The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t12: Eugenia Jambolana, Lam.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t12

Language: English

Eugenia Jambolana, Lam.

c5.s10.t12.2

*Sans.* जम्बु, *Jambu.* *Vern.* *Kálajám, Beng.* *Jámun, Hind.*

THIS tree, which yields an abundant crop of sub-acid edible fruits during the months of July and August, is common all over the country. In some places the fruits attain the size of a pigeon's egg and are of superior quality. A vinegar prepared from the juice of the ripe fruit, is an agreable stomachic and carminative. It is also used as a diuretic in scanty or suppressed urine. A sort of spirituous liquor called *Jámbava* is described in recent Sanskrit works as prepared by distillation from the juice of the ripe fruits. The bark is astringent, and is used, alone or in combination with other medicines of its class, in the preparation of astringent decoctions, gargles and washes. The fresh juice of the bark is given with goat's milk in the diarrhœa of children.² The expressed juice of the leaves is used alone or in combination with other astringents in dysentery with bloody discharge, as for example in the following prescription. Take of the fresh juice of the leaves of jambu, mango and emblic myrobalan about a drachm each, and administer with goat's milk and honey.³

c5.s10.t12.4

² बिल्वम्र्काम्बुमोचाब्दसिद्धमाजं पयःशिशोः । समांशरक्तं ग्रहणीं पीतं हन्यात् विरात्रतः । तदजाक्षीरसमो जम्बुत्वगुद्भवोरसः । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s10.t12.5

³ जम्ब्वामामलकीनान्तु पल्लवानथ कुट्टयेत् । संग्टह्य स्वरसं तेषामजाक्षीरेण योजयेत् । तं पीवेन्मधुनायुक्तं रक्तातिसारनाशनम् । भावप्रकाशः ।

c5.s10.t12.6

CARYOPHYLLUS AROMATICUS, *Linn.* *Sans.* लवङ्ग, *Lavanga.* Cloves, as might be expected, are much used in Hindu Medicine, as an aromatic adjunct. They are regarded as light, cooling, stomachic, digestive and useful in thirst, vomiting, flatulence, colic, etc. An infusion of cloves is given to appease thirst.¹ The following pill, called *Chatuḥsama vati*, is commonly used in indigestion. Take of cloves, ginger, *ájowan* and rock salt, equal parts, and make into eight-grain pills.

c5.s10.t12.7

¹ पिपासायाममृतं लोके लवङ्गस्याम्बु शस्यते । चक्रः।

Linked texts (2)

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