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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s29: Nat. Order Gramineæ

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s29

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Nat. Order Gramineæ

Saccharum Officinarum, Linn. etc.

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*Sans.* इक्षु, *Ikshu*. *Vern.* *A'k*, *Beng.* *Uk*, *Hind.*

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THE sugar-cane and its products sugar and treacle were known to the Hindus from a very early age. From the Sanskrit term *sarkara* are derived the Arabic *sakkar*, Latin, *saccharum* and English sugar.∗ Twelve varieties of sugar-cane are mentioned by Sanskrit writers, but these can not all be identified at present. The products or preparations of the sugar-cane, as described by Sanskrit writers, are as follows:—

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∗ In the Pharmacographia by Fluckiger and Hanbury it is stated; "Candy as sugar in large crystals is called, is derived from the Arabic *kand* or *kandat* a name of the same signification. An old Sanskrit name of Central Bengal is *Gura* whence is derived the word *Gula* meaning raw sugar, a term for sugar universally employed in the Malayan Archipelago, where on the other hand, they have their own names for the sugar-cane, although not for sugar. This fact again speaks, for Ritter's opinion that the preparation of sugar in a crystalline state is due to the inhabitants of Bengal." The Arabic *kand* is apparently derived from the Sanskrit *khanda*, that is treacle candied into white sand-like grains. Again the Bengali term *Gura* is derived from the Sanskrit *Guda* which is mentioned by such ancient writers as Charaka and Susruta. The manufacture of sugar therefore was evidently understood in Upper India before it was known in Bengal, at any rate there is nothing to shew that sugar was first prepared in Bengal.

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1. इक्षुरस, *Ikshu rasa* or sugar-cane juice.
2. फाणित, *Phánita* or sugar-cane juice boiled down to one-fourth. It can be drawn out in threads.
3. गुड, *Guḍa* or sugar-cane juice boiled to a thick consistence, that is treacle.
4. मत्स्यण्डिका, *Matsyaṇḍiká* is sugar-cane juice boiled down to a solid consistence but which still exudes a little fluid on drawing.
5. खण्ड, *Khaṇḍa* is treacle partially dried or candied in white sand-like grains.
6. शर्कर, *Sarkara* or white sugar.
7. सितोपला, *Sitopalá* or sugar candy.
8. गौड़ी, *Gauḍi* or fermented liquor obtained from treacle.
9. सीधु, *Sidhu* or fermented liquor obtained from sugar-cane juice.

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The properties of these preparations are described separately, but it is scarcely worth while to reproduce these details here. The root of the sugar cane is considered demulcent and diuretic. Sugar and treacle are very largely used in Hindu Medicine. Old treacle is preferred to new for medicinal purposes.

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*Trinapancha mula.*¹ Under this name the roots of five sorts of grasses are used in combination. They are as follows:—

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¹ तृणपञ्चमूलम् । कुशः काशः शरो दर्भ इक्षुश्चेति तृणोद्भवम् । मूत्रलच्छहरं पञ्चमूलं वस्ति विशोधनम् । भावप्रकाशः ।

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1. इक्षु, *Ikshu*. *Saccharum officinarum*, Linn.
2. शर, *Sara*. *Saccharum Sara*, Linn.
3. काश, *Kása*. *Saccharum spontaneum*, Linn.
4. कुश, *Kusa*. *Poa cynosuroides*, Linn.
5. दर्भ, *Darva*. *Imperata cylindrica*, Beauv. Some practitioners substitute the root of *Andropogon muricatus* for that of *Imperata cylindrica*. A decoction of these roots is considered demulcent and diuretic and is largely prescribed as an adjunct to metallic medicines in gonorrhoea, strangury and suppression of urine. The following confection is also much used in these diseases.

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Kusávaleha,¹ Take of the five roots above mentioned, eighty tolás each, water sixty-four seers, boil down to eight seers and strain. Then add sugar four seers, and reduce to the consistence of a thick syrup. Remove the syrup from the fire and add to it the following substances, namely, liquorice root, cucumber seeds, the seeds of *Cucumis melo* (*karkati*), bamboo-manna, emblic myrobalan, *tejapatra* leaves, cardamoms, cinnamon, bark of *Cratæva religiosa* (*varuna*), *gulancha*, seeds of *Aglaia Roxburghiana* (*priyangu*), and the flowers of *Mesua ferrea* (*nágakesara*), two tolás each in fine powder; stir them well with a ladle and prepare an electuary. Dose one to two tolás.

