Vanaspati: Plants and Plant-Life as in Indian Treatises and Traditions c4.18

c4.18

The popular Indian word auṣadha denoting medicine is derived from or connected with Oṣadhi signifying the annual herbs. Even at the present day, in some parts of India, the word dāru or tree is used to denote medicine, and in some parts to denote the alcoholic substance, *i.e.*, the *Soma*. The moon bears the designation of *Oṣadhinātha*—the lord of herbs, here *Oṣadhi* being a synonym of ‘*Soma*’ which, according to the above hymns of the Vedas, was the king of the herbs and plants. The word *bheshaja* from which *bhishak* denoting physician is derived, etymologically means “vegetable drugs.”