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

A betel-leaf prepared with cloves, camphor, nutmeg (Jati), lime, araca-nut, Kakkola and KaUikdhva (Lata-kasturi), etc., should be taken (chewed after meals), as it tends to cleanse the mouth, impart a sweet aroma to it, enhance its beauty and cleanse and strengthen the voice, the tongue, the teeth, the jaws and the sense-organs. It checks excessive salivation, soothes the body (Hridya), and acts as a general safeguard against throat disease. A betel-leaf (prepared as before) proves wholesome after a bath, after meals, after anointing as well as after rising from sleep. A person suffering from Rakta-Pitta, Kshata-Kshina, thirst, or parchedness of the mouth should refrain from taking betel-leaf, the use of which is equally forbidden in such diseases as anaemia, internal dryness of the organism and epilepsy. 12.

^irobhyanga :— Anointing (Abhyanga) the head with oil is a good cure for the affections of the head. It makes the hair grow luxuriantly, and imparts thickness, softness and a dark gloss to them. It soothes and invigorates the head and the sense-organs and removes the wrinkles of the face. The medicinal oil known as the Chakra-Taila should be cooked with the paste (Kalka) and the decoction of Madhuka, Kshira-i'ukld, Sarala, Deva-ddm and the minor Pancha-mula taken in equal parts (in each case). The head should be constantly anointed with this cooling oil. 13-14.

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Combing" the hair improves its growth, removes dandriff and dirt, and destroys the parasites of the scalp. Pouring oil (Karna-purana) into the cavities of the ears is highly efficacious in pains of the jaws (Hanu and of the Manyd, and acts as a good cure for head -ache and ear-ache. Anointing (Abhyanga) the body (with oil, etc ) imparts a glossy softness to the skin, guards against the aggravation of the Vayu and the Kapha, improves the colour and strength and gives a tone to the root-principles (Dhatus) of the body. * I5-I7Parishcka : — Affusing the body (Parisheka) removes the sense of fatigue, and brings about the adhesion of broken joints. It alleviates the pain which usually attends burns, scalds, bruises and lacerations, and subdues the actions of the deranged Vdyu. Sneha (oil) affused on the human organism imparts a tone and vigour to its root-principles (Dhatus), in the same manner as water furnishes the roots of a tree or a plant with the necessary nutritive elements, and fosters its growth, when poured into the soil where it grows. The use of Sneha (oil, etc.) at a bath causes the Sneha to penetrate into the system through the mouths of the veins (Siras) and the ducts (Dhamanis) of the body, as also through

* Rubbed on the body and allowed to stand or kept unwiped, the Sneha (oil) reaches down the skin, through the hair-follicles in the course of time necessary to utter four hundred Matras. It reaches the principle of blood in the course of that necessary to utter five hundred Matrds, and to the principle of flesh in the course of that necessary to utter six hundred Matrds. It penetrates further to the principle of fat in the course of that necessary to utter seven hundred Matras, and to the principle of bone in the course of that necessary to utter eight hundred Matrds, and lastly to the principle of marrow in the course of that necessary to utter nine hundred Matrds. It successively cures the diseases respectively located in those principles. — Dallana.

Chap. XXIV. CHIKITSA STHANAM. 4^$

the roots of the hair, and thus soothes and invigorates the body with its own essence. i8 — 20.

Under the circumstances, affusions and anointments of the body with oil or clarified butter should be prescribed by an intelligent person with due regard to one's habit, congeniality and temperament and to the climate and the season of the year as well as to the preponderance of the deranged Dosha or Doshas in one's physical constitution. 21.

Prohibitions of anointments, etc.:—