The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t3: Desmodium Gangeticum, DC.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t3

Language: English

Desmodium Gangeticum, DC.

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*Sans.* शालपर्णी, *Sálaparni*. *Vern.* *Sálpáni*, *Beng.* *Sarivan*, *Hind.*

THIS little shrub is regarded as febrifuge and anti-catarrhal. It forms an ingredient of the compound decoction called *dasamula kvatha* a combination, much used in a great variety of diseases. *Dasamula* is made up of *Desmodium Gangeticum* (*sálaparni*), *Uraria lagopodioides* (*prisniparni*), *Solanum Jacquinii* (*kantakári*), *Solanum Indicum* (*vrihati*), *Tribulus terrestris* (*gokshura*), *Ægle Marmelos* (*vilva*), *Calosanthes Indica* (*syonáka*), *Gmelina arborea* (*gambhári*), *Stereospermum suaveolens* (*pátalá*) and *Premna spinosa* (*ganikáriká*).

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The first five in the above list, are collectively called *hrasvapancha mula* or the five minor plants, and the last five are called *vrihat pancha mula* or the five major plants. A decoction of the *hrasva pancha mula* is used in catarrhal fever, cough and other diseases supposed to be caused by deranged phlegm. The *vrihat pancha-mula* is used in fever and other diseases supposed to be caused by deranged air. The ten drugs together are used in remittent fever, puerperal fever, inflammatory affections within the chest, affections of the brain and many other diseases supposed to be caused by derangement of all the humours.¹ Another combination called *Ashtádasánga páchana* consists of the ten drugs above mentioned, with the addition of the eight following, namely, *chiretá*, *devadáru*, ginger, tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*), root of *Picrorrhiza Kurroa* (*katuki*), *indrajava* seeds, coriander, and fruits of *Pothos officinalis*. A decoction of these eighteen drugs is used in fevers of a severe type with drowsiness, delirium, picking of bed clothes, insensibility, and difficult breathing. A preparation of aconite and arsenic is generally given along with it.²

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¹ दशमूलम्। बिल्व श्योनाक गम्भारी पाटला गणिकारिकाः। दीपनं कफ-वातघ्नं पञ्चमूलमिदं महत्। शालपर्णी पृश्निपर्णी बृहतीद्वय गोक्षुरम्। वातपित्त-हरं वृष्यं कनीयः पञ्चमूलकम्। उभयं दशमूलन्तु सन्निपातज्वरापहम्। कासे श्वासेच तन्द्रायां पार्श्वशूलेच शस्यते। पिप्पलीचूर्णसंयुक्तं कण्ठहृद्ग्रहणाशनम्। चक्रदत्तः।

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² पित्तघ्ने अहरऽष्टादशाङ्गः। भूनिम्ब दारु दशमूल महौषधाब्द तिक्तेन्द्र-योज धनिकेभ कणाकषायः। तन्द्राप्रलाप कसनारुचि दाहमोह श्वासादिमुक्त-मखिलं ज्वरमाशु हन्ति। चक्रदत्तः।

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*Dasamula taila*. This is an oil prepared with a decoction of the ten drugs above mentioned, and is much used as a cooling application in headache and other diseases. To prepare it take of the ten drugs, in all twelve seers and a half, water sixty four seers. Boil down to sixteen seers and strain. To the strained decoction add four seers of lemon juice, four seers of prepared sesamum oil and a seer of the usual aromatics and colouring agents in the form of a paste and boil them together.

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URARIA LAGOPO DIOIDES, Dc. Edgew. Syn. Doodia lagopodioides Roxb. Sans. पृश्निपर्णी, Prisniparni. Vern. Chákuliá, Beng. Pitvan, Hind. This plant is an ingredient of the dasamula above described, and is thus much used in native medicine. It is considered alterative, tonic and anti-catarrhal, but is seldom used alone.

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CLITOREA TERNATEA, Linn.

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Sans. अपराजिता, Aparájitá, विष्णुक्रान्ता, Vishnukrántá.

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Vern. Aparájitá, Beng. Aprájit, Hind.

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THE root of Clitorea ternatea is regarded as laxative and diuretic, and is generally used in combination with other medicines of the sort in ascites, fever, etc. The following is an example of a prescription containing aparájitá root. Take of the roots of aparájitá, Pladera decussata (sankhini), Baliospermum montanum (danti) and Indigofera tinctoria (nilini), in equal parts, rub them together into an emulsion with water and administer with cow's urine. This preparation is given in ascites and enlargements of the abdominal viscera.¹

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¹ गत्राक्षी शङ्खिनी दन्ती नीलिनोकल्कसंयुतम्। सर्वोदरविनाशाय गोमूत्र- पात्रमाचरेत् ॥ चक्र: ।

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MUCUNA PRURIENS, DC.

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Sans आत्मगुप्ता, A'tmaguptá. कपिकच्छु, Kapikachchhu. वानरी, Vánari.

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Vern. A'lkusi, Beng. Kiwach, Hind.

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THE English names Cowage or Cowitch are derived from the Hindi Kiwach. The plant is indigenous to India and has been used in Hindu medicine from a very ancient period. Susruta describes the seeds as a powerful aphrodisiac, and gives the following formula for their use. Take of the seeds of Mucuna pruriens and the fruits Tribulus terrestris (gokshura) equal parts and administer in doses of about a drachm with sugar and tepid milk.² The Bhávaprakása recommends the following preparation called *Vánari vati*. Take of the seeds of *Mucuna pruriens* thirty-two tolás, boil them in four seers of cow's milk till the latter becomes thick. The seeds should now be decorticated and pounded, then fried in clarified butter and made into a confection with double their weight of sugar. The mass should then be divided into balls which should be steeped in honey. Dose, about a tolá. This preparation is said to be the best of aphrodisiacs.¹

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² स्वयं गुप्तुरकयोर्बीज चूर्ण शर्करम् । धारोष्ण म नर: पीत्वा पयसा म बर्य व्रजेत् । सुश्रुत: ।

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¹ वानरीवटिका । बीजानि कपिकच्छूद्भव मितानि स्वेदयेश्चनैः । प्रस्थे गोभवदुग्धे तावत् यावद्भवेत् गाड्म् । त्वग्रहितानिचकृत्वा सूक्ष्मंमसे- षयेत्तान । पिष्टिका या लघुवटिकाः कृत्वा गव्य पचेदाज्ये । द्विगुणित शर्करापाता वटिकाः सम्प्रकथ्या लेप्याः ।। वटिका माक्षिक मध्ये मज्जनयोग्ये विरलाः स्थाप्याः ।। पञ्चटङ्क मितास्तास्तु प्रातः सायञ्च भक्षयेत् । अनेन शीघ्र- द्रावीयो यश्च स्यात्पतितध्वजः । सोऽपि प्राप्नोति सुरते सामर्थ्यमति वाजीवत् । नानेन सदृशं किञ्चिद्रव्यं वाजीकरं परम् । भावप्रकाशः ।

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The root of *Mucuna pruriens* is considered tonic and useful in diseases of the nervous system, such as facial paralysis, hemiplegia etc. It is generally used in combination with other medicines of its class, as for example in the compound decoction called *Máshbaládi*, for which see Assafœtida.

Linked texts (2)

Suśrutasaṃhitā — Suśruta & Nāgārjuna (siddha/alchemist), Sanskrit
Cakradatta (Cikitsāsaṅgraha) — Cakrapāṇidatta, Sanskrit