A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c42.s15.35

v3.c42.s15.35

Chapter sixteen discusses disorders resulting from the abuse of alcohol (madātyaya; 16.1–12) and some related illnesses. Alcoholic drinks are considered to be beneficial in certain cases, whereas their abuse is scorned. Four varieties of madātyaya are acknowledged, associated with vāta, pitta, kapha, and saṃnipāta.²⁸⁷ Disorders related to madātyaya and called mūrchā, moha or mada, caused by toxic plant products, are dealt with at the end of the chapter.²⁸⁸ Plants yielding these toxic substances are halinī,²⁸⁹ karavīra,²⁹⁰ madayantikā,²⁹¹ mohinī,²⁹² pūga,²⁹³ and unspecified bulbous plants (16.13–18). Worthy of attention is the absence of opium.