Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

* The meaning is this : in diseases of wind and phlegm, the Swedana should be both cool and dry ; in diseases of wind only, it should be cool ; and in those of phlegm only, it should be dry. — T.

f The ‘ amacaya ’ is that part of the stomach where the food goes immediately • after being eaten ; while the ‘ pakkafya ’ is that part of the stomach where digestion takes place. — T,

% ‘ Naktaka ’ is a piece of cloth or a dust.’ — 7’.

wiper made of cotton. ‘ Pure ’ is ‘ free from

CHA RA KA-SA MHITA.

p. 155

■disappeared, when the body has become soft, the process of Sweda should, it is said, be discontinued. Excitement of the bile, swoons or loss of consciousness, langour of limbs, thirst, burning sensation in the skin, perspiration, and weakness of limbs, are indications of one unto whom Sweda has been administered in excess.13-14

The course of conduct, depending upon the use of sweet unctions and cooling things, that has been laid down in the Lesson called Tasyajitiya (VI)., in respect of thfe hot season, should, in its entirety, be followed by one unto' whom Sweda has been applied in excess.

Sweda should not be applied to the following persons, viz., those that are habituated to eat or drink astringents, those that regularly drink alcoholic stimulants, women that are quick with child, persons subject to hemorrhage caused by excite¬ ment of the bile, those whose bile has been excited, those that have diarrhcea, those that are dry, those that are afflicted with diabetes, those that are suffering Under prolapsus ani or prolapsus uteri, those whose constitutions have been injured or disorderd by poison or alcohol, those that are fatigued, those that are in a swoon, •those that are adipose, those that are afflicted with gonorrhoea through disordered bile, those that are thirsty, those that arfc hungry, those that have given way to wrath, those that are under the influence of grief, those that are afflicted with ansemia and dropsy, those that have sores on their bodies, those that are afflict¬ ed with hemorrhages caused by disorders of the wind, those that are very weak or very emaciated, those whose constituent elements have dried up, and those that labour under gutta serena.*1 5-1 8

Sweda is regarded as beneficial in all the following diseases, viz. catarrh, phthisis, hiccup, asthma, heaviness of limbs, otalgia, wry neck; head-ache, hoarseness of voice, choking up of the voice, facial paralysis, paralysis of a particular limb or of the whole body, in spasms and contortions of the body, suppression of stools and

* Chakrapanidatta points out that notwithstanding this prohibition, if the disease •to be treated be such that nothing but the application of Sweda will cure it, then. Sweda should be applied on the principle of choosing the lesser to the greater evil. By ‘ Madhu-meha ’ every kind of Meha is supposed to be indicated. ‘ Meha ’ is a com¬ mon term by which various affections of the urine are indicated. — T.

p. 156

CHA RAKA-SAMHITA.

urine, obstruction in the flow of the vital seed, yawning, pains in the sides or back or loins or abdomen, sciatica, strangury or painful micturition, enlargement of the testicles, pains all over the body, diseases in the feet, the thighs, the knees, and the calf, and pains in those parts of the body, swelling or intumescence, spasms, diseases of the stomach, exposure to cold, tremblings and tre.mours, diseases in ancles caused by the wind being excited, diseases in which the body becomes contracted in consequence of the provocation of the wind, diseases called Ayama (due to the wind), sharp and shooting pains of every kind, stiffness of limbs, heaviness of limbs, and loss of the sensation of touch.19'23

Sweda should be applied with balls made of Sesamum Indicum, Phaseolus radiata , Dolichos uniflorus ( syn, Dolichos biflorus, Roxburgh ), rice, ghee, oil, meat boiled with rice, Payasa, Kr^ara, and meat.*24