The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

A compound made up of Chitraka, Indra-yava^ Pdthd, Katuka^ Ativishd, Abhayd (taken in equal parts) together is known as the Shad- Dharana-yoga* and contains the properties of subduing an attack of Vdta-vyadhi. 2-3.

In the event of the aggravated Va} u being incarcerated in the Pakvsts'aya intestines), purgatives of fatty matters (Sneha-Virechana, i.e ,Tilvaka-Sarpih,ctc.), and Sodhana- Vasti of purifying drugs (with decoctions and Kalka of fatty matters) and diet (Pras'a) abounding in saltf or saline articles should be prescribed. In the case of the aggravated Vayu being incarcerated in the Vasti (urinary bladder), diuretic (lit. bladder-cleansing) measures and remedial agents should be resorted to. Anointing with medicated oils, Ghritas, etc., application of poultices (Upanaha) compounded of Vayu-subduing drugs, massage, and plasters (Alepa) of similar properties are the remedies in cases where the aggravated Vayu is lodged in the internal ducts or channels suchp. 17p. 290 as the ears, etc, of the body. Blood-letting (venesection) is the rem edy where the aggravated Vayu would be found to be confined in the skin, flesh, blood or veins (Sirds). Similarly, application of fatty matters (Sneha), actual cauterization, massage, application of poultices and binding of ligatures should be the remedies where the aggravated Vayu would be found to have become involved in the Siia(yu (ligaments), joints and boaes Where the aggravated Vayu would be found to have become situated in the bone, the skin and flesh of that part of the body should be perforated with a proper surgical instrument (Ara-Sastra) and the underlying bone should be similarly treated with an awl. A tube open at both ends should be inserted into the aperture, thus made, and a strong physician should suck the aggravated Vayu from out of the affected bone by applying his mouth to the exteiior open end of the tube. 4-9.

* One Dharana is equal to four Mashas. I Sneha-Lavana and Kanda-Lavana, etc.

A tube open at both ends should be inserted into the aperture, thus made, and a strong physician should suck the aggravated Vayu from out of the affected bone by applying his mouth to the exteiior open end of the tube. 4-9.

In the case of the aggravatd V^yu having contaminated the semen, measures and remedies for seminal disorders (Sukra-doshai* should be employed. The intelligent (physician) would take recourse to measures, such as blood-letting, immersion or bath in a vessel (full of Vayusubduing decoctions), fomentation with heated stones, as well as in the manner of Karshu-Sveda, vapour-bath in a closed chamber (Kuti sveda), anointment, Vasti- Karmas, etc., in the event of the aggravated Vayu having extended throughout the whole organism ; whereas bleeding by means of a horn (cuffing) should be regarded as the remedy when the aggravated Dosha

* Treatmenls, such as, the purification of the semen, etc., and the use of medicin s for making Aphrodisia (Vaji-karana) and for the remedy of the disordered urinary organ (Mutra-dosha) should be adopted and employed.

Chap. IV.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 291

would be found to have been confined in any parti ular part of the body* 10-12.

In the event of the aggravated Vayu being connected either with the Pitta or the Kapha, such a course of treatment should be adopted as would not be hostile to the two other Doshas. Blood-letting (in small quantities) should be resorted to several times in a case of complete senesthesia (Supta-Vata) and the body should be anointed with oil mixed with salt and chamber-dust (Agcira-dhuma) Milk bailed with a decoction of the drugs of the Pancha-mula group, acid-fruits (Phalamla), meat-soup or soup of (well-cooked) corn (Dhanya) with clarified butter are beneficial in cases of Vataroga. 13-15.

^alvana-Upanaha :-A poultice composed of the drugs of the Kdkolyadi group, the Vayu-subduing drugs (those of Bhadra-ddrvddi and Vidarigandhadi groups), and all kinds of acid articlesf (such as, Kanjika, Sauvira, fermented rice-gruel, etc.), the flesh of animals which live in swamps (Anupa) or in water (Audaka)l, oil, clarified butter and all kinds of lardaceous substances, mixed together and saturated with a profuse quantity of salt and then slightly heated is known by the name of Salvana A person suffering from any form of Vata roga should be always treated with such Salvana poultices (Upanaha). The poultice should be applied to such part of the body as is

The poultice should be applied to such part of the body as is

* It is to be understood that measures and remedies laid do^vn under the head of Sarvanga-gata should be used when the Vayu would be found to be diffused throughout the whole organism instead of being confined to any specific pari.

t According to others it means all kinds of acid- fruits, etc.

t Chakradatla reads "^CT^^flt^l ^rf^S:" (well-cooked with the flj.h of "Anupa" animals) in place of ^l'Tqt^8Rl^t€'^ I

292 TJ'E SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. IV.

numbed, painful or contracted and the affected part should be fiimly bandaged thereafter with a piece of Kshauma* linen ( r woollen cloth. As an alternative, the affected part should be plastered (and well rubbed) with the ingredients of the Salvana-Upanaha and inserted into a bag made of cat or mungoose skin or that of a camel or deer hide. i6.

The aggravated Vayu, if located in the shoulders, the chest, the sacrum i^Trika) or the Manya, should be subdued by emetics and errhines judiciously employed. Siro-Vasti should be applied to the head of the patient as long as it would take one to utter a thousand Matras (a short vowel sound), more or less, as the case may require, where the aggravated Vayu would be found to have located itsellf in the head, (if necessary) blood-letting should be resorted to. As a mountain is capable of obstructing the passage of the wind, so the Sneha-Vasti (oily enema) is alone capable of resisting the action of the aggravated Vayu whether it extends throughout the whole system or is confined to a single part. 17-19

Measures beneficial to Vata-Vyadhi:

— An app'.ication of Sneha, fomentations, anointment of the body, Vasti, oily purgatives, Siro-vasti, the rubbing of oils on the head, oily fumigation, gargling with tepid oil, oily errhines, the use of meat-soup, milk, meat, clarified butter, oil and other lardaceous articles (of food), all kinds of acid fruits, salt, lukewarm washes, gentle massage, the use of saffron, Agura^ Patra^ Kushtha, Eld^ Tagara, the wearing of woollen, silken, cotton or any other thick kind of garments, living in a warm room or in one not exposed to the wind or in an inner chamber, the use of a soft bed, basking in the glare of fire, entire sexual abstinence, these and such like other things

* Some lead it as Valka, i.e.^ made up bark.

Chap. IV ] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 293

should be generally adopted by a patient suffering from Vata-roga 20.

The Tilvaka-Ghrita :— A paste (Kalka) of