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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s16: Nat. Order Solanaceæ

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s16

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Nat. Order Solanaceæ

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DATURA ALBA, *Rumph.* and FASTUOSA, *Linn.*

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Sans. धूतूर, *Dhustura*, उन्मत्त, *Unmatta*.

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Vern. *Dhuturá*, *Hind.* and *Beng.*

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SANSKRIT writers do not make any distinction in the properties of the two varieties of *Datura*, and in practice both are indiscriminately used. Sometimes the white flowered variety is specified, as for example in a prescription for insanity, quoted below. *Dhaturá* leaves are used in smoking by debauched devotees and others accustomed to the use of *gánja*. The seeds are added to the preparations of *bháng* (leaves of *Cannabis sativa*) used by natives, for increasing their intoxicating powers. The use of the powdered seeds in sweet-meats, curry powder, etc., for the purpose of stupifying travellers and then robbing them, is well known.

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The seeds, leaves and roots are all used in medicine. They are considered useful in insanity, fever with catarrhal and cerebral complications, diarrhœa, skin diseases, lice, etc.

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*Svalpajvaránkusa*.¹ Take of mercury, sulphur, aconite, ginger, long pepper and black pepper, each one part, *dhaturá* seeds two parts; rub them together with lemon juice and make into four-grain pills. These pills are used in fever attended with catarrh or cough. Several other preparations of composition similar to the above, are in use under the names of *Nava jvaránkusa*, *Kálári*, *Jvaránkusa*, etc.

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¹ रसं गन्धं विषञ्चैव प्रत्येकं समभागिकम् । द्विभागं धुस्तुबीजञ्च त्रिकटु तदद्धभागिकम् । जम्बीराणां रसैर्मर्द्यं वटीगुञ्जाद्वयम्मता । कणाचूर्णं पिबेत् चाशुवात श्लेष्मज्वरं जयेत् । रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

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The root of *Datura alba* (*svetonmatta*) is boiled in milk and this milk is administered with the addition of clarified butter and treacle in insanity.² A metallic preparation called *Unmádankura rasa* and composed of the sulphides of mercury and copper together with a number of other substances and *dhaturá* seeds, is also used in this disease. The fresh juice of the leaves alone, or mixed with opium, is a common domestic application to inflamed parts.

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² श्वेतोन्मत्तोत्तरदिङ् मूलसिद्धस्तु पायसः । गुडराज्यसंयुतो हन्ति सर्वोन्मादांस्तु दोषजान् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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In inflammation of the breasts, a paste composed of turmeric and *dhatura* fruits is recommended to be applied.¹ An oil prepared in the usual manner with the paste and juice of *dhaturá* leaves, is applied to the head for destroying lice.² An oil prepared by boiling *dhaturá* seeds, and sesamum oil, with an alkaline water made from the ashes of *Colocasia Indica* (*mánaka*), is used in psoriasis.³

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¹ निशाकणकफलाभ्यां लेपस्यापिस्तनात्तिह्वा । चक्रदत्तः ।

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² धत्तुरपत्रकल्केन तद्रसेनैव पाचितम्। तैलमभ्यङ्गमात्रेण युका नाशयति क्षणात् । भावप्रकाशः ।

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³ उन्मत्तकस्य बीजेन माणकक्षारवारिणा । कटुतैलं विपक्तव्यं शीघ्रं हन्याद्विपादिकाम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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In the Bengal Dispensatory (page 469) it is stated that "we are indebted to the native practitioners of India for a method of using stramonium in spasmodic asthma, which is certainly found of great benefit in numerous cases. We allude to the practice of smoking the leaves or dried stems." The smoking of *dhatura* leaves is prescribed at present both by English and native practitioners in spasmodic asthma, but I have not met with any written prescription for it in Sanskrit or vernacular medical works, nor does the Taleef Shereef allude to the practice as known to the Mussulman hakims. It would seem therefore that this use of the drug is of recent origin.

