[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877) › c6.s2 # The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c6.s2: Lac The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c6.s2 - **Language:** English ### Lac ### [c6.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c6.s2.1) Sans. लाक्षा, \*Lákshá\* Vern. \*Lákh\*, Hind. \*Gálá\*, Beng. ### [c6.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c6.s2.2) THE lac insect (\*Coccus lacca\*), has been known to the Hindus from a very ancient period. The \*Butea frondosa\* is called \*Lákshá taru\* or lac plant in Sanskrit, this being the principal tree in which lac is said to be produced. The fluid lac-dye obtained by dissolving the crushed stick-lac in water is called \*A'lakta\*. It is used in colouring silk. Cotton coloured with this dye and pressed into flat circular pieces is sold in the bazars under the name of \*A'ltá\* and is used in painting the hands and feet of Hindu females. Shell-lac is used in the preparation of sealing wax, varnish for carpenters and ornaments for women. A decoction of shell-lac is much used in the preparation of several medicinal oils, such as \*Lákshádi taila\*, \*Chandanádi taila\*, \*Angáraka taila\*, etc. ### [c6.s2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c6.s2.3) \*Laksháditaila.\*¹ Take of shell-lac two seers, water sixteen ### [c6.s2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c6.s2.4) ¹ लाक्षादि तैलम् । लाक्षारस समं तैलं तैलात्स्त चतुर्गुणम् । अश्व- गन्धा निशा दारु कौन्तीकुष्ठाब्दचन्दनैः । समूर्वा रोहिणी रास्ना शताह्वा मधुकैः समैः । सिद्धं लाक्षादिकं नाम तैलमभ्यञ्जनादिना । सर्व्वज्वर- क्षयोन्माद श्वासपस्मार वातनुत् । यच्च राक्षस भूतघ्न गर्भिनीनां च शस्यते । भावप्रकाशः । ### [c6.s2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c6.s2.5) 1 लाक्षादि तैलम् । लाक्षारस समं तैलं तैलात्स्त चतुर्गुणम् । अश्व- गन्धा निशा दारु कौन्तीकुष्ठाब्दचन्दनैः । समूर्वा रोहिणी रास्ना शताह्वा मधुकैः समैः । सिद्धं लाक्षादिकं नाम तैलमभ्यञ्जनादिना । सर्व्वज्वर- क्षयोन्माद श्वासपस्मार वातनुत् । यच्च राक्षस भूतघ्न गर्भिनीनां च शस्यते । भावप्रकाशः । ### [c6.s2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c6.s2.6) seers, boil till reduced to four seers and strain. To this decoction of shell-lac add four seers of prepared sesamum oil, sixteen seers of whey, and two tolás each of the following substances, namely, \*Withania somnifera\* (\*asvagandhá\*), turmeric, \*devadáru\* wood, root of \*Sanseviera Zeylanica\* (\*murvá\*), \*Pandanus odoratissimus\* (\*ketaki\*), \*Vanda Roxburghii\* (\*rásna\*), dill seeds and liquorice root in the form of a paste and prepare an oil in the usual way; lastly add four tolás of camphor. This oil is much used for inunction in chronic fever and consumption. The other oils containing lac are prepared in a similar way, with the addition of various medicinal substances in the form of paste. ## Linked texts (1) - [Bhāvaprakāśa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.sangraha.bhavaprakasa) — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c6.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c6.s2) · Pramāṇa