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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t6: Abrus Precatorius, Linn.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t6

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Abrus Precatorius, Linn.

c5.s10.t6.1

*Sans.* गुञ्जा, *Gunjá.*

c5.s10.t6.2

*Vern.* *Kuch*, *Beng.* *Chirmiti*, *Hind.*

c5.s10.t6.3

"THIS plant is remarkable for its small egg-shaped seeds, which are of a brilliant scarlet colour with a black scar indicating the place where they were attached to the pods." Sanskrit writers mention two varieties, namely, white and red seeded. The properties of both are said to be identical. The seeds are described as poisonous, and are used internally in affections of the nervous system and externally in skin diseases, ulcers, affections of the hair, etc. The root of the plant is described as emetic and useful in poisoning. The seeds constitute the ratti weight used by Hindu jewellers and druggists. Ninety-six rattis make one tolá or rupee.

c5.s10.t6.4

Gunjá bhadra rasa.¹ Take of the seeds of *Abrus precatorius* six parts, mercury three parts, sulphur twelve parts, nim seeds, *Cannabis sativa* leaves and croton seeds, each one part. Rub them together and soak for one day in each of the following fluids, namely, lemon juice, juice of the leaves of *Cannabis sativa*, of datura leaves and of the leaves of *Solanum nigrum* (*kákamáchi*). This medicine is given in doses of about eight grains, with rock salt and assafœtida, in paraplegia. The seeds of *Abrus precatorius* reduced to a paste are recommended to be applied locally in sciatica, stiffness of the shoulder joint, paralysis and other nervous diseases.²

c5.s10.t6.5

¹ गुञ्जाभद्ररसः । निष्क त्रयं शुद्धसूतं निष्कद्वादश गन्धकम् । गुञ्जाबीजञ्च षन्निष्कं निम्बबीजं जया तथा । प्रत्येकं निष्कमानन्तु निष्कं जैपालबीजकम् । जयाजम्बीर धस्तूरकाकमाची द्रवैरदिनम् । भावयित्वा वटीं कृत्वा दद्याद्गुञ्जा-चतुष्टयम् । गुञ्जाभद्ररसो नाम हिङ्गु सैन्धव संयुतः । शमयत्युल्वणं दुःखंरु-स्तम्भं सुदारुणम् । रसेन्द्रः सारसंग्रहः ।

c5.s10.t6.6

² ततपदेहं दद्याच्चपिष्टं गुञ्जा फलैः कृतम् । तेनाववाहुजा पीडा विपची-स्तथैवचया । अप्यापि वातजापीडा प्रशमयातिवेगतः । शार्ङ्गधरः ।

c5.s10.t6.7

In white leprosy, a paste composed of gunjá seed and plumbago root is applied as a stimulant dressing. In alopecia a paste of gunjá seed is recommended to be rubbed on the bare scalp.³

c5.s10.t6.8

³ गुञ्जाफलाग्निचूर्णञ्च लेपितं श्वेतकुष्ठनुत् । शार्ङ्गधरः । गुञ्जाफलेश्चिरं लिम्पेत केशभूमिं समन्ततः । हस्तीदन्तमषीं कृत्वा मुख्यञ्चैव रसाञ्जनम् । लोमान्यनेन जायन्ते नृणां पाण्डितलेऽपि । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s10.t6.9

Gunjádya tailam.⁴ Take of prepared sesamum oil four seers, juice of the leaves of *Wedelia calendulacea* (*bhringarája*) sixteen seers, seeds of *Abrus precatorius* reduced to a paste, one seer, and boil them together in the usual way. This oil is used as a local application in scurf of the scalp, prurigo and other skin diseases.

c5.s10.t6.10

⁴ गुञ्जादि तैलम् । गुञ्जाफलैः शृतं तैलं भृङ्गराजरसेन च । कण्डु दारुण हृत् कुष्ठकपालव्याधिनाशनम् । भावप्रकाशः ।

c5.s10.t6.11

PONGAMIA GLABRA, Vent.

c5.s10.t6.12

*Sans.* करञ्ज, *Karanja.* नक्तमाल, *Nactamála.*

c5.s10.t6.13

*Vern.* Darkaranja, *Beng.* Kiramál, *Hind.*

c5.s10.t6.14

This tree appears to be common in, and well known all over India. The seeds are much used as an external application in skin diseases. The expressed oil of the seeds is used in these diseases as well as in rheumatism. A poultice of the leaves is applied to ulcers infested with worms. The seeds of *Pongamia glabra*, *Cassia Tora* (*chakramarda*), and the root of *Aplotaxis auriculata* (*kushtha*), are rubbed into a paste with cow's urine, and applied to eruptive skin diseases.¹

c5.s10.t6.15

¹ करञ्जबीजडंगजः सकृष्ठो गोमूत्रपिष्टश्च वरः प्रदेहः । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s10.t6.16

*Prithisára taila.*² Take of the expressed oil of the seeds of *Pongamia glabra* one seer, *kánjika* eight tolás, roots of *Plumbago Zeylanica* (*chitraka*), *Nerium odorum* (*karavira*), *Vitex Negundo* (*nirgundi*), aconite, and the seeds of *Corchorus olitorius* (*nádika*), eight tolás each, in the form of a paste made wlth *kánjika*. Mix them together and warm in the sun. This oil is said to be useful in various sorts of skin diseases, ulcers etc.

c5.s10.t6.17

² पृष्ठीसारतैलम् । चित्रकस्याथनिर्गुण्ड्या हयमारस्य मूलतः । नाडीच- वोजादिषतः काञ्जिपिष्टं पलं पलम् । करञ्जतैलात्पलं काञ्जिकस्य पलं पुनः । मिश्रितं सूर्य्यसन्तप्तं तैलं कुष्ठव्रणाजित् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s10.t6.18

*Tiktádya ghrita.*³ Take of the leaves and fruits of *Pongamia glabra*, root of *Picrorrhiza Kurroa*, (*katuki*), wax, turmeric, liquorice root, leaves of *Trichosanthes dioica* (*patala*), *Aganosma caryophyllata* (*málati*) and *Azadirachta Indica* (*nim*), equal parts, in all one seer. Beat them into a paste and boil with four seers of clarified butter and sixteen seers of water in the usual manner. This preparation is used as an ointment in unhealthy ulcerations and wounds.

c5.s10.t6.19

³ तिक्ताद्यं घृतम् । तिक्ता सिक्य निशायष्टी नक्ताह्वफलपल्लवैः । पटोल मालती निम्बपत्रैर्धृतं घृतं पचेत् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s10.t6.20

GUILANDINA BONDUCELLA, Linn. The properties of Bonduc nuts called पूतीकरञ्ज, *Putikaranja* in Sanskrit, and *Nátáka-* ranja in Bengali, are said to resemble those of the seeds of Pongamia glabra. Their antiperiodic virtues were not known to Sanskrit writers.

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