Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Vasa (Jsuticia Adkatoda ), and Triphala (the three myrobalans), are useable in drinking, bathing, and plastering.*

Vrihati (Solatium Indicum ), Sevya (the roots of Andropogon muricatus), Patola (leaves of Trichosantkes dioica ), £5riva (Echites frutescens ), Rohini (Picrorrhiza Kurroa), Khadira (Acacia Catechu ), Avaghata (otherwise called Vyadhighataka or Aragbadha, i. e., Cassia fistula ), Kakubha (otherwise called Arjuna, i. e., Pentaptera Arjuna ), Rohitaka (otherwise called HarinharS, i. <?., Andersonia Rokitaka), Lodhra (Symplocos racemosus ), Kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica ), Dhava (Conocarpus latifolid, Nimba (Melia Azadirachta ), Saptachcchada (Alstonia scholatis , syn., Echites scholaris ), and Karavira (Nerium odorum ), are regarded beneficial in baths and drink. I25-126

This is the composition of the liquid for baths and drinking.

Jala (otherwise called BalS, i. e., Pavonia odorata), VSpya (other¬ wise called Kushtha, i. e., Aplotaxis auriculata ), Loha (otherwise called Aguru, Aquilaria Agallocha ), Kegara (Mesua ferrea ), Patra (leaves of Cinnamomum Tamald), Plava (otherwise called Kaivartamustaka, i. e., a variety of Cyperus rotundus ), Chanda (otherwise called Chorepuspi, i. e., Andropogon acicularis'fi and Mrinala (roots of Andropogon muricatus) :

Combine these in such a way that the measure of each may be t Some texts read ‘Chandana,’ meaning red sandal wood. — T.

* The decoction is used as a drink as also for bathing. For rubbing and plastering, these should be reduced to paste. — T.

i228

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

larger than that of the one mentioned before, and reduce them to a paste.

This paste forms a beneficial plaster for leprosy caused by excited bile and phlegm. *27

Yashtyahva (liquorice), Lodhra ( Symplocos racemose i}, Padmaka (a fragrant wood brought from Malvva, &c.), Patola ( Trichosanthes dioied ), Pichumardda (otherwise called Nimba, i. e., Melia Azadirachta ), and Chandana (red sandal wood) :

The decoction of these, when cooled, is beneficial fpr baths and drink as regards persons afflicted with leprosy born of excited bile. 128

Priyangu ( Aglaia Roxburghiana ), HarenukS ( Piper aurantiacum \ Vatsaka-phala (seeds of Holarrhena antidysentrica ), Ativisha ( Aconi - turn hetetophy Hum), Sevya (roots of Andropogon muricatus ), Chan¬ dana (red sandal wood), Katurohini ( Picrorrhiza Kurrod) ;

Reduce these to a paste. This paste forms a beneficial plaster in leprosy born of excited bile.

In those varieties of leprosy which are characterised by a burning sensation, the patient’s body should be rubbed with the ‘bitterghritas’ (viz., ‘Pancha-tikta,’ ‘Shatpala,’ and ‘Mahatikta’ ghees, &c.\

‘Washed -Ghritas' also are equally beneficial in such cases. 129

Even these are the ointments that should be rubbed on the body.

Other ointments that are beneficial are the oils of Chandana (red sandal wood), Madhuka (liquorice)1, Prapaundarika (a fragrant wood brought from Malwa), and Utpala (. Nymphcea stellata ). *3®

In those cases of leprosy in which the patches become filthy or develop into sores, or in which the limbs begin to fall off, or in which there is a burning sensation, in malignant boils, as also in Charma- . dala (Impetigo), cooling plasters, cooling decoctions for sprinkling, opening of the veins for letting out blood, purgatives, and the bitter ‘ghritas’ (mentioned below) are beneficial. *3*

‘Khadira-ghrita,’ ‘Nimba-ghrita,’ ‘Darbi-ghrita,’ and ‘Patola-ghrita’ are productive of excellent results in those varieties of leprosy in which blood-bile is predominant. Each of these is a well-tried medicine. 132

Take the husk of Triphala (viz., the three myrobalans) of the measure of half a ‘pala.’ Take the leaves of Patola (Trichosanthes dioica) of the measure of half a ‘pala ;

CHA RA KA-SAMHITA.

;229

Take Katurohini (. Picrorrhiza Kurroa ), Nimba ■■(. Melia Azadirachta), Yashtyâhva (liquorice), and Try5m5na (otherwise called Bala-ud urn vara, i. e., Ficus heterophylla ), of the measure of a kfirshika (2 tolas).

Add 2 ‘palas’ of the seeds of Masura ( Vida lens ) ;

Boil all these together in water of the measure of an Adhaka (8 seers) till an eighth only remains of the liquid.

Strain the contents through a piece of clean cloth.

With the strained decoction, thus obtained, of the measure of 8 palas, ghee of the measure of 4 palas should be boiled.

When it is boiled down to 8 palas, it should be taken down, and drunk in a lukewarm state. *33-i35

This medicine cures those varieties of leprosy which are charac¬ terised by excitement of wind and bile, erysipelas, all violent forms of leprosy knoyvn as ‘Vatarakta,’ fever, burning of the skin, abdominal and other tumours, deep-seated abscesses, vertigo, and malignant boils. !36

Nimba ( Melia Azadirachta ), Patola ( Trickosanthes dioica), Dfirbi ( Berberis Asiatica ), Duralabha ( Hedysarum Alhagi), Tiktarohini ( Picrorrhiza Kurtoa ), Triphala (the three myrobalans), Parppataka (1 Oldenlandia biflora ), and Trayamana ( Ficus heterophylla ) :

Take half a pala of each of these. Boil them in an Adhaka of water till an eighth of the liquid remains. Strain it through a piece of clean cloth.