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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s7: Nat. Order Sterculiaceæ

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s7

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Nat. Order Sterculiaceæ

c5.s7.1

PTEROSPERMUM SUBERIFOLIUM. Sans. मुचुकुन्द, *Muchukunda*. The flower of this tree, rubbed into a paste with *kánjika* is an ancient and well known application for hemicrania. It is mentioned by many writers and is used even at the present day, as a domestic remedy.³

c5.s7.2

³ शिरोर्त्तिवातजां हन्यात्पुष्पं वा मुचुकुन्दजम् । शार्ङ्गधरः ।

c5.s7.3

NAT. ORDER GERANIACEÆ.

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OXALIS CORNICULATA.

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*Sans.* अम्ललोणिका, *Amlaloniká*, चाङ्गेरी, *Chángerí*.

c5.s7.6

*Vern.* *A'mrulsák*, *Beng.*

c5.s7.7

THE leaves of *Oxalis corniculata* are used as a pot-herb. They are considered cooling, refrigerant, appetizing and stomachic. The fresh juice of the leaves is given to relieve intoxication from datura, and is said to be useful in dysentery and prolapsus of the rectum, for which it is recommended by most writers. Chakradatta gives the following formula for preparing a *ghrita* with this medicine.

c5.s7.8

*Chángeri ghrita.*¹ Take of clarified butter, four seers, the fresh juice of *Oxalis corniculata*, four seers, curdled milk called *dadhi*, sixteen seers and the leaves of *Oxalis corniculata* reduced to a paste, one seer. Boil them together in the usual way and prepare a *ghrita*. This preparation is said to be useful in diarrhœa, dysentery, prolapsus of the rectum, tympanites, piles and difficult micturition. The Bhávaprakása gives the following process for preparing a compound *ghrita*.² Take of the fresh juice of *Oxalis corniculata*, decoction of jujube fruits and ginger, alkaline water (see Alkalies), and curdled milk, each four seers, clarified butter four seers, and prepare a *ghrita* in the usual way. It is recommended for use in prolapse of the rectum.

c5.s7.9

¹ चाङ्गेरीघृतम् । चाङ्गेरी स्वरसे सर्पिः कल्कैरेतैर्विपाचितम्। चतुर्गुणे च दध्ना च तद्घृतं कफवातनुत् । अर्शांसि ग्रहणीदोषं मलबद्धं प्रवाहिकाम् । गुदभ्रंशार्त्तिमानाहं घृतमेतद्व्यपोहति । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s7.10

² चाङ्गेरी कोल दध्यम्ल क्षार नागर संयुतम् । घृतं विपक्कं पातव्यं गुदभ्रंशगदापहम् । भावप्रकाशः ।

c5.s7.11

AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA. *Sans.* कर्मरङ्ग, *Karmaranga*. *Vern.* *Kámrángá*, *Beng.* and *Hind.* The five-angled fruits of this plant contain an acid watery pulp, and are eaten raw as well as in curries. They enter into the composition of some cooling medicines for fever and other diseases.

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NAT. ORDER ZYGOPHYLLACEÆ.

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TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS.

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*Sans.* गोक्षुरी, *Gokshuri*. इक्षुगन्धा, *Ikshugandhá*.

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*Vern.* *Gokhuru*, *Beng.* *Hind.*

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THIS plant is also called *Sthala sringátaka* and *Trikantaka*, from the resemblance of its fruits to those of *Trapa bispinosa* and from their being armed with three spines. The entire plant but more particularly the fruits are used in medicine. They are regarded as cooling, diuretic, tonic and aphrodisiac and are used in painful micturition, calculous affections, urinary disorders and impotence. The fruits constitute an ingredient of *Dasamula* (see *Desmodium gangeticum*).

c5.s7.17

A decoction of the fruits is given with the addition of *yavakshára* (impure carbonate of potash), in painful micturition.¹ A decoction of the entire plant is given with *silájatu* (a bituminous substance) and honey, in the same affection. Equal parts of *gokhuru* and sesamum seeds, taken with goat's milk and honey, is said to cure impotence arising from bad practices.²

c5.s7.18

¹ काथं गोक्षुरबीजस्य यवक्षारयुतं पिबेत् । मूत्रकृच्छ्रं सकृच्छ्रञ्च पीतं शीघ्रं निवारयेत् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s7.19

