The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s13.t2.4

c5.s13.t2.4

THIS little plant is regarded as laxative, alterative and tonic and is much praised as a nervine. It is used in insanity, epilepsy and nervous debility. The fresh juice of the plant, in doses of about an ounce, is given, with the addition of honey and *páchak* root, in all sorts of insanity.¹ A paste made of the entire plant, including roots and flowers, is recommended to be taken with milk as a nervine and alterative tonic.² The following compound powder is used in similar cases. Take of *gulancha*, *Achyranthes aspera* (*apámárga*), *báberang*, *páchak* root, root of *Asparagus racemosus* (*satamuli*), *Acorus Calamus* (*vachá*), chebulic myrobalan, and *Canscora decussata*, in equal parts ; powder and mix. It is said that the use of this powder for three days will enable a student to learn by rote a thousand couplets of poetry.³