Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* Hot water, poured over a fire, extinguishes it instead of adding to its intensity by its own heat. Even so the bile, which is known to be hot, coming over the digestive fire, quenches it, owing to its being a liquid, without adding to its intensity. — T.

p. 1420

CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

He is, again, afflicted by eructations that are Of a foetid smell and characterised by acidity, as also by burning of the chest and the throat, by disgust for food, and by thirst. 6S

Through food that is heavy, or excessively oily, or cold, or the like, and through indulgence in sleep immediately after one has taken one’s meals, the phlegm, becoming excited, extinguishes that fire. 66

The food eaten by such a person is digested with great difficulty. Hiccup, vomiting, disgust for food, a sensation of the mouth being overlaid by a coating of phleghmonous matter, a taste of sweetness, cough, spitting, and inflammation of the Schneiderian membrane, are the symptoms that manifest themselves. 67

The (interior of the) chest is felt to. be laved with some thick liquid substance.

The stomach is felt to be paralysed and heavy.

The eructations are of a foetid smell and sweet taste.

The heart is cheerless, and no pleasure is felt in the companion¬ ship of or congress with women. 68

The stools evacuated are broken, and heavy, and consist largely of undigested matter and mucus.

The patient, even if not emaciated, feels weakness and latigour.

Even this is what happens in ‘Grahani-disease’ born of excited phlegm. 69

In the Division called ‘Vimana’ and the Lesson called ‘Roganika,’ four kinds of digestive fire have been mentioned. Excepting that fire which is called ‘Sama,’ the three others, (vis., ‘Vishama,’ ‘Tikshna/ and ‘Manda),’ are, the Rishis say, called ‘Grahani-faults.’ 7°

When the causes and the symptoms set forth separately of ‘Grahani-disease’ characterised by (excited) wind, bile, and phlegm, are seen in a state of combi'nation, the disease should be regarded as characterised by all the three faults excited simultaneously.

I shall now lay down the medicines (prescribable in this disease). 7i

One, whose ‘Grahani’ has become the seat of excited faults, who has been stupified by scorched (half-digested) food in his stomach,

CHAR A KA-SAMHITA.

p. 1421

and who manifests flatulence, excessive salivation, sensation of un¬ easiness, burning sensation (in the stomach), disgust for food, and heaviness of the body, which are indications of indigestion of the food taken, should be made to vomit by means of water agreeably hot, or by the decoction of the seeds of Madana (Randia dumetoruni) mixed with the paste of Pippali (fruits of Piper longuni) and Sarshapa (mustard seeds). 72-73

If undigested food adheres to the ‘Pakkagaya’ (that part of the stomach where digestion takes place), it should be expelled by such drugs as are called ‘Dipana.’*

When the ‘ama Rasa’ (2. <?., the undigested juice of the food taken) spreads over the whole body, fasting and the administration of ‘Pachana’ (2. *., drugs which assist in digesting undigested food, with¬ out increasing the appetite) are prescribable. 74

When the ‘Amfigaya’ (that part of the stomach into which the food eaten goes first) has been properly corrected, unto the patient should then be given ‘peyft’ obtained from boiling the five ‘Kolas,’ light diet, and also drugs that are called ‘Dipanas.’f 75

Ascertaining that the ‘ama’ of the person suffering from windborn ‘Grahani-disease’ has been digested, the physician should cause him to drink, in little measures, ghee mixed with ‘Dipana’ drugs. 76

When the (digestive) fire (by this means) has been kindled in some measure, and when the patient’s stools and urine and wind have become adherent (i. e., there is no longer looseness of the bowels), he should for two or three days be treated with oils and ‘sweda’ (fomen¬ tation for causing perspiration) and should also be rubbed with medicated ointments ; after this, dry enemata should be administered unto him (for moving his bowels), 77

When the wind has been allayed (by dry enemata), and the patient’s fault has has been dislodged from the place where it was

* Drugs that increase the appetite without aiding digestion of undigested food, are called ‘Dipana’ or ‘Dipaniya.’ — T.

f The five ‘Kolas’ are Piper longum, the roots of the same, Piper Chaba, Plumbago Zeylanica, and dry ginger. — T.

p. 1422

CHAR A KA -SAM HI T A.

adherent, he should be purged with castor-oil mixed with alkaline ashes, or with ghee, or with sesame oil, each mixed therewith. 78

When it has been ascertained that thus purged the patient’s stomach has become completely dry, the physician should administer tianto him oily enemata by using a proper measure of oil that has been boiled with ‘Dipaniya’ drugs, and drugs that are of sour taste, and those that are alleviative of the wind. 79

One who has been treated with dry enemata, who has been purged, who has been sufficiently treated with oily enemata, and unto whom light food has been given, should be made to drink ghee . 8o

DAQAMULYADYA GHRITAJM.