Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Bala {Sida cordifolia ), (^wadangshtra (Tribulus terrestris), Vrihati {Solatium Indicum), Kalasi ( Desmodium Gangeticum), Dhavani ( Uraria lagopodioides), Sthira (a variety of Desmodium Gangeticum), Nimba {Melia Azadirachta :), Parppata {Oldenlandia biflora), Musta (tubers of Cyperus rotundus ), Trâyamaria {Ficus heterophylla ), Duralabha {Hedysa¬ rum Alhagi) :

These should be boiled for obtaining their decoction. Take then the following for making a paste of them, viz., Tamalaka {Phyllanthus Niruri), £ati {Curcuma Zerumbet), Draksha (grapes), Pushkaramula (not being obtainable, the substitute used is Aplotaxis auriculata ), Meda (not being obtainable the substitute used is Aswagandha or Physallis flexuosa ), and Amlaka (. Phyllanthus Emblica).

Mix the decoction and the paste together, and add (cow’s) milk and the ghee (of cow’s milk), and boil them together.

The ghee thus prepared is highly efficacious in alleviating fever.

It dispels, at the same time, thirst, cough and bronchites, (severe) headache, pains in the sides and the shoulders. 215-217

Unto those fever-stricken persons whose faults have been greatly excited, the intelligent physician should administer at the proper time such correctives as cause vomiting and purging and as have been laid down in the Division called ‘Kalpa.’ 218

* The measure of each of these articles, as also the method of preparation, is explained by the commentators.

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1129

Amongst emetics that are alleviative of fever, the following is one :

Madana (the fruit of Randia dumetormn), mixed with Pippali (the fruit of Piper longum ) reduced to paste, or with Kalingas (seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica), reduced to paste, or with Madhuka (liquorice), reduced to paste, and then mixed with hot water, should be drunk. This is an emetic that alleviates fever. 219

The same fruit (reduced to paste) mixed with honey and water (heated), or with the juice of the sugarcane (heated), or with ‘Saindhava’ salt and water (heated), or with wines (heated), or with ‘Tarpana’ (heated), is regarded as a beneficial emetic in fever.* 220

Or, the decoction of Mridvika (dried grapes) and Amlaka (fruit of Phyllanthus Emblica) mixed with the paste of Madana (fruit of Randia dumetorum ), should be drunk inasmuch as it is an emetic capable of alleviating fever.

Or, the decoction of Amlaka (fruit of Phyllanthus Emblica ) alone, mixed with the paste of Madana (fruit of Randia dumetorum ) and fried in ghee, should be drunk inasmuch as this also is capable of alleviating fever. 221

Or, the pulv of Trivrit ( Convolvulus Turpethum ) mixed with honey and ghee, should be licked.

Or, the decoction of Triphala (the three myrobalans), mixed with ghee, should be drunk, throwing into it honey.

(These operate as purgatives.) 222 ....

Or, Aragbadha (exudation of the fruit of Cassia fistula ), mixed with (hot) milk, or the same mixed with the decoction of -Mridvika: (dried grapes), or the pulv of Triphala (the three myrobalans), mixed with (hot) milk, or the pulv of TrayamSna (fruit of Ficus heterophylla ), should be drunk by the fever-stricken. f

These also operate as purgatives. 223

A person obtains relief 'from fever by drinking the decoction of Mridvika (dried grapes) and Abhaya (chebulic myrobalans), followed by a drink of hot milk ; or by drinking the decoction of DrakshS (dried grapes), (pllowed by a drink of hot milk.

These also operate as purgatives. 224

* By ‘Tarpana’ here, as explained by Gangadhara, is meant a decoction of drugs capable of alleviating the fault or faults excited, mixed with the pulv of fried paddy or the flour of barley.— T. • t Some texts read ‘Trivritam’ for ‘Triphala m.’— T.

p. 1130

CHAR AKA -SAM HIT A

By drinking milk boiled with the five roots viz., Vilwa (AEgle Marmelos), SyonSka ( Colosanthes Indicdj, GambhSri ( Gmelina arborea), PatalS ( Stereospermum suave-olens), and GanikSri ( Premna serratifolia', a fever-stricken person obtains relief from bronchites, asthma, head¬ ache, pains in the sides, and fever. 225

By drinking milk boiled with the decoction of the roots of Eranda ( Ricinus Communis ), one obtains relief from fever accompanied by aching pains in the rectum.

By drinking milk boiled with pieces of the raw fruit of Vilwa ( AEgle Marmelos), one obtains relief from the same ailment. 226

Milk boiled with Trikantaka (otherwise called Gokshura, i. e., Tribulus lanuginosus), Bala (Sida cordifolid), VySghri ( Solanum Xanthocarpum ), Guda (old treacle), and Nagara (dry ginger), cures suppression of stools and urine, and is alleviative of dropsical swell¬ ings and fever. 227

Milk boiled with Nâgara (dry ginger) and MridvikS (dried grapes) and Kharjjura (dates), and mixed (when cooled) with ghee , honey, and sugar, is alleviative of fever accompanied by thirst. 228

Milk, boiled with four times as much of water alone, is alleviative of fever.