² समतिलगोक्षुरचूर्णं छागीक्षीरसाधितं समधु । भुक्तं क्षपयति षाण्ड्यं यज्जनितं कुप्रयोगेण । भावप्रकाशः ।

c5.s7.20

*Gokshurádya valeha*³ or electuary of *gokshuri* is prepared as follows. Take of the entire plant of *Tribulus terrestris*, twelve seers and a half, water, sixty-four seers and boil till reduced to one-fourth. To the strained decoction, add six seers and a quarter of sugar and again boil till reduced to the proper consistence for an electuary; then add the following substances in fine powder, namely, ginger, long pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamoms, flowers of *Mesua ferrea* (*nágakesara*), leaves called *tejapatra*, nutmeg, bark of *Terminalia Arjuna*, and cucumber seeds, each sixteen tolás, bamboo-manna half a seer, and prepare an electuary. It is given in doses of two tolás, in painful micturition, suppression of urine, bloody urine, calculous affections etc.

c5.s7.21

³ गोक्षुरकाद्यवलेहः । गोकण्टकं सदलमूलफलं गृहीत्वा, संकुट्टितं पलशतं कथितं तु तोये । पादस्थितेन सलिलेन पलानि दत्वा पञ्चाशतन्तु विपचेदथ शर्करायाः । तस्मिन् घनत्वमुपगच्छति चूर्णितानि दद्यात् पलद्वयमितानि सुभाजनानि । शुण्ठीकणामरिचनागदलत्वगेलाजातीयकोषककुभत्वपुष्पफलानि । वांशीपलाष्टकमिव प्रणिधायनित्यम् लेहं तु शुद्धममृतं पलसम्मितन्तु । हन्याशु मूत्रपरदाह विबन्ध शुक्रकृच्छ्राश्मरी रुधिरमेहधुप्रमेहान् । भावप्रकाशः ।

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NAT. ORDER RUTACEÆ.

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CITRUS.

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The different species of *Citrus* described by Sanskrit writers are as follows.

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जम्बीर, *Jambira*. *Vern. Goránebu, Beng. Citrus acida. Roxb. Var. 3* लिम्पাক, *Limpáka*. *Vern. Pátinebu, Beng. do. do. 1* निम्बक, *Nimbuka*. *Vern. Kágujinebu, Beng. do. do. 2* बीजपूर, *Vijapura*. *Vern. Tabánebu, Beng. do. do. 7* मधुकर्कटिका, *Madhukarkaṭiká, Vern. Miṭhánebu, Beng. do. do. 9* मातुलुङ्ग, *Matulunga. Vern. Chholonga nebu, Beng. Citrus medica.* करुणा, *Karuná, Sans. and Beng. Citrus medica, variety of.* नागरङ्ग, *Nágaranga. Vern. Kamlánebu, Beng. C. Aurantium.*

c5.s7.26

The variety of *Citrus acida*,* called *Jambira*, yields the lemon juice used in medicine. *Limpáka* or *páti nebu* is much used as a sauce by the natives. The fruits are cut vertically into two pieces, and the fresh juice, squeezed out with the fingers, is sprinkled on soup, *dál*, curry etc. to which it imparts a pleasant acid taste and agreeable flavour. A pickle of *páti nebu*, in its own juice, and salt is a popular and effectual medicine for indigestion brought on by excess in eating, or by undigestible articles of diet. The fruits are first rubbed over a stone, or their rind scraped a little so as to thin it. They are then steeped in juice obtained from other fruits of the sort, and exposed to the sun for a few days with the addition of common salt. When crisp and of a brown colour, they are preserved in porcelain vessels or glass jars. This preparation is called *Járak nebu* (that is digestive lemon) in the vernacular.

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∗ *Citrus acida* is itself a variety of the *Citrus medica* of Linnæus to which species *C. Limonum*, *C. Limetta* and *C. Lumia* are also reduced.

