The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s2: Nat. Order. Menispermaceæ

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s2

Language: English

c5.s2.t1 Stephania Hernandifolia — 16 parts
c5.s2.t2 Tinospora Cordifolia — 13 parts

Nat. Order. Menispermaceæ

Stephania Hernandifolia

c5.s2.t1.2

*Sans.* अम्बष्ठा, *Ambashthá*. पाठा, *Páthá*. *Vern.* A'kanádi, Nemuka.

In the Pharmacopœia of India it is stated that the *Cissampelos hernandifolia*, Wall. is identical with Pareira Brava, and is common throughout India. Other authorities say, that the true Pareira Brava is derived from Chondodendron tomentosum. The plant used by Kavirajas in Bengal under the name of páthá is identical with that figured by Roxburgh as Cissampelos hexandra. The root of this plant is regarded as light, bitter, astringent and useful in fever, diarrhœa, urinary diseases, dyspepsia etc.

c5.s2.t1.4

In fever with diarrhœa, the following compound decoction¹ is recommended by Chakradatta. Take of páthá root, indrajava seeds, chiretta, tubers of Cyperus rotundus ( mustaka ), Hedyotis biflora ( parpati ), gulancha, and ginger, equal parts, in all two tolas, water thirty-two tolas; and boil till reduced to one-fourth. In diarrhœa caused by indigestion and attended with pain and slimy or bilious stools, the following decoction is used. Take of páthá root, indrajava seeds, chebulic myrobalan and ginger, each half a tola, water thirty-two tolas. Boil down to one-fourth.

c5.s2.t1.5

¹ In fever with diarrhœa, the following compound decoction

c5.s2.t1.6

In internal or deep seated inflammation, Chakradatta recommends the root of this plant to be taken with honey and water in which rice has been macerated.²

c5.s2.t1.7

² In internal or deep seated inflammation, Chakradatta recommends the root of this plant to be taken with honey and water in which rice has been macerated.

c5.s2.t1.8

In urine depositing salts or a white flocculent substance, a decoction of páthá and aloes-wood is used.³

c5.s2.t1.9

³ In urine depositing salts or a white flocculent substance, a decoction of páthá and aloes-wood is used.

c5.s2.t1.10

In painful micturition the following decoction⁴ is considered useful. Take of páthá root, Hedysarum lagopodioides (prisniparni),

c5.s2.t1.11

⁴ In painful micturition the following decoction is considered useful.

c5.s2.t1.12

ऽयं प्रसूतानां प्रशान्ते । युज्यते स्तातकारोगे योनिोगे ज्वरेऽजये । कासे श्वासे पाण्डुरोगे कार्श्ये वातामयेषु च । भावप्रकाशः ।

c5.s2.t1.13

1 पाठेन्द्रयवभूनिम्ब सुप्तपर्पटकास्तथाः । जयन्याममतीसारं मज्वरं सम-घोषधाः । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s2.t1.14

2 शमयतिपाठामूलं क्षोद्रयुतं तण्डुलाम्भसापीतम् । अन्नभूतं विद्रधि-सुद्धतमाश्वेवमनुजय । अपकोबे तदुद्दिष्टं पक्वे तु ब्रणवत् क्रिया । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s2.t1.15

3 पारिजातजयानिम्बर्वाङ्गगायविषां पृथक् । पाठायाः सागुराः पीताह-यस्य शारदस्य च । जले चुम्यसिकृताशनैर्लवणपिष्टकान् । सान्द्रमेहान् क्रमात् घ्नन्ति अष्टौ काथाः सकाच्चिकाः । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s2.t1.16

4 बृहतीधावनीपाठा यष्टीमधुकलिङ्गकाः । पाचनीयोऽष्टह्यादिः कच्छ्रदोष-त्रयापहः । चक्रदत्तः । root of Solanum Indicum (vrihati), liquorice root and indrajava seeds, equal parts, in all two tolás. Boil down to one-fourth.

