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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s18.t2: Gmelina Arborea, Linn.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s18.t2

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Gmelina Arborea, Linn.

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Sans. गम्भारी, *Ghambhári*, श्रीपर्णी, *Sriparni*, काश्मरी, *Kásmari*. Vern. *Gámári*, Beng. *Gámbhár*, Hind.

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THE root of this plant is described as bitter, tonic, stomachic, laxative, and useful in fever, indigestion, anasarca etc. It is an ingredient of dasamula (*see Desmodiun gangeticum*), and is thus much used in a variety of diseases. Bangasena says that *gambhári* root taken with liquorice, honey and sugar increases the secretion of milk. The fruits of *Gmelina arborea* are sweetish bitter and cooling; they enter into the composition of several cooling or refrigerent decoctions for fever and burning of the body. The following is an example. Take of the fruits of *Gmelina arborea*, *Grewia Asiatica* (*parushaka*), liquorice root, red sandal wood, and the root of *Andropogon muricatum* (*ushira*), equal parts, in all two tolás, water thirty-two tolás, and boil till reduced to one half. This decoction is used as a drink in bilious fever.³

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³ काश्मर्य्यर्करायुक्तां पिबेत् तृष्णार्दितो नरः । श्रीपर्णीचन्दनोशीरसमधूक परुषकम् । पानं पित्तज्वरं हन्यात् शारिवाद्य सशर्करम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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CLERODENDRON SIPHONANTHUS, *R. Br.* Syn. *Siphonanthus Indica,* Lam. Sans. ब्रह्मयष्टिका, *Brahmayashṭikā,* भार्गी, *Bhárgi.* Vern. *Bámanháṭi,* Beng. *Bhárangi,* Hind. The root of Clerodendron Siphonanthus is considered useful in asthma, cough and scrofulous affections. The root beaten to a pulp is given with ginger and warm water in asthma.¹ It enters into the composition of several compound decoctions for diseases of the lungs. A confection called *Bhárgiguḍa* is prepared with a decoction of this root and the ten drugs called *dasamula*, chebulic myrobalan, treacle and the usual aromatic substances. It is used in asthma. An oil, prepared with a decoction and paste of the root of Clerodendron Siphonanthus in the usual proportions, is recommended for external application in the marasmus of children.

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¹ हिक्काश्वासी पिबेद्भार्गीं सविश्वोषुष्णवारिणा । नागरं वासिता भार्गी सौवर्चलसमन्वितम् ।। चक्रदत्तः ।

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PREMNA SERRATIFOLIA, *Linn.* Syn. *Premna spinosa,* Roxb. Sans. गनिका रिका, *Ganikáriká,* अग्निमन्य, *Agnimantha.* Vern. *Ganiári,* Beng. *Arni,* Hind. The root of Premna spinosa is described as bitter, stomachic and useful in fever, anasarca, urticaria, etc. The leaves are bitter and carminative. A soup made of the leaves is occasionally used as a stomachic and carminative. The root forms an ingredient of *dasamula* (see *Desmodium gangeticum*), and is thus largely used in a variety of affections.

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The root rubbed into a paste with water is recommended to be taken with clarified butter in urticaria and roseola, for a week.²

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² अग्निमन्यभवं मूलं पिष्टं पीतञ्च सर्पिषा । शीतपित्तोज्झकोठघ्नं सप्ताहादेवनाययेत् ।। चक्रदत्तः ।

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NAT. ORDER LABIATE. OCIMUM SANCTUM, *Linn.* Sans. तुलसी, *Tulasi,* पर्णास, *Parnása.* Vern. *Tulsi,* Beng. Hind.

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SANSKRIT writers make two varieties of this plant (founded upon some difference in the colour of their leaves) namely, white and black. The Ocimum sanctum is held sacred to Vishnu of the Hindu trinity, and is reared in every hindu house where it is daily watered and worshipped by all the members of the family. The beads or rosaries used by orthodox natives for counting the number of recitations of their deity’s name, are made of the stems of this plant.

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The leaves are regarded as anti-catarrhal or expectorant and are used in catarrh, cough and pain in the sides. The juice of the leaves is given with the addition of black pepper in catarrhal fever.¹ It is often used as an adjunct to metallic preparations, which are rubbed with it into a thin paste and then licked up. The leaves enter into the composition of some compound decoctions for cough and affections of the chest. The following is an example. Take of the leaves of *Ocimum sanctum*, gulancha, ginger, root of *Clerodendron Siphonanthus*, (*bhárgi*) and *Solanum Jacquinii* (*kaṇṭakári*), equal parts and prepare a decoction in the usual way.² The dried leaves are used as snuff in ozæna. They also enter into the composition of some compound medicines used in this disease, as for example of an oil which is prepared with a paste of the leaves of *Ocimum sanctum*, roots of *Solanum Jacquinii* (*kaṇṭakári*), *Baliospermum montanum* (*danti*), *Acorus Calamus* (*vachá*), *Moringa pterygosperma* (*sigru*), long pepper, black pepper, and ginger.³

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¹ पोतोमरिचचूर्णैश्च तुलसीपत्रजोरसः। श्लेष्मपुष्पोरसोध्येवं निहन्तिविषमज्वरान् ॥ शार्ङ्गधरः ।

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² अमृतानागरफञ्जीव्याघ्रीपर्णाश्च साधितः काथः। पीतः सकणाचूर्णः कासश्वासौ जयत्याशु ॥ चक्रदत्तः ।

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³ व्याघ्रीदन्तीवचाशिग्रुसुरसव्योषसैन्धवैः । पाचितं नावनं तैलं पूतिनासागदं जयेत् ॥ चक्रदत्तः ।

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OCIMUM BASILICUM, Linn. *Syn.* Ocimum pilosum, Willd. *Sans.* बर्वर, *Varvara*. *Vern.* Bábui tulsi. *Beng.* The seeds of this plant, called *rehán* in the vernacular, are demulcent and nourishing. Steeped in water they swell into a mucilaginous jelly which is taken with the addition of sugar in dysentery, gonorrhoea and cough.

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NAT. ORDER AMARANTACEÆ.

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AMARANTHUS SPINOSUS. Linn. Sans. तण्डुलीय, Taṇḍulīya. Vern. Kaṇṭánaṭiá, Beng. Cholái, Hind. This thorny weed is considered light, cooling and a promoter of the alvine and urinary discharges. Its root is said to be an efficacious medicine for menorrhagia, in which disease it is given with rasot and honey.¹ It enters also into the composition of other medicines for this disease, as for example in the preparation called Asoka ghrita.

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¹ रसाञ्जनं तण्डुलस्य मूलं चौद्रान्वितं तण्डुलतोयपीतम् । असृग्दरं सर्वभवं निहन्ति श्वासच भागौ सहनागरेण । भावप्रकाशः ।
* The closely allied species A. bidentata, Bl. is probably used as frequently as this. G. K.

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ACHYRANTHES ASPERA, Linn.* Sans. अपामार्ग, Apámárga. खरमञ्जरी, Kharamanjari. Vern. A'páng, Beng. Latjírá, chirchirá, Hind.

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THIS troublesome weed is chiefly valued on account of its ashes which contain a large quantity of potash. These are used in the preparation of alkaline medicines and caustic pastes, ( see Alkaline ashes ). The ashes mixed with orpiment are applied as a caustic to warts on the penis and other parts of the body.

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Apámárga taila.² Take of sesamum oil four seers, the alkaline water prepared from the ashes of Achyranthes aspera sixteen seers, the ashes of the plant one seer, and boil them together in the usual way. This oil is poured into the meatus in cases of noise in the ears and deafness.

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² अपामार्गतैलम् । अपामार्गक्षारजले तत्क्षतकल्कन साधितं तिख-जम् । अपहरतिकर्णनादं बाधिर्यञ्चापिपूरणतः ।। चक्रदत्तः

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The weed itself is described as heating like fire, laxative and a promoter of secretions; it is used in combination with other medicines of its class in ascites and anasarca, (see Cedrus Deodara).

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NAT. ORDER NYCTAGINACEÆ.

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BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA, Linn. Sans. पुनर्नवा, Punarnavá, शोथघ्नी, Sothaghni. Vern. Svetapunarnabá, Beng. Sáṇṭ, Hind.

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BOTH the red and white varieties of this plant are noticed by Sanskrit writers but the white is preferred for use. Its root is regarded as laxative, diuretic and stomachic; it is used in jaundice, ascites, anasarca, scanty urine and internal inflammations. One of its Sanskrit synonyms, namely, sothagni means cure for dropsy. A decoction of punarnavá root is recommended to be given with the addition of powdered chiretá and ginger in anasarca.¹ A compound decoction much used in this disease is prepared as follows.

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¹ भूनिम्ब विश्वभेषजं जग्ध्वा पेयः पुनर्नवाक्वाथः। अपहरति नियतमाशु शोथं सर्वाङ्गं नृणाम्॥

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Punarnaváshtaka.² Take of Punarnavá root, nim bark, leaves of Trichosanthes dioica (patola), ginger, Picrorrhiza Kurroa (katuki), chebulic myrobalan, gulancha, and the wood of Berberis Asiatica (dáruharidrá), quarter of a tola each, water thirty-two tolas; boil together till reduced to one-fourth. This decoction is given in general anasarca with ascites, cough, jaundice, difficult breathing, etc. An oil, prepared with a decoction of the root and a number of the usual aromatics in the form of a paste, is rubbed on the body in general ansarca complicated with jaundice. It is called Punarnavá taila.³