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The variety of *Citrus acida* called *káguji nebu* has larger fruits than that of *páti nebu*, and is also used as sauce like the latter, but its flavour and the fragrance of the essential oil in its rind is not so delicious.

c5.s7.29

*Citrus Aurantium*, or the sweet orange, comes from the valleys of the Khasia Hills and of the eastern Himalaya. It is called *kamlá nebu* in Bengali. The variety grown in the plains has an acid taste and is called *nárengá* in the vernacular.

c5.s7.30

The Sanskrit term *karuná nimbu* is variously translated by different authorities. Wilson in his Sanskrit dictionary calls it *Citrus decumana*. In the *Hortus Bengalensis* it is translated into *Citrus medica*, while Drury and other Madras authorities make the variety *Citrus Limonum*. The *Sabdakalpadruma* does not give any synonym or vernacular term for it, so that it is difficult to say, what form it really meant. In the vernacular the term *karuná* is applied to a variety of *Citrus medica*.

c5.s7.31

*Citrus decumana* has I believe no Sanskrit name. In the vernacular it is called *Bátávi nebu*, from its having been originally brought from Batavia. It is now much cultivated in gardens and is one of the common edible fruits of the country. Some varieties of the fruit have a pleasant taste and aroma, with little or no acidity.

c5.s7.32

*Madhukarkatiká*. This variety of *Citrus medica* is probably the one described by Roxburgh as *Mithá nebu*, that is sweet lemon. The variety of *Citrus* which has very large oblong fruits, almost equal in size to the shaddock, and the thick spongy rind of which constitutes the largest portion of the fruit, was shewn to me by a gardener in Malda, under the name of madhukarkati. The pulp of this variety is very limited in quantity, of a bland sweetish taste and without any aroma or acidity.

c5.s7.33

Lemon juice is considered cooling, refrigerant stomachic and useful in indigestion, dyspepsia, vomiting of meals, thirst, burning of the body, intoxication from spirituous drinks or narcotics, etc. Fresh lemon juice is recommended to be taken in the evening, for the relief of dyspepsia with vomiting of meals.¹ It enters into the composition of several carminative medicines for dyspepsia, such as the Hingváshṭaka (see Assafœtida), Kravyádi churna etc.

c5.s7.34

¹ जम्बीरस्वरसः पोतः सायं हन्त्यन्नपित्तकम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s7.35

In rheumatic affections such as pleurodynia, sciatica, lumbago, pain in the hip joints etc., Sárangadhara recommends the administration of lemon juice with the addition of yavakshára (impure carbonate of potash) and honey.²

c5.s7.36

² भोजपूररसः पानान्मधुारयुतो जयेत् । पार्श्वहृद्वस्तिशूलानि कोष्ठवायुञ्च दारुणम् । शार्ङ्गधरः ।

c5.s7.37

Rasáyanámrita lauha.³ Take of long pepper, black pepper, ginger, the three myrobalans, báberung seeds, cumin and nigella seeds, ajowan and the seeds of Cnidium diffusum (vanajamáni), chiretta, trivrit, root of Baliospermum montanum (danti), nim bark, and rock salt, each two tolás, prepared iron sixteen tolás, sugar two seers, decoction of the three myrobalans four seers, and lemon juice two seers. Boil all these ingredients together till the watery portion is evaporated, lastly add clarified butter, half a seer and prepare a confection. Dose one to two tolás, in enlargements of the abdominal viscera, anæmia, jaundice, anasarca and chronic fever.

c5.s7.38

³ रसायनमृतलौहः । त्रिकटु त्रिफला मुस्तं विडङ्गं जोरकद्वयम् । यमानी-द्वयं भूनिम्बं त्रिवृद्दन्तीच निम्बकम् । सर्वेषां कार्षिकं भागं सैन्धवं कर्षमर्द्धकम् । खण्डस्य षोडशपलं प्रस्थञ्च त्रिफलाजलम् । जम्बीराणां रसं दद्यात् पलषोडशकं तथा । पाच्यं सव्वं प्रयत्नेन लौहं दत्वा पलद्वयम् । सिद्धपाके पुनर्दद्यात् घृतं पलचतुष्टयम् । सर्वरोगेषु संयोज्यं महामृतरसायनम् । गुल्मं पञ्चविधं हन्ति यकृत्प्लीहोदराणि च । कामलां पाण्डुरोगञ्च शोथं जीर्णज्वरन्तथा । रोगान् सर्वान् निहन्याशु भास्करस्तिमिरं यथा । भैषज्यरत्नावली ।

c5.s7.39

In fever complicated with pain in the head, throat and chest, the following mixture is directed to be used as a snuff for promoting discharge of phlegm. Take of lemon juice, ginger juice, rock salt, black salt, and sonchal salt, equal parts, and mix. The mixture should be warmed a little before use.

