Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

*Tivo varieties of Dagamuladya-Ghrita are explained here. The measure of the decoction of the ten roots is twice as that of ghee ; that of the cream of curds is also twice that of ghee ; the measure of either of the pastes is a fourth of that ghee. — T,

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1498

With all t£e articles mentioned afesve, a ‘prastha’ (equal to 2 seers) of ghee is boiled, adding water of four times that measure (i. e., 8 seers, 16 seers being taken in practice because of its being a liquid),

A person by drinking this medicated ghee , the measure being dependent upon his strength, conquers hiccup and asthma.

The other diseases conquered by this ghee are dropsical swellings, excited wind, piles, disease of the ‘Grahani,’ pains in the chest, and pains in the sides. 1 38-142

MANAHgiLADI-GHRITA.

ManahgilS (realgar), Sarjjara-sa (the exudation of Shorea robusta', LakshS (lac\ Rajani (otherwise called Haridra, i. e., Curcuma longa), Padmaka (a fragrant wood of that name brought from Central India), Manjistha ( Rubia Manjista }, and Ela (the seeds of Elettatia cardamomum ) :

One ‘Karsha’ (equal to 2 tolas} of each of these is taken.

Boil these with one ‘prastha’ (equal to 2 sebrs, in practice 4 seers are taken) of ghee, (adding water of the measure of 16 seers).

This ghee is beneficial in hiccup and asthma. *43

Ghee boiled with the decoction and the paste of the drugs in¬ cluded in the group called ‘Jivaniya’, and mixed with honey, forms a linctus that is beneficial in hiccup and asthma. *44

Or, the patient may drink ‘Vasa-ghritam’, or ‘Dadhika-ghritam’ or ‘Tryushana-ghritam.’ (All these are beneficial in hiccup and asthma).* *45

All that is destructive of phlegm and wind, all that is of heating virtues, and all that restores the wind to its normal course, are bene¬ ficial in hiccup and asthma. *46

There are drugs which excite the wind but alleviate the phlegm ; there are drugs which excite the phlegm but alleviate the wind ; none of these should be administered without discretion (in hiccup and asthma). Very generally, drugs that are only alleviative of the wind are regarded as more beneficial than either of the two classes mentioned. *47

The composition of alljthese ghees has been explained before. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1499

Since by administering medicines (and food and drink) that are ‘Vringhana’, it is seen that all varieties of hiccup and asthma are only partially allayed, since by administering medicines (and food and drink) that are ‘£amana,’ those diseases are, without doubt, wholly allayed, and since by administering medicines (food and drink) that are ‘Karsh anas’, no benefit is derived, 148

Therefore, persons afflicted by hiccup and asthma, whether cor¬ rected or not by purgatives, should be treated with only ‘Vringhanas’ and ‘£amanas’ (but never with ‘Karshanas’).* H9

( Here occurs a verse containing a summary ).

The causes of the unconquerability of hiccup and asthma, as also of their origin, the. causes also of the same treatment being advisable for both these diseases, the symptoms of each of them, and the regimen prescribable in each of them, have been declared in this Lesson. IS° i

Thus ends Lesson XVII, called the treatment of Hiccup and Asthma, in the treatise of Agnivega as revised by Charaka (and as regards those portions of the work that become unobtainable, as revised by Dridavala, in the Division called Chikitsita.f

* ‘Vringhanas’ are medicines that promote nutrition and growth of the body.

‘Qamanas’ are medicines that alleviate disease.

‘Karshanas’ are medicines and operations that weaken and emaciate, snch as emetics, purgatives, &c. — T.

f Portions of the treatise of AgniveQa as even revised by Charaka became unobtainable. A person of the name of Dridavala, belonging to the country of the five rivers, supplied those portions after having worshipped the great god, Mahadeva, for years and obtained his blessings. Dri4avala’s work begins from this, the XVIIlh Lesson. — T.

LESSON XVIII.

We shall, after this, expound the treatment of Cough.

Thus said the illustrious’, one of Atri’s race. 1

Endued with austere penances, great energy, great steadiness, and great intelligence, Punarvasu of Atri’s race declared the following treatment for the alleviation and cure of Cough.* 2

These five are the varieties of cough which afflict human beings, viz., the three that arise from wind and the rest, (i. e., the wind-born, the bile-born, and the phlegm-born), the one that is born of wounds, .and the one that is born of weakness (or waste of the ‘dhâtus’).

If these (through neglect) are allowed to increase in intensity, they bring about dissolution. 3

The premonitary indications of all the varieties are a sense of the throat and the mouth being pierced with the spicula or pointed ends of paddy or barley.

There is itching also in the throat, and difficulty of deglutition (in consequence of the throat being dry).f 4

Its downward course being checked, the wind (viz., the breath called ‘Prâna’) goes into the upper ducts.

There obtaining the character of ‘Udana,’ it adheres to the throat and the chest. 5