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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s26.t1: Musa Paradisiaca, Linn.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s26.t1

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Musa Paradisiaca, Linn.

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*Variety of Musa Sapientum Linn.* *Sans.* कदली, *Kadalí,* रम्भा, *Rambhá. Vern. Kalá, Beng. Kelá, Hind.* The economical uses of this most valuable plant are too well-known to need any notice here. I will refer only to one of them.

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The leaves and leaf-stalks when burnt yield alkaline ashes which can be used instead of country soap or fuller’s earth, in washing clothes. In the Noakhally jail, the old leaves are collected, dried and burnt to ashes. The ashes being placed on a piece of cloth supported on four posts, water is made to percolate through them into an earthen vessel. The alkaline water thus obtained is used for steeping clothes intended to be washed. As the stems of the plantain are cut down soon after the fruit is gathered, there is always a large quantity of leaves and stalks available in all gardens where it is cultivated. They can be readily economised in the simple method above described, if not manufactured into cloth or paper.

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The unripe fruit, called *mochaka* in Sanskrit, is considered cooling and astringent; it is much used in diabetes in the form of a *ghrita* prepared as follows:—

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*Kadalyádi ghrita.*¹ Take of plantain flowers twelve seers and a half, watery juice of the root-stock of the plantain tree sixty-four seers; boil them together till reduced to one-fourth and strain. To the strained decoction add four seers of prepared clarified butter and the following substances in the form of a paste, namely, unripe plantains, cloves, cardamoms, red sandal wood, wood of *Pinus longifolia*, (*sarala*), *jatámánsi* root, the three myrobalans, *Raphanus sativus* (*mulaka*), and the fruit of *Feronia elephantum* (*kapittha*) in equal parts, one seer in all, and prepare a *ghrita* in the usual way. This medicine is generally given along with some preparation of tin or other metallic medicine in diabetes. Dose, about two tolás.

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¹ कदल्यादि घृतम् । कदलीकन्दनिर्यासे तत्प्रसन्नन्तुलांपचेत् । चतुर्भागा-वशेषेऽस्मिन् घृत प्रस्थं विपाचयेत् । चन्दनं सरलं मांसी कदलीमूलकन्दथा ।

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NAT. ORDER ORCHIDACEÆ. VANDA ROXBURGHII, *R. Br.* *Syn. Cymbidium tessaloides, Roxb.* Sans. रास्ना, *Rásná*, गन्धनाकुली, *Gandhanákuli*. Vern. *Rásná, B. H.*

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Under the name of *rásná*, the roots of *Vanda Roxburghii* and *Acampe papillosa*, are both indiscriminately used by native physicians. They are very similar in the appearance of their roots and leaves, though they differ much in their flowers and fruits. One native physician whom I consulted, pronounced both these plants to be *rásná*; when however I showed him the different flowers and fruits of the two species, he was puzzled. He had never looked to the flowers before, but only knew the roots and leaves. These epiphytes are very common on mango trees.

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*Rásná* root is said to be fragrant, bitter and useful in rheumatism and allied disorders, in which it is prescribed in a variety of forms.

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*Rásnápanchaka.*¹ Take of *rásná*, *gulancha*, *devadáru*, ginger, and the root of the castor oil plant in equal parts, and prepare a decoction in the usual way. This is apparently a popular prescription for rheumatism, being mentioned by most writers.

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¹ रास्नापञ्चकम् । रास्नाऽमृताहादारु नागरैरण्डजं घृतम् । सप्तधातुगते- वाते सामिसर्वाङ्गजे पिवेत् । शार्ङ्गधरः ।

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*Rásná guggulu.*² Eight parts of *rásná* and ten of bdellium are beaten into a uniform mass with clarified butter. Dose, about a drachm, in sciatica.

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² रास्नायास्तु पलञ्चैकं कर्षांन् पञ्चचगुग्गुलोः । सर्पिषा वटिकां कृत्वा खादेद्ग्टध्रसीहराम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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*Rásná* enters into the composition of several medicated oils for external application in rheumatism and diseases of the nervous system, such as the *Mahámásha taila*, *Madhyama Naráyana taila*, etc.

