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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s22: Nat. Order Coniferæ

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s22

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Nat. Order Coniferæ

Pinus Webbiana, Wall.

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*Syn. Abies Webbiana, Lindl.* *Sans.* तालीशपत्र, *Tálisapatra, Vern. Tálispatra Beng. Hind.*

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THE dried leaves used by Kavirajas under the name of *tálisapatra*, were identified at the herbarium of the Royal Botanic Garden to be the leaves of *Pinus Webbiana*. They are single, spirally arranged all round the branchlets, flat, narrow, linear, one to three inches long, one line broad, narrowed into a short terete petiole, under side with two longitudinal furrows on either side of the raised midrib, upper side shining. The Sanskrit term *tálisapatra* has been hitherto translated by most writers on Botany and Materia Medica, as *Flacourtia cataphracta*. The error originated probably in Wilson's Sanskrit-English dictionary and has since been repeated by subsequent writers. This medicine is regarded as carminative, expectorant and useful in phthisis, cough and asthma.

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The powdered leaves are given with the juice of *Justicia* *Adhatoda (vásaka)* and honey in cough, asthma and hæmoptysis.¹ A confection called *Tálisádya churna* is prepared with *tálisapatra*, black pepper, long pepper, ginger, bamboo-manna, cardamoms, cinnamon, and sugar, and is used in the above mentioned diseases.² These leaves enter into the composition of numerous complex prescriptions.

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¹ तालीशचूर्णसंयुक्तः पेयः क्षौद्रेण वासकस्वरसः। कफपित्ततमकश्वासस्वरभेद‌रक्तपित्तहरः। चक्रदत्तः।

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² तालीशाद्यं चूर्णम्। तालीशं मरिचं शुण्ठीपिप्पलीवंशलोचना। एकद्वित्रिचतुःपञ्चकषैर्भागान् प्रकल्पयेत्। एलात्वचोस्तु कर्षाद्धं प्रत्येकं भागमावहेत्। द्वात्रिंशत्कर्षतुलिताप्रदेयाशर्करा बुधैः। तालीशाद्यमिदं चूर्ण पाचंनं रोचकं स्मृतम्। कासश्वासज्वरहरं छर्द्यतीसारनाशनम्। शोषघ्नाम्हर प्लीहगुल्मपाण्डुरोगजित्। पक्वां वा शर्करां चूर्णं क्षिपेत् स्याद्गुटिका ततः। शार्ङ्गधरः।

Pinus Longifolia, Roxb.

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*Sans.* सरल, *Sarala, Vern. Chir, Saral, Hind.*

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THE aromatic wood of *Pinus longifolia* is used in Hindu medicine. The tree yields an oleo-resin called *sarala drava*, *srivása* and *kshira* in Sanskrit. In the vernacular it is called *gandha-birozá*. Dr. Royle remarked, "The *chir* exudes or yields to incisions a very fine turpentine. This is chiefly valued by the natives for its resin, and the latter is only obtained by exposing the turpentine to heat, the oil, the more valuable product is dissipated to procure the resin; but by adopting a very simple still, the resin was obtained as good as ever for the purposes of the natives, while the oil of turpentine which distilled over was pronounced on being sent to the General Hospital of Calcutta, to be of very superior quality." Turpentine is now distilled by the natives in the Panjab but the distilled oil is not mentioned by Sanskrit writers.

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The wood of *Pinus longifolia* is considered stimulant, diaphoretic and useful in burning of the body, cough, fainting, and ulcerations; it is generally used in combination with other medicines.

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The oleo-resin or crude turpentine is used in the preparation of plasters, ointments, and pastiles for fumigation. It is applied to buboes and abscesses for promoting absorption. The following is an example of a pastile containing crude turpentine. Take of crude turpentine, bdellium, wood of *Aquilaria Agallocha* (*aguru*), and resin of *Shorea robusta*, and make into pastiles. These are used for fumigating unhealthy and painful ulcers.¹

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¹ श्रीवासगुग्गुलुगुरुशालनिर्यासधूपिताः। कठिनत्वं व्रणायान्ति नश्यन्त्यु- ग्राश्च वेदनाः। चक्रदत्तः।

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CEDRUS DEODARA, *Loud.* *Pinus Deodara, Roxb.* *Sans.* देवदारु, *Devadáru*. *Vern.* *Deodár Hind.*

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THE aromatic wood of this elegant pine is considered carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and useful in fever, flatulence, inflammation, dropsy, urinary diseases, etc. It is chiefly used in combination with other medicines. The following is an example of a diuretic mixture containing this drug. Take of *devadáru* wood, root of *Moringa pterygosperma* (*sigru*), and *Achyranthes aspera* (*apámárga*), one drachm each and reduce to a paste with cow's urine. This composition is given in ascites.²

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² देवद्रुमं शिग्रुभयोरकञ्च गोमूत्रपिष्टामधवाऽथगन्ध्याम्। पीत्वाहन्याड- दरं महज्जं क्रिमीन् सशोथातुदरञ्च दुष्यम्। चक्रदत्तः।

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NAT. ORDER PALMACEÆ. COCUS NUCIFERA, *Linn.* *Sans.* नारिकेल, *Nárikela*, *Vern.* *Nárial, Hind.* *Nárikel, Beng.*

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THE numerous economical uses of this valuable tree are fully detailed in standard works. I will refer only to such of them as are mentioned in Sanskrit medical works. The water of the unripe fruit is described as a fine-flavoured, cooling, refrigerent drink useful in thirst, fever and urinary disorders. The tender pulp of the fruit is said to be nourishing, cooling and diuretic. The pulp of the ripe fruit is hard and indigestible but is used medicinally. The terminal bud of the tree is esteemed as a nourishing, strengthening and agreeable vegetable. The same remark applies to the tops of the *tál* palm and date trees. The root of the cocoa-nut is used as a diuretic as also in uterine diseases. Cocoa-nut oil is said to promote the growth of hair. It is much used as a hair-oil by the lower classes of native women. For this purpose it is scented by steeping in it a number of fragrant vegetable substances sold in packets under the Bengali name of *Máthághasá*. The ashes of the leaves are used in medicine. They contain a great deal of potash. The fresh juice of the tree is considered refrigerent and diuretic. The fermented juice constitutes one of the spirituous liquors described by the ancient writers. The cleared shell of the nut or portions of it are burnt in a fire and while red hot, covered by a stone cup. The fluid deposited in the interior of the cup is rubefacient and is an effectual domestic remedy for ringworm.

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*Narikelakhanda*.¹ Take of the pounded pulp of cocoa-nut, half a seer, fry it in eight tolas of clarified butter, and afterwards boil in four seers of cocoa-nut water till reduced to a syrupy consistence. Now add coriander, long pepper, bamboo manna, cumin seeds, nigella seeds, cardamoms, cinnamon, *tejapatra*, the tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*), and the flowers of *Mesua ferrea* (*nága-kesara*) one tolá each in fine powder and prepare a confection. Dose, two to four tolas, in dyspepsia and consumption.

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¹ नारिकेलखण्डः । ऽडमितमिहस्यान्नारिकेलं सुपिष्टं पलपरिमितसर्पिः पाचितं खण्डतुल्यम् । निजपयसितदेतत्प्रस्थमात्रे विपक्कं गुडवदथसुगोते शाणभागान् चिपेच्च । धन्याकपिप्पलिपयोधतग।दिजीरान् शाणं त्रिजातमि- भकेशरवदिचूर्य । हन्त्यस्तपित्तमरुचिं क्षयमसापिसं मूलं र्षाभं सकलपौरुष कारिहारि ।

Borassus Flabelliformis, Linn.

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Sans. ताल, *Tála*, तृणराज, *Trinarája*. Vern. *Tál*, Beng. Hind.

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THE properties of the various parts of this noble palm are described in detail in Sanskrit works. The root is cooling and restorative. "The saccharine juice obtained by the excision of the spadix or young flowering branch," is when freshly drawn, cooling, sweet and useful in inflammatory affections and dropsy. The fermented juice called *tári* or toddy is intoxicating. The yellow pulp surrounding the seeds of the ripe fruit is sweet, heavy and indigestible. It is extracted by rubbing the seeds over a wooden scratcher, and with the addition of a little lime, it settles into a firm jelly which is a ready mode of taking the pulp. It is also made into cakes with flour and other ingredients. The young seeds contain a clear watery fluid which is very refreshing and cooling. They form one of the edible fruits of the country and are sold in the markets in large quantities when in season. The natives after extracting the pulp from the fibres surrounding the ripe seeds, preserve them for some months. When the embryo begins to germinate and enlarge, the seeds are cut open and the expanded embryo is extracted and eaten. It is cooling, sweet and palatable. The terminal bud or top of the *tál* tree is regarded as nutritive, diuretic and tonic. The leaves of this palm tree were used for writing on by the ancient Hindus. The letters were engraved upon the leaves by a pointed iron instrument. This system of writing is still followed to a considerable extent in Orissa where boys in the indigenous *patsálás* write with iron pens on palm leaves. In Bengal the leaves are written upon with pen and ink as on paper. The ashes of the flowering stalk are said to be useful in enlarged spleen.¹

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¹ तालपुष्पभवः क्षारः सगुडः प्लीहनाशनः । चक्रदत्तः ।

Areca Catechu, Linn.

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*Sans.* गुवाक, *Guváka*, पूग, *Puga*, क्रमुक, *Kramuka*. *Vern.* *Guá*, *Supári*, *Beng.* *Supári*, *Hind.*

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THE chief consumption of betel-nuts is as a masticatory, alone or in conjunction with betle leaf. The unripe nuts are said to be laxative and carminative. The fresh nuts when not yet dry in their interior, have intoxicating properties and produce giddiness. The dried nuts are masticated. They are said to sweeten the breath, strengthen the gums, remove bad tastes from the mouth, and produce a stimulant or exhilarant effect on the system. The burnt nuts are used as a tooth powder.

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Medicinally betel-nuts are used in urinary disorders and as an aphrodisiac. The Bhávaprakasa gives a preparation called *Rativallava pugapáka*. It is a confection made of betel-nuts boiled in milk, with the addition of a number of aromatic and stimulant substances supposed to have aphrodisiac properties. Sometimes datura seeds and the leaves of *Cannabis sativa* are added to this confection when it is called *Kámesvara modaka*.

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PHŒNIX SYLVESTRIS, *Roxb.* Sans. खर्जुर, *Kharjura*. Vern Kejur, *Beng. Hind.* The *Phœnix sylvestris* is indigenous to India and is cultivated for the sake of its sweet sap which is manufactured into *gur* or jagari. The imported fruits of *Phœnix dactylifera* are used medicinally as demulcents and expectorants.

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