An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. I: Sutrasthanam — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1907)
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The translator’s English as printed (Kunja Lal Bhishagratna). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
sweet in digestion, heav}", cooling and slimy. It acts as a vermifuge, proves curative in haemoptysis, psoriasis and Meha, and is* possessed of a high efficacy. Honey known as the Arghyam is possessed of properties highly beneficial to the eye. It is a gi^eater subduer of Pittam and Kapham than any other kind of honey, is astringent in taste, and pungent in digestion. It is a bitter tonic and does not generate Vayu in the system. Honey known as the Auddalakam improves the voice and relish for food. It is antitoxic, and proves curative in cutaneous affections. It is heat-making in its potency, and acid and astringent in taste. It generates Pittam, and is pungent in digestion. Honey, known as the D^lam, is parchifying and proves beneficial in cases of vomiting and Meha. Fresh honey is constructive and aphrodisiac, acts as a mild laxative, and to a small extent subdues the deranged Kapham. Old honey is astringent and liquefacient, and reduces fat and obesity. Honey, that has attained a thickened or condensed state in course of time (Pakka Madhu), tends to subdue the three deranged humours, while thin and im matured honey (Ama Madhu) is possessed of contrary properties, and tends to agitate the three fundamental humours of the body. In conjunction with many other drugs and medicinal remedies, honey proves curative in various diseases, and partakes of the virtues of the drugs or substances with which it is so used (Yoga-Vahika).
4^2 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA'. [ Chap. XLV.
Honey is not collected from the flowers of any particular species. On the other hand, the honeymaking bees cull it from the sap and juice of flowers and plants, which are incompatible with one another in respect of their nature, taste, virtue, potency and re-actionary (chemical) effect. For these reasons, and further from the fact of it being prepared by poisonous bees, honey becomes positively injurious after contact with heat or fire, and accordingly the u^e of hot or boiled honey is forbidden.
Metrical Texts : — On account of its poisonous contact in its origin honey exerts a similar injurious virtue. Used in a boiling or heated state, or in a hot country, or during the hot season of the year, or in a heated state of the body, honey is sure to prove fatal like poison. Honey is specially made injurious by hot contact owing to its placidity and coolness, and further for the reason of its being collected from the sap of a variety of flowers and plants. Atmospheric water (rain-water), like heat, serves to impart an injurious character to all kinds of honey (except the one known as the Arghyam Madhu).
Wletrical Texts :— For emetic purposes honey may be administered with any other hot substance, inasmuch as it is intended in such a case that the imbibed lioney, instead of being retained orp. 453 digested in the stomach, should be ejected immediately after its use.* greater discomfort than all other undigested substances in the stomach, more so because internal fermenfation and use of hot water, which are usually resorted to in a case of deranged digestion, can not be used in a case of undigested honey retained in the stomach, owing to the poisonous nature of the chemical change (Vip^ka)
* Undigested honey is more painful, or gives rise to a
it undergoes therein in contact with hot substances in general. Hence, undigested honey is as fatal as any poison.
The Sugar-cane group :- Sugar cane is sweet in taste and digestion, heavy, cool, demulcent, strength-giving, spermatopoietic, and diuretic. It produces Kapham in the bod}", and proves remedial in haemoptysis, and helps the germination of worms in the intestines.
Metrical text : — There are many species of sugar-cane such as, the Paundraka, Bhiruka, Vanshaka, Shataporaka, K^ntara, Tapasekshu, Kastekshu, Suchipatraka, Naipala, Dirghapatraka, Nilapora, and Koshakrit. Now we shall deal with the specific
* Though the use of honey with hot substances is not forbidden in such cases, still many an experienced physician of the Ayurvedic scliool thinks it safe to refrain from its use, lest it might be retained in the stomach for a considerable time, or find out a downward outlet and pass off with the stool.
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