Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s25.t2: Curcuma Longa, Roxb.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s25.t2

Language
English

Curcuma Longa, Roxb.

c5.s25.t2.1

Sans. हरिद्रा, *Haridrá*, निशा, *Nisá*. Vern. *Halud*, B. *Haldi*, H.

c5.s25.t2.2

THE turmeric plant is extensively cultivated for the sake of its tubers which are an essential ingredient of native curry powders. Turmeric pounded into a paste and mixed with oil, is rubbed on the skin to improve its appearance and prevent skin diseases. The rubbing of turmeric and oil is an essential part of the Hindu marriage festival as well as of some religious ceremonies. Medicinally turmeric is used chiefly in skin diseases both externally and internally. Turmeric paste with the addition of a little lime is a popular application to sprains and bruises. A decoction of turmeric is used as a cooling wash in ophthalmia; cloth steeped in it is employed as an eye-shade. A paste of turmeric and the leaves of *Justicia Adhatoda* (*vásaka*), with cow's urine is rubbed on the skin in prurigo.¹ Several other combinations of the sort are in vogue, such as turmeric and nim leaves, turmeric and the ashes of the plantain tree, etc. Turmeric is also given internally with cow's urine in prurigo and eczema.²

c5.s25.t2.3

¹ कोमलं सिंहास्यदलं सर्षपं सुरभिजलेन संपिष्टम् । दिवसत्रयेण नियतं क्षपयतिकण्डूं विषेपनतः । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s25.t2.4

² हरिद्राकल्कसंयुक्तं गोमूत्रस्य पलद्वयम् । पिबेन्नरः कामचारीकण्डूपामाविनाशनम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s25.t2.5

*Haridrákhaṇḍa*.³ Take of turmeric sixty-four tolás, clarified butter forty-eight tolás, milk sixteen seers, sugar twelve tolás, and boil them together over a gentle fire in an earthen pot. Then add black pepper, long pepper, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, tejapatra, báberang seeds, root of *Ipomœa Turpethum* (*trivrit*), the three myrobalans, flowers of *Mesua ferrea* (*nágakesara*), tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*) and prepared iron, each eight tolás in fine powder, and prepare a confection. Dose, one tolá every morning in prurigo, boils, urticaria, etc. A cure is said to be effected in seven days.

c5.s25.t2.6

³ हरिद्राखण्डः । हरिद्रायाः पलान्यष्टौ षट्पलं हविषस्तथा । क्षीरा- ढकेनसंयुक्तं खण्डस्यार्द्धपलं तथा । पचेत् मृदग्निना वैद्योभाजने मृन्मये दृढे । त्रिकटु त्रिजतकञ्चैव क्रिमघ्नं विडतात्तथा । त्रिफलाकेशरं सुस्तं लौहं प्रतिपलं पलम् । संचूर्ण्य प्रक्षिपेत्तत्कर्षमेकन्तु भक्षयेत् । कण्डू विस्फोटदद्रूणांनाशनं परमौषधं । प्रतप्त काञ्चनाभासो देहो भवति नान्यथा । शीतपित्तोर्द्धकोठान् सप्ताहादेवनाशयेत् । हरिद्रानामतःखण्डः कण्डूणांपरमौषधं । भैषज्यरत्नावली ।

c5.s25.t2.7

The term *haridrádve*, or the two turmerics, signifies turmeric and the wood of *Berberis Asiatica*. They are often used together in compound prescriptions both for external and internal use and their properties are said to be analogous.

c5.s25.t2.8

CURCUMA ZEDOARIA, *Roscoe.* *Syn. C. Zerumbet, Roxb.* *Sans.* शठी, *Saṭi, Vern. Saṭi, Beng. Kachur, Hind.* The rhizomes of this plant possess an agreeable camphoraceous smell and warm, bitterish, spicy taste. They are considered carminative and useful in fever and skin diseases arising from impure or deranged blood. They are generally used in combination with other medicines as also in the preparation of medicated oils. “The dry root powdered and mixed with the powdered wood of the *Caesalpinia Sappan* makes the red powder called *ábir* by the Hindustanis, and *phág* by the Bengalis. It is copiously thrown about by the natives during the *Huli* or Hindu holidays in the month of March.”

c5.s25.t2.9

CURCUMA AROMATICA, *Salisb. Syn. C. Zedoaria, Roxb.* *Sans.* वनहरिद्रा, *Vanaharidrá. Vern. Banhalud, Beng. Jedwar, Hind.* The rhizomes of this plant are of a pale yellow colour and have an agreeable fragrant smell. The *Bhávaprakása* describes them as useful in skin diseases and disorders of the blood. They are sometimes used in combination with other medicines in these diseases.

c5.s25.t2.10

CURCUMA A'MA'DA', *Roxb. Sans.* कर्पूरहरिद्रा, *Karpura-haridrá. Vern. A'mádá, Beng.* The *Bhávaprakása* mentions this plant under the name of *karpuraharidrá*, but the term is not to be found in standard lexicons. The fresh root possesses the smell of green mango and is used as a condiment and vegetable. Medicinally it is described as cooling and useful in prurigo.

c5.s25.t2.11

ELETTARIA CARDAMOMUM, *White et Maton. Also Amomum subulatum, Roxb. Sans.* एला, *Elá. Vern. Eláchi, Hind. Gujráti elách, Beng.* Cardamoms are largely used as aromatic adjuncts but have no peculiarity deserving of special notice.

Linked texts (3)