Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

been emptied by undue administration of purgatives; they whose digestive fire is not strong, they that are labouring for a long time under fever with diarrhoea and cough and phthisis, and they that are weak in strength, should take the small dose. It can always be given up easily ; it cools the body ; it enhances blood and the elements of the body ; it increases strength, and keeps the body free from disesse for a long time.33-37

The following persons should drink Ghee : —

They that have constitutions characterised by a predominance of wind and bile ; they that are desirous of strengthening their eye¬ sight ; they that are wounded ; they that have been weakened by disease ; they that are advanced in years ; they that are young in years ; they that are weak ; they that are desirous of lengthening their lives ; they that are desirous of improving their strength, complexion, and voice ; they that desire nourishment ; they that desire brilliancy of complexion, or energy, or vigor of memory, or strength of understanding, or a powerful digestive fire ; or great intelligence, or strength of the senses ; and they that are afflicted with burns, or with wounds inflicted with the aid of weapons, or with poison.38'40

The following persons should drink oil, and drink it in the cold season : —

They whose phlegm has been excited and who have abundance of fat ; they whose necks and abdomens are lax and large ; * they that are afflicted with diseases of the wind ; they in whose consti¬ tutions the wind predominates ; they who desire strength of body, or its leanness, or lightness, or hardness, or durability of limbs, or coolness and softness and thinness of the skin ; they that have worms in their stomachs ; they that labour under constipation of bowels ; and they that have sores in their intestines.41'43

Amongst those for whom oily substances should be prescribed the following are the persons that should drink fat : —

They that are constantly exposed to the wind and the sun ; they whose constitutions are dry ; they who have been reduced by bearing

* ‘ Chala’ is lax, i.e., exceedingly fleshy. — T,

p. 144

CHA RAKA-SAMHITA.

heavy burthens or by excessive walking ; they whose vital seed or blood has been dried up ; they whose phlegm and fat have been reduced ; * they whose bones, joints, nerves, sinews, vitals, and stomach, have much pain ; they whose ducts and other hollow parts of the body are filled with strong wind ; and they that are habituated to the drinking of fat.44'46

Amongst those that deserve the administration of oily substan¬ ces the following are those that should drink marrow : —

They that have a strong digestive fire ; they that are constantly exposed to the drain of exertion and labour ; they that are capable of eating much ; they that are inured to the administration of oily substances ; they that labour under disorders of the wind ; and they that have constipitated bowels.47

I have thus told thee for what men what class of oily substances should be prescribed.

The periods for which oily substances should be taken are two, viz., seven nights and three nights.

The persons for whom oily substances should be prescribed are those that require copious perspiration ; those whose blood should be corrected by emetics and purgativers ; those whose bodies are dry; those that have disorders of the wind; and those that are habituated to physical exercises, alcoholic drinks, and sexual congress.49

Oily substances should not be administered unto those whose constitutions require to be made dry without the application of emetics and purgatives and errhines. They should not also be ad¬ ministered unto those that have become divested of phlegm and fat. They also from whose mouths and anal and sexual canals discharges take place ; they whose digestive fire is always weak ; they that are always thirsty ; they that are subject to swoons ; they that are quick with child ; they whose palates have become dry ; they that have no appetite; they that have nausea; they that have diseased stomachs ; they that are afflicted with dysentery or with

* In 1 nisphita the particle ‘ ni ’ is equivalent to ‘ na. ’ Hence the componud means “ Kshina-kapha ’ and ‘ kshina-medas.’ — T.

C HA RA KA -SA MHI TA.

p. 143

poison ; they that are weak ; they that are very emaciated ; they with whom such substances do not at all agree ; and they that are drunkards, are persons unto whom Oils should not be administered. Nor should they be prescribed for persons when errhines and enemata have been administered; These men become afflicted with serious diseases if they drink Oils.50'5®