Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The blood-bile of one who has suffered no loss of strength and flesh, as also of . one whose stomach is full, should be known as vitiated by wind, bile, and phlegm, and as endued with intensity Such blood-bile should not be checked at the outset. 24

If checked at the outset, the following diseases may manifest themselves, viz., suppression of the voice, ozcena, swoons, disgust for food, fever, abdominal and other tumours, enlargement of the spleen,, epistasis, leuchoderma, strangury, .various kinds of leprosy, piles, erysipelas, loss of complexion, fistula-in-ano, and dulness of under¬ standing and the senses. 25-26

Hence the blood-bile, even when endued with intensity, of a person who is possessed of strength, should not, at the outset, be sought to be checked by a physician who is guided by considerations of strength and faults and who is desirous of achieving success. 27 Since it generally happens that the blood-bile that is about to escape increases in intensity owing to the undigested food in the stomach of creatures, therefore, fast at the outset is beneficial. 28

Carefully considering the outlet by which the blood-bile escapes, as also the fault or faults with which it is associated, and also the the cause or causes from which it springs, the physician should prescribe either fast or a course of cooling and oily regimen at the outset. 29'

Unto one suffering from thirst in blood-bile, should be given either boiled water rendered cool, or the decoction of Hrivera (Pavonia odorata), Chandana (Pterocarpus santalinus), Ucira (roots of Andropogon muricatum), Musta (tubers of Cyperus rotundus ), and Parppata ( Oldenlandia biflora ). 3°

A physician who is conversant with time, with all that is assimi¬ lable, with supervening symptoms, and with the normal constitution of the patient, should, at the outset, prescribe ‘Tarpana’ in cases in which the blood escapes by the upper outlets, and ‘Peya’ in cases in which the blood-escapes by the lower outlets.* 31

* The words ‘Tarpana’ and ‘Peya’ have been explained in the verses that foils w‘. — T. -

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

* 1 54

For ‘Tarpana’ the following should be given, vix.t the infusion, cooled, and mixed with sugar, of Kharjjura (Phoenix dactylif era')), Mridvika (raisins), Madhuka (liquorice), and Pafushaka ( Grewia Asiatica). 32

(As regards solid food) for purposes of ‘Tarpana’, the physician should give fried paddy, reduced to powder and mixed with ghee and honey. This, if drunk, alleviates in time that bloOd'-bile which escapes by the upward outlets.* 33

Unto one whose appetite is hot keen, and who can (from: habitual use) assimilate what is sour, the physician may administer the above ‘Tarpanas’ by mixing them with what is sour.

It should be known that for making these ‘Tarpanas’ sour, they may be mixed with the juice of pomegranates and the fruit of Phyllanthus Emblica. 34

For persons suffering under blood-bile, the food should^ consist of rice of these varieties, viz., £ali, Shastika, Nivara, Koradusha, Prajatika, SySmâka, and Prfyangu.f 35.

Mudga ( Phaseolus Mungo \ Masura: {Cicer lens), Chanaka {Cicer arietinum }, with Makushtha ( Phaseolus aconitifolia), and the seeds of Aclhaki ( Cajanus Indicue ), are regarded as beneficial in the prepara¬ tion of soups for persons suffering from blood-bile. 3&

The leaves of Patola (. Trichosanthes dioica), of Nimva ( Melia Azadirachta), the heads of Vetra ( Calamus rotang ), the leaves of Plaksha ( Ficus infectoria), those of Vetasa ( Calamus rotang ), those of Kirfitai tiktaka- ( Agathotes Ckerayta), the potherb named Gandira (otherwise called £amatha), the leaves of Kotillaka ( Momordica chardntia ), the flowers of Kovidara ( Bauhinim variegata), those of Kfifmarya ( Gmelina arborea); and those of £almali ( Bombax Malabaricum},.

* The infnsion spoken of in verse 31 is a drink. That referred to in verse 32, is "solid, food, though ‘pitam)’ or drunk is used. The fact is, fried, paddy, reduced to powder and. then mixed with ghee and honey in a copious measure, makes a compound that is drinkable.. There are many kinds of solid food about which ‘pita’ is used. Frumenty (rice boiled in. milk and sugar) is an example. — T.

+ TheSe varieties of rice may be used for preparing. ‘P"ey5’ or liquid drink. ‘<^51i’ is thered variety. ‘Shashtika!’ is- that which ripens in sixty days. ‘Nivara’ is a "wild variety,, otherwise called ‘Uri.’ It grows spontaneously. ‘Koradusha’ is probably that which is. called ‘Kodrava’ or Paspalum serebiculatum, Linn. ‘PragatikS’ is otherwise called ‘Kangu,’ ior Selafia JfaTica. ‘SySinlka’ is Panictm frummtdctum. ‘PriyangU’ here implies a. variety of paddy. : — T.1

CHARAKA-SAMH1TA .

H55

those potherbs which have been mentioned in the Lesson bearing upon the ordinances relating to food and drink (viz., Lesson XXVII, Sutrasthana), and everything else that is alleviative of blood-bile, 37-38

These, when potherbs are to be given, are beneficial for those persons afflicted with blood-bile who are habituated to the use of potherbs.