A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c48.s3.11

v3.c48.s3.11

A time-consuming way of preparing a haritālabhasman from a variety called tabakī is described according to the Siddhamata; this process, taking 441 days, results in a product that cures numerous diseases. Twenty-one different plant juices are employed;⁵⁴ the purified haritāla has to be steeped in or rubbed with each of these juices for twenty-one days, followed by heating of the powder obtained for eight days. The bhasman is claimed to cure all kinds of diseases, amongst which are eighteen disorders of the blood (raktavikāra),⁵⁵ the group of kaṭhinavikāras,⁵⁶ the mūdhavikāras,⁵⁷ phiraṅga, and the ten disorders caused by blood (raktajaroga),⁵⁸ etc. (2.209).