Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c12.25

c12.25

The treatment of diarrhoea should commence with fasts. In acute diarrhoea ( *āmātisāra* ) suppressive remedy should not be given immediately, since many diseases such as jaundice, enlargement of spleen, tympanitis, flatulence, *grahaṇī*, swelling of the belly, haemorrhoids, fever etc. arise out of untimely supression. If the patient is thirsty, he should be given water in which certain astringent medical stuffs are boiled; if he is very much hungry, light food should be given. For acute diarrhoea a large number of astringents, like *Bel* fruit (*bilva*), Devdār wood (*devadāru*) etc. are recommended. Still more constipative remedies are recommended for chronic diarrhoea, then also various enemata and so forth. In lingering diarrhoea milk boiled with three times quantity of water works like ambrosia. For *praṇāhikā* similar remedies, particularly milk with different additions are recommended. In diarrhoea washings and baths, heavy or fatty food and physical exercise and heat should be avoided. If urine passes without faeces, wind passes ( from the anus ), if there is good appetite and the intestines are light, then the disease is regarded as cured. In *grahaṇī* buttermilk is specially recommended. Other numerous recipes are partly similar to those for *atisāra*. Things evoking hunger, constipating and promoting digestion are generally given ( Car 6.19.17 ff.; 6.15.69 ff.; Su 6.40,25-137; 140-162; 178-181; AS 4.11-12; AHr 4.9-10; Vr 3.4 ). The Bower MS contains many prescriptions for these diseases. Later authors recommend mercury and opium.