A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c43.s24.9

v3.c43.s24.9

The maṅgala (1) is addressed to Gaṇeśa. The work deals with the beneficial effects of dhārā (2), the types of wood for the construction of the droṇī, i.e., the wooden frame in which the patient lies down (3), the dimensions of this droṇī (4), the auspicious time for beginning the treatment and the ceremonies to be performed (5), the vessel, called karaka, used for anointing the head of the patient (6), the qualities of the attendants and the substances to be used for the dhārā, i.e., sesamum oil, ghee, or a mixture of these (7–8), the four types of anointing the head of a patient preparatory to a dhārā with takra, i.e., diluted buttermilk (9), the takradhārā (10), vessels to be used for a dhārā (11), the treatment of a patient after the application of a dhārā (paścātkarman; 12), the effects of a takradhārā (13) and of a dhārā with sesamum oil and ghee (14), sneha and sveda (15–16), the duration of the treatment with dhārā and the prescribed height of the suspended vessel (17–18), faulty applications of a dhārā and the ways to remedy these (19–20), rules for the application of milk and dhānyāmla to the body of a patient (21), the right periods of time for the treatment and when it should not be performed (22), the after-treatment (paścātkarman; 23–24), behavioral rules for a patient during the treatment (25–26), and indications for treatment with dhārā (27).