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¹ कुशावलेहः। कुशः काशो वीरणश्च कणेनुः खण्डस्तथा। एषां दश-पलान् भागान् जलद्रोणे विपाचयेत्। अष्टभागावशिष्टन्तु कषाय मवतारयेत्। खण्डप्रस्थं समादाय लेहवत् साधुसाधयेत्। अवतार्य ततः पश्चात् चूर्णो-मानि दापयेत्। मधुकं कर्क्टीवीजं कर्क्कतपुषं तथा। शुभामलक पत्राणि त्वगेला नागकेशरं। वरुणामृताप्रियङ्गश्च प्रत्येक मष्टसम्मितं। प्रमेहान् विंशतिं हन्ति मूत्राघातास्तथाश्वरीः। वातिकान् पैत्तिकां चैव श्लेष्मिकान् साधि-पातिकान्। हन्त्यरोचक मत्यञ्च वर्णपुष्टिकरं परम्। भैषज्यरत्नावली।

Oryza Sativa, Linn. etc.

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The following varieties of food grains belonging to this important natural order, are mentioned by Sanskrit writers:—

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धान्य, *Dhánya*. *Oryza sativa, Linn.* Vern. *Dhán*, Beng. Hind. गोधूम, *Godhuma*. *Triticum vulgare, Linn.* Gam, B. *Geṇhu*, H. यव, *Yava*. *Hordeum hexastichum, Linn.* *Jab*, Beng. *Jow*, Hind.

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These three are considered the best of grains. The following varieties pass by the name of कुधान्य, *Kudhánya* or inferior grains and क्षुद्रधान्य, *Kshudra dhánya* or minor grains.

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यावनाल, *Yávanála*. *Holchus Sorghum, Linn.* *Joár*, Hind. Beng. कङ्गु, *Kangu*. *Setaria Italica, Kunth.* Vern. *Kángni*, B. *Korá*, H. चीन, *China*. *Panicum miliaceum, Linn.* *Chiná ghás*, B. श्यामाक, *Syámáka*. *Panicum frumentaceum, Roxb.* *Shyámádhán*, B. कोद्रव, *Kodrava*. *Paspalum scrobiculatum, Linn.* *Kodoádhán*, Beng. नीवार, *Nivára*. Wild variety of *Oryza sativa, Linn.* *Uridhán*, B.

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गवेधुका, *Gavedhuká*. Some species of *Coix*, Gargaredhán, Beng. रागी, *Rági*. *Eleusine corocana*, Gaertner. Maruá, Beng. देवधान्य, *Devadhánya*, *Andropogon Saccharatus*, Linn. Deodhán, B.H. वेणुज, *Venuja*. Seeds of *Bambusa arundinacea*, Willd. चारुका, *Cháruka*. Seeds of *Saccharum Sara*, Roxb. Sarabij, B.

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ORYZA SATIVA. Rice is the principal and often the only food of the great mass of the Indian population. *Dháyna* the Sanskrit name of paddy, means the supporter or nourisher of mankind. It is regarded as the emblem of wealth or fortune. On a thursday in the month of Pausha (December, January) after the new paddy has been reaped, a rattan-made grain measure called *rek* in Bengali, is filled with new paddy, pieces of gold, silver and copper coins, and some shells called cauries, and worshipped as the representative of the goddess of fortune. This apparatus is preserved in a clean earthen pot and brought out for worship on one thursday in each of the following Hindu months, namely, Chaitra, Srávana, and Kártika. Such is the form of the domestic goddess of wealth of an agricultural people living chiefly on rice.¹

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¹ पौषे च दशमी शस्ता चैत्रे पञ्चमी तथा । नभस्ये पूर्णिमा चैवा गुरवारे विशेषतः । आढ़कं धान्य सम्पूर्णं मानाभरण भूषितम् । सुगन्धि शुक्ल पुष्पेण शुक्ल पक्षे प्रपूजयेत् । कालचन्द्रिका ।