c5.s7.40

The root of the variety of *Citrus acida*, called limpáka constitutes one of the principal ingredients in the composition of a medicine called *Yakridari lauha*, described under Iron.

Ægle Marmelos

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*Sans.* बिल्व, vilva. *Vern.* Bela, Beng. Hind.

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The *Ægle Marmelos* is held in great veneration by the Hindus. It is sacred to Siva whose worship cannot be accomplished without its leaves. Hence this tree is always met with near temples dedicated to Siva. It is incumbent on all Hindus to cultivate and cherish this tree, and it is sacrilegious to up-root or cut it down. The Hindu who expires under a bela tree, expects to obtain immediate salvation, notwithstanding that he may have committed innumerable sins.

c5.s7.t1.3

The *Ægle Marmelos* is used in medicine in a variety of ways. The unripe or half ripe fruit is regarded as astringent, digestive and stomachic and as useful in restraining discharges from the alimentary canal. The ripe fruit is described as sweet, aromatic, cooling and laxative. It is not easily digested and has a tendency to cause flatulence. The dried pulp of the fruit, called *Vilva peshiká* in Sanskrit, is regarded as astringent and a specific for dysentery. The root-bark is considered useful in diseases supposed to be caused by deranged air. It constitutes an ingredient of *dasamul* or the ten roots, (see *Desmodium gangeticum*.) The fresh juice of the leaves is given with honey as a domestic laxative and febrifuge.

c5.s7.t1.4

The dried pulp of the fruit is given with treacle, in recent dysentery with griping, pain in the loins and costiveness.¹ A compound powder² is prepared with equal parts of dried bela, tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*), flowers of *Woodfordia floribunda* (*dhátaki*), root of *Stephania hernandifolia* (*páthá*) ginger and mocharasa. It is given in doses of twenty-two to forty-four grains with buttermilk and treacle. In the dysentery of children, a decoction and an electuary of the following drugs is used, namely dried bela, fruits of *Pothos officinalis* (*gajapippuli*), root of *Pavonia odorata* (*bálá*), flowers of *Woodfordia floribunda* (*dhátaki*), and bark of *Symplocos racemosa* (*lodhra*), in equal parts.³

c5.s7.t1.5

¹ गुडेन खादयेद्विल्वं रक्तातिसारनाशनम् । आमशूलविबन्धघ्नं कुक्षिरोगविनाशनम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s7.t1.6

² बिल्वाब्द धातकी पाठा शुण्ठी मोचरसाः समाः । पीता रुबन्ध्यतीसारं गुडतक्रेण दुर्जयेम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s7.t1.7

³ बिल्वञ्च पुष्पाणिच धातकीनां जलं सलोध्रं गजपिप्पलीच । काथाव-लेहौ मधुनाविमिश्रौ बालेषु योज्यावतिसारितेषु । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s7.t1.8

A decoction of the root of *Ægle Marmelos*,⁴ is given with sugar and fried rice, for checking diarrhœa and gastric irritability in infants.

c5.s7.t1.9

⁴ बिल्वमूलकषायेण लाजाश्चैवशर्कराः । आलोढ्य पाययेद्वालं छर्द्यतिसारनाशनम् । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s7.t1.10

The fresh juice of the leaves is given, with the addition of black pepper, in anasarca with costiveness and jaundice.⁵ In external inflammations, the juice of the leaves is given internally, to remove the supposed derangement of the humours.

