Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Through food and drink that are dry (i. e., not oily), as also through injudicious physical exercise, the mild wind in the stomach, going upwards, begets that variety of ‘ywasa’ which is called ‘Kshudra.’*

This '‘^w5sa’ does not painfully obstruct any of the limbs. 64

It does not destroy the functions of any of the limbs of the body. Nor does it prove so painful as the other varieties.

It does not obstruct the usual course of food and drink.f 65

It does not produce any kind- of pain in' any of the senses; nor does it produce any other (supervening) disease.

This variety of asthma is curable when the person affected has strength (z. e., has not been rendered weak).

As regards all the varieties of asthma (mentioned above). They are curable when their indications are not fully mansifested [i. e., when treatment is begun in their incubatory state). 66

Thus have the different varieties of asthma, as also those of hic¬ cup, been declared, with their (respective) symptoms.

Those amongst the varieties mentioned which are destructive of life should be avoided (z. e., should not be taken up for treatment), since these always manifest themselves with violence and quickly terminate life.J 67

As regards those which are curable or Suppressible, the physician should commence to treat them, without delay, by the aid of proper medicines ; for if neglected, they destroy life quickly like fire consum¬ ing a house made of dry materials. 68 *

* ‘Kshudra- vata’ is mild wind, i. e., the wind which has not been provoked into intensity. — T.

•)• The language, instead of being terse, is evidently pleonastic. ‘Duhkhena angaprabSdhakah’ is the same as ‘Hinasti na cha gatrffni.’

What is meant, again, by ‘Uchitam gatim’ of ‘bhojanap5n5nam’ is this : food and drink become transformed, in the first instance, into ‘Rasa’ or juice. This juice becomes blood, &c. These operations are no way affected by this variety of asthma.— T.

% The language is certainly pleonastic. — T.

CHARAKA-SAMHI7A.

p. 1485

Listen now to the treatment, as propounded by the Rishis, ;Of both asthma and hiccup, which is verily the same in conse¬ quence of the sameness of their originating cause, the localities affected, and the places in which they first arise.* * * § 69

One afflicted with hiccup or asthma should at first be treated with oilifying drugs.

(When sufficiently, oiled by this means) his body should then be rubbed with oils mixed with salts, and he should be treated with those varieties of ‘sweda’ (fomentation for inducing perspiration) which are known by the names of ‘Nadi,’ ‘Prastara,’ and ‘Sankara.’+ 7°

By these operations, the thickened phlegm (of the person afflicted with hiccup or asthma1 in the ducts becomes dissolved, all the outlets become softened, and the wind becomes restored to its normal course.^ 7i

Even as the snow in mountain valleys, heated by the rays of the sun, melts and escapes out (in a liquefied state), the thickened phlegm (in the body of the person afflicted with hiccup or asthma), heated by the- operations of ‘sweda’, melts and escapes out. 72

Having ascertained that the person has been sufficiently fomented (for inducing perspiration), the physician should give him oily food to eat with the meat-juice of pork and fish, and a copious measure of curds. 73

Then when the phlegm is increased in quantity through such diet, the physician should administer emetics unto him, consisting of the fruits of Pippali ( Piper longuin ) and ‘Saindhava’ salt, mixed with honey, and other drugs that are not hostile to the wind.§ 74

* ‘Karana’ indicates the originating cause or causes, such as indulgence in forbidden practices ; ‘Stliana’ implies the localities affected ; and ‘Mula’ (literally, root) implies ‘Udbhava sthana prathamika,’ that is, the place where these diseases first arise. — T.

f Vide ‘SutrasthSna’, Lesson IV, called ‘Sweda’. — T.

+ ‘Khani’, which is explained as ‘Randhrani’, means the outlets, such as the nostrils, &c.. These become softened or yielding, and hence afford passage for the liquefied phlegm to escape. — T.

§ ‘Vatavirodhi yat’, i. e., as do not provoke the wind, or are hostile to it.— T.

[486

CHAR A KA -SAM HIT A.

When (by means of emetics) the vitiated phlegm has been expelled from the body, the person feels ease, since, the ducts being all cleared, the wind courses without obstruction of any kind. 75

If (after the above treatment), any remnant of the fault (phlegm) still adheres to the ducts, the physician possessed of intelligence should then expel it by means of fumigation. 76

Turmeric, barley, the fruits of Eranda (Ricinus communis). Lac,' galena, Devadaru (Pinus deodara), Ala (yellow orpiment) and Mangsi (2. e., Jatamagnsi or Nardostachys Jatamansi), — these are pounded into a paste and sticks are made of the paste.

Soaking these sticks (when dry)' in ghee, their smoke should be inhaled ; or the smoje should be inhaled of the paste of barley alone (made into sticks) soaked in ghee. 77