The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s8: Nat. Order Burseraceæ

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s8

Language: English

c5.s8.t1 Balsamodendron Mukul — 21 parts

Nat. Order Burseraceæ

Balsamodendron Mukul

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*Syn.* Balsamodendron Agallocha. Sans. गुग्गुलु, Guggulu. Vern. Guggul. Beng. Hind.

Guggulu or Indian bdellium is obtained by making incisions in the tree, through which the gum resin exudes. According to Sanskrit writers, new or recently exuded *guggulu* is moist, viscid, fragrant and of a golden colour. It burns in the fire, melts in the sun and forms a milky emulsion with hot water. Old *guggulu* is dry and without flavour or colour; it should not be used in medicine.

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Guggulu is said to be demulcent, aperient, alterative and a purifier of the blood. It is used in rheumatism, nervous diseases, scrofulous affections, urinary disorders, and skin diseases. In rheumatism it is used in a great variety of forms. The following called *Yogarája guggulu* is a favourite preparation.

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यमानोञ्च चातुर्जातं सचित्रकम् । नागरञ्चैकभागाः स्युः प्रत्येकं सूक्ष्मचूर्णिताः ।
कपित्याष्टक संज्ञं स्यात् चूर्णमेतद्रसामयान् । अतीसारं जयञ्चैव ग्रहणीञ्च व्यपो-
हति ।
धन्वन्तरिः ।

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*Yogarája guggulu.*¹ Take of plumbago root, long pepper root ájowan, seeds of *Nigella sativa* (*kálájirá*), báberang seeds, seeds of *Carum Roxburghianum* (*ajamodá*), cumin seeds, *Pinus Deodara* (*devadáru*), *Chavica officinarum* (*chavya*), cardamoms, rock salt, root of *Aplotaxis auriculata* (*kushtha*), root of *Vanda Roxburghii* (*rásná*), fruits of *Tribulus terrestris* (*gokshura*), coriander, the three myrobalans, tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*), long pepper, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, root of *Andropogon muricatus* (*usira*), *yavakshára* (impure carbonate of potash), leaves of *Pinus Webbiana* (*tálisapatra*) and the leaves called *tejapatra*, one part each, in fine powder, bdellium in quantity, equal to all the above ingredients. Rub them together with clarified butter and preserve the preparation in an earthen pot smeared with clarified butter. Dose from a half to one tolá. It is given in rheumatic affections and other diseases supposed to be caused by deranged air, in unhealthy ulcerations, affections of the joints etc. Another preparation called *Trayodasánga guggulu* is similar in composition to the above. It is made with thirteen aromatic adjuncts, hence its name, and is recommended for use in rheumatism affecting the loins and the sacrum. In rheumatism affecting the joints and bones the following preparation called *A'dityapáka guggulu*² is used. Take of the three myrobalans and long pepper each eight tolás, cinnamon and cardamoms four tolás each; powder the ingredients finely and soak for seven days in a decoction of the ten drugs, called dasamula (see *Desmodium gangeticum*). Then add forty tolás of *guggulu* and beat together into a uniform mass. Dose, half to one tolá.

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¹ योगराजगुग्गुलुः । चित्रकं पिप्पलीमूलं यमानी कारवी तथा । विडङ्गान्यजमोदाश्च जीरकं सुरदारु च ।। चव्यंलासैन्धवं कुष्ठं रास्नागोक्षुरधान्यकम् । त्रिफलासुस्तकं व्योषं त्वगुशीरं यवाग्रजम् । तालीपत्रं पत्रञ्च सूक्ष्मचूर्णानि कारयेत् । यावन्त्येतानि चूर्णानि तावन्तावन्तु गुग्गुलुम् । संमर्द्य सर्पिषा गाढं स्निग्धे भाण्डे निधापयेत् । ततोमात्रां प्रयुञ्जीत यथेष्टा-हारवानपि । योगराज इति ख्यातोयोगोऽयममृतोपमः । आमवाताद्यवातादीन् कमिदुष्टव्रणानपि । प्लीहागुल्मोदरानाहहृद्रोगान् विनाशयेत् । अग्निञ्च कुरुते दीप्तं तेजोवृद्धिं बलन्तथा वातरोगान् जयेत्येष सन्धिमज्जगतानपि । चक्रदत्तः ।

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² आदित्यपाक गुग्गुलु वटकः । पृथक् पलान्शा त्रिफला पिप्पलीचेति-चूर्णितम् । दशमूलाम्बुना भाव्यं त्वगेलाङ्गपलान्वितम् । दत्त्वा पलानि पञ्चैव

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*Vatári rasa*¹ This preparation is used in paralysis and nervous diseases. To prepare, it take of mercury one part, sulphur two parts, the three myrobalans, three parts in all, plumbago root four parts and pure *guggulu* five parts. Rub them together with castor oil for twelve hours, then add to the mass the compound powder, called *Hingvastaka* (see *Assafœtida*), in weight equal to all the above ingredients, and again rub together for twelve hours. Dose, about half a drachm.

