Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

If the physician sees the co-existence of wind with phlegm or bile (in cases of ‘Meha'), he should prescribe those oils and ‘ghritas’ which may be suitable. Oils are prescribable in phlegm, boiled with such decoctions as are fit for phlegm ; while in bile, ‘ghritas’ should be prescribed boiled with such decoctions as are destructive of bile. 36

In those varieties of ‘Prameha’ that are born of phlegm and wind, oils should be administered, boiled with the decoctions or pastes of the following (five) groups of drugs : they are, -

1. Trikantaka (otherwise called Gokshura, that is 7 ribulus lanuginosus'), Agmantaka (a species of Oxalis), and Somavalka ( Acacia catechu ) ;

2. Bhallataka ( Semecarpus anacardium ), Ativisha ( Aconitum fteterophylluni), and Lodhra ( Symplocos racetnosa) ;

3. Path a ( Stephania hernandifolia ), Patola (leaves of Trichosanthes dioica), Arjuna ( Pentaptera Arjunci), Nimva ( Melia Azadirachta), and Musta (tubers of Cyperus rotundas) ;

4. HaridrS ( Curcuma longed, Padmaka (a fragrant wood resem¬ bling toon, brought from Malwa or Southern India), and Dipyaka ( Ptyckotis A jowan) ; and

5. Manjisththa ( Rubia cordifolia ), Aguru ( Aquilaria Agallocka), and Chandana ( Pterocarpus santalinus).

To each of. these groups, Musta (tubers of Cyperus rotundas) should be added.

In ‘Prameha’ that is born of bile and wind, ‘ghrita’ boiled with the decoctions and pastes of the above groups should be administered.

In ‘Prameha’ born of all the three ‘doshas’, both oils and ‘ghritas’ mixed together and boiled with the decoctions and pastes of the above groups of drugs should be administered. 38

The decoction of these, viz., the triple fruits (z. e., the three myrobalans), Daru (viz., Devadaru, that is, Cedrus deodara ), Niga (otherwise called Haridra, that is, Curcuma longa ), Vigala ( Cucumis Colocynthis),

CHAR A KA-SA MHITA.

p. 1203

Musta (tubers of Cyperus rotundas', mixed with the paste of Niga ( Curcuma longa ) and honey, should be drunk in all varieties of ‘Prameha’ when they become intense. 39

LODHRASAVA.

Take a ‘karsha’ (2 tolas) of each of these, viz., Lodhra ( Symplocos racemosa ), £ati ( Curcuma Zerumbet), Pushkaramula (this root not being available that of Aplotaxis auriculata is substituted), Ela {Elettatia cardamomuni), Murva ( Sanseviera Zeylanica), Vidanga {Ern¬ ie Ilia Ribes ) TriphalS (the three myrobalans), Yamani ( Ptychotis Ajowari), Chavya ( Chavica officinarum), Priyangu {Aglaia Roxburghiana), Kramuka (betel nuts), VigSla {Cucumis Colocynthis ), Kiratatikta (1 Ophelia Cherayta), Katurohini (. Picrorrhiza Kurroa ), Bhargi (1 Clerodendron siphonanthus ), Nata (otherwise called Tagaramula, that is, roots of Taberncemontana coronaria ), the roots of Chitraka (. Plum¬ bago Zeylanica ), the roots of Pippali {Piper longurri), Kushtha ( Aplo¬ taxis auriculata :), Ativisha {Aconitum heterophylluvi), Patha {Stephania. kernandifolia), Kalingaka (otherwise called Indrayava, that is, seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica ), Kegara {Mesua ferrea ), Indra (seeds of Holarrhena antidysenteiica ), Nakha (an aromatic substance of that name, probably, Unguis odoratus ), Patra (leaves of Cinnamomum Tamala), Maricha (black pepper), Plava (otherwise called Kaivartamustaka, that is, a large variety of Cyperus rotundas).

Boil these drugs in a ‘drona’ of water.* When three-fourths of the measure of water have evaporated, the product should be strained (through a piece of clean cloth).

Into this liquid should be poured honey of half its measure ; and then it should be kept for a fortnight in a vessel (which has been allowed to soak a sufficient quantity of ghee).

This medicine is called ‘LodhrSsava’. It promptly destroys all varieties of ‘Meha’ that are born of phlegm and bile. The dose should be 2 ‘palas’.

It also cures chlorosis, piles, non-relish for food, disorders of the ‘Grahani’, ‘Kilâsa’ (white leprous spots), and diverse varieties of leprosy .f 40-43

* A ‘drona’ is equal to 32 seers. Actually, double that measure should be taken. — T. t ‘Kushtham’ is a generic term and includes, besides leprosy, such skin diseases as ring worm, eczema, etc.

p. 1204

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

If to the decoction of the drugs mentioned above be added 8 ‘palas’ of the powder of Danti (Baliospermum montanum), white sugar of the measure of 8 ‘palas’, and honey of the measure of the decoction taken, the product is called ‘Dantyasava’.

If, again, to the decoction of the same drugs be added 4 ‘palas’ of BhallStaka ( Semecarpus anacardiuni], 8 ‘palas’ of white sugar, and honey of the measure of the decoction, the product is called ‘Bhallatakasava’. 44

A person afflicted with ‘Prameha’ should drink ‘Sarodaka’ (decoc¬ tion of the wood of Acacia catechu ), or ‘Kugodaka’ (decoction of the roots of Poa cynosuroides ), or Madhudaka (water mixed with honey), or the decoction of the three myrobalans, or the wine called ‘Sidhu’, or the drug called ‘Nigada,’ or the wine called ‘Madhwika’ that is old and the best of its kind. 45