Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s29.t1: Saccharum Officinarum, Linn. etc.

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s29.t1

Language
English

Saccharum Officinarum, Linn. etc.

c5.s29.t1.1

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

c5.s29.t1.2

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:—

c5.s29.t1.3

∗ 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.

c5.s29.t1.4

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.

c5.s29.t1.5

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.

c5.s29.t1.6

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

c5.s29.t1.7

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

c5.s29.t1.8

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.

c5.s29.t1.9

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.

c5.s29.t1.10

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।

Linked texts (4)