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NAT. ORDER LILIACEÆ. ALOE INDICA, Royle. *Sans.* घृतकुमारी, *Ghritakumári*, कन्या, *Kanyá*. *Vern.* *Ghritakumári*, *Beng.* *Ghikumári*, *Hind.*

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ALOES (called *mushabbar* in the vernacular), though now used in native medicine, was unknown to the Sanskrit writers. They

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ऐबालवङ्ग त्रिफला कपित्यफल सेवच । कलुकेनानेन संसिद्धं सोमरोगनिवारणम् । मूत्ररोगानशेषांश्च प्रमेहतान् शुक्रपिच्छलान् । प्रमेहतान् विंशतिञ्चैव मूत्राघातां स्तथोत्थान् । बद्धमूत्रं विशेषेण मूत्रकृच्छ्रं तथाश्मरीम् । कदल्यादि घृतं नाम विष्णुना परिकीर्त्तितम् । राढ़ीयसारसंग्रहः । mention only the fresh juice of the leaves which is regarded as cathartic, cooling, tonic and useful in fevers, enlarged lymphatic glands, spleen and liver, eye diseases, etc. The fresh juice is much used in making up various sorts of pill-masses and more particularly those of a purgative character, as for example the preparation called Taruna jvarári rasa, described under Mercury (see page 32). In glandular enlargements and spleen disease, the juice of the leaves is given with the addition of powdered turmeric.¹

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¹ निशाचूर्णयुतः कन्यारसः प्लीहाऽपचीहरः । शार्ङ्गधरः ।

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ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS, Willd. Sans. शतावरी, Satávari, शतमूली, Satamuli. Vern. Satamuli, Beng. Satávari, Hind.

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The Sanskrit name satamuli (that is possessing a hundred roots), is in allusion to the numerous fusiform tubers of this plant. These are regarded as cooling, demulcent, diuretic, tonic and aphrodisiac, and are used both internally and in the preparation of several medicated oils. The tubers are candied and taken as a sweet-meat. This preparation however has scarcely any other taste or flavour besides that of the sugar. The fresh juice of the root is given with honey as a demulcent in bilious dyspepsia or diarrhœa.² As an aphrodisiac tonic, it is used in a variety of forms. A ghrita is prepared as follows.—

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² शतावर्याश्च मधुनापित्तमूलहरोरसः । शार्ङ्गधरः ।

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Satávari ghrita.³ Take of clarified butter four seers, juice of Asparagus racemosus four seers, milk forty seers, boil them together and prepare a ghrita. This is given with the addition of sugar, honey, and long pepper.

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³ शतावरीघृतम् । घृतं शतावरीगर्भं क्षीरे दशगुणे पचेत् । शर्करापिप्प- लीक्षौद्रयुक्तं तद्घृतमुच्यते । चक्रदत्तः ।

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Phalaghrita. This is prepared with four seers of clarified butter, and sixteen seers each of the juice of Asparagus racemosus and cow's milk, with the addition of a number of other medicines in small quautities, in the form of a paste. Its use is said to increase the secretion of semen, to cure barrenness in women and to remove disorders of the female genitals.

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As a diuretic, it is prescribed in combination with other medicines of its class. The following is an illustration. Take of the roots of *Asparagus racemosus*, *Saccharum spontaneum* (*kása*), *Poa cynosuroides* (*kusa*), *Oryza sativa* (variety called *sálidhánya*) and *Saccharum officinarum* (*ikshu*), *Batatus paniculatus* (*vidári*), *Scirpus Kysoor* (*kaseruka*), and *Tribulus terrestris* (*gokshura*) equal parts, and prepare a decoction in the usual way. This decoction is administered, with the addition of sugar and honey, in scanty urine with heat and ardor urinæ.¹ The chief use of the drug however consists in the preparation of several popular cooling and emollient medicated oils for external application in disorders of the nervous system, rheumatic affections and urinary diseases.