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SOLANUM XANTHOCARPUM, VAR. JACQUINIS, *Schrad.* *Syn.* Solanum Jacquinii, *Linn.* *Sans.* कण्टकारी, *Kanṭakári*, निदिग्धिका, *Nidigdhiká*. *Vern.* *Kanṭakári*, *Beng.* *Kaṭeli*, *Kaṭai*, *Hind.*

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The root of *Solanum Jacquinii* is much esteemed as an expectorant and is used in cough, asthma, catarrhal fever and pain in the chest. It is an ingredient of *dasamula* (see *Desmodium gangeticum*), and is thus largely used in a great variety of diseases. The fruits are said to possess properties similar to those of the roots and are eaten as a vegetable.

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Kaṇṭakāri is used in medicine in various forms, such as decoction, electuary, ghrita, etc. A decoction of the root is given with the addition of long pepper and honey, in cough and catarrh, and with rock salt and assafœtida in spasmodic cough.¹ Several compound decoctions made along with other expectorant and demulcent drugs are in use. The following is an example. Take of kaṇṭakāri, root of *Justicia Adhatoda* (*vāsaka*), pulse of *Dolichos uniflorus* (*kulattha*) and ginger, equal parts, in all two tolas; prepare a decoction in the usual way and administer, with the addition of páchak root, in cough with difficult breathing.²

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¹ कण्टकारीकृतः काथः स्रक्ष्णः सर्व्वासहृत् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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² क्षुद्रा कुलत्थ वासाभिर्नागरेण च साधितः । काथः पौष्करचूर्णैश्च श्वासकासौ निवारयेत् । शार्ङ्गधरः ।

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Kaṇṭakāryavaleha³ or electuary of *Solanum Jacquinii*. Take of kaṇṭakāri root twelve seers and a half, water sixty-four seers, boil till reduced to one fourth and strain. Boil the strained decoction till reduced to the consistence of a fluid extract, and add to it the following substances in fine powder, namely, gulancha, *Piper Chaba* (*chavya*), plumbago root, tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*), *Rhus succedanea*, (*karkaṭa sṛṅgi*), long pepper, black pepper, ginger, *Alhagi Maurorum* (*yāsa*), *Clerodendron Siphonanthus* (*vārgi*), *Vanda Roxburghii*, (*rásná*) and zedoary root, each eight tolas, sugar two seers and a half, sesamum oil and clarified butter each one seer, and boil together till reduced to the proper consistence. Lastly add honey one seer, bamboo-manna and long pepper in fine powder, each half a seer. This electuary is given in various sorts of cough.

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³ कण्टकार्य्यवलेहः । कण्टकारी तुलां नीरद्रोणे पक्त्वा कषायकम् । पादशेषं गृहीत्वा च तत्र चूर्णानि दापयेत् । पृथक्पलांशान्येतानि गुडूची चव्यचित्रकौ । सुस्तं कर्कटशृङ्गी च तुगाक्षीरं धन्वासकः । भागौ रास्ना शटी चैव शर्करापलविंशतिः । प्रत्येकं च पलान्यष्टौ घृततैलयोः । पक्त्वालेहत्वमानीय शीते मधु पलाष्टकम् । चतुर्भागन्तु गात्रीय्याः पिप्पली च चतुःपलम् । क्षिप्त्वा निदध्यात् सुदृढे मृण्मये भाजने शुभै । लेहोऽयं हन्ति हिक्कात्ति कासश्वासानशेषतः । भावप्रकाशः ।

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Kaṇṭakári ghṛita.¹ This is prepared in the usual proportions with the fresh juice of kaṇṭakári, clarified butter and the following substances in the form of a paste, namely, Vanda Roxburghii (rásná), Sida cordifoliá, (bálá), ginger, long pepper, black pepper and the fruits of Tribulus terrestris (gokshura). It is used in the same cases as the electuary.

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¹ कण्टकारीघृतम् । घृतं रास्नावलाव्योष श्वदंष्ट्राकल्कपाचितम् । कण्ट- कारीरसे सर्पिः पञ्चकासनिसूदनम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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SOLANUM NIGRUM, Linn. Sans. काकमाची, Kákamáchi, Vern. Kákmáchi, Beng. Makoy. Hind. The berries of this plant are considered tonic, diuretic and useful in anasarca and heart disease. For the mode of administering them in heart disease, see Hridayárnava rasa, (page 66).

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SOLANUM INDICUM, Linn. Sans. बृहती, Vrihati. भण्टाकी, Bhantáki. Vern. Byákura, Beng. Barhantá, Hind.

