The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s22.t2: Pinus Longifolia, Roxb.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s22.t2

Language: English

Pinus Longifolia, Roxb.

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

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।

c5.s22.t2.6

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 ।

Linked texts (1)

Cakradatta (Cikitsāsaṅgraha) — Cakrapāṇidatta, Sanskrit