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¹ शतावरी काश कुश श्वदंष्ट्राविदारीशालिञ्च कसेरुकाणाम् । काथं सुशीतं मधुशर्कराक्तं पिबन् जयेत्पैत्तिक मूत्रकच्छ्रम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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*Náráyana taila*,² popularly known as *Madhyama náráyana taila* is made by taking of the bark of *Ægle Marmelos* (vilva), *Premna spinosa* (*agnimantha*), *Calosanthes Indica* (*syonáka*), *Stereospermum suaveolens* (*pátalá*), *Erythrina Indica* (*páribhadra*), *Pæderia fœtida* (*prasárani*), *Withania somnifera* (*asvagandhá*), *Solanum Jacquinii* (*kantakári*), *Solanum Indicum* (*vrihati*), *Sida cordifolia* (*balá*), *Sida rhombifolia* (*atibalá*), *Tribulus terrestris* (*danshtrá*) and *Boerhaavia diffusa* (*punarnavá*), each twenty tolás, water sixty-four seers, and boiling down till reduced to one-fourth and straining. To the strained decoction add four seers each of the juice of *Asparagus racemosus* and prepared sesamum oil, sixteen seers of cow's or goat's milk and the following substances, namely, fennel seeds, wood of *Cedrus Deodara* (*devadáru*), *játámánsi* root, liquid storax, *Acorus Calamus* (*vachá*), sandal wood, *Limnanthemum cristatum* (*tagarapáduká*), *Aplotaxis auriculata* (*kushtha*), cardamoms, *Desmodium gangeticum* (*sálaparni*), *Uraria lagopodioides* (*prisniparni*), *Phaseolus trilobus* (*mudgaparni*), *Glycine labialis* (*máshaparni*), *Withania somnifera* (*asvagandhá*), *Vanda Roxburghii* (*rásná*), *Boerhaavia diffusa* (*punarnavá*) and rock salt, four tolás each in the form of paste and prepare an oil in the usual way. When ready, boil again with fragrant substances as directed in the introduction under the head of Medicated oils. This oil is much used by native physicians in rheumatism, diseases of the joints, stiff neck, hemiplegia and other diseases of the nervous system.

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² नारायणतैलम् । बिल्वाग्निमन्थश्योणकापाटलापारिभद्रकः । प्रसारण्यश्वगन्धा च बृहतीकण्टकारिका । बलातिबलाचैव श्वदंष्ट्रा सपुनर्नवा । एषां दशपलान् भागान् चतुर्द्रोणेऽम्भसः पचेत् । पादशेषं परिस्त्राव्य तैलपात्रं प्रदापयेत् । शतपुष्पा देवदारु मांसीशैल्यकं वचा । चन्दनं तगरं कुष्ठमेलापर्णीचतुष्टयम् । रास्ना तुरगगन्धा च सैन्धवं सपुनर्नवम् । एषां द्विपलिकान् भागान् पेषयित्वाविनिक्षिपेत् । शतावरीरसञ्चैव तैलतुल्यं प्रदापयेत् । आजं वायदि वा गव्यं क्षीरं दत्त्वा चतुर्गुणम् । पाने वस्तौ तथाभ्यङ्गे भोज्ये चैव प्रशस्यते । अश्वो वा वातभग्नौ गजो वा यदि वा नरः । पङ्गुः पीठसर्पीच तैलेनानेन सिध्यति । अधोभागेच ये वाताः शिरोमध्यगताश्च ये । दन्तशूले हनुस्तम्भे मन्यास्तम्भे गलग्रहे । यस्य शुष्यति चैकाङ्गं मतिर्यस्य च विह्वला । एतत्तैलवरंतेषां नाम्ना नारायणं स्मृतम् । तगरं नतमत्स्यादभावेगोयलिखोपदः । चक्रदत्तः ।

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*Vishnutaila*. This is an oil much used in nervous diseases. It is prepared with sesamum oil, cow's or goats' milk, and the juice of *Asparagus racemosus*, with the addition of a number of substances in small quantities in the form of a paste.

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*Prameha mihira taila*. This is an oil is prepared with the juice of *Asparagus racemosus*, sesamum oil, decoction of lac, whey and milk, with the addition of a number of substances in the form of a paste. It is rubbed on the body and more particularly over the pubic region in chronic gonorrhoea, stricture of the urethra, and other diseases of the urinary organs.

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