The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s10.t9.5

c5.s10.t9.5

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.