The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s12.t11.4

c5.s12.t11.4

*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.