The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s26.t3.2

c5.s26.t3.2

“The Gloriosa Superba is a native of the forests of India. It appears during the rainy season in Bengal, and is one of the most ornamental plants any country can boast of.” Its bulb is one of the seven minor poisons of Sanskrit writers (see page 7). One of its Sanskrit synonyms is *Garbhaghátini* or the drug that causes abortion, but I am not aware of its being used as an abortive for criminal purposes. The root, powdered and reduced to a paste, is applied to the navel, supra-pubic region and vagina with the object of promoting labour pains.³ In retained placenta a paste of the root is applied to the palms and soles while powdered nigella seeds and long pepper are given internally with wine.¹ This root enters also into the composition of some complex prescriptions for internal use, as for example the Lángali guṭiká described in the Bhávaprakása.