The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t9: Acacia Catechu, Linn.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t9

Language: English

Acacia Catechu, Linn.

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Sans. खदिर, Khadira. Vern. Kat, Hind. Khaer, Beng.

Khadira or catechu is obtained by boiling the wood of *Acacia catechu* in water and inspissating the decoction. The Bhávaprakása mentions two varieties of catechu, namely, *khadira* or the ordinary dark brown catechu, and *kadara* or pale catechu. This last is known as *pápri khaer*, or catechu having a laminated structure. Fluckiger and Hanbury thus describe the preparation of pale catechu in Northern India. “Instead of evaporating the decoction to the condition of an extract, the inspissation is stopped at a certain point and the liquor allowed to cool, “coagulate,” and crystallize over twigs and leaves thrown into the pots for the purpose.”³ Pale catechu is a porous, opaque, earthy looking substance with a laminated texture, light and easily broken.

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³ Pharmacographia, page 250.

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The chief use of catechu in India, is as an ingredient of the packet of betle leaf chewed by the natives. For this purpose it is sometimes aromatized in various ways. The packets of betle leaf sold in all the Indian bazars under the name of *golábi khili*, are prepared with catechu dissolved in rose water. Again, catechu is softened with the addition of water, and mixed with powdered spices, such as cardamoms, nutmeg, cloves, etc., the mixture is enclosed within the fragrant floral leaves of *Pandanus odoratissimus* (*ketaki*), and dried. The leaves adhere to the catechu, which is cut into small pieces suitable for use with the betle leaf.

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Catechu is described as astringent, cooling, digestive, and useful in hoarseness, diseases of the mouth and gums, cough and skin diseases. In diarrhoea it is sometimes used in combination with other medicines of its class, as for example in a prescription in the Bhaisajya Ratnávali, called *Grahani kapáta rasa*, which contains catechu along with a large number of other drugs, but it is not regarded as an important medicine for this disease.

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In hoarseness, catechu rubbed with oil, is recommended to be kept in the mouth.¹ In diseases of the mouth and gums the following called *Svalpakhadira vatiká* is a favourite medicine. To prepare it, take of catechu twelve seers and a half, water sixty-four seers, boil down to eight seers, then add nutmeg, camphor, betle-nuts and *kakkola*, each half a seer in fine powder, and prepare a mass fit for being made into balls or boluses. They are directed to be kept in the mouth, in affections of the teeth, gums, palate and tongue.²

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¹ तैलाक्तं खरभेदेवा खदिरं धारयेन्मुखे । चक्रदत्तः ।

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² स्वल्पखदिरवटिका । खदिरस्य तुलां सम्यग् जलद्रोणे विपाचयेत् । शेषेऽष्ट भागे तत्रैव प्रतिवापं प्रदापयेत् । जातीकर्पूरपूगानि कक्कोलफलानि च । इत्येषागुटिका कार्यामुखसौभाग्यवर्द्धनी । दन्तोष्ठमुखरोगेषु जिह्वातालुामयेषु च । चक्रदत्तः ।

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In skin diseases, catechu is much used in a variety of forms both externally and internally. A decoction of catechu is used as a wash for inflamed parts and ulcers.³ Water in which catechu is dissolved is recommended to be used as a drink, wash and bath. The following decoction called *khadiráshtaka* is prescribed by several writers for internal use in boils, prurigo, measles and other skin diseases.¹ Take of catechu, the three myrobalans, nim bark, leaves of *Trichosanthes dioica* (patala), gulancha and *Justicia Adhatoda* (vásaka), equal parts, and prepare a decoction in the usual way Sárangadhara describes a fermented liquor called *khadirárishta* for use in skin diseases. It is prepared with catechu and the wood of *Pinus Deodara*, and some other ingredients in smaller proportions.²

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³ खदिरोकषाय व्रणशोधने हितः । चक्रदत्तः ।

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¹ प्रलेपोद्वर्त्तन स्नान पान भोजनकर्मसु । शालितं खादिरं वारि सर्व्व-त्वग्दोषनाशनम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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² खादिराष्टकः । खदिर त्रिफलारिष्ट पटोलामृत वासकैः । काथोऽष्टकाङ्गो जयति रोमान्तिकमहारकाः । कुष्ठविसर्प स्फोट कण्ड्वादीनपि पानतः । चक्रदत्तः ।

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ACACIA ARABICA, Willd. Sans. बब्बूल, Vabbula. Vern. Bábul, Beng. Hind. The tender leaves beaten into a pulp, are given in diarrhœa as an astringent. A decoction of the bark is used as an astringent gargle and wash. I have not met with any notice of gum acacia in Sanskrit works.

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NAT. ORDER COMBRETACEÆ.

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TERMINALIA CHEBULA, Retz.

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Sans. हरीतकी, Haritaki. अभया, Abhayá. पथ्या, Pathyá.

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Vern. Har. Hind. Haritaki, Beng.

