A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c24.55

v1.c24.55

The subjects dealt with are: the four kinds of gaṇḍūṣa (holding a medicinal fluid in the mouth): 298 snigdha, śamana, śodhana and ropaṇa; 299 the first three are active against the doṣas, the fourth kind heals wounds and sores (vraṇaghna); 300 the tastes of the drugs to be used in the preparation of these four kinds of gaṇḍūṣa (22.1–3c); the liquids to be employed 301 and their indications (22.3d–10ab); the procedure for the use of a gaṇḍūṣa (22.10cd–11); 302 the difference between a gaṇḍūṣa and a kavala (gargle) (22.12ab); 303 disorders curable by a kavala (22. 12c–f); the three forms of pratisāraṇa (the application of a medicinal preparation to the oral cavity): a kalka (paste), rasakriyā (inspissated decoction) and cūrṇa (powder); pratisāraṇa with the same drugs as those employed in gaṇḍūṣa is indicated in kapha disorders (22.13); 304 the three kinds of mukhālepa (the application of a paste to the face): doṣaha (counteracting the doṣas), viṣaha (counteracting poison) and varṇakara (producing a normal colour) (22.14); rukes for its application (22.15–16); rules for the patient (22.17ab); contra-indications (22.17cd–18a); the curative effects (22.18b–d); six recipes, one for each season (22.19–22ab); the beneficial effects of its habitual application (22.22cd–23ab); 305 the four kinds of mūrdhataila (application of oil to the head): abhyaṅga (inunction, accompanied by mild massage), (pari)ṣeka (pouring oil on the head), picu (application of a cloth soaked in oil), and (śiro)basti; each successive method is more efficacious than the preceding one (22.23cd–24ab); indications for these four types (22.24cd–26); the procedures for (śiro)basti; after-treatment; the maximum duration of the treatment (22.27–31); 306 karṇapūraṇa (filling the auditory duct with oil); this treatment should be applied until the complaints subside, or, in healthy patients, during one hundred mātrā (22.32); 307 the definition of a mātrā (22.33); the curative actions and beneficial effects in general of mūrdhataila (22.34). 308