Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

For persons afflicted with pains in the head, the sides, and the shoulders, the application is very much applauded of plasters made of Jivanti ( Ccelogyne ovalis), of (^atapushpa ( Pucedanum Sowa), of Bala {Pavonia odorata ), of Madhuka (liquorice), of VachS (Acorus calamus), of Vesavara,+ of VidSri ( Convolvulus paniculatus), of Mulaka (garden radish), and of the flesh of animals dwelling in water and in marshy regions. Such plasters should be mixed With the four kinds of oils. 73-74

(^atapushpa (. Pucedanum Sowa), Madhuka (liquorice), Kushtha ( Aplotaxis auriculata), Tagara ( Taberncemontana coronaria), and Chandana (red sandal wood), — these mixed with ghee form a plaster that is alleviative of headaches and pains in the sides and the shoulders. 75

Balfi ( Pavonia odorata), Rasna ( Vanda Roxburghii), Tila (sesame seeds), Sarpis {Ghee), Madhuka (liquorice), and Nilotpala {Nymphcea stellata) ;

Palankashfi {Balsamodendron Mukul), Devadftru {Pinus deodara), Chandana (red sandal wood), Kejara ( Mesua ferrea), and ghee ; 76

* These leaves have been mentioned in the chapter on ‘Diseases of the Head’ in this Division of the work, supra. The leaves are those of Kushtha ( Aplotaxis auriculata), &c. — T.

t ‘Vesavara’ is a condiment as pounded coriander, mustard, pepper, spices, &c. The four kinds of oils are oil, ghee, fat, and marrow. — T.

CHA RA KA- SAM HIT A',

p. 245

Bir& (otherwise called Kshira-kakoli, i. e., a bulb of the onion tribe brought from the Himalaya), BalS (Pavonia odorata), Vidari ( Convolvulus paniculatus ), KrishnagandhS (otherwise called Sobhanjana, i. e., Moringa pterygosperma ), and Punarnava ( Boerhavia diffusa ), £atSvari ( Asparagus racemosa), PayasyS (otherwise called Khirakakoli, i. e., a bulb of the onion tribe brought from the Himalaya\ Kattrina (otherwise called Bhustrina, i. e, Andropogon muricatum), Madhuka (liquorice), and ghee ; 77

Each of these four groups, mentioned in half a couplet, forms a plaster that is highly beneficial for persons who are afflicted with headaches, pains in the sides, and pains in the shoulders, and in whom all the faults are excited. 78

Snuffs, inhalation of smoke, drinking of oils after meals, such oils as are fit to be rubbed on the body, and enemata, are highly bene¬ ficial to persons afflicted with these ailments. 79

Or, the vitiated blood of such patients should be let out by means of leeches, or the dried husk of gourds, or (sharpened) horns.* 80

The application is very beneficial of a plaster made of Padmaka (a fragrant wood brought from Central and Southern India), Ugira (roots of Andropogon muricatus ), and Chandana (red sandal wood), mixed with ghee ;

Or of Durva ( Panicum Dactylon ), Madhuka (liquorice), ManjishthS ( Rubia cordifolia ;),. and Kegara (otherwise called Nagakegara, i. e., Mesua f erred), mixed with ghee ;

Or of Prapanudarika (roots-stock of Nymphcea lotus), Nirgundi ( Vitex Negundo), Padmakegara (filaments of the lotus), Utpala ( Nymphcea stellata ), Kageruka ( Scirpus Kysoor), and Payasyft (a bulb of the onion tribe brought from the Himalayas), mixed with. ghee. f 81-82

Certain other processes are beneficial for persons afflicted with this disease. These are —

‘Avyanga’ (rubbing the body), with the oil called 1Chandanfidi> (mentioned in the chapter on Fevers) ; or with ghee washed a hundred times ;

* ‘Such patients’, i. e., of patients afflicted with headaches, and pains in the sides and the shoulders. — T.

f Some texts omit Nirgundi. — T.

p. 246

CHA RA K A-S AM HIT A.

‘Seka’ (sprinkling or bath) with milk or with water mixed with honey ; or with well-cooled rain-water ; or with water in which the group of drugs beginning with Chandana (red sandal wood) have been boiled.

These processes are known as alleviatives of this disease.* 83-84

For those phthisical patients in whom the faults are seen to be greatly excited, emetics, mixed with oily substances, and then pur¬ gatives, mixed with similar substances, are commendable. These, however, should not be administered before the patients have gone through the processes of oiling and fomentation. Then, again, in administering emetics and purgatives, care should be taken that the patient is not weakened.f 8S

One who is afflicted by phthisis, casts off his limbs by only pass¬ ing stools. What need then be said of a patient to whom emetics and purgatives are administered in measures unregardant of his strength ?f 86

Unto those persons (afflicted with phthisis) whose stomach and intestines have been cleared by means of the well-known groups of drugs possessed of emetic and purgative virtues, the following welltested medicines should be administered when cough, asthmatic breathing, loss of voice, headaches and pains in the sides and the shoulders, appear. 87