An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. II — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1911)

Nila-Ghrita :— Vdyasi, Phalgu and Tiktd each weighing one hundred Palas, two Prastha measures of powdered iron, three Adhaka (eight seers) measures of Triphald and two Adhaka measures of Asana should be boiled together with three Drona measures of water. This decoction should be taken down when reduced to one quarter of its original measure and cooked again with a quantity of clarified butter (weighing a quarter part of the former (decoction) and with a Kalka consisting of Indra-yava, Trikatu, Tvak, Deva-ddru, Aragvadha, Pdrdvata-padi, Danti, Vdkuchi^ Kes'atdhva (Vakula) and Kantakdri. The patient should be made to drink this medicated clarified butter when the disease would be found to have attacked the Dhatus (fundamental principles of the organism), or to have become involved in thep. 355 aggravated Doshas of the system. The diseased patches should be rubbed with it, in the event of the affection being found to be confined to the Tvak (skin) alone. Even the type of Kushtha, commonly held to be incurable, has been found to prove amenable to the use of this medicated clarified butter, which is known as the Nila-Ghrita. 20.

IVIaha-Nila-Chrita :-A Tula* weight of

the drugs known as TripJiald, Tvak, Trikatu, Surasd, ]\ladaya7itikd, Vdyasi and AragiuidJia and ten Pala weights of each of the drugs known as Kdkamdchi, Arka, Varmia, Danii, Ktitaja, CJiitraka^ Ddru-haridrd and Kaiitakdri should be boiled together with three Drona measures of water. This decoction, boiled down or reduced to six Prastha measures, should be again boiled with the watery secretion of cowdung, cow's urine, milk, curd and clarified butter, each weighing an Adhaka, and with the Kalka (weighing one-fourth as much of clarified butter) of BJiii-nhnha, Trikatu, Chitraka, Kardfija-{r\i\i, Nilikd, S'rdnid. Avalguja, Piiu, Nilitii and Nimba-^iow^x?,. It is a curative for Kushtha. The rubbing of the diseased patches with this Ghrita imparts a healthy and natural colour to the skin in cases of Svitra or white leprosy. It also cures diseases like fislula-in-ano, worms in the intestines and Ars'as. It is known as the Mahai-Nila-Ghrita.f 21.

A compound consisting of cow's urine, Chitraka, Trikatu and honey should be kept for a fortnight in a

• A Tula is equal to a hundred Palas or twelve seers and a half of our modern measure.

|- Dallana, in his commentary, says that the two Ghritas (Nila and Maha-Nila) seem to be spurious (Anarsha). But he has included them in his commentary as Jejjata and Gayaddsa have read and explained ihem before him.

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dosed earthen pitcher which formerly contained clarified butter. A Svitra-patient would do well to take this medicine after this period. He should also observe the rules of diet and regimen of a Kushtha-patient. The application of a Lepa (medicinal plaster), prepared by pasting the tender twigs of the Putika, Arka, Stmhi, Aragvadha and of the Jdti flower with cow's urine, would prove curative in cases of Svitra, ringworm, ulcer, bad types of haemorrhoids and sinus. 22-23.

In case the foregoing medicinal remedies prove ineffective, the patient should be duly bled for the purpose of letting out the vitiated blood from the system, and after sufficiently recouping his strength (after blood-betting) his body should be anointed with clarified butter. Copious vomitings should be induced with the help of strong emetics and the patient should be treated subsequently with a judicious administration of purgatives (so as to remove the aggravated Doshas from the system). The aggravated Doshas of the body, not being fully expelled from the organism of a Kushtha-patient by means of the preceding emetic and purgative measures, tend to extend all over the organism and the disease in consequence thereof is sure to lapse into one of an incurable type. Hence the aggravated Doshas should be fully eliminated from the organism. 24-25.

Emetics should be administered to a Kushtha-patient once a fortnight and Sramsana (purgatives) once a month. He should be bled twice a year though not profusely and medicated snuffs should be administered to him every fourth day. 26.

Internal application of Haritaki, Trikatu and treacle

( prepared from the juice of the sugarcane ) mixed with oil would lead to the early recovery of a case of Kushtha.

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