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The three principal classes of rice are *Sáli* or that reaped in the cold season, *Vrihi* or that ripening in the rainy season, and *Shashṭika* or that grown in the hot weather in low lands. This last is reaped within sixty days of its sowing. The varieties of each of these three classes of rice are numerous and confounding. *Rakta sáli* popularly known as *Dáudkháni* is the variety of rice that is considered superior to all others and suited for use by sick persons. The preparations of rice used in sick diet and described in Sanskrit medical works are as follows :—

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यवागु, *Yavágu* or powdered rice boiled with water for the use of the sick and convalescent. It is made of three strengths, namely, with nine, eleven and nineteen parts of water, called respectively *Vilepi*, *Peyá* and *Manḍa*. Sometimes, instead of water, a decoction of medicinal herbs is used in preparing *yavágu*.

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पौषे च दशमी शस्ता चैत्रे पञ्चमी तथा । नभस्ये पूर्णिमा चैवा गुरवारे विशेषतः । आढ़कं धान्य सम्पूर्णं मानाभरण भूषितम् । सुगन्धि
शुक्ल पुष्पेण शुक्ल पक्षे प्रपूजयेत् । कालचन्द्रिका ।

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Thus for example if it is ordered to give the patient yavágu made with ginger and long pepper, the process adopted in preparing it is as follows. Take of dry ginger and long pepper, one tolá each, boil in four seers of water till reduced to two and strain. Now take nine, eleven or nineteen parts of this strained decoction and one part of powdered rice for making yavágu of the strength ordered.

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लाजा, Lájá, (Vern. Khai), is paddy fried in a sand bath. The husks open out and the rice swells into a light spongy body. It is considered a light article of diet suited to invalids and dyspeptics.

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भृष्टतण्डुल, Bhrishṭa tandula, (Vern. Muri) is rice fried in a sand bath. This is also a light preparation of rice and is given to sick persons as a substitute for boiled rice. It is also much used by the poorer classes for tiffin and early breakfast.

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पृथुका, Prithuká, (Vern. Churá). To prepare this, paddy is moistened and lightly fried. It is then flattened and husked. This preparation of rice is given with curdled milk (dadhi) in dysentry. It is well washed and softened in water or boiled before use.

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पायस, Páyasa is a preparation of rice with nine parts of milk.

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तण्डुलाम्बु, Taṇḍulámbu is water in which unboiled rice has been steeped. This sort of rice-water is sometimes prescribed as a vehicle for some powders and confections.

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The products of the acetous fermentation of rice and other grains have been already described in the introduction.

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TRITICUM VULGARE, Linn. Three varieties of wheat are mentioned in the Bhávaprakása, namely Mahágodhuma or large grained, Madhuli or small grained¹ and Nihsuki or beardless, that is without awn. The first variety is said to come from the west and the second to be indigenous to the middle region comprising the modern provinces of Allahabad, Agra, Delhi, Oudh, etc. Wheat is considered the most nutritive of the food-grains, but less easily digested than rice.

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¹ मधूलकः स्वल्प गोधूमः इति सटीक द्रव्यगुणः १।७।

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HORDEUM HEXASTICHUM, Linn. Barley though less esteemed than wheat is more employed in the dietary of the sick. It is chiefly used in the form of saktu or powder of the parched grains. Gruel prepared with *saktu* is said to be easily digested and to be useful in painful dyspepsia.

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ZEA MAYS, Linn. called *makkái* in the vernacular has no Sanskrit name. It is indigenous to America but is now largely cultivated in Behar and Upper India.

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The minor food grains are not of any importance in a medicinal point of view. They are used as food by the poorer classes or for cattle.

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Old rice is preferred to new as being lighter and more easily digested, but new wheat and barley are considered superior to old. These are said to loose in flavour and taste by long keeping.

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Poultices made of rice, barley or wheat flour, with the addition of oil or clarified butter, are applied to abscesses for hastening suppuration.¹

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¹ तैलेन सर्पिषावापिताभ्यां वा सक्तु पिण्डका । सुखोष्णाः शोथपाकार्य्य-सुपनाहः प्रशस्यते । चक्रः ।

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ANDROPOGON MURICATUS, Retz. *Sans.* उशीर, *Usira*, वीरण, *Virana*, *Vern.* *Bená*, *Beng.* *Khas*, *Hind.*

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The root of this plant is well known as the *khas khas* root of which *tátis* or door screens are made for watering during the hot weather. It is described as cooling, refrigerent, stomachic and useful in pyrexia, thirst, inflammation, irritability of stomach, etc. It enters into the composition of several cooling medicines, as for example the preparation called *Shaḍanga pániya*, (see *Cyperus rotundus*). A weak infusion of the root is sometimes used as a febrifuge drink.

