Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c9.19

c9.19

§ 22. Healing Substances :— Physical ailments, says Caraka 1. 1. 58, are cured by medicine ( auṣadha ). Already in the Vedic medicine, the healing plants play a great role along with magic incantations. In the Bower MS very many medicaments, mostly vegetables, are mentioned. According to Viṣṇu 92. 17 it is meritorious to give free medicine. By the hospital for men and animals ( cikitsā, ārogya-śālā ) which are mentioned in Aśoka's inscriptions and Purāṇas and elsewhere, one understands by analogy to the modern davākhānās, institutions for distribution of medicinal remedies.