Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Sphatikâri, i. e., alum), Kagiga (sulphate of iron), the bark of Darbi ( Berberis Asiatica), and Sarjjika-lavana (carbonate of soda) : .

Reduce these to a paste. .

Cook the paste in oil (of sesame), mixing therewith the decoction of the roots and leaves of Karavira ( Nerium odorum ) ; or in mustard oil with which is mixed cow’s urine of four times its measure.

The oil thus cooked should be placed in a vessel made of the husk of a bitter gourd.

By rubbing them with this oil, the physician may quickly cause the circular patches of leprosy to melt. He may also kill the worms and the itching sensation of leprosy therewith. 108-113

This is the composition of “Kanakakshira Oil.

Kushtha (Aplotaxis anriculata), the leaves of Tamala ( Cinna - momum Tamala ), Maricha (black pepper), Manahgila (realgar), and Kagiga (sulphate of iron), should be pounded together. The product should be mixed with oil and kept in a vessel made of copper, for seven days. ”4

The patches of leprosy of the variety called ‘Sidhma,’ rubbed with this oil and exposed to the sun, disappear in course of a week. Of one unto whom correctives have been administered, new Kilâsa (leucoderma) disappears by use of this oil for a. month, provided the patient avoids bathing for that period. Ir5

This is the composition of “Sidhma-lepa.”

The oil of Sarshapa (mustard seeds), of the seeds of Karanja (Pongamia glabra ), of the seeds of Koshataka (Luffa amara), of Ingudi ( Balanites Roxburgkii), as also of Khadira ( Acacia Catechu ), is beneficial in all varieties of leprosy. 116

Even these are the oils (that are beneficial for leprosy).

Jivanti ( Ccelogyne ovalis), Manjishta ( Rubia cordifolia \ Darbi (Ber¬ beris Asiatica ), and Kampillaka (Mallotus philippensis) :

Reduce these to paste ; and add milk of the same measure.

Add ghee of cow’s milk and mustard oil, or one only of these.

substitute zinc for Kharpara ; that is, they consider Kharpara as a mere synonym of zinc or Yasada. * * * Kharpara, as sold by Hindustani medicine-vendors, occurs in greyish, or greyish black, porous, earthy masses composed of agglutinated granules. On chemical analysis it was found to consist of carbonate and silicate of zinc, with traces of other metals, as iron, baryta, &c.”— U. C. Dutt’s Materia Medica of the Hindus .

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CHARAKA-SAMHITA

Boil all these together (and strain the product through a piece of clean cloth).

After the boiling is over, add the exudation of Shorea robusta , and wax.

Applied as a plaster, it cures Vipadikfi (Psoriasis of foot), Charmakushtha (Hypertrophy of skin), Eka-kushtha (Iethyosis), Kitima (Keloid), and Masaka (Lichen). ”7-118

Take the blood of the boar, and throw into it Prithvika (Krishnajiraka, i. <?., Nigella saliva), and Saindhava salt, till the liquid becomes like soft clay.

This clay forms a plaster that cures leprosy characterised by circular patches.

To the clay thus prepared, add Kustumburu ( Coriandrum sati¬ vum), and Kushtha (Ap lot axis auriculata ). This preparation also cures the same variety of leprosy. ”9

Even this is the composition of the plasters applied to leprosy characterised by circular patches.

Putika (a variety of Pongamia glabra). Daru ( Pinus deodara ), Jatila (otherwise called Jatamansi, i. e., Nardostachys Jatamansi ). Pakka-surS (wine duly distilled through bent-tubes), honey, Mudgaparni (Phaseolus trilobus), and Kskanasa (otherwise called Kakajangha or Kakatundi, i. e., Leea hirta) :

Reduce these to a paste. This paste has been known to cure leprosy with circular patches. 120 x. Chitraka (Plumbago 'Leylamca) and (^obhanjana (Moringa pterygosperma) ; 2. Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), ApSmarga

(Achyranthes aspera), and Devadaru (Pinus deodara ); 3. Khadira (Acacia Catechu ) ; 4. Dhaba ( Conocarpus latifolia) ; 5. SyamS (used for Trivrit of dark-coloured roots, i e., a variety of Convolvulus Turpetlium), Danti ( Croton polyandrum ) and Dravanti (Danti having small roots, i. e., a variety of Convolvlus Turpethum ) ; and 6. LakshS (shell-lac), Rasanjana (galena), Els ( Elettaria cardamomum), and Punarnava ( Boerhavia diffusa ) :

Plasters made of each of these six groups of drugs are beneficial in leprosy.

These six should be applied, mixed with the ‘manda’ of curds. Every one of them is alleviative of wind and phlegm. 121-122

Even this is the composition of the six (well-known plasters).

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

p. 1227

Edâgaja ( Cassia Tore t), Kushtha (Aplo taxis auriculata), Saindhava salt, Sauviraka (a wine of that name), mustard seeds, and Krimighna (otherwise called Vidanga, i. e., Embelia Ribes), form a plaster which relieves ‘Krimi-kushtha’ (leprosy characterised by worms), ‘Mandalakushtha’ (leprosy characterised by circular patches), and ‘Dadrukushtha’ (Ringworm). I23

This is the composition of the plaster called ‘EdagajSdi.’

Edagaja ( Cassia Tor a), Sarjjarasa (exudation of Shorea robusta], and the seeds of Mulaka (garden radish), — these should be reduced into a paste with the aid of ‘Kanjika’ (fermented gruel of rice).

The paste should at first be used for rubbing and then applied as a plaster in the case of ‘Sidhma-kushtha’ (Pityriasis versicolor). 124

Even this is the composition of the plaster for Pityriasis versicolor.