Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna
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The translator’s English as printed (Avinash Chandra Kaviratna). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
as also of food taken before digestion has occurred, of food consisting of rotten substances, moist food, food that is prepared, by mixing diverse articles, food composed of hostile ingredients, and food that is not agreeable to the constitution.
Their habitat is the amagaya.
When they become powerful, they move upwards or downwards or in both directions.
As regards their form and colour, there are diversities. Some are white of hue, and some have forms resembling fleshy muscles, some are circular, some are like earth-worms, some are partly white and partly coppery, some, that are white, are very minute, or long or threadlike. Of these three kinds of phlegm-worms the names are 1. Antrada, 2. Udarada, and 3. Hridayada.
Others are called Churu, Darbhapushpa, Saugandhika, Mahaguda.
The effects they produce are Hiccough, discharges from the mouth, disgust for food, indigestion, fever, swoons, yawns, sneezing, epistasis, heaviness of the body, vomiting, leanness of the body, and roughness of the skin.14
Those worms that are born of faeces have the same origin as those born of phlegm.
Their habibat is the Pakkagaya.
When they become powerful, they move downwards. When they move (upwards) in the direction of the Amagaya, then the eructations and breath of the person, as a consequence, emit the disagreeable stench of faeces.
Diversity is noticeable in their forms and colour.
Some are very minute, circular, and white, and resemble sheep’s wool.
Some, again, are gross (large) and circular, and dark and blue and green and yellow in colour. Their names are Kakeruka, Makeruka, Leliha, Sagalaka, and Sansarfida.
The effects they produce are loose motions, leanness, roughness of the skin, and horripilation.
p. 532
CHA RA KA-SA MHITA.
They proceed towards the anus, paining that duct or pro¬ ducing an itching sensation, and remain there (without coming out or going out.)
Sometimes coiling and moving in joy, they come out in large numbers from the anus.11
Thus are explained the origin and the rest of worms born of phlegm and faeces.
Having first expounded in brief the treatment of these, we shall lay down instructions hereafter at large.
In this matter as regards all kinds of worms, their expulsion (from the system) should be first endeavoured to be brought out.
The next step (if the first fails) should be to destroy them and stop their birth (by means of drugs).
The patient should also avoid the indulgence of all such articles and practices as beget those pests.14
Amongst these (processes of treatment) expulsion consists of driving out (the worms) by seizing them with the hand aided or unaided by some appliance.
As regards worms residing in their respective habitats, they should be expelled by means of medicines. Tins may be duly accomplished in four ways. They are, — administering errhines, emetics, purgatives, and enemata.
These are the ordinances on the subject of Expulsion.15*
The destruction of their origin is accomplished by the use of such articles (as food and drink) as are pungent, bitter, astringent, alkaline, and hot ; as also the use of such articles as are hostile to phlegm and faeces.
This much on the destruction of their origin. 16+ t Worms, when generated and when they approach the mouth of the anal canal may be expelled by the hand. If, however, they remain within the body and are unapproachable by the hand even when aided by instruments, they should be treated in the way pointed out in aphorism 16. ‘ Prakritivighata ’
* Upakarana ' here implies any kind of mechanical appliance, such as pin'cers, &c. — T.
CHA RA KA-SA MH I TA.
p. 533
Then comes (the topic of) avoiding those practices which are said to be the causes of their generation.
All that has been said as causes of their generation should be abstained from.
Also articles of a like nature should be avoided.
Thus have been declared the treatment of worms along with their symptoms.
This very topic is hereafter elaborately laid down.17.
The patient in whose Koshtha there are worms should be treated for six or seven nights with Snehanas and Swedas. On the next day I shall cause him to take correctives.
The patient, however, should be treated with milk, curds, raw-sugar, sesame-seeds, fish, flesh of animals living in marshy regions, cakes, frumenty, Kusumbha ( Carthamus tinctorius ), and other food with oily ingredients, for stirring up the worms and severing them from the Koshtha.15
The physician, having ascertained that the night has passed away in happy sleep, and that the food taken has been well digested, should then administer unto the patient that very day enemata, emetics, and purgatives.19*
If these are to be administered, they should be administered after an examination of everything and after a careful observation of all especial conditions.
is, literally, destruction of origin ; i. e., after their birth they should be des¬ troyed by the methods indicated.
In aphorism 17, the means are pointed out by which their very generation may be stopped. — T.
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