A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c44.s2.10

v3.c44.s2.10

Kalyāṇa's work shows a great deal of Tantric influence in its descriptions of rituals and in the use of mantras.³²³ Magical elements abound in the therapeutic measures described,³²⁴ which explains the frequent use of substances like excrements, hairs, nails, horns, etc., of various animals. The more remarkable is the almost complete absence of substances and formulae derived from iatrochemistry. Kalyāṇa's materia medica consists for a very large part of medicinal plants and some minerals known from the classical āyurvedic texts. Moreover, his recipes are usually relatively simple.