Tinospora Cordifolia

c5.s2.t2.1

*Sans.* गुडूची, *Guduchi.* अमृता, *Amritá.* *Vern.* Gulancha, *Beng.* Gurach, *Hind.*

c5.s2.t2.2

The stem, leaves, roots and watery extract of this plant are all used in Hindu Medicine. The entire plant is regarded as a valuable alterative and tonic. It is used in general debility, fever, jaundice, skin diseases, rheumatism, urinary diseases, irritability of stomach, etc.

c5.s2.t2.3

The fresh juice of the plant is taken with milk as a general tonic. In fevers it is used in a great variety of forms. Thus a cold infusion of gulancha is given with honey in bilious fever. A decoction¹ of gulancha or its fresh juice is given with the addition of long pepper and honey in chronic fever with cough. A compound decoction is thus prepared. Take of gulancha, Hedyotis biflora (parparta), Cyperus rotundus (mustaka), chiretta and ginger, each one drachm, water, half a seer. Boil down to one-fourth. It is said to be useful in fevers caused by deranged air and bile. Practically it is found very useful in chronic fevers, which have resisted other antiperiodics, and which are apt to recur after apparent recovery. In chronic fever with loss of appetite, the following confection is recommended by many writers.

c5.s2.t2.4

¹ पिप्पलीमधुसंभिन्नं गुडूची स्वरसं पिबेत् । जीर्ण ज्वर कफ प्लीह कासारोचकनाशनम् । गुडूची पर्पटं मुस्तं किरातं विश्वभेषजम् । वात पित्तज्वरे देयं पञ्चभद्रमिदं शुभम् । भावप्रकाशः ।

c5.s2.t2.5

Dhátrimodaka.² Take of chebulic and emblic myrobalans, ginger and long pepper, one part each, watery extract of gulancha, four parts, water sixteen parts. Boil till reduced to one-fourth, and prepare a confection with eight parts of sugar. When of proper consistence divide the mass into boluses of about a drachm each. One of these is taken every morning, in chronic fever with enlarged spleen, cough, loss of appetite, etc.

c5.s2.t2.6

² धात्रीमोदकः । धात्री पथ्यां कणां शुण्ठीं तुल्याञ्च चूर्णयेद् दृढम् ।

c5.s2.t2.7

Gulancha enters into the composition of a large number of prescriptions for chronic skin diseases. The juice of the plant or its decoction is given alone, or with the addition of *guggulu* or bdellium.¹ Numerous compound decoctions with the addition of various other drugs such as *nim*, turmeric, catechu, etc. are used in these diseases, as well as in gout and rheumatism.² Several oils, for external application are prepared with *gulancha* and are much used in skin diseases, rheumatic affections and nervous complaints.

c5.s2.t2.8

¹ वत्सादनुद्भवः काथः पीतो गुग्गुलुसंयुतः ।

c5.s2.t2.9

² गुडूच्याः स्वरसं कल्कं चूर्णं वा कायमेव वा । प्रभात कालमासेव्य मुच्यते-वातगोष्पितात् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s2.t2.10

*Guḍuchyádi taila*.³ Take of fresh *gulancha*, eight seers, water, sixty-four seers, boil till reduced to one-fourth and strain. To the strained decoction, add prepared sesamum oil, four seers, and *gulancha* beaten to a paste with water, one seer, boil together till the water is evaporated. This oil is a favourite application in eruptive skin diseases from impure blood. The *Vrihat guḍuchyádi taila* is prepared by the addition of a number of other medicines in the form of paste, to the decoction of *gulancha* and the oil. Another compound oil called *Váta guḍuchyádi taila* is thus prepared. Take of *gulancha*, twelve seers, and a half water sixty-four seers. Boil till reduced to one fourth. Take of the fresh juice of *Adhatoda Vasica* (*vásaka*) and of *datura* leaves, each four seers, prepared mustard oil, four seers, aromatics in the form of paste one seer. Boil together the decoction of *gulancha* with the vegetable juices, oil and paste, in the usual

Linked texts (3)

Carakasaṃhitā — Agniveśa (Āyurveda) & Caraka, Sanskrit
Cakradatta (Cikitsāsaṅgraha) — Cakrapāṇidatta, Sanskrit
Bhāvaprakāśa — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit