Hindu Medicine c7.104

c7.104

All the forces of the vegetable kingdom, again, are blended into a powerful arcanum (21) to conquer “Consumption” (11-13), by which term it is not quite certain what is meant. Neither is the patent decline of the patient’s life-strength clearly diagnosed with regard to its origin. It may be “ god-sent ” (16) as a visitation for the sinful conduct of the patient, perhaps by Varuṇa (16); or it may foreshadow the approach of King Death, the all-powerful “ Tamer ” (16), who catches the life-spirit with his noose and drags it away; it may be caused by some demon (6) or through the imprecation (16) of someone “ who seeks to do us harm ” (23). In any case, the efficacy of the divine herbs, when duly recognized, brought together, and put to use, is beyond question. They are, again, propitiated by extolling their origin, kinship and virtues (1, 3, 5, 9, 17, 22). Their friendly, “ motherly ” character is insisted upon to preclude any harmful reactions due to their ambivalent nature (2, 4); they are appeased for being disturbed and uprooted (20), and implored to protect the inhabitants and the animals of the household and of the village (20).