173 – Diseases

 Dhanvantari said: 

1-4. I shall enumerate the drugs coming under the classes Madhuradi, etc., which dispel various ailments. The chief drugs in Madhura (sweet) class are: - Shäli, Şhaşhtika, Godhüma (wheat), milk, ghi, Rasa (juice), honey, Majja, Srungataka, Kaśheru, Irvaru, Gokşhura Gambhiri, lotus seed, grapes, dates Bala, coconut, sugarcane, Atmagupta, Vidari, Priyalaka, Madhūka, Tala and Kuşhmānda. Each of these is curative of epileptic fits and burning sensation. It soothes the sense organs. If taken in excess, it produces worms and disorders of Kapha. 

5. Drugs of Madhura type produce dyspnea, cough, sweet taste in the mouth, Aphonia, tumours, goitre, elephant iasis, Gudalepa, etc. 

6-7. Dadima, Amalaka, Amra, Kapittha, Karamardaka, Matulunga, Amråtaka, Badara, Tintidi fruit, Curd, Buttermilk Käñjika, Lakucha, Amlavetasa and Loņa are Amla varieties (Acid) of drugs. These with Shunthi are great digestant and appetising medicines. 

8. These Amla drugs generate Väyu and mucous secretions. They have aphrodisiac properties. They give a burning sensation. They soothe the system. If they are taken in excess, they may sour the teeth. 

9. (Excessive intake of Amla) causes looseness of limbs, burning sensation and coarseness in the voice, throat, mouth and heart. Excited by the gastric fire it makes wounds and ulcers suppurate. 

10. The salts are Yavakşhåra, Sarjika, etc. The saline group acts as a laxative, liquefacient, digestant and generator of mucous secretions. Its potency permeates the whole system rapidly. 

11. Exclusive and excessive intake of saline articles tends to obstruct the ducts of the system and produces itching sensation in the limbs, Kotha, tumours and discoloration of the skin. It aggravates Raktaváta, Pittarakta, loss of manliness and pain in the sense organs. 

12-13. Vyoşha, Shigru, Mülaka, Devadaru, Kuşhthaka, Lashuna, Valgujiphala, Musta, Guggulu, Längali. These drugs form the Pungent group. They are appetising, purifying and anti-Kapha. They subdue Kuşhtha and itching sensation. They remove corpulency, lassitude and worm infections. They reduce secretion of semen and fat, Exclusively and excessively taken they produce vertigo, burning sensation, etc. 

14-17. Krutamåla, Karira, Haridră, Indrayava, sweet Kantaka, sweet Vetra, the two varieties of Bruhati, Shankhini, Gudūchi, Dravanti, Trivrut, Mandukaparņi, Kåravellaka, Vårtāku Karaviraka. Vasaka, Rohiņi, Shankhapushpi, Karkoti, Jayantikā, Jati, Varunaka, Nimba, Jyotişhmati and Punarnavå form the bitter group of drugs. They set the secretions of scrum, lymph, etc flow. They are relishing and appetising. They purify the ducts, remove fever and thirst, prevent fainting and reduce itching sensation. 

18. Excessive intake of bitter drugs dries up faeces, urine and mucous secretions. It removes paralysis of the mandible, wry neck, conculsive pain, headache and ulcers. 

19-20. Triphala, Shallaki, Jambû, Amråtaka, Vata and kindred drugs, Tinduka, Vakula, Shala, Palamka, Mudga and Chillaka form the astringent group of drugs. They are absorbant. 

They produce granulation in ulcers. They arrest and dry up mucous secretions. Exclusively and excessively taken they give rise to pain in the chest and generate parchedness of the mouth, fever, distension of the abdomen and paralysis of the mandible (wry mouth). 

21-22. Haridra, Kuşhtha, Lavana, Meşhaśhrungi, the two types of Bala, Kacchură, Shallaki, Punarnavā, Shatåvari, Agni mantha, Brahmadandi, Shvadamshtrā, Erandaka, Yava, Kola, Kulattha, etc., Karşhāsī, Dashamula (ten drugs) : these drugs severally and in combination remove excess of Vayu, Pitta and Kapha. 

23-25. Shatavari, Vidari, Bålaka, Ushira, Chandana, Durva, Vata, Pippali, Badari, Shallaki, Kadali, Utpala, Padma, Udumbara, Patolaka, Haridra, Guda, Kuşhthaka, Shatapushpi, Jäti, Vyoșha, Aragvadha and Långali are called Kapha-subduing group of drugs. Among lardaceous substances, ghi, oil, fat and marrow are the most excellent. 

26-29. Those who like to improve intelligence, memory, understanding power and digestive faculty must take ghee regularly. In a Pitta patient ghee alone should be administered. In a Vâta patient it is administered with salt. In a patient of excess of Kapha it shall be administered with Vyoşha and alkalis. Similarly, in the case of patients of glandular tumour, sinus, worms, obesity and deranged Kapha and Väyu also. Oil is administered to the patients of hardened bowels for the sake of lightness and firmness. So also, in persons whose fundamental constituents have been weakened by exposure to gusts of wind, sunshine and rain, bearing of burden, excessive sexual indulgence and physical exercises. In persons who have coarseness of the skin, pain, debility, quick digestion and constriction of vessels due to Vayu (oil can be administered). Now (I shall explain) Yonikarma in chronic headache. The vein is first cauterised before enemata is used. 

30. A full dose of clyster is one pala, three Akşhas in the middle one, and half a pala in the small one, in the case of oil, decoction and medication. 

31. In Sneha Karmas (administering oil or ghee) hot water is given along with ghee but separately in the case of oil. A pitta patient undergoing Sneha treatment shall drink over hot water if he feels thirsty. 

32. A person who has been made Diptågni (of good digestive power) and varchasnigdha (motion-oily) must be given such treatment as ensures pacifying the deranged Váyu. Persons suffering from coarseness must be given Sneha treatment and those of extreme glossiness, parchifying treatment. 

33. In the case of disorders due to Väyu and Kapha in combination or separately diaphoratic measures are to be used with a compound of Shyämáka, Koradoşha, Anna, buttermilk, Pinyāka and fried grain flour. These measures are not for excessively corpulent, coarse, weak or swooning persons.