An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. I: Sutrasthanam — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1907)

Oil From Ekaishika seeds is sweet, and extremely cooling. It subdues the Pittam, increases the Kapham and aggravates the V^yu. The Oil of the seeds of mango stones is slightly bitter in taste, and extremely aromatic. It subdues the Va}^! and Kapham. It is parchifying, sweet and astringent, palatable, and not highly Pittam-making.

IVIetrical Texts : — The therapeutic properties of the oils from the seeds of fruits, which have not been specifically described in the present chapter, should be considered as identical with those of the fruits or seeds of which they have been so pressed out. All the vegetable oils (Sneha) described above should be regarded as possessed of the virtue of subduing the bodily Vayu, and they possess some of the properties, which specifically belong to Besainum oil. Sesamum oil is the most commendable of all oils inasmuch as the very word, which signifies oil (Tailam), is etymologically derived from Tilam (sesamum).

The oil, myosin (Vasd), fat, marrow, and Ghritam obtained from animals, which live in villages (Gramya), or frequent the marshy swamps (Anupa), or are aquatic (Audoka) in their habits, are heavy, heat- making in their potency, and sweet in taste. They subdue the bodily Vayu, while those obtained from J^ngala (such as deer, etc.) or carnivorous animals, or from those possessed of unbifurcated hoofs, are light, cool in their

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potenc}', astringent in taste, and prove curative in cases of haemoptysis. The fat, marrow, etc. of animals of the Pratuda and Vishkira species (doves, pigeons^ etc.) reduce the bodily Kapham. Of clarified butter, oil, myosin (Vasa), fat and marrow of animals eacli is heavier in digestion, and possesses a greater power of subduing the bodily Vayu than the one immediately preceding it in the order of enumeration.

The Honey Group : — Honey is sweet, and leaves an astringent after-taste. It is parchifying, cold, stomachic, cosmetic, tonic, light, softening, palatable, liquefacient (Lekhanan), and fermenting (Sandhanam). It acts as a purifying and healing agent in respect of ulcers and eyes, is aphrodisiac, astringent, and tends to permeate all the minutest channels and capillaries of the organism. It is antifat and pacifies the deranged Pittam and Kapham, and proves curative in hiccough, Meha, dyspnoea, cougli, dysentery, vomiting and thirst. It is a vermifuge, antitoxic and demulcent, and influences the subduing of the three deranged humours. Owing to its lightness it subdues the deranged Kapham, and proves a good antidote to the deranged Vayu and Pittam owing to its sliminess, sweetness and astringent taste.

IVIetrical Texts : — Eight different kinds of honey are commonly used such as, the Pauttikam, Bhr^maram, Kshaudram, Mdkshikam, Chh^tram,

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Argh3'am, Auddalakam and Dalam.* Of these the honey obtained from the hives of bees, known as the Puttikas, is hot and parchifying owing to their habit of sucking the juice or sap of flowers and plants without eliminating therefrom other foreign or poisonous matter, that might have become naturally or accidentally mixed with it. This kind of honey is intoxicating and acid in its re-action, and tends to aggravate the Vayu, blood and Pittam. It acts as a liquefacient or discutient agent. Honey, known as the Bhramaram, is extremely heavy owing to its extremely sweet taste and slimy character, while the one known as the Kshaudram is extremely cool, light and liquefacient. Honey known as the Makshikain is lighter, dryer and more efficacious than the honey of the preceding class (Kshaudram), and proves specially benencial in cases of dyspnoea, etc. Honey, known as the Chhatram, is

* (l) The kind of honey obtained from hives of large, yellow bee*, is called the Pauttikam.

(2) The kind of honey obtained from hives of bees of the Bhramara species is called Bhramaram.

(3) The kind of honey ol^tained from hives of small, tawny brown bees is called the Kshaudram.

(4) The kind of honey obtained from the hives of large, brown bees of the jNIakshik^ species is called Makshikam,

(5) The kind of honey obtained from the umbrella shaped hives of bees of the Chhatra species is called Chhdtram.

(6) The honey obtained from the hives of thin-mouthed bees of the Argha species often found in ant-hills is called Arghyam.

(7) The kind of honey obtained from the hives of small brown bees of the Uddiilakam species is called Auddalakam.

(8) The kind of honey found accumulated in leaves of honey-bearing plants is called D^lam.

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