The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s12.t6: Wedelia Calendulacea, Less.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s12.t6

Language: English

Wedelia Calendulacea, Less.

c5.s12.t6.2

Sans. भृङ्गराज, *Bhringarája*. केशराज, *Kesarája*.

THERE is some confusion between the Sanskrit and vernacular names of Wedelia calendulacea, and Eclipta prostrata. Both these plants are called kesaráj or kesuriá in Bengali, and the two Sanskrit names of bhringarája and kesarája are used as synonyms. The Hindustani term bhángrá, derived from the Sanskrit bhringarája is however generally applied to Wedelia calendulacea, and this is the plant used in medicine at present. The leaves, which have a slight camphoraceous taste, are considered tonic, alterative, and useful in cough, cephalalgia, skin diseases and alopecia. The juice of the leaves is much used as a snuff in cephalalgia, and in soaking various sorts of powders for the preparation of pills.¹ "In tattooing the natives after puncturing the skin, rub the juicy green leaves of *Eclipta prostrata* over the part; which gives the desired indelible colour, namely a deep bluish black." The leaves of both these plants are used in various ways for the purpose of dyeing grey hair and for promoting the growth of hair.

c5.s12.t6.5

¹ भृङ्गाजरसः छागीक्षीर तुल्योऽर्कतापितः । सूर्यावर्त्तं निहन्याशु नस्येनैव प्रयोगराट् । भावप्रकाशः ।

c5.s12.t6.6

*Játiphaládya churna*.² Take of nutmeg, baberang seeds, plumbago root, flowers of *Tabernæmontana coronaria* (tagara), sesamum seeds, leaves of *Pinus Webbiana* (tálisa), red sandal wood, ginger, cloves, cumin seeds, camphor, chebulic and emblic myrobalans, black pepper, long pepper, bamboo-manna, cinnamon, cardamom, tejapatra, and the flowers of *Mesua ferrea* (nágakesara), each two tolás, powdered leaves of *Wedelia calendulacea*, fifty six tolás, sugar, in quantity equal to all the above ingredients. Powder and mix. Dose, about a drachm. This preparation is said to be useful in phthisis, cough and catarrh.

c5.s12.t6.7

² जातोफलाद्यं चूर्णम् । जातोफलं विङ्गानि चित्रकं तगरंत्विाः । तालीस चन्दनं शुण्ठी लवङ्गसपकुञ्चिका । कर्पूरसाभया धात्री मरिचं पिप्पली तुगा । एषा त्वत्समा भागसात्जातक संयुताः । पलानि सप्त भृङ्गायाः सिता सर्व्वसमा मता । चूर्णमेतत् चयं कासं श्वासञ्च ग्रहणीगदम् । अरोचकं प्रतिश्यायं तथाचानल मन्दताम् । एतान् रोगान् निहन्येव वत्त मिन्द्राशनिर्यथा । भावप्रकाशः ।

c5.s12.t6.8

*Shaḍbindu taila*.³ Take of sesamum oil, four seers, goat's, milk four seers, juice of *bhringarája* leaves, sixteen seers and prepare an oil with a paste composed of the following substances, namely, root of castor oil plant, and of *Tabernæmontana coronaria* (tagara), dill seeds, *Cœlogyne ovalis* (jivanti), *Vanda Roxburghii* (*rásná*), rock salt, *Wedelia calendulacea* (*bhringarája*), baberang seeds liquorice root, and ginger, in all one seer. Six drops of this oil, drawn in through the nostrils, are said to relieve headache and other affections of the head.

c5.s12.t6.9

³ षड्बिन्दु तैलम् । एरण्डमूलं तगरं शताह्वा जीवन्ति रास्ना सहसैन्धवञ्च । भृङ्ग विडङ्ग मधुयष्टिकाच विश्वौषधं कृष्णतिलस्य तैलम् । आजंपयसेनविमि

c5.s12.t6.10

*Bhringarája taila.*¹ Take of sesamum oil four seers, juice of *bhringarája* leaves, sixteen seers, iron rust, the three myrobalans and the root of *Ichnocarpus frutescens* (*syámalatá*), reduced to a paste, in all one seer, and prepare an oil in the usual way. This oil is said to remove scurf from the head, turn grey hairs black, and cure alopecia.

c5.s12.t6.11

¹ भृङ्गारराज तैलम् । भृङ्गारजरसेनैव लोहकिटफलत्रिकम् । सारिवाच पचेत्कल्कस्तैलं दारुणनाशनम् । अकालपलितं कण्डूमिन्द्रलुप्तञ्च नाशयेत् । शार्ङ्गधरः ।

c5.s12.t6.12

The fresh juice of the leaves of *Eclipta prostrata*, is rubbed on the shaven scalp for the purpose of promoting the growth of hair.

Linked texts (2)

Śārṅgadharasaṃhitā — Śārṅgadhara (physician), Sanskrit
Bhāvaprakāśa — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit