The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t1.12

c5.s10.t1.12

THE horn-like excrescences caused by insects on the branches of *Rhus Succedanea* are called *karkatasringi*. They “are large, hollow, thin-walled, generally cylindrical, tapering to either extremity.” They are considered tonic, expectorant and useful in cough, phthisis, asthma, fever, want of appetite and irritability of stomach. Dose, about twenty grains. This medicine is much used in cough, in combination with other drugs for the disease. The following is an example.¹ Take of *karkatasringi*, root of *Clerodendron Siphonanthus* (*brahmayashṭi*), raisins, ginger, long pepper and *Curcuma Zedoaria* (*sati*), equal parts, powder and mix. Dose, about thirty grains with treacle or honey, in dry cough. In catarrhal fever with difficult breathing a powder composed of equal parts of *karkatasringi*, bark of *Myrica sapida* (*katphala*), and long pepper is recommended to be given in doses of about a drachm, with honey.² The following called *Sringyádi churna* is much esteemed as a cough linctus for children. Take of *karkatasringi*, *átis*, and long pepper, equal parts; powder and make into a linctus with honey.³