c5.s7.t1.11

⁵ बिल्वपत्ररसं पूतं शोथं श्वयथुनिजे । विट् सङ्गेचैवदूर्नाम्नि विदध्यात्कामलाखपि । चक्रदत्तः ।

c5.s7.t1.12

Vilva taila is thus prepared.⁶ Take of dried bela fruits, twelve seers and a half and boil in sixty-four seers of water, till reduced to one-fourth. To the strained decoction, add four seers of prepared sesamum oil and six tolás each of the following substances, in the form of paste, namely, *Vanda Roxburghii* (*rásná*). *Boerhaavia diffusa* (*punarnavá*), *Aplotaxis auriculata* (*kushṭa*), ginger, dried bela, flowers of *Woodfordia floribunda* (*dhátaki*), wood of *Pinus deodara* (*devadáru*), bark of *Symplocos racemosa* (*lodhra*), tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*), *Acorus Calamus* (*vachá*), and gum of *Bombax Malabaricum* (*sálmaliveshṭa*), and prepare an oil in the usual way. This oil is used externally in chronic bowel complaints.

c5.s7.t1.13

⁶ बिल्वतैलम् । शतं संपञ्चबिल्वस्य जलद्रोणे विपाचयेत् । तेनपादावशेषेण तैलप्रस्थं विपाचयेत् । रास्त्रा पुनर्नवाकुष्ठं नागरं बिल्वमेव च । धातकीदेव-

Feronia Elephantum

c5.s7.t2.1

*Sans.* कपित्थ Kapittha. *Vern.* Käthbel, *Beng.* Kaith, *Hind.*

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THE wood apple tree is met with throughout India and is cultivated for the sake of the fruits, the pulp of which is edible. A *chátni*, made of the ripe pulp with the addition of oil, salt, tamarind and spices, is esteemed by many. The unripe fruit is described as astringent and is used in combination with *bela* and other medicines in diarrhœa and dysentery. The ripe fruit is said to be useful in hiccup and affections of the throat. The leaves are aromatic and carminative.

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*Kapittháshṭaka churna*.¹ Take of the pulp of unripe wood apples eight parts, sugar six parts, pomegranate juice, tamarind

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¹ Kapittháshṭaka churna.

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दारुत्वचोभ्रं सुस्तं वचा तथा । शाल्मलीवेष्टकञ्चैव पृथक्कर्षत्रयं पचेत् । अस्य तैलस्य सिद्धस्य शृणु वीर्यमतः परम् । दुष्टामयग्रहणीरोग मतीसारं सवेदनम् । कामला पाण्डु रोगघ्नं क्रमिदोषविनाशनम् । वह्निसन्दीपनं बल्यं मेदमांस विवर्द्धनम् । अपचीं गण्डमालाञ्च ज्वरं जीर्णं व्यपोहति । काशिभ्यां निर्मितं पूर्वं विल्वतैलमिदं महत् ।। तैलवलीसंग्रहोक्तं ।

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1 कपित्याष्टकचूर्णम् । अष्टौ भागाः कपित्थस्य षड्भागाः शर्करामताः । दाड़िमं तिन्तिड़ीकञ्च श्रीफलं धातकीतया । अजमोदाच पिप्पल्यः प्रत्येकं खुस्त्रिभागिकाः । मरिचं जीरकं धान्यं धन्यकं बालकन्तथा । सौवर्चलं pulp, bela fruit, flowers of *Woodfordia floribunda* (*dhátaki*), *ájmad*, and long pepper, each three parts, black pepper, cumin seeds, coriander, long pepper root, root of *Pavonia odorata* (*bálá*), sonchal salt, *ájowan*, cardamoms, cinnamon, tejapatra, flowers of *Mesua ferrea* (*nágakesara*), ginger and plumbago root, each one part, powder the ingredients finely and mix. Dose, about one drachm. This preparation is used in chronic diarrhœa and dysentery with loss of appetite and in affections of the throat.

c5.s7.t2.7

XANTHOXYLUM HOSTILE. Sans. तुम्बुरु, Tumburu. Vern. Nepáli dhaniá, Tumri, Hind. The aromatic and pungent fruits of this plant, resemble coriander in appearance and are used as aromatic adjuncts, in compound prescriptions and in perfuming medicinal oils.

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