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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s6: Nat. Order. Malvaceae

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s6

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Nat. Order. Malvaceae

Sida Cordifolia

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*Sans.* बला, *Balá*. बाट्यालक, *Bátyálaka*. *Vern.* *Berela*, Beng. *Khareti*, Hind.

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FOUR varietes of *balá* are mentioned by Sanskrit writers, namely, *Bátyálaka*, (*Sida cordifolia*). *Mahábalá*, (*Sida rhomboidea*)∗ *Atibalá*, (*Sida rhombifolia*). *Nágabalá*, (*Sida alba*). The roots of all these species, are regarded as cooling, astringent, tonic and useful in nervous diseases, urinary diseases and disorders of the blood and bile. In intermittent fever, a decoction of the root of *Sida cordifolia* and ginger is given.¹ It is said to be useful in fevers with cold shivering fits, followed by strong heat of body. The powder of the root-bark is given with milk aud sugar, for the relief of frequent micturition and leucorrhoea.²

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∗ This is only a variety of *Sida rhombifolia*, *L.*

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¹ महाबलामूल महौषधाभ्यां काथो निहन्त्यादिशमज्वरं हि । शीतं सकम्पं परिदाहयुक्तं विनाशयेत् द्विविदिनप्रयोगात् । भावप्रकाशः ।

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² प्रदरं हन्ति बलाया मूलं दुग्धेन मधुयुतं पीतम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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In diseases of the nervous system, such as insanity, paralysis, facial palsy, etc. the root of *Sida cordifolia* is used alone or in combination with other medicines, as in the following, called *Másha baládi kvátha*.³ Take of the pulse of *Phaseolus Roxburghii* (*másha*), root-bark of *Sida cordifolia* (*balá*), root of castor oil plant and of *Mucuna pruriens* (*átmaguptá*), *Hygrophila polysperma* (*katrina*), *Vanda Roxburghii* (*rásná*), and *Withania somnifera* (*asvagandhá*), equal parts, in all two tolas, and prepare a decoction in the usual way. It is administered with the addition of assafœtida and rock salt, in hemiplegia, stiff neck, facial paralysis, and noise in the ears with headache. An oil for external application in these diseases, called *Balátaila*⁴ is thus prepared. Take of the root of *Sida cordifolia*, four seers, water, thirty-two seers and boil down to eight seers. To this decoction, add eight seers of milk, four seers of prepared sesamum oil, and one seer of the root of *Sida cordifolia* in the form of paste, and prepare an oil in the usual way.

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³ माषबलादिः । माषबलाशुकशिम्बीकत्थरास्नाश्वगन्धोरुबकाणाम् । काथो नस्यनिपोतोरामलवणान्वितः कोष्णः । अपहरति पक्षवातं मन्यास्तम्भं सकर्णनादरुजम् । दुर्जयमर्हितवातं सप्ताहाज्जियतिचावश्यम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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⁴ बलातैलम् । बलानिःकायल्कल्काभ्यां तैलपकं पयोन्वितम् । सर्व्वातविकारघ्नमेवं धैरीयपाचितम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

Bombax Malabaricum

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Sans. शाल्मली, Sàlmali, मोचा, Mochá.

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Vern. Simul, Rakta Simul. Beng.

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“THIS is one of the largest of our Indian trees, often about one hundred feet high and the trunk thick and ramous in proportion. Flowering time the end of winter, when the tree is totally destitute of leaves. The great numbers of very large bright red flowers with which it is then covered make it remarkably conspicuous at a very great distance.” The thick stems are used for making large boats called kondas, from their being made by hollowing out the trunks. Some of these boats are large enough to carry a freight of a thousand maunds. The smaller floats are in very common use in Eastern Bengal, for crossing over rice fields during the rainy season. In fact during the rains these little floats, constitute the only mode of conveyance from village to village in low alluvial tracts. The thick beds and pillows of the natives are stuffed with the Cotton attached to the interior of the seed vessels of this plant, while the thin quilts and stuffed clothing for winter, are made with kárpása (cotton of Gossypium herbaceum).

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The gum of this tree, called mocharasa is used in medicine.* It is considered astringent, tonic and alterative, and is used in diarrhœa, dysentery and menorrhagia. Mocharasa with sugar in equal parts, is given in doses of twenty to forty grains, in the diarrhœa of children. In the dysentery of children, the following is used. Take of mocharasa, flowers of Woodfordia floribunda(dhátaki), root of *Mimosa pudica* (*lajjálu*), and the filaments of the lotus, equal parts, in all one tolá, powdered rice one tolá, water eleven tolás, and boil together to the consistence of a gruel (*yavágu*).¹ In the dysentery of adults a decoction of bela fruit in goat's milk, is given with the addition of powdered mocharasa and indrajava seeds.²

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∗ In the Pharmacopœia of India it is stated. “To this tree (Bombax Malabaricum), which is common in some parts of India, two drugs which hold a prominent place in the Native Materia Medica, have been usually but erroneously referred. 1. An astringent gummy exudation, Mucherus (Hind) . . . . . Its botanical source is unknown. 2, Dried roots well known as Safed Musli (Hind).” The Sanskrit term Mocharasa of which the Hindi Mucherus is a corruption, means the juice or exudation of the Mocha tree, and Mocha is one of the sanskrit names of Bombax Malabaricum. Hence there can be no error in attributing the origin of Mucherus to Bombax Malabaricum. Safed Musli is the Tàlamuli of Sanskrit Materia Medica, the Hypoxis orchioides of Botanists.

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¹ मोचरसः समङ्गाच धातकीपद्मकेशरम् । पिष्टैरेतैर्यवागूः स्याद्रक्तातीसार-नाशिनी । भावप्रकाशः ।

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² बिल्वं छागपयः सिद्धं सितामोचरसान्वितम् । कलिङ्गचूर्णसंयुक्तं रक्ता-तिसारनाशनम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

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HIBISCUS MOSCHATUS. Sans. लताकस्तुरिका *Latá-kasturiká*, Vern. *Latàkasturi* Beng. The scented seeds of this plant are much used in perfuming medicinal oils. They also enter into the composition of some compound prescriptions, being regarded as cooling, tonic and carminative.

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PAVONIA ODORATA. Sans. बाला *Bálá*, ह्रीबेर *Hrivera*. Vern. *Sugandha bálá*, Hind. The fragrant roots of this plant are considered aromatic, cooling and stomachic and are much used in combination with other medicines of the sort in fever, inflammation, hemorrhage from internal organs etc. *Bálá* enters into the composition of a well-known fever drink called *shaḍanga pániya*, (see *Andropogon muricatum*).

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