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THE chebulic myrobalan was highly extolled by the ancient Hindus as a powerful alterative and tonic. It has received the names of Pránadá, or life-giver, Sudhá or nectar, *Bhishakpriya* or physician's favourite and so forth. So highly esteemed was this plant by the ancient Hindus, that a mythological origin has been attributed to it. It is said that when Indra was drinking nectar in heaven, a drop of the fluid fell on the earth and produced the *haritaki* plant. Seven varieties of *haritaki* are described by Sanskrit writers, the distinctions being founded upon the shape, colour and marks on the outer covering of the fruits. At the present day, however, two varieties only are recognised, namely, the large ripe fruit called *haritaki*, and the unripe dried fruit called *jangi* haritaki in the vernacular. A good haritaki fit for medicinal use should be fresh, smooth, dense, heavy and rounded in shape. Thrown into water it should sink in it. Haritaki fruits weighing four tolás and upwards, are also considered fit for use, although they may not possess some of the above-mentioned properties. The seeds are rejected and their coats only are used in medicine. Those fruits which have small seeds and abundant cortex are preferred.

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Chebulic myrobalans are described as laxative, stomachic, tonic and alterative. They are used in fevers, cough, asthma, urinary diseases, piles, intestinal worms, chronic diarrhœa, costiveness, flatulence, vomiting, hiccup, heart diseases, enlarged spleen and liver, ascites, skin diseases, etc. In combination with emblic and belleric myrobalans, and under the name of triphalá or the three myrobalans, they are extensively used as adjuncts to other medicines in almost all diseases.

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Two or three chebulic myrobalans, rubbed into a paste and taken with a little rock salt, act as a mild laxative. The following compound decoction called Pathyádi kvátha is also much used as a purgative. Take of chebulic myrobalans, pulp of Cassia fistula (áragbadha), root of Picrorrhiza Kurroa (katuki), root of Ipomœa Turpethum (trivrit) and emblic myrobalans, equal parts, in all two tolás, and prepare a decoction in the usual way. Dose, two to four ounces. Bengali practitioners now a days often add senna and rhubarb to the above preparation, but these last were not known to the ancient writers, and are not mentioned in their works.¹

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¹ पथ्यादिक्वाथः । पथ्यारग्वधतिक्ता त्रिवृदामलकैः ऋतपेयं । पाचनसारक युक्तं नवजीर्णज्वरे सामे ।

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As an alterative tonic for promoting strength, preventing the effects of age and prolonging life, chebulic myrobalan is used in a peculiar way. One fruit is taken every morning with salt in the rainy season, with sugar in autumn, with ginger in the first half of the cold season, with long pepper in the second half, with honey in spring, and with treacle in the two hot months. These adjuncts are supposed to agree best with the humours that are liable to be deranged in the different seasons. This old device for prolonging life is still believed in, and acted upon, by some superstitious elderly native gentlemen.¹

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¹ गुड़ेन मधुनाशुण्ठ्या कृष्णयालवणेन वा। द्वे द्वे खादन्‌सदापथ्ये जीवेद्वर्ष शतं सुखी। सिन्धूत्यशर्करा शुण्ठीकणामधुगुडैःक्रमात्‌। वर्षादिष्वभयासेव्या रसायनगुणैषिणा। चक्रदत्तः।

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Numerous preparations of *haritaki* for special diseases are described in books, such as the *Amrita haritaki* for dyspepsia, *Danti haritaki* for enlargements in the abdomen called *gulma*, *Bhrigu haritaki* in cough, *Agasti haritaki* in consumption, *Dasa muli haritaki* in anasarca, etc.

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*Amrita haritaki*² is thus prepared. One hundred large sized chebulic myrobalans are boiled in butter-milk, and their seeds are taken out. Four *tolás* each of long pepper, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, plumbago root, root of *Piper Chaba* (*chaviká*), the five salts, *ájowan*, and the seeds of *Seseli Indicum*, (*vanayamáni*), *yavakshára*, *sarjikákshára*, borax, assafœtida and cloves, are reduced to powder, and soaked for three days respectively in a decoction of tamarind and in lemon juice. This mixture is introduced within the seedless myrobalans, which are then exposed to the sun and dried. One of these prepared myrobalans is directed to be taken every morning for the relief of various sorts of dyspepsia and indigestion. *Danti haritaki* will be described under *Baliospermum montanum*. The other preparations of chebulic myrobalan are not much in vogue at present.

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² हरीतक्याः शतं ग्राह्यं तक्रै स्विन्नञ्च कारयेत्‌। यताद्वीजं समुद्धृत्य षडूषणं पञ्चपटु। यमानीद्वयमेवच। त्रिकारं हिङ्गु दिव्यञ्च कर्षद्वयमितं पृथक्‌। श्लक्ष्णचूर्णंकृतं सर्व्वं चुक्राम्लेनापि भावयेत्‌। निम्बाकस्वरसेनापि भावयेच्च दिनत्रयम्‌। खादयेदभयामेकां सर्व्वाजीर्णविनाशनम्‌। भैषज्यरत्नावली।

Linked texts (2)

Cakradatta (Cikitsāsaṅgraha) — Cakrapāṇidatta, Sanskrit
Bhaiṣajyaratnāvalī — Govindadāsa, Sanskrit