The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s12.t11: Calotropis Gigantea and Procera, R. Br.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s12.t11

Language: English

Calotropis Gigantea and Procera, R. Br.

*Calotropis procera* and *C. gigantea*, both pass by the native native name of *mádár*. "*C. procera* the smaller of the two, prefers the drier climate of the Deccan, the Upper Provinces of Bengal, the Punjab and Scinde; *C. gigantea*, lower Bengal, the Madras and Malayan Peninsulas, and Ceylon.” Sanskrit writers mention two varieties founded upon the colour of the flowers, namely, white, called *alarka*, and red, called *arka*. The milky juice, flowers, root-bark and leaves are all used in medicine. The root-bark is said to promote the secretions and to be useful in skin diseases, enlargements of the abdominal viscera, intestinal worms, cough, ascites, anasarca, etc. The milky juice is regarded as a drastic purgative and caustic and is generally used as such in combination with the milky juice of *Euphorbia neriifolia*. The flowers are considered digestive, stomachic, tonic and useful in cough, asthma, catarrh and loss of appetite.

c5.s12.t11.5

The leaves mixed with rock salt are roasted within closed vessels, so that the fumes may not escape. The ashes thus produced are given with whey in ascites and enlargements of the abdominal viscera.¹

c5.s12.t11.6

¹ अर्कपत्रं सल्लवणमन्तर्धूमं दहेत्ततः। मस्तुनात्विबेत्क्षारं गुल्मप्लीहोदरापहम्। चक्रदत्तः।

c5.s12.t11.7

The following inhalation is prescribed for cough. Soak the powdered root-bark of *árka* in its own milky juice and dry. Bougies are prepared with this powder and their fumes inhaled.² The root-bark, reduced to a paste with sour congee, is applied to elephantiasis of the legs and scrotum.³ The milky juices of *Calotropis gigantea* and *Euphorbia neriifolia* are made into tents with the powdered wood of *Berberis Asiatica*, for introduction into sinuses and fistula in ano.⁴ The milky juice is applied to carious teeth for relief of pain.⁵

c5.s12.t11.8

² मरिच शीलार्कचूर्णैर्वाकौ त्वचमाशुभावितांशुष्काम्। कत्वाविधिनाधूमं पिवतः कासाः शमं यान्ति। चक्रदत्तः।

c5.s12.t11.9

³ निष्पिष्टमारुषालेन ह्यपिकामूलवल्कसम्। प्रलेपात्श्लीपदं हन्ति बद्धमूल-मपिदृढम्। चक्रदत्तः।

c5.s12.t11.10

⁴ स्नुह्यर्कदुग्ध दार्वीभिर्वर्त्तिं कत्वा विचक्षणः। भगन्दरगतं ज्ञात्वा पूरयेत् प्रयत्नतः। चक्रदत्तः।

c5.s12.t11.11

⁵ सप्तच्छदार्कदुग्धाभ्यां पूरणं क्रमिदन्तनुत्। चक्रदत्तः।

c5.s12.t11.12

Arka taila.¹ Take of prepared sesamum oil, four seers, juice of arka leaves, sixteen seers, and turmeric reduced to a paste, one seer; boil them together in the usual way. This oil is said to be useful in eczema, and other eruptive skin diseases. Sometimes orpiment is substituted for turmeric is this preparation.

c5.s12.t11.13

¹ अर्कतैलम् । अर्कपत्ररसपक्कं कटुतैलं निशायुतम् । मनःशिलायुतं वापि पामाकच्छादिनाशनम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

Linked texts (1)

Cakradatta (Cikitsāsaṅgraha) — Cakrapāṇidatta, Sanskrit