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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s12.t5: Randia Dumetorum, Linn.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s12.t5

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Randia Dumetorum, Linn.

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Sans. मदन, Madana. Vern. Mayin, Hind.

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THE Randia dumetorum is a small thorny tree common in waste places. The fruit when ripe, looks like a small apple, and has a peculiar sweetish, sickly smell. It is described by Sanskrit writers, as the best or safest of emetics. In fact the ancient Hindus depended chiefly upon this drug for causing emesis. One ripe fruit is generally administered for this purpose. It is also used in combination with other medicines, as for example in the following prescription.

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Pancha kasháya.³ Take of Justicia Adhatoda (vásaka), Acorus Calamus (vachá), nim bark, leaves of Trichosanthes dioica (paṭola), and bark of Aglaia Roxburghiana (priyangu), equal parts, half

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1 एकः पर्पटः श्रेष्ठः पित्तज्वरविनाशनः। किं पुनर्यदियुक्तेत चन्दनो
शीरवालकः। दर्पः।
2 पर्पटाब्दामृताविश्वकिरातैः साधितं जलम्। पञ्चभद्रमिदं ज्ञेयं वातपित्त
ज्वरापहम्। शार्ङ्गधरः।
3 पञ्चकषायः। आटरुषं वचानिम्बं पटोलं फलिनित्वचम्। काथयित्वा-
पिवेत्तोयं वात्तिकन्मदनान्वितम्। काथद्रव्यस्य कुडवं श्रपयित्वा जलाढके।
चतुर्भागावशिष्टन्तु वमनेष्ववचारयेत्। चक्रदत्तः।

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a seer in all, water eight seers; boil them together till reduced to one-fourth. This decoction is given with the addition of the pulp of Randia dumetorum for causing emesis.

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RUBIA CORDIFOLIA, Linn. Syn. Rubia Manjiṣṭa, Roxb.

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Sans. मञ्जिष्ठा, Manjiṣṭhá, Vern. Manjit, Beng. Hind.

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Indian madder, well known as a red dye, is used in medicine chiefly as a colouring agent. All medicated oils are first prepared for use by being boiled with madder. It is regarded as astringent and useful in external inflammations, ulcers and skin diseases. Madder and liquorice root, rubbed into a paste with kánjika, is applied over fractures, to reduce inflammation and swelling. Madder rubbed with honey, is recommended by several writers to be applied to brown spots on the face (pityriasis versicolor).¹

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¹ आलेपनाथं मञ्जिष्ठा मधुकां चाम्लपेषितम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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Manjiṣṭhádya ghrita,² is prepared with clarified butter and a paste composed of equal parts of madder, red sandal wood, and the root of Sanseviera Zeylanica (murvá), and applied to ulcers from burns.

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² मञ्जिष्ठाद्यं घृतम्। मञ्जिष्ठां चन्दनं मूर्वां पिष्टा सर्पिर्विपाचयेत् । सर्व्वेषामग्निदग्धानामेतद्रोपणमिष्यते । चक्रदत्तः ।

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PÆDERIA FŒTIDA, Linn. Sans. प्रसारणी, Prasárani. Vern. Gandhabháduli, Beng. Gandháli, Hind.

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The Pæderia fœtida is a long climbing plant, twining up and over trees. All parts of the plant give off a most offensive odour when bruised. The leaves, boiled and made into soup, are considered wholesome and suitable for the sick and convalescent. The entire plant including stem, leaves and root, is much used both internally and externally in rheumatic affections for which it is regarded as a specific.

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Prasárani leha, or electuary of Pæderia fœtida. Take of the leaves, root and stem of Pæderia fœtida, two seers, water, thirtywo seers, boil till reduced to one-fourth. To the strained decoction add, two seers of treacle, and again boil till reduced to the consistence of a thick syrup. Lastly add powdered ginger, long pepper, black pepper, plumbago root and the root of *Piper Chaba* (*chaviká*), equal parts, in all half a seer. Dose, about one tolá in acute rheumatism.¹

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¹ प्रसारणीलेहः । प्रसारण्यष्टके काथे प्रस्थो गुडरसौमतः । पक्वः पञ्चोषधरजः यश्च स्यादामवातहाः । भावप्रकाशः ।

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Several oils or liniments for external application are prepared with this plant. The following, called *Kubja prasárani taila*,² is largely used by native physicians. Take of the entire plant of *Pæderia fœtida* eight hundred tolás, boil in sixty-four seers of water till reduced to sixteen seers, and strain. To the strained decoction, add sesamum oil, sixteen seers, milk, thirty-two seers, whey and fermented paddy water (*kánjika*), each sixteen seers, and the following substances, namely, root of *Pæderia fœtida*, plumbago root, long pepper root, liquorice, rock salt, *Acorus Calamus* root, dill seeds, bark of *Cedrus Deodara*, root of *Vanda Roxburghii* (*rásná*), *Scindapsus officinalis* (*gajapippali*), jatámánsi root and marking nuts, each two tolás in the form of a paste. First boil the oil with the decoction of *Pæderia fœtida* till the water is nearly evaporated, then boil the oil successively with the addition of milk, whey and *kánjika*, adding the aromatic paste during the last process of boiling. This oil is used externally in rheumatism with contraction and stiffness of the joints. After the application of the oil, the affected parts should be fomented with dry heat.

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² कुब्जप्रसारणी तैलम्। प्रसारणीशतं क्षुद्रं पचेत्तोयार्म्मनेशुभे। पादशिष्टे-समं तैलं दधिदद्यात्कणाञ्जकम् । द्विगुणाञ्च पयोदत्वा कल्कान् दिपल्लिकां-स्तथा । चित्रकं पिप्पलीमूलं मधुकां सैन्धवं वचाम् । शतपुष्पां देवदारु रास्त्रां वारुणपिप्पलीम् । प्रसारण्याश्च मूलानि मांसी भल्लातकानि च । पचेन्मृद्वग्नि-नातैलं वातश्लेष्मामयान् जयेत् । अक्षितिं नरनारीस्थान् वातरोगानपोहति । कुब्जं स्तिमितपङ्गुत्वं गृध्रसीखञ्जकाहितम् । हनुपृष्ठशिरोमीवास्तम्भं वापि-नियच्छति । चक्रदत्तः ।

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NAT. ORDER VALERIANACEÆ.

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NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI, DC.

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*Syn.* Valeriana Jatamansi, Jones.

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*Sans.* जटामांसि, Jaṭámánsi. *Vern.* Jaṭámánsi, Beng. Báluchar, Hind.

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THE Nardostachys Jatamansi is a native of the mountains of Northern India and has been used in Hindu medicine from a very ancient period. The fragrant root is considered a nervine tonic, and is much used as an aromatic adjunct in the preparation of medicinal oils and *ghritas*. It does not appear however to have been used internally except as an ingredient of complex prescriptions. In the Pharmacopœia of India it is stated that *jaṭámánsi* enters into the composition of a nostrum highly recommended in the treatment of epilepsy by Susruta. I do not find in Susruta’s work any prescription for epilepsy, containing *jaṭámánsi*, except the following, in which however it can hardly be said to be an active ingredient. Take of the pulse of *Phaseolus Roxburghii* (*kulattha*), barley, jujube fruit, seeds of *Crotolaria juncea* (*sana*), bdellium, *jaṭámánsi* root, the ten drugs collectively called *dasamula* (see *Desmodium gangeticum*), and chebulic myrobalan, equal parts; and prepare a decoction in the usual way. This decoction is recommended to be administered with the addition of clarified butter and goat’s urine.¹

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¹ कुलत्थ यवकोलानि शणबीजं पलङ्कषाम् । जटिलां पञ्चमूल्यौ द्वे पथ्या श्योनाकाख्य यत्नतः । वस्तमूलयुतं सर्पिः पिबेत्तद्वातके हितम् । सुश्रुतः ।

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NAT. ORDER COMPOSITÆ.

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SAUSSUREA AURICULATA, *Bth. et Hf.*

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*Syn.* Aplotaxis auriculata, DC.

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*Sans.* कुष्ठ, Kushṭha. *Vern.* Kur, Páchak. Hind. Beng.

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THE Aplotaxis auriculata is a native of the mountains around Cashmere, and has been used in Hindu medicine from an early age. Its root is described as aromatic, stimulant and useful in cough, asthma, fever, dyspepsia and skin diseases. It enters also into the composition of some pastiles for fumigation.

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Agnimukha churna.¹ Take of assafœtida, one part, Acorus Calamus (vachá) two parts, long pepper, three parts, ginger, four parts, ajowan five parts, chebulic myrobalan, six parts, plumbago root, seven parts, and the root of Aplotaxis auriculata, eight parts. Powder the ingredients, mix and pass the powder through a cloth. Dose, twenty to forty grains with whey or wine in dyspepsia with loss of appetite.

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¹ > अग्निमुखं चूर्णम्। हिङ्गु भागोभवेदेकोवचा च द्विगुणाभवेत्। पिप्पली त्रिगुणाचैव शृङ्गवेरं चतुर्गुणम्। यमानिका पञ्चगुणा षडगुणाच हरीतकी। चित्रकं सप्तगुषितं कूष्ठाष्टगुणं भवेत्। एतदात्हरं चूर्णं पीतमात्रं प्रसन्ना। चूर्णमग्निसुखं नाम न कचित्प्रतिहन्यते। चक्रदत्तः।

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A liniment composed of the root of Aplotaxis auriculata, kánjika and castor oil is recommended by several writers to be applied to the forehead in cephalalgia.² The fried root, mixed with mustard oil, is applied to the scalp in porrigo. Equal parts of the powdered root and of rock salt, mixed with mustard oil and fermented paddy water (kánjika), are rubbed on joints affected with chronic disease.³

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² > कूष्ठमेरण्डतैलेन लेपात्काञ्जिक पेषितम्। शिरोर्त्तिं वातजां हन्यात्पुष्यं वा सुचुकुन्दजम्। शार्ङ्गधरः।

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³ > कूष्ठसैन्धवयोः कल्कस्तुतैलेन समन्वितः। सुखोष्णो मर्द्ने योज्यः खञ्जी शूलनिवारणः। भावप्रकाशः।

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