The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s8.t1: Sulphate of Iron

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s8.t1

Language: English

Sulphate of Iron

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।

Linked texts (2)

Cakradatta (Cikitsāsaṅgraha) — Cakrapāṇidatta, Sanskrit
Bhāvaprakāśa — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit