Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa
170 - Diseases
Dhanvantari said:
1. Fever is of eight types inasmuch as it is produced by the doshas severally or in two or in combination or by external casual factors. Water boiled with these drugs: Musta1, Parpațaka2, Ušhīra3, Chandana4, Udichya5 and Nagara6 and then cooled should be given to the patient to quench his thirst and rise in temperature.
1. Cyperus rotindus or C. scariosus.
2. Perhaps the Fumaria species. (GVDB, p. 239-40.
3. Vetiveria zizanioides.
4. Santalum alloum.
5. Identity not clear.
6. A synonym of drdraka.
2. A decoction made of Nagara, Devakäshta7, Dhanyåka8 and the two Bruhatis should be given to a fever patient. It is digestive and dispels fever.
7. A synonym of devadaru=Cedrus deodara.
8. Coriandrum sativum.
3. A Kaşhaya or astrigent decoction made of Aragvadha9 Abhaya10, Musta, Rikta11 and Granthika12 is digestive and very efficacious in an Amajvara (fever with mucous secretions) attended with colic.
9. Cassia fishtula.
10. A synonym of haritaki.
11. Identity not clear.
12. A synonymn of pippalim ūla.
4. Madhūkasära, Sindhüttha1, Vacă, Uşhana2 and Kana3 must be taken in equal parts and ground into fine powder. This, mixed with water, is a good medicine to restore a person from an unconscious state.
1. Identity not clear.
2. Any one of the panchakola group of drugs. (GVDB, p. 55).
3. Identity not clear.
5. A decoction made of Truvrut4, Viśhāla5, Triphala, Kațuka and Aragvadha along with Kshara (Alkali) is a good purgative. When drunk it dispels fever of all varieties.
4. Operculina turpethum.
5. Trichosanthes bracteata.
6. A decoction made of Mahaushadha6, Amruta7, Musta, Chandana, Ushira and Dhanyaka taken with sugar and honey dispels Trutiyaka (Tertian) fever.
6. A synonym of shunthi.
7. Either guduchi or haritaki.
7. Strips of Apåmärga, Jață tied round the waist with seven red threads on a Sunday cure the Trutiyaka fever.
8. If one performs Tarpana with gingelly seeds to a sonless ascetic who has passed away in the nothern bank of the river Gangā he will be cured of Aikāhika (intermittent) fever.
9. A decoction of Guduchi, Triphala, Vasaka, Rujvika8 and Balā along with its rudiment cooked with ghee removes fever.
8. Identity not clear.
10. A decoction of Dhátri9, Shivá10, Kaņā and Vahni11 dispels all sorts of fevers.
9. A synonym of amalaki.
10. Perhaps haritaki (GVDB, p. 400)
11. A synonym of chitraka.
I shall now explain the various remedial measures for dysentery attended with fever.
11. A decoction prepared with Prushniparņi12, Bala, Bilva, Någara, Utpala, Dhanyáka, Patha13, indrayava, Bhūnimba, Mustă, Parpaţaka and Mahaushadha cures dysentery with fever and mucous discharge.
12. Uraria picta.
13. Cissampelos paricra.
12. A decoction with Någara, Ativişhå1, Musta, Bhūnimba, Amruta and Vatsaka2 cures all kinds of fever and all sorts of dysentery.
1. Aconitum heterophyllum.
2. A synonym of kutaja.
13-14. Water boiled with Musta, Parpațaka, Udichya and Shrngavera3 can be given to an Atisåra (dysentery) patient. Along with his food he must take Shālaparņi4, Přuśhniparni, Bruhati, Kaņțakárikā, Balá, Shvadamshtra5, Viśhvådi6, Patha, Nagara and Dhanyaka. It is efficacious.
3. A synonym of drdraka.
4. Desmodium gageticum.
5. A synonym of Gokshura.
6. A synonym of Shundhi.
15. A decoction made of Vishva and the seed of mango fruit taken with unrefined sugar and honey is a cure for Atisára. Similarly, Kutaja bark with Kanā is also efficacious.
16. A decoction of Vatsaka, Ativişhă, Tishva, Kana and Kanda is very efficacious in Atīsāra with blood, colic and mucous discharge.
17. Now the treatment of Grahaņi (diarrhoea) is explained. Grahaņi is the result of impaired digestion. Ghi with the decoction and residue of Chitraka dispels diarrhoea. It is appetising and efficacious in disorders of enlarged spleen, tumour, Ascites, colic and piles.
18-19. Five kinds of salt viz. Sauvarchala, Saindhava, Vidanga, Audbhida and Samudra (of sea water) shall be used here. Three ways of the treatment of piles are: surgical operations, cauterisation and alkaline remedies. Buttermilk freshly made is also efficacious in piles.
20. Guduchi with Pippali, Abhaya fried in ghee or Truvrt with Amlalonika7 can be taken for destroying piles.
7. Identity not clear.
21. A mixture of gingelly seeds with sugarcane juice dispels piles and Kuşhtha. Panchakola (five spices), Marica and Tryüşhana improve digestion.
22. Haritaki taken frequently with Någara, jaggery or rocksalt is an appetiser.
23. A decoction of Triphala, Amrutå, Väså, Tiktā, Bhūnimba and Nimba taken in with honey quells jaundice and chlorosis.
24. A confection made of Truvrut, Triphala, Shyama, and Pippali with honey and sugar is very efficacious in Sannipåtaja fevers and Haemoptysis.
25. As long as Våsă is available and there is hoped to live why should patients of Hacmoptysis, Pthysis and cough despair.
26. A decoction of Atarūşhaka1, Mrudvika and pathyå taken with sugar and honey quells cough, bronchitis and haemoptysis.
1. A synonym of våsaka.
27. The juice of Väså with candy and honey when drunk arrests bleeding. Milk drunk with the juice of Sallaki, Badari, Jambu, Priyala, Amra, Arjuna2 or Dhava3 has styptic power.
2. Terminalis arjjuna.
3. Anogeissus talifolia.
28. A patient prostrated by chronic consumption becomes free from all ailments and shines like a Deva if he drinks ghi medicated and purificd with the juice of Nirgundi roots, fruits and leaves.
29. A confection made of Haritaki, Kaņa, Shunthi and Marica with jaggery destroys cough and quells thirst and repugnance for food.
30. Ghi, a Prastha by volume cooked with thirty palas (weight) of each of the juices of Kanțakári and Gudúchi quells cough and improves digestion.
31. A decoction of Krişhņā, Dhåtri, Shità and Shunțhi taken with honey destroys hiccough. A patient of Asthma shall drink the juice of Bhargi5 and Viśhvá with hot water.
4. A synonym of pippali.
5. Clerodondum serratum.
32. A person suffering from hoarse voice shall keep in his mouth catechu soaked in oil or Pathyā with Pippali or Pathya with Nagara.
33. Powdered Vidanga1 and Triphala powder taken with honey removes vomiting. A decoction of Amra and Jambu can also be taken with Makshika (honey).
1. Embelia ribes.
34. Triphala is a cure for vertigo and epileptic fits. when drunk with honey. It removes all sorts of vomiting and quenches thirst.
35. Panchagavya drunk quells hysteria and disorders due to adverse planets. Kuşhmåndaka juice with Yashtika2 also serves the same purpose.
2. A synonym of madhuka.
36. Old ghi cooked with Brähmi juice, Vaca, Kuşhtha3 and Shankhapushpi4 shall be taken in for quelling insanity and Grahåpsmara.
3. Saussurca lappa.
4. Convolvulus pluricaulis.
37. Medicated Ghi cooked with Ašhvagandha5 decoction and residue in milk four times as much is an aphrodisiac. It in creases flesh and quells sterility.
5. Withania somnifera.
38. A decoction of cchinnå with the powder of Nili6 and Mundirikå with honey and ghee when drunk, quells Vatarakta of the worst type.
6. Indigofera tinctoria.
39. Five Haritakis taken with jaggery quell Kuşhtha, piles and disorders due to Väyu. The juice of Gudūchi, its powder, decoction or its residue too has the same power.
40. Ghi cooked with milk and the decoction of Kälä and Gudüchi and their residue quell Vatarakta, Kustha and Vranas (Abrasions).
41. Triphala taken with Guggulu removes Vatarakta and epileptic fits. Guggulu taken with cow's urine removes Urustambha (paralysis of the thighs).
42-43. A decoction of Shunthi and Gokşhuraka removes disorders and pains due to Säma Våta. A decoction of Dashamüla, Amrutå, Eranda, Råsna7, Nagara and Däru8 taken with Marica (pepper) and jaggery removes great tumours. A con fection made of them removes cough and quells thirst and repugnance for food.
7. Plucher lanceolata.
8. A synonym of davadaru
44. Take thirty palas of the juice of each of Kantakari and Gudúchi and cook it with a prastha of ghi. It removes cough and pain in the heart. It is an appetiser.
45. The decoction of Krishna, Dhātri, Sită and Shunthi with Marica and rock salt taken with castor oil removes even acute Sama Våta.
46. A decoction of Bala, Punarnava, Eranda, two types of Bruhati and Gokşhura drunk with salt and asafoetida destroys Vāta Śhüla (flatulent colic).
47. The boiled decoction of Triphala, Nimba, Yaşhtika, Kațuka and Aragvadha drunk with honey removes burning sensation and colic.
48. Triphala water with Yashtika quells Parinamarti (a variety of colic). Dross (Mandūra) purified in cow's urine mixed with Triphala powder and licked with honey and ghee removes colic arising from the three doşhas.
49. Two parts of Trivrut, four parts of Krişhņå and five parts of Haritaki mixed with equal quantity of jaggery and made into pills remove constipation in the bowels.
50. Powdered Haritaki, Yavakşhara, Pippali and Trivrut taken with ghi remove Udávrata (tympanites with constipation).
51. Trivrut, Haritaki and Shyåmå soaked and purified in Snuhi1 juice must be dried (in the sun) and formed into Vatikā (tablets). These Vatikás taken with cow's urine destroy Anäha (constipation).
1. A species of Euphorbia. (GVDB, p. 459).
52. Tryüşhana, Triphala, Dhanya, Vidanga, Chavya and Chitraka boiled and made into Kalka (residue) shall be purified with ghi. Taken in, this quells all disorders of Vāyu and enlarged spleen.
53. Roots of Nagara taken with milk or Sauvarchala with Shivåghruta (ghi from the milk of she-jackal, half its quantity drunk) quell palpitation of the heart.
54. Powdered Kaņā, Pāşhăņabheda2, Elå and Shilajatuka drunk with the washings of rice and jaggery gives hope of life to a patient of strangury.
2. Bergenia ligulata.
55. A decoction of Amrută, Nagari, Dhåtri, Vājigandha and Trikantaka shall be drunk in all ailments of Váyu, colic and strangury.
56. Yavakshara (carbonate of potash) with an equal quantity of sugar removes all kinds of strangury. Nidigdhika1 juice with honey quells difficulty in passing urine.
1. A synonym of kantakan.
57. Salt with Triphala kalka (residue or paste) gives relief in suppression of urine. Powdered Karchūra also can be inserted into the urethra of the penis (to induce flow of urine).
58. A decoction of the root of Shigru drunk lukewarm quells heat (white urinating). Juice of Dhátri and Niśhå with honey removes all sorts of urinary ailments. The decoction of Triphala, Dåru, Darvi and Abja taken with honey removes urinary troubles.
59. A person wishing to be stout shall avoid keeping awake, sexual intercourse, physical exercise and worries. Obesity should be gradual.
60. A person accustomed to eat Yava and Shyåmåka and to drink sweet water will become stout. Hot boiled rice with manda (gruel) makes one lean.
61. Fried barley powder with honey, or a compound of Chavya, Jiraka, Vyoşha, Hingu, Sauvarcala and Amala is appetising and destructive of fat.
62. A prastha of ghi with equal quantity of milk shall be cooked with Kalka of Chitraka and Utpala twice in quantity soaked in four times water and twice (cow's) urine. This is an antidote for all types of Ascites.
63-64. Starting with ten pieces of pippali and increasing it by ten every day the administration shall be continued for ten days. Then it shall be reduced by ten every day. Milk shall be taken along with it. The diet on these days shall be milk and Yashtika. The same can be practised with Krishna or Mudga. If a thousand pieces of Krishna or other drugs are thus taken in all one shall be stout, live long and be free from dropsy and Ascites.
65. Ghi cooked and purified in the residue (Kalka) of the decoction of Punarnavá is a remedy for Anasarca. A patient of Anasarca, tumour, etc. shall take pippali with milk in cow's urine or jaggery with equal quantity of Abhayā or Vishva.
66. Castor oil taken in with a decoction of Balå with milk is a sure remedy for distension, hernia, colic, etc.
67. Pathyā residue mixed with Krishna and Saindhava and the oil extracted from roasted castor seeds is a sure remedy of Hydrocela.
68. Scrofula is cured by the administration of the root of Nirgundi as an errhine. Fomentations with the decoction of Snuhi and Gandirika1 remove tumours.
1. Perhaps Albizzia julibrissin or Dalbergia sericea (GVD B, p. 133).
69-70. Goitre can be cured by plastering with the paste of Hastikarņa2 and Palāša. Plastering with the paste of Dhattūra, Eranda, Nirgundi, Varşhåbhu, Shigru and Sarshapa dispels terrible long-standing elephantiasis. Plastering with Shobhäñjanāka, Sindhūttha and Hingu makes abscess subside.
2. Leca macrophylla (GVDB, p. 469).
71. Plastering with Sharapunkha3 with honey heals all sorts of ulcers. Smearing with the paste of Nimba leaves makes ulcers non-septic.
3. Tephrosia purpurea.
72-73. A paste of Triphala, Khadira, Darvi and Nyagrodha cleanses ulcers and wounds. A physician shall wash and clean a fresh wound giving much pain with warm ghee with Yashti-Madhūka. An intelligent physician shall cure fresh wounds by casual factors by means of plastering.
74-76. The physician shall resort to cooling processes for subduing Pitta and the heat of the blood. A decoction of Bamboo bark, Eranda bark and Shvadamshtra bark drunk with honey, Hingu and rock salt will let out the dislodged blood inside the viscera. For the sake of maintaining normal health rice shall be taken or Yavågu (gruel) drunk with rock salt and along with the juice of Yava, Kola and Kulattha. The juice of Karanjarishta and Nirgundi destroys worms in the ulcers.
77. Guggulu with Triphala powder made into Vațakas (tablets) relieves pain, dispels constipation and purifies ulcers. They become non-septic.
78. A medicated oil cooked with the juice of Dūrvä, and Kampilla with the kalka of the bark of Darvi is an important remedy in cases of ulcers.
Summary of chapter 170 of the Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa is as follows:
The Supreme Being provides effective formulations for vitiligo and skin depigmentation, Shvitra. As it happens, Bhagavān Vishṇu prescribes Bākuchī seeds, controlled sun exposure therapies, and liver-stimulating herbal remedies to restore natural skin pigmentation.