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THE root of Solanum Indicum is an ingredient of dasamula (see Desmodium gangeticum) and is thus used in a great variety of diseases. It is regarded as expectorant and useful in cough and catarrhal affections. The following is an example of a compound decoction containing this drug. Take of Solanum Indicum (vrihati), Solanum Jacquinii (kaṇṭakári), Sida cordifoliá (bálá), Justicia Adhatoḍa (vásaka) and raisins, equal parts and prepare a decoction in the usual way. This decoction is given in bronchitis with fever.²

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² वल्लाद्वहतीवासद्राक्षाभिः काथितं जलम् । पित्तकासापहं पेयं शर्करा मधुयोजितम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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WITHANIA SOMNIFERA, Don. Syn. Physalis flexuosa, Roxb. Sans. अश्वगन्धा, Asvagandhá. Vern. Asvagandhá, Beng. Asgand, Hind.

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THE root of this plant is long, smooth, rounded, whitish brown externally and of a fine white colour internally. It is said that the root smells like a horse whence the Sanskrit name asvagandhá. The specimen in my possession however has scarcely any odour or taste. It is regarded as tonic, alterative and aphrodisiac and is used in consumption, emaciation of children, debility from old age, rheumatism, etc.

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In consumption a decoction of asvagandhá root and long pepper is given with the addition of clarified butter and honey.¹ For improving the nutrition of weakly children, the root reduced to a paste, is recommended to be taken with milk and clarified butter for a fortnight.²

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¹ कृष्णाद्राक्षासितालेहः जयह्वा चौद्रतैलवान्। मधुसर्पिर्युतो वाश्वगन्धा-कृष्णासितोद्भवः। चक्रदत्तः।

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² पीताश्वगन्धापयसार्द्धमासं घतेन तैलेन सुखाम्बुना वा। क्षयस्य पुष्टिं वपुषो विधत्ते बालस्य शस्यस्य यथाम्बुदृष्टिः। चक्रदत्तः।

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Asvagandhá ghrita.³ Take of the decoction of asvagandhá root one part, milk ten parts, clarified butter one part; boil them together and prepare a ghrita. It is said to promote the nutrition and strength of children.

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³ अश्वगन्धाघृतम्। पादकल्पेऽश्वगन्धायाः क्षीरे दशगुणे पचेत्। घृतं पेयं कुमाराणां पुष्टिकृद्वलवर्द्धनम्। चक्रदत्तः।

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In rheumatism, a ghrita prepared with a decoction and paste of the root, is used internally and an oil prepared with a decoction of the root and a number of aromatic substances in the form of a paste, is used externally.

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About half a drachm of asvagandhá root, taken with milk or clarified butter is said to act as an aphrodisiac and restorative to old men. Asvagandhá enters into the composition of several medicines intended for use as aphrodisiacs.⁴

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⁴ अश्वगन्धादिचूर्णम्। अश्वगन्धा दशपला तन्मालोहदारकः। चूर्णितव्यो-भयं विद्वान् घृतभाण्डे निधापयेत्। कर्षकं पयसा पीत्वा नारीभिर्नैव हृष्यति। गत्वा प्रमदां भूयाल्लोपजितवर्जितः। शार्ङ्गधरः।

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HYOSCYAMUS NIGER, Linn. The seeds of Hyoscyamus niger are used in Hindu medicine under the name of khorásáni yamáni. They are considered stimulant or heating, narcotic, astringent and digestive, and are used in combination with other medicines of their class.

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NICOTIANA TABACUM, Linn. According to Royle, the tobacco plant was introduced into India (A.D. 1605) towards the end of the reign of Jelaludeen Akbar. It is not described even in the latest Sanskrit medical works such as the Bhávaprakása or Rája Vallava. The Sabdakalpadruma mentions it under the name of ताम्रकूट Támrakuta, and quotes as authority for the use of the word, a passage from the Kulárnáva Tantra where it is stated to be one of eight intoxicating agents.

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CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS, Linn. and MINIMUM, Roxb. have no Sanskrit name. Although they are now cultivated all over India and form an essential ingredient of all curry powders, they are not mentioned in any Sanskrit medical work and are evidently of recent introduction into this country.

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