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² पुनर्नवाष्टकः। पुनर्नवाम्बुपटोलशुण्ठीतिक्तामृतादारुवराभयाकषायः। सर्वाङ्गशोथोदरकासश्वासान्वितं पाण्डुगदं निहन्ति॥ चक्रदत्तः।

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³ पुनर्नवातैलम्। पुनर्नवापक्वगतं जलद्रोणे विपाचयेत्। तेन पादावशेषेण तैलप्रस्थं विपाचयेत्। त्रिकटु त्रिफला शृङ्गी धन्याकं कट्फलं तथा। शठी दारुप्रियङ्गुश्च देवदारुहरेणुभिः। कुष्ठं पुनर्नवाघनं यमानी कारवी तथा। एला त्वचं पद्मकाञ्च पत्रं नागरकेशरम्। एषाञ्च कार्षिकैः कल्कैः प्रेषयित्वा

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The Bhávaprakása gives an electuary under the name of Punarnaváleha. It is prepared with a decoction of the root of Boerhaavia diffusa and a number of other ingredients, and is used in strangury or scanty urine.

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NAT. ORDER LAURACEÆ.

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CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA, Nees et Ebermaier.

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Sans. कर्पूर, Karpura, चन्द्राह्व, Chandráhba.

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Vern. Kápur, Hind. Karpur. Beng.

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Two varieties of camphor are mentioned by Sanskrit writers, namely, pakva and apakva, that is prepared with the aid of heat and without it. The latter is considered superior to the former. It would seem from the above description that by the term *apakva karpura*, was probably meant the camphor obtained in Borneo from the trunk of *Dryobalanops aromatica*, (*Shorea Camphorifera*, *Roxb*). and by the term *pakva karpura*, the China camphor obtained by sublimation from the wood of *Cinnamomum Camphora*.

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The *Rájanirghantu* describes an oil of camphor under the name of *karpura taila*. It is said to be useful in rheumatism and in giving firmness to loose teeth. This oil is not recognized or used by the native practitioners of the present day, but it most probably meant the camphor oil or liquid camphor obtained by making incisions on the Borneo camphor tree.

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Camphor is regarded as carminative, stimulant and aphrodisiac; it is used in fever, diarrhœa, impotence, cough, eye-diseases, etc. It is also much used in the preparation of medicinal oils for imparting fragrance to them, singly as well as in combination with other aromatic substances. Camphor enters into the composition of numerous medicines for the diseases mentioned above. The following is an illustration.

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*Karpura rasa*.¹ Take of cinnabar, opium, camphor, tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*), *indrajava* seeds and nutmegs, equal parts; powder the ingredients, and make into four-grain pills with water. These pills are used in diarrhœa.

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¹ कर्पूररसः। हिङ्गुलञ्चविशेषञ्च मुस्तकेन्द्रयवं तथा । जातीफलञ्च कर्पूरं सर्वं समंयत्नतः । जलेन वटिकाकार्या द्विगुञ्जापरिमाणतः । ज्वरातीसारेषु चैव तथातीसाररोगिणे । ग्रहणीष्टप्रकारे च रक्तातीसारलक्षणे । अत्र- केचित्तङ्कनमध्येकभागमिच्छन्ति । रस रत्नावली ।

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Camphor, rubbed with the milky juice of *Ficus Bengalensis*, is recommended to be applied to opacities on the cornea. It enters also into composition of several collyria.² A small tent made with

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² वटक्षीरेणसंयुक्तं श्लक्ष्णं कर्पूरजं रजः । क्षिप्रमञ्जनतोहन्ति शुक्रञ्चापि घनोन्नतम् ।। चक्रदत्तः ।

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विनिक्षिपेत् । कामलापाण्डु रोगं च हलिमकमथापि वा । प्लीहानमुदरञ्चैव जीर्णज्वरव्यपोहति । तैलं पुनर्नवा नाममलव्याधिञ्चयच्छति । सारकौमुदी ।

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camphor is introduced into the urethra for the relief of irritability of the bladder and frequent micturition.¹

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¹ मेढ्रस्याथयोनेर्वा सुखस्याभ्यन्तरे शनैः। घनसारयुतां वर्त्तिं धारयेन्मूत्र-निग्रहे । भावप्रकाशः ।

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CINNAMOMUM ZEYLANICUM, *Breyn.* Sans. गुडत्वक्, *Guḍatvak.* Cinnamon is largely used as an aromatic adjunct in compound prescriptions. A combination of cinnamon, cardamoms and tejapatra leaves, passes by the name of trijátaka, these three aromatics being often used together.

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CINNAMOMUM TAMALA, *Nees.* and other species, furnish the leaves called tejapatra in Sanskrit, and tejpát in the vernacular. They are an essential ingredient of Indian cookery. For remarks on their uses in medicine see *Cinnamomum Zeylanicum*.

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