t1.1

*Sans.* कासीश *Kásisa.*

c4.s8.t1.2

NATIVE sulphate of iron is indigenous to India, and has been used in medicine from a very ancient age. Two sorts of sulphate of iron are mentioned, namely, *Dhátukásis* or green variety and *Phushpa kásis* or yellowish variety. The latter is evidently sulphate of iron, covered with the basic sulphate of the sesquioxide from absorption of oxygen. It would seem that the ancient Hindus did not know sulphate of iron, as an iron compound. It is neither described as a tonic nor used in combination with iron like iron pyrites and iron rust. It is seldom used internally. I have met with only one prescription by Chakradatta, who recommends a linctus composed of sulphate of iron and pulp of wood apple, in hiccup.¹

c4.s8.t1.3

¹ हिक्काश्वासे अवलेहः। कासीशं दधिनामच हिक्काघ्ना मधुसंयुताः। चक्रः।

c4.s8.t1.4

Externally, it is used in skin diseases along with other medicines. Thus take of sulphate of iron, gall-stone of cows (*gorochaná*). rusot and orpiment, equal parts and beat into a paste with *kánjika*. It is useful in intertrigo, pruritis etc.²

c4.s8.t1.5

² कासीशं रोचनातुल्यं हारितालं रसाञ्जनम्। अम्लपिष्टैः प्रलेपोयं वृषणच्छि पूतयोः॥ चक्रः।

c4.s8.t1.6

*Kásisádyataila*.³ Take of sesamum oil four seers, water sixteen seers, sulphate of iron, wood of *Withania somnifera* (*asvagandhá*), bark of *Symplocos racemosa* (*lodhra*), root of *Pothos officinalis* (*gajapippali*) each sixteen tolás. Beat the solid ingredients into a paste and boil it with the oil and water in the usual way. This oil is recommended to be applied to the genitals and the breasts with the view of strengthening these parts.

c4.s8.t1.7

³ काशोशाद्यतैलं। कासीशतुवरगन्धा शावरगजपिप्पलीविपक्वेन। तैलेन यान्ति वृद्धिं स्तनकथैराङ्गलिङ्गानि॥ चक्रदत्तः।

c4.s8.t1.8

तक्रम्। पिष्ट्वालोहमये भाण्डे स्थापयेच्चिशि वासयेत्। लेप्योमचिराद्धन्ति पलितं नात्रसंशयः। भावप्रकाशः।

Iron Pyrites

c4.s8.t2.1

Sans. स्वर्णमाक्षिक *Svarṇamákshika*, तारमाक्षिक *Táramákshika*.

c4.s8.t2.2

IRON pyrites is met with in many parts of India, and has been used in medicine from a very remote period. It occurs in two forms, namely, in dark yellow nodules with a golden lustre, and in silvery radiated crystals. The former is called *Svarṇamákshika* and the latter *Táramákshika*. The ancients supposed that they contained gold and silver respectively, in combination with other ingredients, and possessed in part the properties of those precious metals.* Chemically iron pyrites consists of bisulphide of iron. It is purified by being boiled in lemon juice with one-third of its weight of rock-salt in an iron vessel, till the pot turns red hot. It is reduced to powder by being rubbed with oil or goat's urine and then roasted in a closed crucible. Iron pyrites thus prepared has a sweetish bitter taste. It is considered as tonic, alterative and useful in anæmia, urinary diseases, ascites, anasarca, prurigo, eye diseases etc. As an alterative tonic it is generally used in combination with other medicines of its class, such as iron, talc, mercury etc. The following is an example. Take of prepared iron, sesamum seeds, long pepper, black pepper and ginger, each one part, iron pyrites five parts. Beat into a mass with honey. Dose about half a drachm in advanced anæmia.¹

c4.s8.t2.3

¹ स्वर्णमाक्षिकं अयस्तिलतुषषणकोलभागैः सवैः समं माक्षिकधातुचूर्णम्। तैर्मर्दकः चौद्रयुतोऽनुतक्रः पाण्ड्वामये दूरगतेपिप्रस्तः॥ चक्रः।

c4.s8.t2.4

In diseases of the pregnant state the following called *Garbhavinoda rasa*² is much used, as an alterative tonic. Take of iron pyrites and cinnabar, each four tolás, ginger, long pepper and black pepper, each three tolás, cloves and mace, each six tolás, beat them

c4.s8.t2.5

² गर्भविनोदरसः। विभागं त्रिकटुदेयं चतुर्भागञ्चहिङ्गुलम्। जातोकोषं लवङ्गञ्च प्रत्ये कञ्च त्रिकार्षिकम्। सुवर्णमाक्षिकञ्चैव पञ्चार्द्धं प्रचिपेद्बुधः। जलेन मर्दयित्वाच चषमात्रावटीकृता। निहन्तिगर्भिणी रोगं भास्करस्तिमिंर यथा॥ रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः।

c4.s8.t2.6

* न केवलं स्वर्णरूप्यगुणास्तापिजयोर्म ता द्रव्यान्तरस्य संसर्गात् सन्त्रन्योऽपिगुणास्तयोः॥ भावप्रकाशः। together with water and divide into pills about four grains each. One pill to be taken twice daily.

Linked texts (5)