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Externally it is used in a variety of ways. A paste of the root is rubbed on the skin to relieve oppressive heat or burning of the body. This use of the drug appears to have been popular with the ancients. Kálidássa in his drama called Sakuntalá alludes to it as will appear from the passage quoted below.²

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² स्तनन्यस्तोषीरं प्रशिथिलमृणालैकवलयं । प्रियायाः सावाधं तदपि-कमनीयं वपुरिदम् । शकुन्तला ।

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An aromatic cooling bath is prepared by adding to a tub of water the following substances in fine powder, namely, root of Andropogon muricatus, Pavonia odorata (bálá), red sandal wood, and a fragrant wood called padma kástha.1 The same medicines are reduced to a thin emulsion with water and applied to the skin.2

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ANDROPOGON SCHŒNANTHUS, Linn. Sans. भूस्तृण Bhustrina, Vern. Gandha bená, Beng.

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ANDROPOGON IWARANCUSA, Roxb. Sans. लामज्जक, Lámajjaka. Vern. Lámjak, Hind. Karankusá, Beng.

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These two fragant grasses are occasionally used as aromatics and refrigerants like the roots of Andropogon muricatus. A. schœnanthus is common in Bengal, being cultivated in gardens for the sake of its fragrant leaves. A. Iwaruncusa is “a native of the skirts of the Northern mountains of India.” Its virtues seem to reside in the larger roots marked with annular cicatrices.

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BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA, Willd. Sans. वंश, Vansa. Vern. Báns, Beng. Hind.

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The siliceous concretion found in the joints of the female bamboo is called वंश रोचन, Bansa rochana in Sanskrit, and is described as sweet, cooling, tonic, aphrodisiac and useful in cough, consumption, asthma, fever, etc. It enters into the composition of numerous compound prescriptions for affections of the lungs. The following is an illustration.

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Sitopaládi churna.3 Take of bamboo-manna eight parts, long

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1 ह्रीवेरपद्म कोशीर चन्दनोदवारिणा। संपर्णामवगाहेत द्रोणीदाहा- र्दितोनरः। चक्रदत्तः।

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2 प्रदेहाः परिषेकाश्च शस्यन्ते पञ्चवल्कलैः। पद्मकोशीर मधुक चन्दनैर्वा प्रशस्यते। चक्रदत्तः।

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3 सितोपलादिचूर्णम्। सितोपलाषोडशस्याष्टौ स्याद्वंशलोचना। पिप्पली- स्याच्चतुःकर्षाच्चतुर्लास्याष्टिकाषिकी। एककर्षस्त्वचःकार्यंस्यायेत्सर्वमेकतः। सितोपलादिकं चूर्ण मधुसर्पियुतं लिहेत्। श्वासकासक्षयहरं हस्तपादाङ्ग दाहजित्। मन्दाग्निं सम्प्रजिह्वाञ्च पार्श्वशूलमरोचकम्। ज्वरमूर्च्छमतं रक्तपित्तमाशुव्यपोहति। शार्ङ्गधरः। pepper four parts, cardamoms, two parts, cinnamon one part, sugar sixteen parts; powder the ingredients and mix. Dose, about a drachm with honey and clarified butter. This preparation is given in phthisis with pain in the sides, hæmoptysis, loss of appetite and burning of the hands and feet.

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CYNODON DACTYLON, *Pers.* *Sans.* दूर्वा, *Durvá.* *Vern.* *Durbá, Beng.* *Dub, Hind.* This elegant and most valuable grass, like many other useful vegetables, has a niche in the temple of the Hindu religion. Medicinally the fresh juice of the leaves is considered astringent, and is used as a snuff in epistaxis.¹ The bruised grass is a popular application to bleeding wounds.

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¹ नस्यं दाडिमपुष्पोत्थो रसो दूर्वाभवोऽथवा । आध्मास्थिजः पखाण्डोर्वा नासिकाक्षुतरक्तजित् । भावप्रकाशः ।

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