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¹ वातारिरसः। रसो गन्धो वरा वह्नि गुग्गुलुः क्रमवर्द्धितः। त्रिभागा त्रिफला योज्या चतुर्भागस्तचित्रकः। गुग्गुलुः पञ्च भागः स्याद्वृततैलेन महितः। क्षिप्त्वा तत्रोदितं चूर्णं तेन तैलेन मर्दयेत्। गुटिकां कर्षमात्रान्तु भक्षयेत् प्रातरेवहि। वातारिसंज्ञकोह्येष रसो नियतसेवितः। माषेन मरुतो रोगान् हरेत् सुरतवर्ज्जनः। भावप्रकाशः।

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*Kaisara guggulu*² Take of pure bdellium, gulancha and the three myrobalans, each two seers, water ninety-six seers. First boil the *gulancha* and the myrobalans in the water till the latter is reduced to one-half, and strain the decoction; to the strained fluid add the bdellium and boil in an iron vessel till the whole is reduced to the consistence of treacle. Now add to it the following

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² कैशोर गुग्गुलुः। त्रिफलायास्त्वयः प्रस्थाः प्रस्थैकाचामृता भवेत्। सङ्गुह्य- लोहपात्रेण सार्द्धद्रोणाम्बुना पचेत्। जलमर्द्धष्टतं ज्ञात्वागृहीयाद्वस्त्रगा- लितम्। ततः काथे क्षिपेच्छुद्धं गुग्गुलं प्रस्थसम्मितम्। पुनर्दैयमयःपात्रे दर्व्यासंघर्षयेन्मुहुः। सान्द्रीभूतं ततोज्ञात्वागुडपाकसमाकृतिम्। चूर्णैल्क्यतत- स्ततद्रव्याणीमानिप्रक्षिपेत। त्रिफलादिपला ज्ञेया गुडूचोपलिका मता। षडङ्गं

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गुग्गुलुर्वटकौकृतः। एष मांसरसाभ्यासाद्वातरोगान् विशेषतः। हन्ति सम्प्रा-
स्थिमज्जस्थान् वृध्दिमन्द्राग्निनिर्यथा। भाव्यद्रव्यसमंकार्य्यं काथोऽष्टांशस्ततेन च।
आर्द्रं यावद्दिनं भाव्यं सप्ताहं भावनाविधिः। चक्रदत्तः।

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substances in fine powder, namely, the three myrobalans, each sixteen tolás, gulancha eight tolás, ginger, long pepper and black pepper, each six tolás, báberang seeds four tolás, root of Baliospermum montanum (danti) and Ipomœa Turpethum (tivrit), each two tolás, and beat them together into a uniform mass. Dose from a quarter to one tolá, to be taken with a decoction of madder, tepid milk or water. This medicine is said to be useful in various skin diseases from deranged or vitiated blood. It is said to act as an alterative tonic and to improve the nutrition of the body.

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Saḍanga guggulu.¹ In affections of the eyes with pain, swelling and inflammation, (rheumatic ophthalmia?) bdellium is recommended to be given with a decoction of the three myrobalans, root of Momordica dioica (patala), nim bark, and the leaves of Adhatoda vasica (vásaka). A similar preparation is recommended for secondary syphilitic ulcerations. In unhealthy ulcerations, the following, called Amrita guggulu² is recommended. Take of gulancha, root of Momordica dioica (patala), the three myrobalans, long pepper, black pepper, ginger, and baberung seeds in equal parts, guggulu, in quantity equal to all the above ingredients and beat them together into a mass. Dose about a drachm every morning.

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¹ षडङ्गगग्गुलुः । विभीतक शिवा धात्री पटोलारिष्ट वासकैः । कषायोगु- गुलुनापेयः शोथशूलाक्षिपाकहा । पिलुञ्च सव्रणं शुक्रं रागादींश्चापि नाशयेत् । एतैःसापिष्टतं पक्कं रोगांस्तांश्च व्यपोहति । चक्रदत्तः ।

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² अमृतागग्गुलुः । अमृता पटोलमूल त्रिफलात्रिकटु कृमिघ्नानाम् । समभागानां चूर्णं सर्वैःसमोगुग्गुलोर्भागः । प्रतिवासरमेकैकां खादेदन्नप्रमाणाम् । जेतुं व्रणान्वातास्रगुग्गुलोदरश्वयथुरोगादीन् ।

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OLIBANUM. The gum of the Salai tree of India (Boswellia

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त्र्यूषणं प्रोक्तं विडङ्गानां पलाईकम् । दन्तोकर्षमिताकार्या त्रिवृत्कर्षमिता तथा ।
ततः पिण्डीकृतं सर्वं घृतपात्रे विनिक्षिपेत् । गुटिकां शाणमात्रेण युञ्ज्याद्दो-
षत्वपेक्षया । अनुपानं भिषग्दद्यात्कोष्णां नीरं पयोऽथवा । मञ्जिष्ठादिशृतं
वापि युञ्ज्याद्युक्तं ततः परम् । जयेत्सर्वाणिकुष्ठानि वातरक्तं त्रिदोषजम् । सर्व-
व्रणानगुल्मांश्च प्रमेहपिडकान्तथा ।
शार्ङ्गधरः ।

Linked texts (3)

Cakradatta (Cikitsāsaṅgraha) — Cakrapāṇidatta, Sanskrit
Śārṅgadharasaṃhitā — Śārṅgadhara (physician), Sanskrit
Bhāvaprakāśa — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit