Drugs Of Hindustan.pdf

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN Witli

their

Homoeopathic Uses,

Provings and Clinical Verifications.

BY SARAT Chandra GHOSE, m

d

m r s l (London)

Corresponding Member,

American Insatute of Homoeopaliiy, British Homoeopathic Society, French Homoeopathic Society, Petrogad Society of Homoeopathic Physicians, Hahnemann Institute of Brazil and California Stale Homoeopathic Medical Society. Member, American Assoaation of Clinical Research, Homoeo Academy of Barcelona and National Medical Council of Bengal

Honorary

Hahnemannian Association America, Liga

New

Membei, of

Editor-in Chief,

Gleanings” of Calcutta

of

London and Homoeopatia of

The “Hahnemannian Editor, “Hahnemann”

in Bengali of Calcutta Pacific

States

Health Society of

Hispano'Amencana Pro

Barcelona

International

Umted

Associate

Editor,

Coast Journal of Homoeopathy Medical Institute and Hospital

President,

of Jessore and Basundia

HE

School

Author, “Life of Dr L Sircar,” “Plague and its Homoeopathic Treatment”

Committee

M

and other Books Pailtshed iy

Prafalla Chandra Bhar^

HAHNEMANN PUBLISHING CO, 165,

Bow Bazar

Street, Calcutta

—

—

Published by

Prafulla Chandra Bhar. Hahnemann Publishing Co, 165,

Bowbazar

Street,

Calcutta

Mights of Mepit oducUon and Tianslation Reserved

Printed

by

GosTo Behary Dey at the

ORIENTAL PRINTING IS,

WORKS

Bnndabun Bysack Calcutta

St

PREFACE. an acknowledged

It IS

spread India

wings over

its

To

speak the

a household word

The

fact that

the

all

cities

in every

villages in

name of Hahnemann is now home in this vast continent

Homoeopathy

beauty of

and remote

truth, the

which portrays the most Its

Homoeopathy has now

is

Materia Medica

its

picture of

faithful

a remedy

in

true perspective.

The Homoeopathic

Materia Medica has been enriched

with innumerable valuable drugs and doctors from Western

come forward

countries have

to

quota

contribute their

to the stock of this great Science of Therapeutics

But

it

is

very unfortunate that the homoeopaths of India have done

nothing to add to the dignity and usefulness of Homoeopathy,

The in

gravity

1886 while

and

this

in

felt

by

me

age and practice

Midnapore, Bengal

idea of proving indigenous drugs of India knocked

my mind

the gate of

my resolution,

at

being vouchsafed to

homoeopathic

arduous task

and

assistance

me by

to give effect to

in

and

1887

in

my

friendly advice

the "mighty elders" of the

fraternity in Calcutta.

Indian

lamented Dr

that time

proved Ficus Rehqiosa

I

humble way without any

No

was

palpable drawback

was a mere youngster

I

practised at

The at

of

homoeopath, save and

L. Salzer,

On

came forward

except the late to help

me

in this

the contrary, they threw cold water over

the project, looked askance at

it

and

directed

a crusade of

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

li

mean and unfounded

me

against

vilifications

and

it

against

personally.

Dr Salzer

my project. And let it be

encouraged

voluntarily

me and

appreciated

then sought help from America

and England said to the glory of those lands of freedom that that help was readily and spontaneously given I was fortunate enough to win the sympathy and active co-opera^ tion of several eminent foreign homoeopaths, notably Drs Cowperthwaite, Hughes, H C Allen, Nash, Halbert, Dudgeon, E H Porter, Clarke, Shedd and others, too numerous to mention All of them critically examined my provings and were satisfied with the way in which the provings were conducted and done and they encouraged me to go on with my self-imposed task 1

Dr John H Clarke, of and foremost amongst the encouragers

In this respect the late revered

L.ondon, was the

who

was

first

pleased

make

to

pathogenetically

and

homoeopathic

remedies,

clinically,

fair

with

his

experiments,

my

both

newly introduced

impartial

eyes perceived marvellous efficacy possessed by them and he has favour ably incorporated them and mentioned them in his

monumental work— "Dictionary of " Medica

great

This was, in

and subsequent

attempt

At the fag-end of

my

of my desire

short, the history of the genesis

indigenous drugs of India of therapeutic virtues

expressing

Practical Materia

my

at

proving

a

few

pregnant with great

life

sincerest gratitude

I

important

potentialities

take this opportunity of

and paying

my homage

to

PREFACE

IH

the memories of these great homoeopaths

so

much In

new

for

this

who had done

me way and

in

subsequent years

I

proved several

indigenous drugs of India which were recognised

and have since been rewarded with home and abroad.

foreign countries

recognition at

in

official

A

good many homoeopathic remedies are now being Their prepared from indigenous plants and herbs of India efficacy in acute and chronic cases have been acknowledged and experienced by all of us and so many homoeopaths have now become all the more eager to have a complete and reliable Homoeopathic Matena Medica of Indigenous Drugs of India It is gratifying to observe that this desire has even penetrated into the folds of foreign homoeopaths. Two or three books on this subject in English and Bengali have already been published in Bengal, but they are not up to the mark and have not satisfied the cravings of eager inquirers

To

demands of these persons and at the of my numerous friends and colleagues and

satisfy

solicitation

the

Dr Otto Leeser, M D Ph.D the great have collected all necessary I details and data regarding these indigenous drugs from all wellknown English and Sanskrit Works on this subject and present them in this book to the profession also at the request of

,

Pharmacologist of Berlin,

In writing the

present treatise

have derived much

I

information from the "Indigenous Drugs of India by Brev

Col R N. Chopra, M.A., M D., C E I.M S which is a mine of wealth in which I have often dug I have also consulted R Khory's Matena Medica of India, R. I

N

,

N

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

IV

Nadkarni's Indian Materia Medica,

W. Dymock's Pharma-

cographica of India and several other noted books these facts have been openly

of

acknowledged

in

All

the body

my book

Homoeopathic Materia Medica more an complete, up-to-date and quite abreast of the times,

To make

this

earnest attempt has been

made

to

present the opinions,

experiences and observations of the

medical profession,

and pharmacologists of the Dominant School of Medicine together with the opinions and recommendations of Ayurvedic physicians of by-gone ages research workers

pertaining to the therapeutic uses

of these drugs

After-

wards homoeopathic provings, if they have been made, symptomatology and clinical verifications of these drugs have been added to each remedy dealt with in my book, in order to

make

it

interesting,

valuable and complete from

every point of view

Medical

literature

has

now grown

to

an enormous

and the vast majority of medical books and contributions are unreliable and do not possess any intrinsic value. size

I

confess that a few of these drugs mentioned in

work have not been

sufficiently

said to their credit that

proven, but

my humble opinion

It

the better for us

The

and

my

can be

emergency

the physicians should not leave

the bed-rock of clinical medicine to

it

they have been found to possess

great therapeutic virtues in times of In

still

and the sooner we return humanity as well

for the suffering

present attempt, though not entitled to claim for

Itself originality

and any independent recognition and open

PREFACE a

to all the shortcomings of

V venture of the kind,

6rst

at

is

a step forward towards the codification of some of the important indigenous drugs of India which have now attracted the attention of the foremost homoeopaths of least

the world

do not possess the

acumen and intelligence of a Hale in presenting the book, but can assert with a pardonable pride that my attempt in the proving of indigenous drugs of our country and in admit

freely

I

that

I

I

placing their merits before public gaze dates back from

century

and

for

which my

recognition from

last

labours have met with adequate

all classes

of physicians and pharmacists

a vast country and pregnant with a treasurehouse of remedial agents , we, homoeopaths, should volunteer our services to unlock it with the key supplied India

is

by the acumen and genius of Hahnemann, the key of proving these drugs upon healthy It

will,

no doubt, be a

human

up and

indeed a shame,

pity,

unpardonable dereliction of duty,

if

beings

living in the midst of this treasure-house,

to take advantage of the

latter

an

being bred and brought

we

fail

ooen the former for the

to

welfare of suffering humanity at large

The actuated

upon

in

me to publish my Epilogue

And now

me will

I

it,

the task accomplished nothing remains for

but to entreat

eyes.

book and what has actually have been sufficiently touched

necessity of writing this

my readers to

have given a good

read this book with indulgent

start in

the right direction which

be found to be of an immense benefit to the end

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

VI

With these few words, I commend of the race to the kindly reception of my colleagues.

this

work

conclude, I cannot but express my sincerest gratitude and heart-felt thanks to Babu Prafulla Ch Bhar, Proprietor of the Hahnemann Publishing Company, of Before

1

Calcutta, for being the publisher of this book. 1

Ashutosh Mukherji Road, BHOWANIPORE, CALCUTTA

16 ,

) ji

SARAT CH CHOSE.

PROLOGUE What

meant by the term "Indigenous Drugs"

IS

has been made use of include within

in

its

^

It

comprehensive sense so as to

scope those drugs which are the natives

its

of India

The

of medicine in India can be traced to

history

Hindu Medicine,

the remotest age science of life"

Medicine,

believed to be as old as the

is

The

themselves

actual

those

like

shrouded

however,

or Ayurveda, "the

in

origin

of

and

the

early history of

Egyptian

mythological

to the

one

that the principles of the science of

Ayurveda, as

it is

All

legends.

in

irresistible

are,

these

some of

conclusion

Hindu Medicine, or

were promulgated by hoary^headed who had their abodes in the caves of

called,

Rishis or ascetics

Himalayas

Hindu

Medicine,

legends or mythological versions, conflicting as

them may seem, point but

Vedas

the pre^historic ages, and

whose profound

knowledge of the Vedas and Upanishads or Systems of

Hindu philosophy, aided by well-developed powers of meditation, deep insight into human nature, keen and comprehensive observation, wonderRil researches, and earnest

wishes to save posterity from physical suffenngs

and premature

death,

gave to the world a system of

medicine that has since been the parent of almost systems that have

march of

modem

made

rapid strides

all

other

with the onwardi

civilization.

The mention of the medicinal use of herbs and plants has been made in the Rig Veda which has been written between 4,800 and 1,600 B.

C

From

this

penod downi

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

2

the

to

Mohammedan

invasion of India

Hindu Medicine and third

the second

had a chequered career During periods a remarkable progress was made in every respect and Ayur-veda reached the highest pinnacle of glory and development On the eve of the termination of this period Hindu Medicine penetrated into other parts of the The people of the civilised parts of the world world of that age madly hankered after all knowledge pertaining to the healing art of the Hindus of that time and its influence spread far and wide over Egypt, Greece and

Rome

The

should not

Jacolliot

great forget

that

India,

‘'We immense and luminous

very truly expressed, that

was in constant communication with peoples of Asia and all the philosophers and sages

centre in olden times, all

the

of antiquity went there to study the science of Medicine

Many

authenticated

"

and uncontested proofs can be found

and Roman Medicine to clearly demonstrate During this time Ayurthe influence of Hindu Medicine veda occupied the acme of its glory and the knowledge in the Grecian

of

Its

was

followers in the field of drug therapy

greatly in

They made a

systematic

and

scientific

properties of every product of the soil

time to the study of disease

their

drugs

From

the Grecian

Paracelsus, Hippocrates

and helped

own

and toxicology

advance of others.

in

literature

and carefully spent and its treatment with it can be proved that

and Pythagorus

the dissemination of

study of the

really visited

Hindu

India

culture to their

There are abundant proofs in the work of the great physician Dioscoroides to shew to what a considerable extent the ancients were indebted to India countries

for their medicine

PROLOGUE

3

cannot but quote the following

I

delivered by Captain Johnston Saint,

tioned the extraordinary advance

and Medicine light in

in

India

lines

from a

— "He

M A

made both

when Europe was

her cradle in Greece."

lecture

men'

in Surgery

groping

Says he, "If then

this

for is

found in surgery, what may we not find in medicine from India that vast and fertile country which IS a veritable encyclopaedia of the vegetable world The Materia Medica of the ancient Hindus is a marvel

what we

—

which both the Greek and the

from

Roman

freely

borrowed.’' It

IS

generally believed that the fundamental principles

of the science of medicine were preached in Arabia by Indian physicians and professors and that the Charaka

and Susruta translated

—the two extant

into

the Arabic language

veda

travelled through Egypt

And

subsequently to

the globe

I

treatises

shall

all

on Ayur-veda, were

From Arabia Ayur-

Greece, thence to

to

Rome

over Europe and other parts of

not discuss in the present paper the

nval claims to antiquity of Hindu Medicine and that of

the Egyptians developed shall simply

on

the banks of the Nile

say that in very ancient

Hindus discovered and brought

times

the

I

Aryan

an extraordinary degree of perfection their system of Medicine and Surgery when the greater part of the world was steeped in ignorance and the ancestors of many civilized natives of modern times were really no better than hewers of wood and to

drawers of water Foreign invasions by hordes of Scythians and <5th century

AD) and later on by

Mohammedans,

Huns bring-

,

I

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN ing

in

and

cities

their

their

tram pillage and incendiarism, burning villages

and destroying palaces, shrines and temples with archives and repositories of sacred and medical books

and precious internal

libraries

—

those

all

together

with

frequent

feuds and fightings completed the destruction of

the major portion of the Ayurvedic literature

The gems

that are

found

still

in

Char aka and Susruta

and other extant works are but remnants of the vast treasure that Hindu medical literature once possessed and a gloom comes over us as we reflect how the medical world has become poorer by such a lamentable and irretrievable

The

loss

vegetation of India,

herbs that

medicinal

its

it

is

said,

so rich in

is

materia medica could hardly be

Nor were the sages of They believed that there was

equalled in any other country ancient India ignorant of it

a remedy

for every disease

consequently

applied themselves

examination

careful

rampant

eventually discovered

of

the

in the universe

and they

assiduously to

vegetable

a

very

kingdom

and

a great number of medicines

The

knowledge of medicinal herbs and plants that they acquired

were called Sthavara J%va or stationary animals which could feel pleasure and pain, and by a curious coincidence it was reserved for one of their own lineal descendants. Sir J C Bose, Kt M A , D Sc

was simply wonderful

Plants

,

F RS

,

C

S

,

of Calcutta, to demonstrate to an admiring

world by actual and accurate experiments that so

In Chemistry, too, the

this is really

Aryan Hindus made considerable

most unfortunate that among Ayurvedic physicians such knowledge of Botany and Chemistry as was possessed by their ancestors is actually becoming a thing of the past. “The Materia Medica of the Hindus" progress

It

is

PROLOGUE says

Hunter

his

in

5

Indian Empire,

"embraces a vast

belonging to the mineral, vegetable and

collection of drugs

animal kingdoms, many of which have been adopted by

European physicians"

The

closing of the Hospitals after the decline of the

and foreign invasions and internal feuds coming later on, were responsible for an incalculable injury to the cause of the Hindu Medical Science With the Buddhist rule,

of

advent

French and

Europeans lastly

—

the

first

the British

—

then

Portuguese,

the decline

was

still

the

further

observed

When It

introduced

the British rule

own

its

was

firmly established in India,

Materia Medica into the

soil

and the

Hindu Materia Medica was forgotten. This is, in brief, the history of the fate of what are commonly known as the Indian Indigenous drugs

Praiseworthy and serious attempts are

now being made

by many eminent allopathic physicians, both European and Indian, to revive and to bring to a focus the importance and usefulness of indigenous drugs of India by systematic observation and experiment and by induction and deduction

India,

much

be regretted that we, homoeopaths of have done nothing to remedy the evil mentioned

It IS

to

above In former years the late

Majumdar came

into the field

N

Ray and P C of drug proving and proved

Drs

D.

three or four indigenous drugs of India

Of course

I

pathic remedies

and proved three new homoeo" Behgiosa, NyctantUs Arbor-

discovered

—Ficus

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

6

—

Justtaa Adhatoda from three indigenous plants of India which have since been officially recognised This and incorporated with our official Pharmacopoeia

tnsUa and

attempt

on my

part

is

Pramada P

In recent times Drs

K

nothing but a drop in the ocean.

K Bhattacharjea of

Biswas of Pabna, and

Cooch'Behar, have proved several

indigenous drugs.

The Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia has been Every

with innumerable valuable drugs

enriched

civilized

country

quota to the stock of

of the world has contributed

its

great science of therapeutics

but unfortunately India has

,

this

done nothing worth mentioning to add to the dignity and Materia Medica usefulness of homoeopathic India is pregnant with countless herbs and plants which have, in the hands of our Ayurvedic and Unani physicians, saved numerous precious lives from the jaws of death and the efficacy of these medicinal instruments cannot be doubted and questioned by any body or even by skeptics The subject of Indigenous Drugs is old and it has lost its importance with the march of time. It is true that a systematic study of the efficacy of indigenous drugs set

on

foot

more

than a

century ago and

was

admirable

attempts were undertaken

by many

Indian workers

equally true that the progress

,

but

it

is

early

European and

has been slow and has not been commensurate with their hard labours

a patent truth that the practitioners of medicine of former days in this country have, for centuries, derived It IS

the knowledge of their science and art not from public schools or colleges but from individual

teachers.

These

PROLOGUE

7

teachers of our country did not teach their pupils to the full extent of their wonderful knowledge The great

drawback of

this practice

and

habit

was

that

many

splendid

drugs died out of existence as suddenly and completely as they came into it and their names have been obliterated

from our memory for ever There are still many herbs and plants in India whose therapeutic virtues and identities are sufficiently known to us and which, if they are thoroughly and scientifically prepared and proved in accordance with the rules laid down by Hahnemann, may turn out to be grand homoeopathic remedies of our Materia Medica methods of chemical investigation of herbs and plants have only been known here during the last Scientific

thirty years It is

able

or so

premature on

to

give

to

the

my

world

we

be a complete Homoeopathic

part to assert that

shall

Materia Medica of indigenous drugs of India as insurmountable difficulties

stand

in

the

way

of building up

such

The provings of new remedies are work necessarily and naturally attended with considerable dread or aversion as the experiments upon the healthy may somea

grand

times engender poisonous or toxic symptoms.

If

we have a

be successful in our endeavour, there must be strong Nothing short of a strong incentives behind our enterpnse sense of duty, an overwhelming love of one's fellow creatures or the stimulus of monetary gain will inspire and desire to

induce any individual to put himself to these voluntary, self-imposed and noble provings which are tantamount to

For the purpose of a and simple complete Materia Medica of indigenous drugs there ought to be provers and sincere workers in the field poisoning

pure

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

8

A

cannot

drug

be

said

and

proven unless

scientifically

be thoroughly and has been proved it

to

until

of conditions and constitutions

in all sorts

In view of the difficulties

enumerated above, a

Homoeo-

Medica of Indian indigenous drugs must, for a long time to come, continue to be somewhat imperregards thoroughness of their incomplete as fect and pathic Materia

provings

Hahnemann less

felt

the

of

existence

had

of his system, even after he

imperfection

no

himself

this

proved

than a hundred and one drugs

The

of

purists

School

our

always

imperfectly proved drugs with disdain,

but

look

we

upon

are fully

aware of the fact that Hahnemann did permit the employment of even non-homoeopathic medicines in urgent cases, such as

Camphor

fact that

in

Cholera

We are also familiar with the

he did acknowledge the healing

properties

of

such a force or influence as ammal magnetism or fnesmertsm of which he says that it is "often so stupidly

and "either acts homeopathically by the production of symptoms similar to those of the diseased state to

denied’*

be cured,

or

it

is

useful

by distnbuting the

uniformly throughout the organism, excess in It

one

part

and

when

it is

deficient in other parts

in

vital

force

abnormal

"

be apparent to all that he acknowledges power of mesmerism even when not acting

Will, therefore,

the healing

homeopathically

We laid

may, therefore, conclude

down

in

general terms,

when our Master very first aphonsm

that,

as the

PROLOGUE

9

of his immortal organon, that "the physician's high and only mission IS to restore the sick to health," he would never

have denied a patient the chance of recovery or of ameliora^ tion of his sufferings or of escape from impending death

by the employment of a remedial agent that had been slightly proved or might not have been proved but has been used empirically with complete success and efficacy

The adominations preached by

the

purists

of

our

no doubt, well meaning and good, but it should School be remembered by us that in the actual field of battle, they are,

sometimes meet with ignonimous

failures

It

will

be simply

presumptuous for any school of medicine to claim possesses

all

that

is

good

in the

healing art

In

that

fact,

it

no

medical science or art of healing can be called a perfect

one , otherwise there could have been no deaths amongst In view of this fact it is desirable that we must not be us unduly influenced by the opinion of the purists of our own School of Therapeutics. It is good to be devoted to the exclusiveness of our system , but it is better to be more devoted to the interests of our patients and hence we shall be perfectly justified in prescribing imperfectly proved homoeopathic drugs where the well selected remedies are found to be impotent to cure or to bring any relief to the patient I

can not

resist

the temptation of citing a case here by

way of illustration which made before.

will

prove the truth of

my assertion

A child had been suffering from whooping cough for more than 2 months Three eminent homeopaths treated the

child with several well

known

as well

as

selected

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

10

homoeopathic remedies, but none of them could

arrest the

progress of the disease

Adhatoda Ix and the result was simply wonderful which could be pronounced to be Many more instances could marvellous, if not miraculous be cited in support of my contention which would at once prove that these indigenous drugs could no longer be brushed aside and their claims could no longer be over^ looked These drugs should adorn the pages of our

At

last

I

prescribed Justicia

Matena Medica and should have an abiding place there Since the time of Hipprocrates individual remedies have been employed empirically in all diseases, which were identical to

the

of their

effects

Hahnemann who saw

the

necessity

recording the effects of drugs

we

might

more accurately

it

was

for observing

and

poisoning,

but

on healthy persons, so that prescribe them to cure our

patients

The cinating

and

proving of drugs

mission— which

is

is

a

great undertaking

— a fas-

fraught with great development

potentialities

It IS

very unfortunate that properly equipped laboratories

and a society of drug provers do not exist in India It IS, no doubt, a standing drawback to prove the indigenous drugs of India There have been some provings which have been made by individual provers only Although those provings were spasmodic and individualistic in character, they cannot be called hypothetical in any way, and cannot be decried by us. In

some

cases the

symptoms observed by those provers

^

PROLOGUE

n

with the findings of eminent Ayurvedic and dlopathic physicians jxactly tallied

marked by us

daily

IS

It

and herbs

that the plants

jrowing in a particular locality bear a remarkable affinity

o the temperament and constitution of the nhabiting that locality

It

individuals

therefore, apparent that the

is,

ndian drugs will be found to be most suitable to our jonstitution

and most

In America or

efficacious in all our affections.

Germany or

here are societies for proving here

is

no such

new

and

in

order to remove

a society which was called " of Indigenous Drug-proving

The

,

but in India

the crying desideratum of

is

started nstitute

drugs

society.

This sort of a society )ur country

other European Countries

want "The Hindoosthan

this

long-felt

had a chequered career at the outset, and met with a natural death on Lccount of the paucity of workers and provers Society

asted for sometime

order to remedy the shortcomings to

In

und to give publicity to the works

n the

field

some

extent

done by my co-workers

of indigenous drug-proving in India,

I

opened a

Department and set apart a few pages in the Hahnemannian jleanings of

o time

to

which

collate,

I

am

discuss

the

Editor-in-Chief,

and

from time

publish the provings

and

herapeutic properties of the indigenous drugs of India

No vith in

less

than

fifty-five

medicines have been thus dealt

my book

Some

of these medicines have

won

golden opinions

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

12

at

home and abroad and

and supreme value ed in my book.

The

bear the hall-mark of genuineness

in the ailments

Ayurvedic

and complaints mention-

physicians in the past

present generally use drugs in

and

an empiric way

,

in

the

the allo-

paths use them with better knowledge as in every department

of medicine

now

persistent,

made

being

systematic

and

scientific

attempt

is

by them to replace rank empiricism by

homoeopaths have proceeded still further and by deduction and induction, by experiment and proving upon the healthy, they can portray an exact picture of The present the remedy and its therapeutic properties time is an age of medicinal progress and no man of science is satisfied by mere assertions and statements unless and until they are corroborated by clinical verifications rationalism

and

,

the

scientific tests

and

Ayurvedic and allopathic uses and opinions and homeopathic uses, provings and symptoms for their administration together 'vith clinical verifications of all these drugs have been incorporated in my book In

view of these

In this

way,

I

facts

to satisfy the public.

have rescued from oblivion some valuable

and moderately well-proved medicines and brought into prominence and public gaze a few newly proved and unproved drugs of India whose therapeutic properties can not be questioned by any physician- My mission has been to popularise the healing virtues of these drugs and I do not know whether I have succeeded in my attempt or not I am emboldened to assert with a pardonable pride that I know how to sift the wheat from chafif, to eliminate

PROLOGUE

13

from the permanent and the

the temporary

and I have made a record in permanent as distinct from

true

this

IS

that

false

book of which

from the

that

is

which

ephemeral

and evanescent

Modern

The

India

greatly

is

activities

enthusiasm and

from ancient India.

and advancement

cry for progress

of our

different

in

every sphere

has been taken up with fresh vigour and

we

are daily awakening to a sense of our

importance and are ready to take our place among the

independent nations of the world

Necessity may sitiveness

is

be the mother of invention but ,

inqui^

the father.

homeopaths of our country and foreign countries are now inquisitive and anxious to be conversant with All

the

therapeutic

properties of these indigenous drugs of

At their earnest solicitation, I have ventured to write this work which will bring the readers face to face India

with some important indigenous drugs of our country I

hope

the

book

will

hold up a mirror before them in

which the crystahclear symptoms of

the drugs will

be

reflected

With before

my

these introductory readers

and indulgent eyes

words

and hope they

I

will

place peruse

it

this

book

with profit

Drugs of Hincioosthan. (With their Homoeopathic uses).

Abroma Augusta. (Olat Kamhala)

Common iVaTnes.-— Hindi, Bengali and Cutch—Olat Tambol » Bombay— Olak English— Devil's Kambal, Cotton.

HcAntat

of

India,

—Bengal

,

it

can be found in the hotter parts

from the United Provinces to Sikkim.

Natural order,

Sterculiaceae

Description of the plant.

Abroma Augusta

to grow wild throughout the hotter parts of

is

found

India.

Its

made in gardens for its showy, deep The root of the tree is characterised by scarlet flowers a thick fibrous brown bark and both the root and the rootbark are administered therapeutically as an emmenagogue in menstrual disorders. The fresh viscid sap is known to cultivation

possess

is

also

more

therapeutic

properties

and

is

used

in

dysmenorrhoea in doses of 30 grains a day. Constituents

The

root bark contains

non-crystalline extractive matter

no manganese.

and ash

1 1

gum, wax, a 64

p. c.

but

ABROMA AGUSTA

15

Aifopathie uses and Actions.

The

and the

sap

are

and emmenagogue, with black pepper given in congestive and neuralgic dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea, either given a week before or during menstruation It is a valuable Hydrastis, Viburnum and Pulsatilla substitute for (R N Khory, Vol 11 P. 102) root

1872

"In

Gazette)

first

Mr Bhoobun Mohon called

emmenagogue

in

attention

to

uterine

tonic

Sircar (Indian Medical

the use of the root as

and recommended the

Bengal,

fresh

sap in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea in doses of 30 grains Subsequently Dr Kirton recommended the use of drachm doses of the root beat into a paste with water

viscid

Dr Watt,

in his "Dictionary of the

records

India",

regarding

the

the

opinion

medicinal

1

IS

a valuable medicine

$ usually given,

made

thirteen

properties

these, eight speak favourably "It

of

Economic Products of

of

in

it

Dr

of

medical the

plant

R Macleod

men ,

says

of

—

dysmenorrhoea, the fresh root

into a paste with black pepper about

a week before the time of menstruation, and is continued prove very efficacious I have seen it until It commences. in some cases, especially in the congested form of the "The slender roots are Dr. Thornton says disease"

—

and neuralgic vaneties of dys^ It regulates the menstrual flow and acts as a menorrhoea It should be given during menstruation, I-J uterine tonic drachms of the fresh root for a dose with black pepper, the latter acting as a stomachic and carminative " Dr Evers It has never fraled in my hands in speedily relieving says In Western and Southern India painful dysmenorrhoea

useful in

—

the congestive

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

16

the plant

is

common, and its medicinal properties do be known " (Dymock, Vol 1 P 233)

not

not appear to

,

R

Brev Col.

N

Chopra,

MD

following about this drug in his

of India, pages

261—62

—

—

Chemical Composition has been done on this drug

M S.,

has published the — work ‘'Indigenous Drugs ,

I

or no previous work

Little

The

material used

To

author consisted of the root secured locally

by the

test for

the

presence of alkaloids, the powdered root was extracted The extract taken up in dilute with prollins liquid

HCL

gave

was

all

the reactions for alkaloids

.

The amount, however,

than 0 01 cer cent

less

The

petroleum ether extract showed the presence of and a little resinous matter , the ethereal solution

a fixed oil gave further amounts of resin , the alcoholic extract showed alkaloid soluble in the presence of an chloroform 0*01

(about bases

in

larger

phlobaphenes presence of a

The

per cent) and

some

also

water-soluble

amounts, some carbohydrates, resins and

The

cold aqueous

fairly large

extract

showed

amount of mucilaginous

hot aqueous extract did not

show

the

matter.

the presence of

any inulin-like substance As the water soluble bases to be were found predominant, the method used by Henry for the isolation of betaine, choline and other water-soluble bases was applied to a large quantity of the powdered root. The yield of the total bases was nearly 0.1 per cent

The fixed

oil,

root, thus,

has the following constituents

(2) resins,

(0.01 per cent)

(4)

(3)

an alkaloid

water soluble bases.

in

;

—(1) A

minute quantity

ABRQMA AUGUSTA

17

Pharmacological Action and Thetapeutic Uses

The

and

alkaloid

different

fractions

—

obtained during the

course of analysis including the water-soluble bases were passed through pharmacological tests, but no remarkable activity was manifested on the gastro intestinal tract, respiration,

circulation, effect

or

on the

'in

uterus,

In

situ'.

nor was there any marked

etc

whether

virgin or pregnant,

activity, clinical trials

were not

Dacca (unpublished) has salts in

out

carried

recently found in

alcoholic extract of the plant

magnesium

isolated

the absence of any sign of physiological

fairly

large

b Sircar of an aqueous quantities

combination with hydroxy-acids,

of

besides

In view of the fact and other organic residues gums, that magnesium salts of some hydroxy-acids are valuable as styptics, he thinks that the utility of Abroma Augusta in uterine haemorrhages might be due to the presence of the magnesium salts. Further work is necessary to determine "

resins

the true nature of the active principles

Homceopafktc Uses and Proving.

D N

MD

of Calcutta made a short and fragmentaiy proving of Abroma Augusta and prepared

The

a

tincture

late

Dr

Ray,

of the drug from

the American

Horn

its

leaves according to class

Pharmacopoeia

He

used

of drug

III

this

and Dr Roy was a first grade homoeopath of our country and his opinion cannot but be respected Dr Roy published an article dealing for

more than ten years

in cases of Diabetes Mellitus

Insipidus with veiy gratifying results

with his experiences pertaining to

this

medicine

in

the

Indian Homoeopathic Review edited by Dr. P C. Majumder, M D. in the months of November and December, 1919. 2

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

18

by him in support of his contention and those cases of cure would conclusively prove that Abroma Augusta was found to be very efficacious by now proceed I shall Dr Roy in the cure of Diabetes to dwell upon its Materia Medica collected by Dr Roy

were

Several cases

and

cited

others.

Materia Medica of Chnical .

—Diabetes

Abroma Augusta. and

Mellitus

Insipidus

Albu-

,

minuria, Enuresis, Debility, Vertigo, Sleeplessness, Carbuncle,

Amenorrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea. Relations

—Camphor,

Uranium

Acid phos.

nitric,

Syzygium, Lactic acid

Mind — Irntability mind

and morose,

fretful

unbearable

contradiction

dreams

various

of

depression,

mood

angry

easily excitable,

moody, weakness of the brain

for active work,

dislike

of

of temper, ill-humour,

,

sleepless

things

night,

forgetfulness

,

times

at

,

full

absent-

,

minded

Head

— Empty

and discomfort giddiness

the

lids,

tion to

head, at times heaviness

rolling of the head

and

constant uneasiness of head

,

of the head,

Eyes

,

feeling of the

tight feeling

on the

,

side of the

vertigo

pain

on

,

much

the back

head

—Weakness

of vision, dull vision, puffiness of pain over both eyes, at times heaviness , inclina.

drop eyes closed

;

eyes get easily tired

and watery

;

paleness of the conjunctiva

Ears in the ears

—Shortness ,

sound

of hearing

in the ears

,

,

buzzing in ears,

discharge from ears

pain

,,

ABROMA AUGUSTA Nose

—Sneezing

19

watery discharge from dryness of nose, the nostrils feel very dry with

nose,

several

times,

desire to rub

Face. red spot

on

— Pale, yellow, wrinkled, old

on

looking, puffy, dry

and cheeks

the forehead

the face with burning

sensation

,

,

itching

,

eruption

furuncles of the

face

— Dryness

Mouth

of the mouth, almost constant, with

desire for drinking large quantities of cold water

drinking does not relieve

thirst,

it,

,

excessive

tongue clean and very

whole of the buccal cavity is dry speech very feeble and indistinct, frequent desire to drink liquids insatiable thirst , desire for cold drinks, lips dry and pale,

dry

,

,

rather bluish

Throat ing

of

solids

— Dryness of burning

,

liquids relieves throat

Appetite again

cat

sweets

,

a

the throat

sensation

burning

of swallow-

patnfulness

,

drinking

,

symptoms temporarily.

—^Unnatural thirst

appetite, insatiable

a

eating

after

little

difficulty

,

,

nothing

good

hunger

,

can

meal, desire for

seems to

satisfy

the

hunger.

—

Stomach. Hungiy with kinds of food, sweets, acids, not

no

satisfied

with eating

eructation,

,

not

faint fish

no heart-bum, no food

,

—desire

for

all

and meat, nee, bread

much of

stomach, can eat at any hour dislike for solid

feeling

dyspeptic symptoms,

acidity or fullness of the

great relish for liquids,

Feeling of weakness

no

when hungry

Frequent desire to eat , a feeling of emptiness of the stomach, the food does not seem to stay

enjoys meal well.

long in the stomach

;;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

20

abdomen

Flatulence, distension of in

the

abdomen during

the

pam

,

free passage

peristalsis,

of

flatus jS?tooZ

—Constipation

—no

stool with

with

stools pass

hard lumpy

stool

straining

difficulty,

very hard, blackish

Uriimry Otgans

unne desire

,

,

pint to

two

,

— Profuse

both day and

urination

large quantity every

he must

drink relieves

for drink,

pints or

drink,

is

more of

clear

thirst,

diabetes mellitus

,

feels

passes urine

,

is

drinks

a peculiar

dry

large

odour times, passes from half urine at a time, polyuria

clear,

turbid at

,

mouth

the

urine of high specific gravity containing sugar

time he

time,

every two hours, of profuse quantity, desire

sediment

slight

bowels,

colour of the stool brownish

quantity, the colour of urine

with

,

and knotted

to drink after urmation,

and

torpid

dryness of the rectum

night, passage of urine, very passes

passage of

stool,

every day

periodically

obstinate constipation

when

,

,

fishy

glycosuria,

weak and exhausted almost each some ten to fifteen pounds

passes

more urine in twenty four hours, passes urine frequently and large quantity of passage of urine relieves the bladder, increased flow of unne , urgent desire to pass urine , nocturnal enuresis , gets up at night to urinate several times . the quantity of urine more at night ; frequency of unnation more in the afternoon but the quantity passed is less burning sensation at the mouth of the urethra or

Male sexual organs the orifice ulcers

—Free

flow of unne, rawness of of the urethra, soreness of the meatus , whitish

round the mouth of the prepuce caused by the

passage of excessive

sugar in the urine

,

smarting

and

,, ;

ABROMA AUGUSTA violent

of

Itching

to

inability

the part

absence of sexual

,

extreme

coition,

2i

exhaustion

weakness of sexual organs, swelling of

desire,

after coition

testes,

hanging of

the testes.

Female

long lasting

too short or too

ture,

— Catamenia

sei iicd oi (jans

lower abdomen

colicky pain in the

,

during a day or two

appearance of the menses or scanty and pale

blood

,

dark,

spasm it is useful both and amenorrhoea painful menses due

times hysterical

,

—

uterus

,

profuse

clotted,

in

dysmenorrhoea

to tending

of the

profuse of whitish, thin or watery

leucorrhoea,

looking young

discharges in thin,

sickly

respiratory organs

cough worse

,

previous to the

nausea, vomiting and at

vertigo,

,

is

prema-

irregular,

in the

girls

,

chlorosis

evening and ni^t

cough with purulent expectoration and pain in the chest Cold air excites cough , expectoiation is free ; coughing causes pains in the chest

when coughing

,

,

side pains, has to hold his chest

bronchitis

,

good deal of expectoration whitish, yellowish and lumpy

broncho-pneumonia with a Character of the sputum is Hurried respiration, sinking

feeling in the chest

Heart

—^Weakness

of rhe heart with anxiety

uneasiness in the cardiac region,

movement

,

feeling of great

action regular, feeble

,

palpitation,

weakness

,

great

worse on

in the chest

,

heart's

faintish feeling.

—

Heck, back and hmbs . Weakness of neck and spine , dull pain on the back , pain all over the limbs, weakness of the lower limbs , emaciation of both upper and lower

hmbs, pain loins.

in

the region of kidneys with

stiffness

of the

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

22

Skin —Dryness of the

scratching of the skin

skin,

burning of the skin, disturbing night's

worse during summer months

boils,

rest

many

,

,

small

carbuncle, carbun-

,

cular abscesses

— Drowsiness

Sleep

being

without

able to

sleep

frequent urination at night disturbing sleep

sleeplessness,

sleep better in the early

part

unrefreshing

of morning,

sleep

Feve7 with great

— Dry

heat over the

—Great

of extreme exhaustion, to

disinclination flesh

,

ness of frequent

,

work

uneasiness,

slow fever

irritability

,

all

limbs

thirst ,

,

paralytic

,

weakness all ove*"

weari-

,

the

body

,

of water with dryness

quantities

disturbed

or

feeling

great loss

,

frequent profuse passage of urine,

sleeplessness

,

active work,

of temper

burning sensation large

for

languidity

do any

to

inability

rapid emaciation

of the mouth night

,

thirst.

Genet ahties

of

whole body

worse

unrefreshing

at

sleep

Menstruation painful and scanty or painful and profuse, pain

on both

women with

of the lower abdomen, hysteria in

sides

weak

menstrual troubles

Personal Observations.

The

Ayurvedic physicians of India are quite

over the therapeutic properties of

about It IS

that

its

efficacy

an open

has been

secret

known

Abroma Augusta

of dysmenorrhoea

root

and

this

silent

drug and no mention

made in any of their works many persons of our country

to

is

generally used for the cure

stenlity.

A

few old

women

of

,

ABROMA AUGUSTA. our country could be found

23

Bengal a few years back

in

who

prescribed some quack nostrums for the cure of dysmenorrhoea which principally consisted of Abroma Augusta root

Bhuban Mohan Sircar, of Chorebagan, Calcutta published an article in the Indian Medical Gazette in 1872 in which he directed our attention to this drug and

The

late

Dr.

efficacy mentioned the dysmenorrhoea Dr D

of

N

its

Roy

root-bark

in

curing

introduced this drug as an

remedy to our notice. In this drug, the patient exhibits an angry and excitable mood temperament peevish He feels weaknees of head, uneasiness is felt there, is unable to do any hard work He can not bear any contradiction, sleeplessness exists, homoeopathic

excellent

always IS

present

remain with closed eyes, nnging

to

likes

and there

The tongue

is

and clean

dry

mouth, great

inside the

thirst

There

is

also dryness

there

is

great desire

exists,

to drink large quantities of cold water at

There

is

in the ears

shortness of hearing.

is

a time

unnatural hunger, nothing can satisfy

hungry even immediately

after

food

There

is

it,

feels

constipation,

faeces consisting of hard balls

The

patient

passes urine

The

hours

The

urine

is

passes

many

times in this

IS

within twenty-four

pregnant with high specific gravity

and there

It

way

of urine at a time,

patient experiences great thirst after unnation

present in the urine night

large quantities

The

is inability

,

sugar

is

patient unnates several times at

to retain urine

an excellent remedy

in the

irregular

menses of

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

24

menses appear before proper time lasting for a short time and sometimes for a long time , during menses

fsmskles,

colicky pains are

three days before the flow,

two or

or

there is black or abdomen Headache or giddiness is present clotted blood cases hysteric convulsions may appear.

felt

in the lower

The cough during night for

which the

in cold air, in the

worse

In

some

evening and

pains in the chest are

felt

patient presses the chest

and

Diabetes Mellitus

In

to

gets

during cough

,

blackish

,

Insipidus

it

has been found

be an excellent remedy an excellent remedy where the quantity of sugar excessive and the urine is loaded with high specific It IS

IS

gravity

it

,

is

also useful

those cases where the patients

in

pass large quantities of clear urine at night excessive is

thirst,

insomnia and prostration and the patient

do any physical and

averse to

bears a close

In urine,

when

It

Jambolanum

these remedies

fail to

involuntary urination

its

action

is

labour

Nitricum,

and is found do any good

and

in

inability

to

It

Phos to

be

retain

pronounced

some

has

intellectual

resemblance to Uranium

Acid and Syzygium curative

There are

action

in

pain

felt

and

bronchitis

broncho-

pneumonia,

there

the patient

is

obliged to press the painful parts with his hand,

cough

worse in the evening and during night There the colour of the phlegm is white, or

is It

gets

is

over the

chest

and

sides,

rapid respiration,

may be slightly yellowish , extreme

are present.

thirst

and constipation

ABROMA AUGUSTA can be found to be

In place of Bryonia

used when Bryonia good.

is

it

Poisonous

25

safely used or

can be impotent to do any it

—

Boil It is an excellent remedy in Carbuncles or poisonous boils, which are the outcome of Diabetes, in which easy formation of pus does not take place Carhu'iUile

o)

Female Diseases

—In

suppiession of menses, painful

menses, dysmenorrhoea and in all disorders of the menstrual flow Abroma Augusta is used with considerable benefit

The symptoms

in

It with before menstrual disorders

Dll

—

Ix,

which is

it is

useful

3x used

in

applicable, hysteria

have been dealt associated

with

Abroma The root-bark of this gives the tone

of

and

drug causes the menses to appear

strength to the uterus

mental and other symptoms

Its

Abroma Augusta

prepared from the root-bark of

it IS

and

Radix.

tally

with the

symptoms

Abroma Augusta

The

efficacy of

Abroma Radix

is

distinctly

marked

female diseases specially those connected with the

in all

uteius

Irregular

insufficient

menstrual

dysmenon-hoea,

disorders,

and colicky pains

or scanty menses,

felt in

the

lower abdomen during or before menses are the diseases for

which

is

It

generally used with considerable benefit

flow

menstrual

may be

The

sometimes be copious black and the discharge chlorosis

It

IS

is

scanty

the flow

or

colour of the discharge

mixed with clotted blood

is

In

sometimes used with efficacy

menstrual

In

very

The may

affections,

it

can be compared with

and Viburnum opulus The Pulsatilla patients are generally mild and easily cry, but the Abroma Radix Pulsatilla

are bad-tempered

patients

other will

as

symptoms be

present, the

not stand in the Its

usefulness

—

way of

can be

diseases.

Dll

and are

Ix and 3x

easily

angered

If

the

symptoms of temperament prescribing

marked

in

Abroma Radix

almost

all

female

— Acalypha

Itidica.

(Mukfajliuri or MuUfabarsi).

—Aritta

Names—

Common

manjarie

Eng.

;

— Muktajhuri or Muktabarsi Hindi and Bomb, — Khokali Tam. — Kuppaimeni Tel. Harita-Manjiri Guz.—Vanchhi Kanto Uriya— Indra maris Acalypha

Indian

Beng,

;

;

,

;

;

;

;

— Kupamenya.

Sing.

The

Habitat.

shrub

Natural order.

is

generally found in India.

Euphorbiaceae.

JDescri'ption of the shrub.

monly found

and young shoots are

purpose.

The

in

are small

flowers

Its

fruit is also

and

small

is

employed

is

com^

the waste or

places throughout the plains of India.

deserted leaves

a shurb which

is

and mostly grows

India

in

It

for

The

root,

medicinal

and of yellowish colour.

divided

into three parts.

The

odour of the macerated leaves are nauseating. Ailopatbic Uses and Opinions.

An

Constituents.

remedy

favourite

One dram given

to

cathartic.

in

acalyphine.

alkaloid,

It

is

a

chronic bronchitis and consumption.

of the expressed juice of the leaves should be

children.

The

An

juice

infusion

of

the root acts as a

from fresh leaves may be employed

and other skin diseases, and with lime and onion, it is a good stimulating application in rheumatism. (72. N. Chopra^ Indigenous Drugs of India, p. 561—62). in scabies

"It

The

is

cathartic,

infusion

with a

emetic, little

expectorant, garlic

is

and vermifuge.

used to expel

worms

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

la

in

children

The

decoction

is

a

safe,

speedy and

sure

It and emetic like Senega or Ipecac increases the pulmonary secretions but does not cause any depression of the vital powers , given in pulmonary tuber" culosis, croup, asthma, and bronchitis of children

laxative

"Externally the decoction

made

liniment with

into

venereal

pains

,

application in skin diseases

attendant for

on

bites

oil

lime

with

The juice used in earache used in rheumatism and is

is

(Chunam)

,

is

used

Cataplasm of leaves

of venomous insects

syphilitic ulcers

it

also

,

as

an

relieves pain

recommended

suppository of bruised leaves relieves

constipation in children"

(i?

^

Kho7y, Vol.

11

,

p 588)

Phai inacopoeia of India, (p 205), the following reference to this plant by Dr G Bidie, of Madras, will be In the

found

'The expressed

juice

of the leaves

is

in great

repute,

wherever the plant grows, as an emetic for children, and IS safe, certain and speedy in its action like Ipecac It seems to have little tendency to act on the bowels or depress the secretion

vital

of the

expressed juice for

Dr ranking

Ae it

powers, and

decidedly

it

increases the

pulmonary organs The dose of the an infant is a teaspoonful"

Ross speaks highly of

in this respect

its

with Senega

useful in the bronchitis of children

use as an expectorant,

he found

,

The

it

specially

purgative action

HE

of the root noticed by Rheede is confirmed by Dr Bjsteed who has used it as a laxative for children

In

Bombay the plant has a reputation as an expectorant, hence the native name Khokli (cough) Bngade Surgeon Langley m a communication to Dr. Watt, Dictionary of Economic

ACALYPHA Products of India, Vol.

Canara Chilmari

I.,

writes— 'This plant Kuppi.

well as

as

A

congestive headache.

29

INDICA.

The

piece of cotton

the expressed juice and

inserted

called in

natives use

it

in

saturated with

is

each

into

is

nostril

this

;

symptoms by causing haemorrhage from the nose. The powder of the dry leaves is used in bedsores and wounds attacked by worms. In asthmaand bronchitis, I have employed it with benefit both for children and adults”. the head

relieves

Langley recommends a tincture

Dr.

made

with

of ether

spirits

of

3 oz. to one pint

(

fresh

herb

dose 20 to

),

60 minims frequently repeated during the day ; in honey, in large doses it is it acts as an expectorant and nauseant ; emetic,

(

Dymock

Vol.

Soft branch

Juice from the leaves,

with

1

part medicine

Decoction,

9

parts

pages 292-93

The whole

Parts used. Dose.

III.,

2 to 3

plant, especially leaves.

and powdered

H

to

I

and 9

leaves,

water),

parts

alcohol), 30 to 60 drops.

(

I

to 3 annas.

Root bark (mixed

teaspoon.

Tincture

tolas.

).

1

1

to

2 kanchas.

and 10 to 60

part medicine

Liquid Extract,

drops.

Homoeopaihic Provings and Uses. Firsf

Proven

While Homoeopathy was specially

and

Calcutta,

Rajendra Lai

Dutta

level

in

while

who was

the First Missionary of

was trying his Homoeopathy

in

its

early infancy in India,

the

late

regarded by

Homoeopathy

best to

Calcutta.

in

introduce

Dr.

C.

French homoeopath, came to Calcutta

F.

revered all

Babu

of us to be

India

and who

and popularise Tonnere, M.D. a

in 1851.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

30

Dr

Tonnere made a proving of Acalypha Indica and

called attention to this plant as a valuable remedy. In

a

volume

small

"Additions

as

entitled

to the

Homoeopathic Materia Medica," collected and arranged by Henry Thomas, M D and published in London in the year 1858, an account of this plant and its therapeutic properties has

been published

a listed remedy of our Homoeopathic Materia Clarke, Boericke, CowperthMedica and Drs John mentioned have plant in their works this others waite and on Materia Medica It IS

W

H

It IS

very unfortunate that

count of the symptoms

cannot find out a true ac from the proving made by

I

elicited

Dr Tonnere However, the defect was remedied by the late revered savant Dr Mahendra Lai Sircar, M D D L., C E who in^ duced one of his disciples to make a proving of this drug I

,

The name of the With

prover was Babu Joy Kissen Ghosal,

great pleasure

I

publish

all

the

symptoms and

syndromes observed by Joy Kissen Babu during the period

when the

was continued

proving

The proving was and than the late Dr

supervision

m

M

conducted and

made under the

the presence of

L

no

less

direct

a personage

Sircar

Proving of Acalypha Indica.

By Babu Joy Kissen Gkosal.

Health History of the Prover, Prover, Offices,

an

assistant in the

aged 34,

bom

office

of Comptroller, Post

of healthy parents

who

are both

ACALYPHA INDICA Ijvinq.

Father aged 62

,

31

Of

mother 55

seven brothers

the sisters are dead and three sisters, four brothers and Three brothers died of malarious fever, one committed suicide, one sister died of malarious fever, one of dysentery, Prover had Cholera and one from the effects of a burn when three years old, malarious fever and enlarged spleen when 10 years old, since then enjoying good health, except At the time suffering occasionally from malarious fever. of proving, IS in very good health, though he lives in a He is of regular and sober habits, malarious village Disposition mild and quiet. constitution slightly bilious all

Sept 3, 1895 tincture in

A

At 10 A

M

an ounce of water

few minutes

after

I

took 5 drops of the mother

in the

reaching

my

passed water once, probably due to

presence of Dr, Sircar lodgings in

my

Calcutta,

having taken some

Half an hour after began to an unusual hour and little dryness of the throat which thirst a experience lasted about half an hour and disappeared after bathing in liquid at

cold water at II

AM

About a quarter of an hour

after the bath

I

experienced

a peculiar sensation of dryness of the tongue and throat, as if mucus had collected in the throat, especially felt during

—

empty deglutition Had my breakfast at 11 45 A M after which all the symptoms seemed to pass away for an hour. At 1 P. M while I was reading the last named symptom reappeared and lasted for hours At 5 P,M tincture

took another dose of 5 drops of the mother This time no dryness of the throat or tongue ocI

seemed to be more full of mucus with symptoms of a slight cough now and then. A little heaviness cunred, but the throat

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

32

was felt which, somewhat offensive offensive with me)

of the lower bowels followed by griping

however, was

relieved

passing

after

flatus several times (flatus not usually

Sept. little

(

1

On

4

waking

in

Had my

dryness of throat

generally have

—

At 8 30 A of which made to see

some

M

one easy I

me

patients

the morning

stool in

I

experienced a

morning the morning ) usual

stool

took 10 drops of the medicine, the smell somewhat sick this time Went out but

had

to

return earlier than usual

had a soft stool at 9-— 30 AM of a reddish-brown colour, accompanied and Bathed at 10 AM and followed by spluttering noise nausea felt and sickness which sat to breakfast when I continued for nearly the whole day.

on account of a

At

12

noon began

originating in left

desire

eye-brow.

for

to

stool,

feel

a

dull

headache which

the frontal region gradually settled in the

The

pain then seemed to circulate round

the external margin of the orbit preventing

opening

This troubled

the eyelids

me

me from

for

fully

more than an

hour, then began gradually to pass away,

and after 3 hours was entirely gone the nausea, however, persisted the whole day I could not venture on a repetition of another was summoned at night to a native dose in the evening ,

I

village

about eight miles north of Calcutta, to attend

some

members of my family who were ill , having had to go in a hurry I left the drug by mistake in my lodgings at Calcutta and so could not take any^the whole of the next day

No

medicine

had no disturbance of the stomach, the throat or the head had my stool as usual, excepting that it was a little soft , Sept 5.

I

felt

as fresh

as ever,

,

,

ACALYPHA INDICA

my

took

meals with

my

usual

33

appetite

and had a good

night's rest.

after

At 0^30 P M took 5 drops about 3 hours breakfast and many of the previous symptoms recur-

red

in

Sept 6

1

the course of the day,

viz, griping in

the bowels,

headache, feelings of lassitude and weariness with diminished appetite

development

of

the

flatulence,

dull

frontal

and nausea. Urgency to stool on leaving bed diarrhoeic and was accompanied by flatus. Sept

7

;

stool

AM

took a dose of 15 drops, half an hour after felt a dull sensation in head and a pressure in the Bathed at 9 stomach followed by nausea and eructations At 9-30 A M experienced a tickling sensation in the

At 8

AM

which brought on cough with sticky sputa accompanied by dryness and burning of the throat which made me uneasy the whole day , experienced great weariness towards evening with burning in the eyes, and felt a great desire for acid fruits and sugar water. throat

At 6 P 7 P.M

took another dose of

15

drops, about

passed frequently noisy flatus of offensive smell

felt little

was

M

or

no

disturbed

appetite at the time

of nightly meal

,

sleep

by dreams

and easy ; abdomen seemed full passed wind, head and eyes seemed dull and heavy, inclination to lie down, felt sleepy but could get no sleep, fullness of the stomach followed by eructations With an inclination *o vomiting brought out a quantity of bitter fluid while washing my mouth and teeth Morning

Sept. 8

,

3

stool not clear

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

34

cough also was noticeable now and then, throat seemed loaded with mucus which could be easily in the morning,

brought out

At 8 a.m. took a dose of 20 drops and felt soon with loathing after an indescribable feeling of nausea of food and this persisted even after my cold bath at

9 am. At 10 A M. took my breakfast after which I rested for some time and felt sleepy but could not shut my eyes on account of an oppressive frontal headache. At

1

1-30

AM

felt

very thirsty

and drank a

tumblerful

of water

At twelve began to sneeze and found that nasal catarrh had set in with a thin watery discharge from nose and eyes, dull and heavy headache with stiffness of the neck troubled me, went to bed with these symptoms but sleep was fitful and not at all refreshing. At 3 P M got up from bed and began to experience had a stool which a very bad griping of the bowels ,

eas®j

me somewhat

At 4 P M flatus, last

another stool, watery, warm, passed with

portion containing mucus.

At 6 P.M another stool, watery, mucous, frothy, warmer than the previous one, colour at first reddish or brownish and then greenish , felt very thirsty after stool, took some sugar water. Could not venture on another dose and so medicine was stopped this evening At 8 P.M again the stool

was now

felt

an

inclination to stool,

entirely liquid,

more

and gushed out

urgent,

in torrents.

ACALYPHA INDiCA

35

some time and frequently passed wind with mucus. Felt very weak afterwards

sat for

frothy

At 9 P,M. took plain sago and went to bed , an hour after was roused by an urgent desire to stool but passed only a little thin watery stool of offensive and nauseating smell- Sleep was disturbed by dreams. Sept.

No

9

Got up from bed

medicine

m a weak

in the morning, took a cup of milk sometime

state

after,

somewhat refreshed At 9 A M took my breakfast, had no more trouble with the bowels, but a slight catarrh remained which was got over in 2 days bathed and

Sept. a' lowed

felt

22

Resumed

proving

the system a few days'

tO'day

rest to

after

render

it

free

the effects of the previous experiment with the drug

here mention that

I

abstained

all

having

the while from

I

from

may

all sorts

of indulgence, sexual or otherwise, and restricted myself to

my usual At 7 A 8 A

diet

M

took ten drops in an ounce of water, and

M

began to experience a slight dryness of the throat and nausea which was relieved by taking a cup of sugar water with a little lemon juice. I then passed water bath at and felt better, especiaHy after my cold

at

9-30

AM At 10 A

M

took

my

meal and no symptoms worth

noting appeared during the day.

At 5-30 brought

PM

took another dose of 10 drops which

on soon

after

a feeling of nausea and fullness of

and dullness of appetite. meal and a goodnight's rest

the stomach followed by flatulence

At 9

PM

followed.

took

my

nightly

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

36

A

was experienced on clear and was passed not was waking , my morning Head and eyes seemed heavy and With noisy flatus Sept

23.

feeltng of languor stool

appetite dull

At 8 A eructations

M

and felt nausea and had At 9 A M, I was dull and

took 10 drops

an hour after and had an inclination

half

rather thirsty,

to take

acidulated

drinks

M

At 9-30 A could

but

eat only a

breakfast

After

bathed and soon after sat to breakfast

I

that too

and

sleepy

felt

I

and

little

with

disrelish.

disinclined

to

do

anything

A M had eructations and heart-burn Stomach and abdomen seemed very full and loaded and remained At

1 1

in that state for

about 5 hours

Between 4 and 5 P

and yawned mouth full of At 5

several

M

It

was

became watery and

the eyes

times,

saliva.

PM

took another

brought on sickness and as

experienced a great dullness

in the

my

dose

which continued as bad

of

appetite

10 drops

morning.

At 5-30 took a walk but soon felt reaching home took a cup of warm milk At 6 followed

P.M,

The

felt intestinal

stool

At 9 P.M took bed

,

sleep

was

small,

and a

my

nightly

disturbed

stool

and attended

me somewhat

meal and

by dreams.

and on

desire to

diarrhoeic

This, however, eased

with noisy flatus

to

was

griping

thirsty

retired

soon

after

acalypha indica Rose as early as three

24

Sept

37

in

the morning

,

water

glass of

felt quite out of and drank a , with heavy eyes again On waking sorts, and went to bed felt a toothache with swelling of up again at 6 A M pained me much during the whole the gums which day felt

thirsty

I

At 6 to 8 A M felt no desire for stool but passed water more than once and frequently passed offensive noisy Had watery discharges from nose and eyes and flatus uncomfortable

very

felt

passed only a relief

I

did

little

not

Sat

to

stool

diarrhoeic stool

bathe nor

did

I

at

8 AM

but

which brought no take any medicine this

morning

At 9 A

M

took a cup of

warm

milk and rested for an

hour when no other symptoms than occasional yawnings appeared At 0 A M took my breakfast which consisted only of a handful of boiled rice and some warm milk. 1

Though signs

I

eructed

several

times

after

of heart burn appeared to-day

no sleepy and

breakfast I

felt

yet

The two hours at noon which did me good. toothache and swelling of the gums seemed much less The discharges from nose and eyes were almost gone but they gave place to additional symptoms to headache and a cough slept

for

took a dose of 0 drops which soon after At 4 P M brought on eructations and nausea which, however, were got rid of by smelling a lemon. 1

At 5 P M I began to feel griping of the intestines which induced an evacuation of the bowels which though diarrhoeic gave me great relief Barnng the cough which

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

38

was somewhat distressing I was and ate my dinner with relish ,

very well sleep

was

that evening

slightly disturbed

by dreams Sept 25 On awaking I felt an early desire for stool which was first watery and then soft, coming out in lumps followed by passing of wind Toothache and swellings of the gums were almost gone, but cough with dryness of the tongue and throat troubled me much Sputa came out

roundish in form, of ash or lead colour

like small shots,

At 10 A

M

took a dose of 10 drops and sometime after experienced a little burning in the throat and soft palate with a desire for acidulated drinks

Had my

bath at 9 and

which I was engaged and no symptoms of any note save a few breakfast at

9''30 after

appeared for 4 hours remained

But notwithstanding

this

in reading

eructations

the stomach

and there was much rumbling in the abdomen, which seemed loaded with gas, and I felt great lassitude and dullness and yawned several times towards evening scarcely had any appetite at dinner Sleep was much disturbed by dreams and a full

till

late in

the afternoon

I

nocturnal emission occurred

Sept 26

from bed

,

it

Had an was

diarrhoeic,

with griping in the bowels. the throat seemed, as

was brought out

if

on

rising

mucous, passed with

flatus,

urgent desire for stool

it

Cough was

also

distressing

,

were choked, with mucus, which

in small darkish (lead coloured)

lumps.

At 8 A,M. took a dose of 10 drops , its smell was which generally followed

sickening, as also the eructation Its

administration

ACALYPHA At 9 A writing a

M

letter

I

1

INDICA.

bathed and had felt

my

39

As was

breakfast

a headache on the

left

I

side

which

me

a good deal for two hours and then gradually No other symptoms than the fullness of passed away the stomach and rumbling in the abdomen were marked troubled

during the day

was called to an adjoining malarious village to see a very bad case of dysentery in a child over Vv'hom had to keep incessant watch for three days and nights This brought on high fever which confined me to bed for more than a week, since then have been sufFenng off and on f'om fever, and hence the interruption in the proving in the

afternoon

I

I

I

for the present

Opinions of Ofker Noted Physicians.

The

late

Dr E P. Anshutz, of Philadelphia, had been

the sole Editor of the

he was

Homoeopathic Recorder as long as

alive.

Dr Hale, brought out a book entitled —"New, Old and Forgotten Remedies" in which Dr. Anshutz, like

and therapeutic properties of some new Homoeopathic remedies have been given A few indigenous drugs of India such as Ficus JRehgiosa, JSfyctanthes Arhortnstis, Justicia Adhatoda and Azadirachta Xndica have been incorporated in his book the provings

Dr

Anshutz collected some illuminating and valuable

Acalypha Indica which has found well-known book

informations regarding

a place in I

his

can not but reproduce the same in esctenso

benefit of

my

readers

for the

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

40

He writes

—'"Dr

Tonnere of

Calcutta, India, seems

be the first to call attention to thjs plant as a remedy In a small book. Additions to the Homceopathic Materia Medica, collected and arranged by Henry Thomas, m.D

to

,

and published

m

London

in the

following credited to that physician

"Tincture of the

year

—

Acalypha

1858, appears the

Indica,

administered in the sixth decimal dilution,

prepared is

and

specific

in

haemorrhage from the lungs. In three cases in which I have employed it the persons were affected with phthisis In one case there was a tuberculous affection of the upper portion of the left lung, of some two years' standing Haemoptysis had been going on for three months , the

had been in the morning pure blood , in lumps of clotted blood, and the fits of coughing were very violent at night In this case all Homoeopathic remedies had been tried unsuccessfully, when accidentally discovered the virtues of the Acalypha Indica, that remedy havmg been given to me by a native prepared the mother tincture upon the for jaundice I Homoeopathic principle, and took 10 drops, which brought on a severe fit of dry cough, followed by spitting of blood Having noted all the symptoms experienced by myself, and finding that they were nearly all similar to those of expectoration

the evening dark

I

my

patients,

I

gave

six

drops of 6th (decimal) dilution

a spoonful to be taken every hour beginning immediately (9 A.M ) At 6 P M the blood stopped I continued this for eight days, and the in

half a tumbler of water,

half

blood has never reappeared

(now

months since) The patient is improving, and auscultation proved the disease has decreased, and I am in hopes to effect a cure three

ACALYPHA INDICA

41

Yet one month since I have been giving them the medicine they have not spit any blood, although previously one of them never passed a day without spitting a great quantity Cah atea Caib is an antidote to the Acalypha."

Another

transatlantic

medical friend writes

—"I hope

you obtained some of the Acaiypha Indica while you have found it perfectly successful in arresting were here haemoptysis in three cases of consumption in the last stage , could not perceive any other effect from its use, but the 1

I

hemorrhagic sputa was,

cessation of the

advantage " i

Its

first

phthisis

—a

The

tried

it

hands has been very in

instance of

succumbed use

my

use in

have only

The

I

think,

a

great

"

similar cases to those already cited.

my

its

patient

using

—

in a hopeless case of it haemoptysis wearisome

and and quiet sleep succeeded its " eventually died of pulmonary paralysis

continued to

satisfactory, but

exhibition,

" In a case of passive haemorrhage from the lungs, after

Arnica was used with little benefit, Acaiypha benefited, and then failed after which the use of Arnica entirely stayed the haemorrhagic flow (Perhaps Hamamelis would have at once cured, but it was not at hand) " Homoeopathic BemeWf vol I, page 256, " K, a phthisical patient, had haemoptysis to a consider^ able extent , in a short time his voice failed him , he took half drop doses of 7th (decimal) dilution of Acaiypha in water every half hour, and in a few hours the blood "

spitting left

him

entirely

In 1885 Dr. Peter Cooper, of Wilmington, Delawar, read

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

42

a paper on following

Acalypha Indica^ of which

the drug

an

IS

abstract

—

Professor Jones recapitulates

as follows

:

the

*‘Time

—

—

Blood Bright-red and not profuse in morning , dark and clotted in afternoon Neither quickened nor hard ; rather soft and Cough Violent and in fits at night easily compressible. patient has a played-out feeling in the morning and gams Haemorrhage occurs

morning

in

—

in strength as the

day advances."

—

all pathological in trial of Worthy JV B " haemorrhages having a morning exacerbation

an outline presentation of the drug given us by so eminent an authority as Professor Jones of the Such

IS

University of Michigan

It

was

his

"N. B ",

his

suggestion

Acalypha was worthy of trial in all pathological provided the morning haemorrhages from any source aggravation was present, that fixed my attention upon the At the time I had a case of haemorrhage drug especially No per rectum that had baffled me for several months remedy had aided the case in the least, so far as I could see, unless it was Pond's Extract used locally in the form of injection , and 1 finally came to the conclusion that the relief apparently due to the HamameUs was merely a that

coincidence I

I

have given

knew of or could hear

all

of.

the haemorrhagic remedies Still

as often, with increasing severity

was

the bleeding

came

Each time the

just

patient

would be disappointed In fact, I was so used to delay the answer to her summons as long as possible so that the bleeding might have time to exhaust itself. She became reduced in flesh and the sure she

hopeless that

I

ACALYPHA INDICA haemorrhagic

drugs

became

43

reduced in number,

until

on a gate the last one like the nine little As soon as I read tumbled off and then there was none Indica, I monograph on Acalypka Dr Jones's She had all the symptoms bright red determined to try it blood in the morning , dark and clotted in the afternoon and evening, weak and languid m the forenoon, stronger Indians sitting

—

during the

afternoon

—except

one,

i

e, instead of the

blood coming from the lungs it came from within the procured the 6th dil and served I portals of the anus immediate relief. Each It gave speedy, almost It in water. subsequent attack came

less

profuse and at longer intervals

She has not had a haemorrhage now for two months, while before she was having from seven to one (continuous) a week She is gaining in flesh, is in every way improved, " , and keeps Acalypha Indica constantly by her

Personal observations Regarding ifs Symptoms and Therapeutic properties.

Acalypha Indica has turned remedy for cough, diarrhoea,

out to be an excellent flatulence,

haemoptysis,

incipient phthisis etc.

appears to have a marked influence on the alimen-

It

tary

canal

and

respiratory

organs.

It

is

employed

in

the beginning of phthisis associated with hard, dry and severe cough

followed by

bloody expectoration,

arterial

haemorrhage, but no febnie disturbance Expectoration of pure bright red blood comes on in the morning and dark clotted blood in the evening violent at night

Constant

Cough becomes very

and severe pain

is fell

in the

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

44

region of

The

Pulse

chest

the

patient feels burning

stomach

Burning

and

soft

in

the

compressible

oesophagus

pharynx,

in

felt

is

is

spluttering

intestines;

diarrhoea with forcible expulsion of noisy flatus associated with bearing

down and

are rumbling, distention Rectal

haemorrhage

may

is

pains and tenesmus griping pain in the

take

which

place,

and

present

There

abdomen

gets

worse

in

the morning In the proving spitting

Ghosal no other provers, "dry cough

made by Babu Joy

of blood appeared, but in

fCissen

was induced followed by spitting of blood", which is its chief characteristic, and this symptom has been often In the opinion verified by a speedy cure of haemoptysis expectoration ts Hale it is employed when there of Dr of pure, hnqht-red blood tn the morning and dark lumps of clotted blood in the evening In

Acalypha Indica the skin appears to be jaundiced

and sometimes

itching

swellings appear

on the

There

is

is

circumscribed

furuncle-like

skin

dullness of chest

violent pain in the chest

There

and

on percussion and constant

is felt

progressive emaciation

and

all

pathological

haemorrhages have generally and principally a morning aggravation.

Personally speaking, cases associated with I

am

glad to say that

simply charmed with

I

used Acalypha Indica in several

of blood from the lungs and those cases were cured I was

spitting

its

all

efficacy

,

ACALYPHA INDICA

45

—^Worse in the morning. Relationship — Compare, Hama

Modality

,

Ficus ind

,

Millefol

,

Ipecac,

Ficus Rel

Phosphorus

—

Parts used ^The tincture is prepared from the fresh plant which is macerated with two parts by weight of alcohol

Dilution

lx, 3x,

6x generally used

—

,

—

Achyranfhes A$pera Linn. (Apamarga)^ Vernacular.

Bur

,

—Apamarga

Bomb

Beng.—Apang

Kv£n

Sansk

Hind.

,

and Ms^r —Aghada

Tz.m.-^'Na-yunvt

— Kune-la-mon

,

Tel.—

Latjira ; Pun)

,

Khare- Vazhun

;

Description of the herb. It IS

The

a small herb very commonly found

all

flowering spikes or the seeds of the plant,

and made

into

a paste with water,

application for

is

Decoction of the whole plant

is

an

grounded

used as an external

of poisonous snakes

bites

over India

and

reptiles.

excellent diuretic

and

and general anasarca For preparation of the decoction, about two ounces of the plant in one and half a pint of water should be boiled for 20 minutes to half an hour and then strained One to two IS

administered in renal dropsy

ounces of the decoction

The

is

given two or three times daily.

astringent property of the

by a few of us

It

drug has also been noticed

has been found very efficacious in

stopping loose, watery stools

A decoction of the powdered leaves or sugar candy

is

mixed with honey

useful in the early stages of diarrhoea

and dysentery ConsUttients

The

fruit

contains

a

large percentage

of alkaline ash pregnant with potash.

(Matena Medica of India, R. N, Khory,

1

1.

504).

ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN

47

and alterative and dysentery It IS Khar ascites anasarca, IS largely employed in and dropsy It IS also employed in cutaneous affections and enlargements of glands and to loosen expectoration m cough. It has a great reputation in dog-bites and bites of snakes and other venomous reptiles, for which purpose it is given internally The )uice is sometimes and also applied externally paste as eye-salve (anjan) applied in toothache, and the Actions and Uses,

Astringent, diuretic

given in menorrhagia, diarrhoea,

in

A

opacity of the cornea

medicated

and noises

into the ear in deafness

oil

( Ditto,

The

diuretic properties

is

dropped

in the ears 1

1,

504—5

).

of the plant are well-known to

and European physicians agree as to dropsical affections ; one ounce of the plant

the natives of India Its

value in

may be from 1 a day. (

boiled to

ten ounces of water for 15 minutes

in

and

2 ounces of the decoction be given 3 times

Pharmacographia Indica

—W

Dymock,

1 1

p. 136

1,

).

Ayurvedic Opinions and Uses. Charaka.

It is

used as a snuff to expel mucous from

the nose.

Sushruta, used in

worm

Its

root-bark

It

noises

ears

;

used in

piles.

is

It

also

affections.

Ckakradatta, boils

is

in

is

used in haemorrhages

from the

and deafness of hearing

acute

;

ophthalmia.

JShdba JPrakash bark

is

used.

It is

useful in Cholera

where

its

root-

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

48

Sangardhar*

Bangasen.

It is

very good in bleeding piles.

an excellent remedy

It is

in

insanity,

and

acute boils

Hant.

It IS

very useful in general dropsy

Leaves, root-bark, seeds

Barts Used

Juice of the leaves

Bose Chatak half a annas

1

tola

,

and branches.

decoction from one

a powa , root-bark from four annas powder of the seeds from four annas to

half

to

tola

;

to six

Personal Experience ol Ayurvedic Uses.

have observed in our practice that Apamarga leaves are largely used by our native physicians with beneficial carbuncles, eruptions, foul results in all sorts of boils, I

and poisonous

Many

ulcers

of these practitioners have

in the

form of

sores,

and

I

know

very

It

for boils,

the

that

for snake-bites

a sovereign remedy for burns and

of the body and of Parfs

Used

in

all

The mother

—excessive

kinds of ulcers

fhe Preparation

Mother tincture

and foul Apamarga.

carbuncles, ulcers is

Apamarga root and and bites of poisonous

in subduing burning sensation

and

is

leaves are insects

efficacious

burning sensation sores

Of Homoeopathic

Tincture.

prepared from the juice of the according to Formula I of the is

and branches, American Horn Pharmacopoeia leaves

serveral patents

principal ingredient of their oil

for certain

good

It IS

oils

made

,,

ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN

49

Homoeopathic Uses and Provings.

Ko I

Provintf

yame of the pi oiei— Dr a homoeopathic aged 26 years

practitioner practising at Basundia,

—22nd

Nov

Date of pi oving

volunteered to prove this

new

the mother tincture at 10

am

He took another

No symptoms 23rd

Nov

2nd dose 10 in

at

at

head

He

m

of poisoning were developed that day

1934.

He

Dr.

day.

this

4p

Jesscre,

S K Ghosh took 5 drops of

1934

drug.

He took

one dose of 5 drops

2 p m. and 3rd dose

pm

his

dose

HMB

Santosh Kumar Ghosh,

felt

at 7

p

at

8 a m.

m

confused and depressed sensations

—dizziness

and

extreme

prostration

—were

felt

Stomach.

Sour belching and

slight

heart-burn appear-

ed Passed one watery stool at 10 p

Stool

11pm stools

m

;

another

gradually

became watery, mixed with

mucus and associated with burning sensation body ; scanty urine and extreme thirst

Nausea and vomiting. There was frequent vomiting of water

slight

all

pieces of

over the

nausea and

and mucus, aggravated

drinks

Pulse. Shin. 4

at

with pain in the stomach before and during stool

Weak and thready Red

spots

on the skin which burned tembly

after

,,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

50

Extremities.

were

tion 1

Aching

and burning

the limbs

in

sensa-

felt

prescribed the 3x potency of this drug to

after

each stool

be repeated and the vomiting and purging were stopped

within C hours

Proving

No

II.

A

Babu Amulya Ratan Bose, B of the prover Assistant Head Master of the Basundia Government-aided

Name

H

E

School

in Jessore,

aged 37 years

This proving Date of pioving 4th March, 1933 was conducted by Dr Santosh Kumar Ghosh, H B Amulya Babu took 5 drops of the mother of that place

M

Sam, pm

tincture at

dose at 4

took another dose at 10

No symptoms were 5th March, 1933

2nd dose

at

1

pm

,

marked

that

another

day

Took one dose of 3rd dose at 4 p

am.,

5 drops at 10 a ni

,

m

6pm sion

Amulya Babu felt dizziness of head Confuof his ideas and extreme exhaustion. Passed a

watery stool of yellowish colour

8

pm He

began to pass

stools

nausea and vomiting every hour from

were very watery,

sometimes

associated with giddiness of

sensation

all

associated this

mixed with

head, extreme

time Stools

mucus and

thirst,

burning

over the body, imperceptible pulse and aching

pm

This phenomenon continued up to 11 3rd potency of this drug was administered to Amulya

of limbs

when

with

Babu which 6 hours

stopped the vomiting and

purging

within

.

ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN

51

Piovino No. III. Babu Han Naram Goswami of of the Protei Showanipore, Calcutta, aged 32 years

Name

23rd

Date of pioiing.

Nov

Han Naram Babu

1934

am

took 5 drops of the mother tincture at 10

another dose

m

No

2 p of the day course appeared in the

Nov

24tth

2nd dose at

2 p

at

at

He

1934

1 1

m

a

,

symptoms

and again

of poisoning

took one dose of 5 drops at 8a

3rd dose at 12

am

m

,

and a 4th dose

m

4pm

From

this

hour he began

every hour, and the stools gradually there

watery,

were

nausea

simultaneously with the

and

pass loose stools

to

became thoroughly

extreme

stool

sometimes

vomiting,

weakness

and

There was extreme thirst and vomiting came on after drinking, pulse was thready and almost imperceptible, burning sensation was felt all over the body, red spots appeared over some parts of the body and urine was suppressed giddiness of head

The this

were experienced

day when

I

this

stage

repeated after each spell of purging stration

up

8 p.m of gave him 3x of the drug which was

prover continued in

to

After theadmini^

of the 3rd dose there was no more stool or vomit"

mg and

he gradually got back

strength within

1

his

former

vigour

and

0 hours

Personal Observafions.

can safely be demonstrated that Achyrantkes aspera will prove of inestimable

From

the above provings

it

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

52

of our

C

fraternity

It

will

and the

readers that the late revered

to our Priest

and cholera

be no news late High Dr Mahendra Lai Sircar, M D d l

benefit in acute diarrhoea

,

,

was

sometimes engaged in finding out the curative He could not prove it, but he used virtues of this drug it in a few cases of acute diarrhoea and cholera with I

E

,

was very unfortunate that not secure the notes left behind by the great savant. results

beneficial

The

It

I

could

of our countiy are in the habit of using the leaves of this plant, both internally and native Kavirajes

ulcers with very I

carbuncles and foul and poisonous

boils,

externally, in

good

have also used

results it

both internally and externally in

three cases of carbuncles

marvellous

I

used

and the

lx of the

were simply internally and the

results

drug

mother tincture externally over the carbuncle diluted in proportion of 1 to 10 to subdue the burning pains of the carbuncle

The

burning

disappeared

pains

within

10

minutes after the external application. Clinical Verifications

No

Case

My

3rd son Master Subodh

had an

attack of diarrhoea

December, 1934.

The

all

2.

Kumar Chose, aged on a sudden on the

19,

5th

became watery, and mixed with flakes of mucus , there was excessive thirst associated with thready pulse, nausea and gradually

stools

yellowish

giddiness of head.

Extreme weakness was

was no

vomiting

,

felt

burning

after

each

sensation

stool.

was

There

present

I

,

ACHYRANTHE5 ASPERA LINN Achyranfhes aspera 3x

prescribed

each

in

S3

drop doses

After the administration of the 3rd dose, there

more

after

stool.

He was

stool.

cured with

this

No

II

Cn&e

was no

medicine alone

Babu Han Charan Roy, B A of Kalighat, aged -46, had an attack of violent diarrhoea on the 20th Nov 1934 At first he passed yellowish stool, very profuse in quantity saw him at 4 p m He began to pass stools every hour found him to be very weak and exhausted his pulse was found to be very weak and thread-like extreme thirst was present urine was suppressed head was confused there was vomiting of water or mucus and giddy burning of whole body was felt. prescribed Achy ra tithes aspera 3x to be repeated after each stool The diarrhoea was stopped within 6 hours 1

1

,

,

,

,

,

I

Case No. III.

had an attack of cholerine on the 4th September, 1934 At first she was treated by another homoeopath for six hours, but unfortunately the disease went on increasing by leaps and bounds and I saw her at 10 p m that night Srimati

I

noticed the following

The purely

was

stools

present

,

present

,

symptoms

6,

—

were watery, mixed with

colourless

pulse

,

there

body, patient was

was

aged

Sovarani Ghose,

particles

imperceptible

,

were burning sensations

totally

prostrated

vomiting existed

,

,

of mucus,

extreme all

giddiness

thirst

over the

of head

vomited matter was mixed

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

54

With water

,

aspera 3x

,

nausea was marked I prescribed Achyranthes 4 doses of this medicine were sufficient to stop

the purging and vomiting and the patient health within

was

restored to

6 hours.

Wound

Septic

Case No.

IV

Babu Umapado Ghosal, a teacher of a local school, and aged 47, had been suffering from a septic ulcer on the sole ot his right leg

contracted

while walking for

20 days

At

he

first

felt

burning sensation

over the wound,

was swollen and became red Foul odour came out from the ulcer and the temperature of his body rose to 1024° and this temperature continued without any abatement Extreme thirst was present and the head was confused and giddy Inspite of strong allopathic medicines, both external and internal, the condition of the ulcer appeared to be very bad took the patient under my treatment on the 2nd Dec 1 934 and prescribed Achyranthes aspera 3x in drop doses four times daily and the sore was washed and dressed with a gradually the affected part

I

lotion

of

Its

mother

tincture

looked bright and bad odour

down

The

condition of the sore

disappeared,

temperature

normal point and burning sensation over the affected part was subdued within 24 hours and the fell

ulcer

to the

was healed up within

five

days

;

Andersonia

or (

Amoora Rohiiaka

Rohitala

)

Common Names. Beng —Royna, Hind

—Rohera

— Rohido

Guz

,

Natural ordei.

Harinhara, Pitwaraja

Meliaceae.

Descripfion of the plant It IS

a large t^ee and

is

many

generally found in

districts

of Bengal It

in

also

grows

Western

Assam, Sylhet and Cachar and also Burma, Malacca and some other

in

India,

places this plant can

be found

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

The Hindu astringent

and

physicians have

tonic

in the enlargement

,

they prize

of

liver

and

found

it

as

it

an

spleen,

to

be

alterative,

excellent remedy in corpulence

and

and also in general debility They have recommended it in gonorrhoea and leucorrhoea

enlarged glands also

Chakra Datta, Charak and other Ayurvedic authorities have recommended it in the splenic affections, mucous gonorrhoea, and leucorrhoea It

efficacious in hepatic

affections

They have

5 to 10

tolas

,

found

and derangements as well

They have recommended it for laundice, chronic fevers and some other diseases

dropsical swellings,

Stem and root bark. Dose. powdered bark, 1 to 4 annas

Farts used

also

Decoction,

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

56

AlIopafliK uses

Two

Constituents matter, tannin

but one other

is

and

salts

insoluble in

and opinions.

yellow ,

both

are soluble in ether,

resins

alcohol and alkaline solution

soluble in both these liquids

IS

colouring

starch,

resins,

and

,

the

of an acrid

is

nature

Actions and uses.

It is

given in enlarged glands, as

and

alterative, astringent, liver

and

spleen,

in

and

tonic

,

corpulence

in general debility.

(R R. says

N Khoty Vol II, p 118) N Chopra in his Indigenous Drugs

—

of India,

an aperient , used in enlarged glands, " spleen diseases and corpulence "It is

p.

liver

461

and

Homoeopathic Proving and Materia Medica. Pramada

Dr.

Prasanna

Biswas

of

Pabna,

Bengal

personally proved this drug.

The

following symptoms set in while

Mind

it

was proved

Easily angered, mistakes in spelling take

memory becomes

dull

and

disordered,

can not

fix

—

place

,

mind on

any subject or matter

Head

Heat in the head, specially on the vertex giddiness of head feeling of warmth or heat in the head, specially on the frontal region ; sensation of pain in the ,

temples associated with heat which breeze or cold application eyes

and face

,

is

by

cold

is felt

in the

relieved

burning sensation

ANDERSONIA OR AMOORA ROHITAKA

<^7

Face, Byes and Exit emities. Flushes of heat come face, eyes, hands and feet burn burning ,

—

out of the face sensation

The thrown

is felt

there.

patient

great

feels

relief

off

Mouth and Taste morning

taste

becomes bad and

the stomach with in the

ensues

,

in the right

Livei

urging

in

is felt

and

left

Burning sensation vomiting

for

the lower

and Spleen.

an attempt mouth Fever.

pains

hot

,

feet

at

There

in the

is

felt in

sensation

,

colic

due

abdomen

There

,

of heat

to indigestion

pains are

felt

is

enlargement of both

is

sensation

Nausea and Vomiting There also

,

hypochondrium

and spleen and burning

liver

mouth

bitter

stomach and spasmodic

heat

in the

Insipid taste

Stomach and Abdomen, IS felt

body^coverings are

if

vomiting

,

is felt

there

are nausea and vomiting

water

,

comes out of the

feverishness with headache with frontal

During fever aching pains are felt heat comes out of the mouth , face,

,

body becomes eyes, hands and

burn.

Pulse

Pulse

is full,

slightly rapid

Personal ObservaHons. Rohitak has been

named by

Phhaqhati meaning thereby splenic disorders.

that

all it

Hindu physicians as does away with all

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

58

It IS,

no

doubt, a splendid remedy in

the spleen, either enlarged or painful.

medicine in In

all

chronic slow

malarial

for

useful

particularly

They have

ment

also

disorders of

an

excellent

fevers

have cold breeze or

associated

liver its

action

is

with the

supreme

patients with bilious tempera-

headache and burning hands and feet, they desire to

fever

sensation of eyes, face,

all

is

all

hepatic derangements

enlargement of the spleen and It IS

It

with

cold application which ameliorates

burning sensations experienced by them.

There

constipation

is

which

is

a

symptom of the mouth

characteristic

no desire for food, taste the patient feels laziness while IS insipid or bitter and getting out of the bed in the morning

of the drug

It

bears

Kalmegh,

,

there

a

is

great

resemblance to Cephalandra Indica,

Khetpapra with regard face,

hands and

Open mitigates

the

Nyctanthes

Azadirachta,

air,

or

feet

to

Arbortristis

and

the burning sensation of eyes,

consequent upon chronic fevers

cold breeze relieves

all

or cold application generally pains

specially

burning

of

body

These are the symptoms which I have given in a nutshell and which are found useful at the bedside of patients Preparation,

The

tincture

is

prepared

from the

bark

mi.

3x, 6x,

30 potencies are generally prescribed.

——

——

—

—

.

Andrographis Pankulata. #

CKalmegh}

Common names

Sanskrit

— Bhanimba

Mahateeta

,

,

The great king ofbitteis The Great Hindi Kiryat, Bengali Kalmegh, Kalpanailu Pers Nainehavandi Gur Kiryato. bAdh-’-Olenkiiayett Telegu Nalavemu Tam Nilaiamhii Can. Kelahaem Kirata

Mall

English

,

—

—Nilavcepu

Natural order.

Acanthaceae

Common

Habitat

The

Pa? ts used

—

in India, specially in Bengal.

entire

fresh plant

Description of the Plant. It IS

an annual

plant,

1

to

3 feet high,

common

in

hedge"

Lucknow to Assam It is also cultivated in gardens in some parts of India The shrub is well-known under the name of 'Kalmegh' and forms the pnncipal ingredient of house" rows throughout the plains of India from

hold medicine called

The

Bengal certain

'alui'

macerated

spices are

made

which

and

leaves into

is

little

extensively used in juice together

with

which

are

globules,

prescribed for infants to relieve gnping,

and

loss

reputation

The

of appetite of being

anthelmintic

In

a

general

forms of dyspepsia

roots

febrifuge, debility,

associated

and

irregular stools

leaves

tonic,

have also

alterative

dysentery

and

with gaseous

and

certain

distension

of the bowels, the decoction or infusion of the leaves have

been used with

satisfactory results

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

60

N

M

S has written the followI Composition and Therapeutic ing about Its Chemical uses in his famous book, Indigenous Drugs of Ind»a Lt.

Col

R.

Chopra,

—

—

Chemical Composition “Dymock and his co-workers found that an aqueous infusion of the herb was intensely bitter and acid and thought that the bitterness was due No alkaloid could to an indifferent, non-basic principle be isolated but the ash contained a large quantity of " potassium

salts

" Gortar (191

thought that the

1)

bitter

substance in the

H

was a lactone 'andrographolid', formula C 20 30 Oj. Later investigations by Bhaduri (1914) showed that the leaves contained two bitter substances and traces of leaves

an

essential

The

oil

first

bitter

principle obtained

as

O

formula Ci® Has 5 and P 206®. It did not respond to any tests for The second bitter substance alkaloids and glucosides intensely bitter yellow crystals with

M

an amorphous form and was named ‘Kalmeghin'CioHs.Os.M P 185®"

was

obtained,

in

Therapeutic uses

— "A

preparation of this drug

was

sometime ago advertised in England as a substitute for quinine and as a general powerful tonic This has, however, been largely discontinued as to

possess any special

antimalarial

It is

bitters

easily available

recognition

and

does not seem

property.

It

is

an

seems to be in no way mentioned in the pharmacopoeia.

intensely bitter substance inferior to other

it

and

is

very cheap

and

merits

better

”

Constituents

of sodium chloride

A

bitter

principle

and a

great quantity

— ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA

61

and Uses found hy the Mode) n allopaths. “It and stomachic like Quassia and Chiretta The expressed juice of fresh leaves or the compound infusion IS employed with cardamom, cloves and cinnamon Jctioni,

IS

to

a

bitter tonic

infants,

fever

and

genera!

in

debility,

for the relief of griping

of the bowels

and

stage of dysentery

loss

It is

Dymock has made

—

“It IS

called

grping, is

the principal

Aim

which

irregularity

is

N

Khory,— Vol,

the following

advanced

in

1!

,

P. 464^65).

remarks about

this

ingredient of a domestic medicine

given to infants for the relief of

of bowels and

parts

and

substitute for quinine"

prepared in the following manner

Take equal

after

pain with irregularity

of appetite

used as a

(R

drug

convalescence

in

loss

of appetite

It

.

of cumin, randhani

(fruit

of Carum

capsules of greater Roxburghianum) aniseed, cloves, Cardamoms and pound them thoroughly with the expressThe thing thus ed juice of the leaves of Kalmegh prepared is divided into small pills and dried in the sun. The dose is one pill rubbed down in human milk In the Pharmacopoeia of India it has been made official and directions for making a compound infusion and compound Quite recently, under the name of tincture are given Haliiva which appears to be a corruption of the Bengali word Aim or Aim, a preparation of the drug has b^n advertised in England as a substitute for Quinine. The dose of the dried leaves is about ten grains combined with

twenty grains of black-pepper

" (Dymock, Vol.

Ill

P,

46

—

7).

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

62

According to Roxburgh, Justicia paniculata is the name of what we find in Bengal. Hooker, in his wellknown of British India has mentioned seventeen varieties of Andrographis which, according to his opinion, are veiy closely connected and identical in respect of form and colour of flowers and also of seeds work,

Ifs

success

or as a principal

singly

medicines infantile

worms

in

of

enlargement of malaria,

in

constipation,

and

of children,

liver

in

use

with

it

ingredient with

other

vomiting of children,

children,

enlargement of

liver,

with the

They

by Ayurvedic physicians.

uses

liver

and

and

spleen,

Infantile

liver

also in boils, abscesses

and

spleen,

fever

fever with

m

Kala^azar

septic

wounds

,

Homoeopathic Provings and Therapeutic

Its

Properties.

Pramada Prasanna

Dr

N. Sinha made Both the

provings are,

they

They

indifference.

of

Pabna and Dr

provings of this drug

fragmentary, but

to

Biswas,

no

cannot

doubt,

be

brushed

lead us to think that

and

incomplete

it

aside with

will

turn

out

on

the

be an excellent remedy in our Materia Medica.

Symptoms

Head occiput, frontal

of the Drug.

Giddiness of head

sometimes

,

throbbing pain

very painful

,

heaviness of head

headache.

Mind,

Despondency

desire to talk

;

restlessness

no

, ,

desire to

easily

do any work

angered

,

no

,

ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA

63

Eije&

Redness of eyes

Kose

Watery discharge from the nose

catarrh present

yellowish tinge of eyes

,

occasional sneezing.

,

Mouth, tongue and ih)oat dryness of throat

Abdomen and

throat

;

abdomen

heaviness of

of stool

of abdomen

enlargement of

,

over

felt

liver

on

,

Stool

,

Loose

burning in chest

,

no hunger

,

,

in-

painful to touch

liver,

pressure,

derangement of the

infantile

m the mouth

heat and burning (occasional)

effectual urging

pain

Bitter taste

white coating of the tongue

Occasional eructations

,

symptoms of

,

liver

many and

its

enlargement.

stools, loose bilious stools

frequent urging for stool, but

,

disorder of liver

,

constipation

no evacuation

takes place

,

,

blackish hard stools , yellow loose stools of infants , sometimes constipation, sometimes easy motion tendency ,

to costiveness

Unne

Urine urine

is

thick

Fevei . of

this

high-coloured

jaundice,

infantile

and yellow

Double type of fever

drug

in

,

fever

,

heat remaining

all

is

associated

heat

along,

over the body

is

a grand

with

characteristic

slight

marked

chilliness,

with

burning

and thirst ; burning sensation is relieved by cold air and application of cold water , efficacious in intermittent and remittent fevers and almost specific in the fever which comes on with double accession , jaundice and constipation manifest themselves , fever comes on after 11 AM. and again appears at 7 or 8 P M sensation

all

Modalities.

Cold water

,

there are headache

relieves the burning

sensations

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

64

of the body

symptoms

sweat also relieves these symptoms

,

worse during fever

are

there

,

an

is

all

,

inter-

mingling of contradictory symptoms

Personal Observations Regarding

its

Therapeutic

Properties.

people of India prize it to be a highly efficacious remedy in all sorts of liver complaints from very early times

The

Ayurvedic physicians of India use it in enlarged liver or any derangement of liver, especially in children with jaundiced skin or without it, in the first stage of cough and cold, in the general debility and in convalescence

The

after

a long-continued

They

fever

also

employ

it

in

cutaneous ailments. In

between 8 and 9 a during fever there

m

or between 10 slight

is

comes on daily a m and 12 a m „

fever

the

fevers,

intermittent

thirst ;

loose stools, catarrh,

cough and pain in the hepatic region are the accompanying symptoms , there may be constipation in place burning sensation in eyes, face, hands and of diarrhoea ,

feet, especially in

administration to

move,

,

the palms are keynote

during

desires

to

fever

keep

the

quiet,

symptoms

patient

during

is

for

its

disinclined

fever

and burning sensation

there

is

some; sometimes he times the patient likes cold applications ; dislikes them, in this way contradictory and conflicting symptoms manifest themselves It is generally used in an attack of remittent or intermittent fever where there is double accession of the seizure associated with predominence of bilious symptoms and headache In some cases, headache may be absent. intermingling of chilliness

— ANDPwOGRAPHIS PANICULATA

65

In slow fevers of children with derangement or enlarge' In infantile jaundice where ment of liver, it is very useful yellow, it is used with efficacy eyes and urine have become in chronic remedy fever associated with excellent IS an It the enlargement of liver and spleen along with burning of hands, feet, eyes and face, and headache, its efficacy is

found also

in

The

Kala'azar of infants

the principal guiding

symptoms of Kalmegh

Sensation of heat and

following are

;

burning in hands

and

feet,

mental

depression and

mouth,

bitter

pation,

scantiness of stools, changeableness of symptoms,

and

despondency,

putrid

taste

bad

taste

over the tongue,

in

the

consti'

heavin^s of the whole body for which the patient walks slowly.

The

wants to wash the hands and the feet order to be relieved of the burning over the parts , he feels considerable relief

patient

with cold water sensation

felt

from cold

m

he does not

,

Kalmegh

desire to

move.

a domestic medicine for flatulence and and it is also used for worm symp' considered to be anthelmintic. It is used in

is

diarrhoea of childern

toms as

It

IS

torpidity of liver, neuralgia,

in

dyspepsia, in general debility,

convalescence after fevers and in the fully devefoped

stage of

remedy

dysentery.

for the

5

The

Kalmegh

is

a sovereign

ailments.

fresh plant

is

macerated with two

by weight of alcohol

Dilution, used.

short,

above mentioned

Preparation. parts

In

lx, 3x,

6x and 30th potencies are generally

,

Meiia Azadirachfa or Azadirachfa Indica. C

Natural order

Name English

Nnrd}a Telegu

— ,

as

Meliacese

—

Bengali Vemhaka Nim The Nim or Margosa tree , Hindi— Bombay— iVim, Bal-mmh ^ Tamil Vemhu ,

—

is

Puniabi

,

,

— Nim

another variety of this plant which

is

called

"Maha Nimba", M. Bukayun Habitat,

all

3

Sanskrit— MmSa,

— Vepa

There

Nim

and Burma and planted

Indigenous to India

over these countnes.

Description of the Plant. Azadirachta Indica feet

in

height,

part of India

is

a

ever-green tree,

large

40

to

50

commonly found throughout the greater and Burma It is frequently planted as

homestead or avenue Almost every part of

tree as this

it

is

plant

believed to purify air is

used for

medicinal

purposes in India.

The

bark, leaves

and

fruit

have been used by Ayur-

vedic physicians from antiquity

bear a particular interest from

View

The

bark

exudes a clear

The the

barks

and

medicinal

bright

leaves

point of

amber-coloured

gum which is collected in small tears or fragments The dried flowers are also used for medicinal purpose

MELIA AZADIRACHTA OR AZADIRACHTA INDICA.

67

Under the name of "pancha-amrita", a medicine is prepared by Ayurvedic physicians which contains the flowers, fruits, leaves, bark and root of the tree

Ayurvedic Uses. Charaka Sushruta

It is

skin diseases.

also

It is

It

It

IS

Baghhat IS

IS

also

good

It is

IS

is

used with beneficial

used

boils

in

the hairs

and baldness of head

It

is

It is

and

a sovereign remedy

It is

’for

and

by It is

sciatica its

It

and

use.

It

also used

used in affection of worms.

also used in haematemesis boils

poisonous

diseases.

m

in fevers of children

Vdbaprakash

and

in

for jaundice

used in heart diseases due to cough.

eye

It

grow gray untimely

hopeless cases of sciatica are cured

diseases

of

impurities

in

an useful remedy eczema, scabies and other skin

Bangasena

many

remedy It

over

all

of poisoning

Chakradatta. boils, ulcers,

symptoms due to cough

IS an excellent good for boils

when

also used

and

leprosy

in

fever with burning

in

results in cases

remedy

excellent

also allays thirst

It

Hant blood.

an

also used in certain forms of gonorrhoea.

It is

good

the body.

very useful in leprosy.

It is

its

It is

also useful in all ulcers

use does away with

all parasites

in those affections

Parts Used for Medicinal Purposes. Bark, leaves, flowers, seeds

and

It is

oil.

found

;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

68

Powdered

Dosage leaves, 1

tola

1

4 annas

to

,

bark,

1

4 annas

to

2 annas

seeds,

,

Powdered

,

Juice of the leaves,

decoction, 5 to 10 tolas.

,

Opinions of Allopathic Physicians.

M

Bukayun. Noncrystalline resinous Constituents of substance ^the active principle, sugar and tannin.

—

N

(R

Actions and Uses tonic,

astringent,

children in round indigestion

The

juice

,

leaves

In small doses,

anti-penodic,

of the leaves

IS

a

in

kill

lice

A

is

narcotic

dimness of

dilated pupils,

and

given

to

scrofula,

leaves

dyspepsia,

boils,

are

leprosy,

discutients,

applied to the

poultice of the

flowers

and

to

pustular eruptions.

poison in large doses, producing

mental

sight,

stertor.

imtant, producing vomiting

It

confusion,

also acts as

a

stupor,

gastro-'intestinal'

and purging

(R.N.Khoty,—Vol OonsUtuent of M, Azadirachta resinous oil known as margosa or contains a neutral resinous bitter non'crystalline

bitter

applied hot to unhealthy ulcers,

to indolent scrofulous glands,

giddiness,

a

is

118).

and to cure eruptions of the scalp

paste of the leaves

The drug is a

fevers,

made warm and

nervous headaches

said to

the bark

anthelmintic,

used in

is

worms, Externally the flowers and

as a poultice they are

head

P

11,

worms and to adults in fever and and flowers are alterative, and diuretic.

general debility, jaundice, etc.

Khory—Vol

and without

The

mm

P. 119).

seeds contain a oil.

principle,

alkaloidal

II

The

bark

margosine,

properties catechini

gum, sugar and tannin (R.

N. Khoiy,— Vol

II,

P. 119).

MELIA AZADIRACHTA OR AZADIRACHTA INDICA

The

Actions and uses. astringent,

and

intermittent debility

tonic

bitter

and

bark and anti-periodic

paroxysmal

fevers

and convalescence and

The

diseases

leaves

leaf

are discutient and local

m

used

for

after febrile

are

stalks

and

and

69

general

and other stimulant

and used as varalians or poultices to disperse indolent The young trees yield a kind of glands and swellings. which when fermented is used as sweet juice (toddy) stomachic and anthelmintic and is given in worms and

The

jaundice

pulp

is

applied to boils, pustular eruptions,

open sores, and bruised joints The compound powder PuTicka nimba churan is tome and given in convalescence after fever

The

fruit

is

and stimulant, piles, and urinary

a purgative,

anthelmintic,

worms, diseases. The gum is used by lying-in women, as utenne stimulant. The seeds are used for killing pedicuh, and the powdered kernel for washing the hair and as a remedy for mange in dogs The oil, mixed with other given in leprosy,

oils,

IS

intestinal

applied to skin

diseases,

glands and leprous ulcers.

It

is

suppurating

scrofulous

rubbed on the skin

The

rheumatic affections and to the head in headache oil

contains sulphur,

and

therefore with alkalies

it

in

is

used

in skin diseases.

(R.

Lt Col

R N.

Chopra,

N, Khory,-Vol, I

M.

S.

II.

P. 120).

has dealt very

exten-'

monumental work. Indisively with I can not resist the temptation genous Drugs of India of reproducing his remarks and researches concerning the chemical composition and other properties of this valuthis

drug in his

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

70

able daig which will be found to be very interesting edifying to

and

our readers

Chemical Composition, "Margosa bark was chemically examined first by Cornish ( 1856 ) who found that it contained a bitter alkaloid occuring in long white needles to

name of margosine but which was

which he gave the

obtained

minute quantities as a double salt of According to Broughton ( 1873 )

only in

niargosme and soda the resin

which

punty

present in the bark consists of a

principle

bitter

very

is

it

difficult

to

obtain in a state of

This worker did not obtain any definite reaction

for the presence of

"A fixed

bitter

an

alkaloid."

oil

occurs in the seeds to the extent of

31 per cent, and can be

by

or

by pressure. This oil is deep yellow in colour and has a strongly disagreeable aend taste. Warden examined the oil and found that it had a specific gravity of 0 9235 at 15 5*C ; at about 10° to 7°C it congealed without losing Its

transparency

acids.

;

the

oil

After standing for

expressed

extracted

boiling

contained free and volatile fatty

about 36

hours,

the freshly

a white sediment which on microscopical examination was found to be amorphous in character. The colour reactions of the margosa oil were not characteristia Though no attempt at separa-oil

deposited

ttng the fixed fatty acids

was made, they probably

of a mixture of stearing and oleic

amount of

Roy

a small

lauric acid"

and

Chatteriee

(1921) analysed

found the following constituents "(1)

acids with

consist

Sulphur

0427

per

the

oil

and

•

cent.

(2)

A

very

bitter

— MELIA AZADIRACHTA OR A2AD1RACHTA INDICA. yellowish extract

substance

of the

substance finally

is

oil

an

settled.

Resins

alcoholic that this

not

Glucosides,

(4)

been

indefinite

"

Mar gostc acids and its named

point has

alkaloid but this (3)

Fatty acids

(5)

was obtained from an There is every probability

71

An acid which has been

salts.

was prepared from the oil by Roy (1917-18) in the following manner :

'margosic acid*

and Chatterjee

Steam-distilled

neem

was

oil

saponified with Caustic

Soda dissolved in alcohol The alcohol was removed by distillation and then the Potash Soap formed was decomposed by treatment with excess of dilute hydrochloric The liquid was then boiled and margosic acid acid. separated as an oily layer which solidified on cooling. The acid was removed and washed repeatedly with It was water till it was free from hydrochloric acid. then and the upper again melted on the steam bath oily layer was carefully separated ; on cooling, margosic acid was obtained as a yellow mass.

The sodium and neutralising the

and

soda

evaporating finally

in

them

to

prepared by

quantities

of caustic

and dryness on the steam bath and

potash

caustic

were

salts

acid with requisite

solutions

the desiccator over

are nearly white in

They

potassium

colour

respectively

sulphunc aad.

and

are

The

salts

soluble in water.

are extremely bitter to the taste.

Watson and

G^-workers (1923) consider that the ob)ectionabIe odour of neem oil is chiefly due to organic sulphur

his

compounds

prolonged steam

which are

distillation

of the

slightly oil

a

volatile.

volatile

On

sulphur

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

72

compound

slowly

A

densed water.

bitter

as the original

The

ultimate

a

It

consists

the con-

200 times as

about

oil,

The

substance.

crystalline

principle,

was separated by these workers analysis of the bitter substance showed of 2 different portions—an amorphous and

bitter

that

on

over and collects

distils

substance

crystalline

has

been termed 'margosopicrin' Co-workers (1930), however, consider that the odorous element in the oil consists of an evilsmelling essential oil which remains in a state of solution Dutt

in

the

and

oil

his

Itself

and can

not

be

separated

easily

on

distillation.

Sen and Banerjee (1931), it has been shown that the bitterness of the oil is due to the presence of the Sodium Salt of an acid and partly to the presence of the free acid which are held in solution in the The acid contains sulphur in its molecule and is oil In a recent paper by

unsaturated.

Pharmacology of Marqosates^ The pharmacological was studied by Chatterjee and Roy They have a powerful action against protozoa, a action of the margosates

solution of

5 minutes. follows

—

I

in 10,000 killing the flagellate

The results

prowazekia in

obtained by these workers are as

Drug ussd

Dilution to

Quinine Sulphate Emetine

which

suffices

in 5 minutes.

kill

.

1

in 100,000

1

in

10,000

Tarter emetic

...

1

in

500

Sodium margosates (B.C P.W.)

...

1

in

10,000

.

MELIA AZADIRACHTA OR AZADIRACHTA INDICA.

with

was

I

m

The

2,000 solution

also

was

candatum

Paramoecium

on

tested

and

it

salt

of the acid

killed

these orga-

nisms in 35 seconds in a concentration of

workers considered totropic

that,

along with

the

margosates

properties,

The

organotropic properties the soluble salts

or

bactericidal

marked

is

instantaneously

killed

sodium

microfilarae

73

1

their

in 200.

These

strong parasi-

possess

low

very

carbolic acid co-efficient of

only 2 and, therefore, the antibacterial

properties

of margosates

are

not

very

They, however, consider that there is sufficient clinical evidence to show that margosates have a powerful action against bacteria in the body in

vitro

M

Therapeutic Uses for

skin

affections

properties of the

and

Azadirachta

a reputed remedy

view of the parasitotropic

in

margosates,

is

it

was tned on a number of

The

cases of scabies, eczema, pemphigus, etc.

obtained

were promising with

satisfactory

others

,

in some patients but not so on the whole the drug was

considered to have a beneficial Its

possessing

results

anti-spirochsetal

effect.

The

properties

possibility

led

of

Chatter)ee

to try margosates in the treatment of syphilis

Sodium margosates was given in solution, in doses subcutaneously, varying from 0 01 gm to 0325 gm pnmary, and intravenously in the intramuscularly secondary, and tertiary stages of syphilis. In the pnmary and secondary stages, the initial lesion and secondary manifestations disappeared under its influence much more readily than

and

tertiary

subsided.

in

untreated cases

results,

secondary

gummata, etc soon however, were not so satisfactory

stages the skin

The

In the late

lesions,

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

74

as those obtained from administration of the arsenicals, mercurials, bismuth

The

)uice

and

iodides

of margosa leaves has a reputation in indiIn order to

genous medicine as an anthelmintic.

confirm

Cams and

Mhaskar (1923) administered it in one dose of 4 drachms preceded and Neem oil was also tried in doses followed by purgation

the truth of this statement.

of

1

to

The maximum dose

4 drachms.

In the Journal find the following It IS

used

Soc.

—

proved quite

oil

expeling the intestinal parasites

Chem

Ind.,

and

antipenodic, anthelmintic, tonic, substance, bitter

Its

ineffective

in

*'

scorpion-sting

in

produced

oil

and general discomfort but

occasional diarrhoea, nausea

both the leaves and the

of the

in

1923,

Page 387

snake-bite,

we

antiseptic,

skin diseases

bitter

oil.

HomoBopathic Uses and Provings.

common

was introduced to the homoeopathic world by the late Dr P. C Majumdar, M D of Calcutta. Nim was proved by him and by one of his pupils, U. C Bagchi A full report of those provings was published in the Indian Homosojpathic Review, edited by him. Volume III, No 1. And later on two more provings were made, one by Dr H Chakrabarti and another by his assistant A synopsis of those provings was published in the Medical Advance Vol. XXV, page 423, Almost identical symptoms were produced in the four provings This

mentioned before

indigenous drug

;

MELIA A2ADIRACHTA I

have,

OR AZADIRACHTA

culled

therefore,

the

most

INDICA,

75

and

important

guiding symptoms from these provings and give them below for the purpose of selection and administration of The bark known as Margosa Bark, is the this drug

and the provings was prepared from this by Dr and others portion

best-known medicinal

for

tincture

C

P.

the

Majumder

Symptoms. Mtnd. Depressed and forgetful, mistakes in writing and spelling words, weak and dull, full of anxiety, inactive, could not think or remember names of persons very familiar, or what has been done m previous day No desire to go out or walk out Loss of memory Head.

Giddiness, as

fro, especially

ache,

when in

pressure

if

from a sitting posture ; headthe head, by moving it , headache, rising

throbbing in the temporal side,

ing

with a

m the

much

vertigo

little

whole head

pain in the right

headache on the

the head were moving to and

right

;

;

arteries,

especially of the right

aching,

drawing and throbb-

headache by wet compress, with eye-ball ; headache, on moving ; side with

much

on the right side, vertex, by stooping

headache, especially

Throbbing

in

the

Frontal

pain. in

,

the

scalp

open is

air.

painful

even the hair is painful. Vertigo at 10 A ; intense headache, pain in the whole head on walking pain is felt in the back part of the head

and sensitive

to touch,

M

Eyes

Burning in

the

eyes

,

burning

continued throughout even the next day

and heavy.

Pam

in

the eye, by

;

in

eyes

the

burning, dull

slightest pressure

;

red.

;

76

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

congested pressure

pam

and burning with slight coryza , sense of the right eye , eyes red and sunken ; pressive

m

in the right eye^ball.

Ears. Bu2ztng in the ears , a peculiar cracking sound is heard in the ear like tickling with a feather, which IS increased on opening the mouth. Ease.

Running of watery

Face,

Flushings of the face

face

from the nose.

fluid

flushing

,

and heat

in the

face pale

,

No

Mouth

but mouth

clammy, water has taste good, but mouth is clammy and bitter. On the sides and surface of the tongue a painful burning sensation is felt as scalded papillae seem to be enlarged , and prominent Putnd taste in the mouth Saliva coming out which tastes salty. Slight difficulty in deglutition, relish

thirst

is

.

esf>ecial!y

water and meat

Throat.

Bitter

taste

in

the

throat

,

left-sided

sore

throat

No

Stomach. very great great

brash

at

appetite very acute

for large quantity

thirst

thirst

thirst ;

long

intervals.

and keen

of cold water

;

very

Heart burn and water-

Uneasy sensation in thorax.

Abdomen flatulent

Great uneasiness in the abdomen with rumbling in the bowels , twisting pain in the

epig^tric

region , no tenderness in clutching pain in the umbilical region,

orwar

s,

which

affords

some

ist^ded, passing of offensive the hypochondriac region

relief, flatus

;

the

abdomen

,

to

bend

abdomen a

little

obliging

painful tension in

,,

MELIA A2ADIRACHTA OR A2AD1RACHTA INDICA Stools,

bowels, very

insufficient

small and knotty

stools hard,

;

copious, soft, semi-solid

stools

much

stools

77

constipated

hard but natural

Diarrhoea,

no

satisfaction

after stool

Gremto-unmiry organs. organ

(in

male)

Great excitement of sexual

a little diminished Unne and scalding , unne white,

sexual desire

,

and high coloured, and copious , urine of strong odor (once with purple

scanty clear

sediment)

Respiratory bathing at

P

1

pelled with

much

organs.

M —

difficulty.

after

Sighing, breathing at intervals.

Cough with

hoarseness

Slight

Very troublesome cough

Sputa white, in small lumps, exgrayish expectoration

cough with thick sputa , short dry cough in the afternoon ; very troublesome cough with white sputa and tasteless

Deep breathing and hot. Chest right

and

chest,

Crampy stitches

at

long intervals

below

the

breathing

nipple.

Stitches

in the chest.

lower part of chest. the nght side. in the chest, especially

Pvlse.

very rapid

part of the

in the lowo"

Aching

throcd.

,

pains in the

Transitory

m

Quick and hard, feeble

Neck and lack.

Pam and

debility in the

nape of the

neck

Numbness of the limbs, as if the limbs are paralysed. Gnawing in the legs. Strength of the hand diminished. Burning of the hands and soles of the f^t. Extremities

Numbness of the hands

only, especially the

Rheumatic pains in the lower

extremities.

n^t

hand.

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

78

8le^ and dreams.

Sleeplessness

dreamy and interrupted sleep at night. and beating in the latter part of night Fever. without

commences with veiy slight chill or and abates from 7-30 P. from 4^30 P

Fever

chill

afternoon

M

open

air.

M

,

Glowing heat

fever.

in the face, eyes, feet, in

and tossing in bed , Dreams of quarrels

and burning,

,

especially

palms of the hands and soles of the Copious sweat, especially on the fore-

and upper part of the body , sweating commences on the forehead, gradually extending towards the trunk , no sweat in lower part of the body. neck

head,

Itching of various

Bh.n.

the appearance of

any

parts

eruption

,

of the body, without itching of the

body

Sudamina on the back. Aggravation,

Aggravation takes place in open air

;

in

afternoon

Personal Experiences and Observations Relating to its Therapeutic Uses.

There is a wellknown proverb about drug whidi runs thus

this

important

.

"The

land where

Nim and

Nischinda abound

Can

Death, Disease therein be found

Nim

tree

and from uses are

The

is

planted almost in every house in our countty

can be easily concluded that its therapeutic known by us in India from time immemorial. this

it

leaves, bark,

part of this plant,

wood,

roots

and

are intensely bitter

fruits, in short,

eveiy

According to the

MELIA AZADIRACHTA OR AZADIRACHTA INDICA

Hindu system of Medicine

79

the different parts of this plant

possess different medicinal properties

The

consensus of opinion of

all

physicians

generally used With success in cases

cough,

fever, loss

ulcers, bilious

of

lassitude,

of appetite, helmenthiasis,

boils,

it

is

thirst,

indolent

derangements, catarrh, vomiting, cutaneous

diseases, leprosy, hiccough, gonorrhoea, etc

used in some forms of ophthalmic

and

that

is

,

disease,

its

leaves are

helmenthiasis

produced by vitiated bile, or use of poisonous things. A decoction of fresh leaves is employed as a favourite wash to cure old ulcers of long standing It is a sovereign remedy to do away with the sloughs very shortly and to promote the healthy granulation and healing The fruit IS purgative, demulcent, and is used in some kinds of cutaneous affections A kind of oil is prepared from the seed of ripe fruits which is said to cure lepra, eczema, and disorders

some

other malignant skin diseases

them

for

tonic,

its

properties

The

is

also praised

by

and anti-periodic is wellknown in

native physicians of our country use

as the principal ingredient in their febrifuge medi-

cines.

It

has

cipally

due

three

active

to

a

range of

vast

action

which

is

prin-

margocine, and Katechin, the

principles

found

skin,

used in chronic

hands and

its

azaderiTie,

decided action upon rally

astringent

action to control fever

Its

our country

Nim

antiseptic,

Nim

feet,

uterus

fever

asthma, and

in

and

drug.

this

nerves.

associated

It It is

has a gene-

with burning of

uterine debility.

a good medicine in forgetfulness, patient can not remember any thing, forgets the names of wellknown There is forgetfulness in writing and speaking persons Headache, giddiness of head. Headache due to exc^sive It

IS

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

80

The eyes burn and

secretion of bile IS

absence of

and

mouth

action has been

is

There

present

dotes the bad

found

effects

in

leprosy

of quinine

mal-administration of quinine.

m ophthalmia, asthma, cough, debility

heavy

a grand remedy in every form of skin diseases

It IS

Its

thirst,

bitter taste in

feel

but the patient likes water, insipid

It

It

is

catarrh,

and lepra is

It

anti-

very useful after

an excellent remedy constipation, uterine

and a few other diseases owing to improper use

of quinine.

There

are

peculiar

several

and

clear-cut

symptoms

which are not found in other remedies of our matena medica remedy It is a grand The fever generally comes in the afterin chronic fever noon, there is slight chilliness during the onset of the fever or sensation of chilliness may be altogether absent attached

to

this

drug

mouth or throat; occasional sensation of heaviness in the abdomen, ameliorated by passing of flatus both upwards and downwards (unlike Argentum Nitncum and Lycopodium both of which possess this heaviness of abdomen to a considerable degree expenenc«d particularly while taking a few mouthfuls); the most prominent symptoms exhibited by the patient is the sensation of burning and glowing heat especially on the face, eyes, palms of hands and soles of feet appearing in the afternoon ; there is aggravation m open air, there may be derangement amd enlargement of the liver and spleen Relying on the above symptoms I cured several there

is

bitter

taste

obstinate cases of It IS

in

in

the

Chronic

fevers.

also used externally as

many

skin diseases

A

a wash, poultice or plaster poultice consisting of clarified

MELIA AZADIRACHTA OR AZAD1R.ACHTA INDICA butter

and

cure abscess,

and is

leaves

its

boils,

is

usually

and

externally to

simple and malignant bubo, carbuncle

several poisonous ulcers.

sure

employed

Si

Its

action in those affections

swift

bears a close resemblance to Arsenic Ipecac, Nat Mur , Pulsatilla, Rhus China, album, Cedron, tox and Sulphur

Relations

It

30 and 200 potencies are generally used The fresh bark is pounded to a pulp and Pi eparation macerated into two parts by weight of alcohol Dilution

6,

Aegie Marmelos and Aegle-lolia. Aegie Marmeios. (Bael Fruit)

Common names.

—Sans —Sriphol,

—Bael Guj —Bilinu-phai Tel — Bilwa-pandu Beng

,

Natural

Tamil—Vilwa

;

pazham

,

Rutaceae.

orde/t

Constituents.

Hindi and

Bilwa,

The

pulp contains

mucilage,

pectin,

and ash 2 p.c The wood ash contains potassium and sodium compounds, phosphates of lime and iron, calcium car^ sugar,

tannin,

bonate, yield

silica,

an

oil

action, of

a

volatile

The

sand, etc

bitter

oil,

principle

fresh leaves,

on

distillation,

of a yellowish green colour and neutral re^

an aromatic odour and

bitter

taste

;

soluble

in

alcohol and miscible with carbon bisulphide

Description of the plant. India

and

is

found wild

in Bengal, in Central

also cultivated to

Hindus

and

presented to

God

the

is It

The

In

the

are used tion

as

a great extent leaves,

its

mittent

fever

and

It

which

is

held sacred by

are

ternate,

Siva as offerings by the devotees

fertility

root bark

a remedy

indigenous to

over the Sub-Himalayan forests, and South India and in Burma It is

Hindu medicine

The

is

all

often planted near the temples

an emblem of

tree

in

It

consider

and a very auspicious plant

different is

The Hindus

are

parts

of the bael tree

used in the form of

a decoc-

hypochondriasis, melancholia, inter-

palpitation

of the heart

It

consti-

— AEGLE MARMELOS AND AEGLE-FOLIA an ingredient

tutes

Hindu

by the

in

the "Dasamul"

The

S3

or ten roots used

made

into a and applied to inflamed parts The fresh luice diluted with water is IS bitter and pungent, and when praised as a remedy in catarrh and feverishness The fruit both green and ripe is used against diarrhoea and For diarrhoea and dysentery the intestinal conditions

physicians

are

leaves

poultice

roasted or sun-dried unripe

The

used

astringent rind

fruit

cut in slices

of the ripe

fruit

is is

generally

employed

in dyeing and tanning and it is also used medicinally. No drug has been longer and better known nor more

by

appreciated

Two

fruit.

the inhabitants of India than the bael

kinds of

fruit

are available

in the

market

a small and wild variety and a cultivated variety The full-grown fruit of either variety, when it just begins to ripen,

is

(1)

best for medicinal purposes

The

unripe or half-ripe

—

fruit

is

regarded as an

and is said to be an excellent remedy for diarrhoea owing to the presence of tannins or mucilaginous substances. It is said to be partiastnngent,

stomachic

digestive,

cularly useful in chronic diarrhoea

It

is

sometimes used

opium

by the Ayurvedic practiThe fruit IS also sliced and a confiture made tioners from It is largely used by the Hindu physicians in the treatment of diarrhoeas and dysenteries. in combination

(2)

When

The

'sherbet'

ripe

fruit

taken fresh

dried pulp

mixed

with

is

with

it

is

sweet,

aromatic and cooling

pale orange or fresh coloured

water

The and when

possesses laxative properties

yields

which has mild

a

pleasant

orange-coloured

astringent properties.

;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

84

Opinions of Allopathic Physicians Regarding Actions

The npe and

laxative

the

growth

of

A

pation unripe

and Uses. delicious, aromatic,

fruit is nutritious, It

given

is

piles

decoction

baked

fruit

and of

with sugar-candy

alterative

prevent

to

remove habitual constiunnpe or half ripe fruit or to

for 6 hours

astringent,

is

digestive,

When

stomachic and given in diarrhoea and dysentery

m

taken fruits

and

is

is

excess

used

in

given in

the heart

In

it

often causes

dyspepsia. fevers

The

root bark

and asthma, with

remedy for (Materia Medica of India by 128,)

IS

,

a household

Several eminent

allopaths

ripe

refrigerant,

is

of

palpitation

a poultice of the leaves

native practice

given in asthma

is

Syrup of

flatulence

applied to the chest in acute bronchitis.

the leaves

its

The

is

decoction of

a marmalade of bael fruit diarrhoea and dysentery

R N

Khory—Part

HR p-

have made systematic and

labonous researches in order to determine the physiolo-

and therapeutic properties of this drug and observations can be found in the following papers

gical

—

their

Henry and Brown, 1923, Trans Royal Society Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol XVII, p 378 (2) Acton and Knowles 1927 Dysenteries in India, Thacker, Spink & Co. (3) Dikshit and Dutt, 1930, (1)

Journal of Ind Lt.

Col

Chem

R N.

Society,

Vol

Chopra, M.

D

VII,

,

M

wntten the following in his Indigenous p. 270-272

p 759

A

,

I

M

S.

has

Drugs of India,

AEGLE MARMELOS AND AEGLE-FOLIA Chemical Composition bael contains tannic

According to some authorities,

a

acid,

85

volatile

a

oil,

bitter principle

and a balsamic principle resembling balsam of Peru. These findings have, however, been criticised by Huckiger and Hanbury who are of opinion that the old pulp of the

fruit

and probably

contains chiefly mucilage

They could

pectin.

not find any appreciable quantity of tannin

to account for the astringent properties so often ascribed to

Henry and Brown ( 1924) examined the along with a number of reputed anti-dysentenc

the drug

fruit

The

remedies

pulp was

dried

exhausted with

boiling

alcohol, the extract concentrated in

Syrup diluted with water to matters The liquor from this in vacuo to remove

vacuo and the thick precipitate fatty and resinous

precipitate, after concentration

was tested by them on a free living ciliate protozoon. Glaucoma The solution was found to be markedly toxic to glaucoma but owing to the large amount of gum present it proved difficult to get a all

alcohol,

of the

of the plant but even in the impure from these appeared to be fairly They came to the conclusion that the drug may active

satisfactory

owe

Its

preparation

to

activity

these are toxic to

A more

the

tannins

that

are

present since

that of Dutt

and

Dikshit ( 1930).

Glaucoma

recent

work

is

The

roots, seeds,

with

vanous solvents and

m each

case.

bark, leaves

The in

and

fruits

were extracted

the composition

roots# leaves

contain reducing sugars and

pulp yielded,

tannins

deteimined

and bark were found

tannin

mainly.

The

addition to the usual substances

to

fniit

a body

which has been named mermelosun This is considered to be one of the most Important active pnnciplcs of dbe

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

86

The

fruit

when

seeds,

petroleum ether, gave a

light

taken internally in doses of

remedy

where there

dysentery,

is

form of a confection

Western Its

when

properties

an invaluable and

diarrhoea

chronic

no fever, and is given in the was so commonly used by the it

found

The

three

India in old days that

Pharmacopoeia.

commonly used were

—

made from

one drachm doses

fresh unripe fruit given

several times

a day

Liquid extract of bael prepared from dned

of unnpe (3)

which has been

oil

believed to be

of

British

Extract of bael

in half to (2)

the

into

preparations fl)

It

practitioners in

way

is

cases

with

extracted

gm

5

1

— Bael

obstinate

in

yellow

good purgative

found to possess very

Therapeutic uses

and

crushed

fruit

slices

prescnbed in doses of one to two drachms

Powdered dried pulp kept one drachm

in

bottles

air-tight

given in doses of half to

There

is

hardly

use of the bael to IS

have

little

definite

any in

fruit

or

no

amoebic dysentery

effect

on

of recent date

literature

in acute dysentery

It

the

appears

when

there

tenesmus and discharge of blood and mucus

though the powdered drug this condition

The

is

specially

beneficial

however, most evident subacute or chronic

when After

effects

recommended

of the bael

the condition has its

administration

for

fruit

is,

become in

these

and the stools more foeculent and solid form If bael is continued for sometime, the mucus is also decreased and conditions, the blood gradually disappears

assume a

may

disappear

It

is

very

useful

in

patients

suffering

AEGLE MARMELOS AND AEGLE-FOUA from

chronic

and

alternate diarrhoea

made

been

condition

dysenteric

that

suffering

from

catarrh

In the after

characterised by Claims have also

constipation

relieves

it

flatulent

colic

a condition of chronic treatment

8T

in

patients

gastro'intestinal

of bacillary

dysentery,

IS a useful adiuvant. According to Acton and Knowles (1927) the chief trouble with such patients, as a rule, is constipation which if not relieved does not

bael

allow

the

‘Sherbet

and

ulcerated

is

heal

to

firmly

a useful addition to the dietary

The

a demulcent

chiefly as

acts

surfaces

at this stage

pulp of the fresh

may be mixed with sugar and cream or with made into a 'sherbet' by straining it through a

fruit

or

of muslin to remove seeds and mucilage. fruit

Manson-'Bahr

many

in

pre-sprue

or early

mixed

with

the

of

fresh fruit

though

sugar

piece

cases of

especially

patients,

stages

The

undoubtedly helpful

In

curds

has been spoken of highly by

sprue also, the bael In

Bael

dried

disease,

is

best taken

has

fruit

also

those it

is

raw been

recommended

Summary

— Bael

firuit

has been used

medicine for a very long time and

in the indigenous

has such a great

it

and dysentery

reputation in the treatment of diarrhoea that

It

Besides

was made tannins,

official

no

in the

other

active

importance have so far been discovered. beneficial

action

in

Pharmacopoeia of any principle

British

It

has veiy

little

acute dysentery but in chronic cases

symptoms on account of the presence of large It quantities of mucilage which acts as a demulcent does not appear to have any specific effect in either " amoebic or bacillary dysentery It

relieves

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

88

Ayurvedic Opinions.

The Ayurvedic of using

drug in

this

Physicians of India are in the habit

many common

Charak has found

it

to

be

ailments.

efficacious in fever

Sushruta has recommended

it

for

and

piles.

bloody dysentery

Chakradatta has found it useful in dispersing foul odour of the body, in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, and in vomiting, bleeding piles and dropsy

Bhabaprakash recommends

Bangasena has found children and dysentery Parts leaves,

it

it

in dysentery

curative in the vomiting of

Vsed.-‘ AW of them used the root'bark,

and unripe

ripe

fruit

in

the ailments

bare

mentioned

above

Dose 1

to

2

tolas

Decoction of bark, 5 to 10 tolas ,

;

juice

of

leaves,

dned powder from the pulp, 8 annas

HomoBopathic Proving and Uses. AEGLE'FOLIA.

Dr a short Its

Pramada Prasanna Biswas of Pabna, Bengal made pioving of this drug which was prepared from

leaves

proceed to dwell upon the symptoms observed I now by him and the symptoms for which I have used it with benefit.

This drug destroys phlegm in

fevers

associated

with

and

catarrhal

a good remedy ^miptoms is It

is

AEGLE MARMELOS AND AEGLE-FOLIA very

bleeding

dropsy,

useful in

89

diarrhoea and

piles,

dysentery In bowel complaints IS

when

perceived

trouble

the

is

for

generally useful

diarrhoea

alternate

patient,

acts

it

and

Its

action

constipation

a mild stimulant

as

mucous membrane

the intestinal

a

it

It

sometimes

acts

to

as

laxative while constipation exists I

now

shall

proceed to dwell upon the symptomatO'

logy of this drug

commits mistakes in spelling. He suffers from headache which appears between 4 and 8 pm, (Compare Lycopodium) Heat in the vertex appears in In the evening, which is relieved by eating something the afternoon and evening, flushes of heat come out from die eyes and face and during that time the same feeling All these symptoms disappear is expenenced in the ear

The

patient

after eating

There

is

irregulanty

or

distended and

afternoon.

from

waterbrash disorder flatus

The

of

the

the

There

is

abdomen

is

mouth.

stomach,

passes with loud sound, worse in the

patient feels that

wind

is

accumulating

abdomen there is an accumulation of wind lower abdomen and wind comes out with loud noise. in the

The pain in the after

;

and soft The patient the back and lumbar region which pulse

is

afternoon

full

All

pains

in

the

limbs

in the

feels sli^t is

worse

in

are aggrawited

4 p.m

Headache exists due to congestion ; pulse is full, strong and regular like Belladonna. Full, regular and strong pulse

is

a

characteristic

^mptom

of this drug

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

90

kinds of dropsy

In all

continued children,

associated

fever

is

an excellent remedy specially

dropsy,

with

In

of

used with excellent results parts of the body or it may appear

particularly

is

it

it

Dropsy appears

in

all

in certain parts

The upper lids of eyes are generally swollen drug The fever lasts always and never remits quantity of urine

is

present

in

specially

IS

It

the

catarrhal

efficacious in those cases

dropsical

and

legs

indicated

if

of

fevers

face

may be

the symptoms children

It is

be very

of fever where from the beginning

symptoms along with diarrhoea are present

may be

Aegle'folia

swelling

The

generally decreased

Along with the fever hands, swollen

in this

be due

to

efficaciously

used

if

the dropsical

any heart disease

The eyes and an excellent remedy in Beri'beri hands and feet and sometimes the whole body

It is

face,

are swollen or only the feet are swollen

The

urine

be involved but

in

decreases considerably In

this

the

Digitalis

and slow whereas and regular

the

may be used

It

and the heart may

it

irregular

is

is

used

ordinary

in

catarrh,

when some sort

or

pulse of Aegle^folia

influenza

when

continued type and the face and the swollen In

equal to Digitalis

instance

pulse

is

of a

of eyes

are

the fever lids

strong

and pneumonia it of the body may be seen

bronchitis

of swelling

intermittent is full,

is

AEGLE MARMELOS AND AEGLE-FOLIA In chronic fevers disorders

associated with

may be used

it

swelling of feet

cases,

the eyes,

with

hands and

face,

and splenic and in those

hepatic

benefit

burning

present,

is

sensation

in

no desire for diminished and cough is

feet exist, there

food, the quantity of urine

91

is

is

present

In this respect

Like

it

abdomen

the

constipation,

In

loaded with wind

is

has a close resemblance to Lycopodium

Nux Vomica

it

common

has some

symptoms.

In indigestion, abdominal colic, piles and constipation. It

can be used

like

Nux Vomica

In seminal weakness

remedy and in Its

use

may be

It

skin

anti-bilious

impotency,

is

it

a grand

considered as an anti-psoric remedy

such

diseases,

dates

and

from

the

as

antiquity

and febrifuge remedy

and

itches

in

is

It

ringworm.

regarded as an

our country

Bengal from time immemorial, the leaves of

In

plant are kept in the drinking

from

dropsy with the

drinking

of

patients

The

this

belief

water

leaves

will

of the

this

pot of patients suffering

and

confidence

accelerate

plant

are

the

that the

cure of the

generally

used

by the Sannyasis (Monks and ascetics) of our country to They have excitement suppress sexual desires and has been It found that it produces sexual impotency brought ascites

to

our

notice

and oedema of

the administration

that all

several

sorts

of AegleTolia

cases

of anasarca,

have been cured with

when

other indicated

homoeopathic remedies have failed to do any good The increases within two or three days generally urine after

its

use

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

92

here that Aegle Marmelos contains almost ascribed to therapeutic properties identical

may add

1

the

all

Like

Aegle-folia

none of specific

therapeutic

its

chronic gastro-intesiinal

from

efficacy

either

catarrh

flatulent colicky pains,

is

sure

where

that

any amoebic

but in chronic cases with

,

symptoms described above, In

assert

I

possess

to

cure

to

properties

dysentery

Chopra

appears

preparations

these

or bacillary

N

R

Col

Lt

and

the

certain

patients suffer

has a decided effect to check

it

them

Mode of prepaiaUon tincture

is

Marmelos

Aegle

prepared according to class

III

(Bael fruit)

of the American

Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia The halfrnpe or unnpe fruit is finely chopped and pounded to a fine pulp and then weighed are

taken

added

filled

It

and

after

part of

one^sixth IS

Later

parts

throughly

by weight of alcohol mixing

the

pulp

with

the remaining portion of the alcohol

having

After into

it

on two

stirred

a well-stoppered

the whole, and having

bottle

it

is

allowed to stand

and cool place The tincture and separated by straining decanting,

for eight days in a dark IS

afterwards

filtering

Aegle-foha of alcohol Dt/

tincture

to three parts Ix,

3x,

generally used.

6,

is

prepared by adding two parts

of leaves.

30 potencies of both

varieties

are

Blumea Odorafa. CKuksima)

Common

names.

—Sans —Kukundar

,

Beng —Kuksima,

Kukurmota Description of the herh—\t India It

Its

grows

look

leaves

fresh

like

is

common

a

herb of

the leaves of tobacco

largely in deserted places or lands

The Hindu

Physicians have found

to be an antihaemorrhagic remedy of great repute and they have found in bleeding piles, bloody dysentery, bloody It efficacious it

leucorrhoea, miscarriage associated with copious bleeding

and

in other haemorrhages.

Therapeutic properties observed by Hindu Physicians.

The swellings

are

leaves

and

alterative,

bark

purgative, the

destroys swellings

,

the root

the seeds produce burning

is

and

destroyer

dropsical

causes burning

anthelmintic is

of

and and purgative ,

anthelmintic

has been found useful in the burning sensation of the body, pains due to rheumatism and ordinary swellings or It

dropsical swellings

They

use

it

for

the

purpose

of

aborting

abscess

and bubo

They

use

it

also

in

dysmenorrhoea, constipation,

syphilis,

itches,

worm complaints

gonorrhoea,

of children,

sunstroke and in fevers appearing every other day.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

94

Poi is used

Dose

.

—Whole plant and seed

—Juice of the leaves

2 to 8 soinas

,

to

1

2

tolas

,

powdered root

decoction of the root bark, 5 to

1

0

tolas

Homoeopafliic Uses.

No

homoeopathic proving of the drug has yet been made, but a tincture has been prepared homoeopathically and this medicine is being used by a few homoeopaths in our country

The homoeopaths have also found

useful in controll-

it

and dysentery

ing haemorrhages from the uterus, piles

In

an excellent remedy In diarrhoea or dysentery associated or mixed up with blood it is generally

bleeding piles

is

it

used with benefit miscarriage

It is

where

used with excellent

also

there

is

results in

copious haemorrhage.

bloody leucorrhoea and menorrhagia

exerts

it

In

a powerful

influence to arrest the bleeding. It

IS

an

excellent medicine in

tertian

country even the smelling of the juice of

appearance of It IS

cough

— in

present

coughing, cough

leaves stops the

and there is

is

—hoarseness due

Dil.


associated with

are the maladies in

lx,

3x

to

trumpet-hke sound while barking sound

hoarseness

The above

our

tertian fevers

very good in controlling cough is

its

fevers

generally used.

which

it

may be

tried

and

Boerhaavia Diffusa (Punartiaba). Different Name^i Ghetuli

Tam — Mukukrattai

,

for dropsy)

The

— Hind —Sant

Beng

,

—

but again in

plant

IS

from

renovated

On

structure

called

Itsit

,

Bomb

—

(cure

Punarnaba

plant dries up,

generally

—

— Shothaghni

Sansk

,

branches grow from the

fresh

Pun}

,

account of

its

the

root

and

the

old

and

almost

curious

this

rainy season plant

is

dead

phenomenon, the

Punarnaba

Natural order— Nyctagineae

The

Description of the plant all

common

over India as a

and

Its

season.

abundance

The

and have a

roots bitter

numerous stems, 2

is

found to grow

creeping, troublesome

specially

is

plant

weed

noticed during the rainy

of the plant are stout

and nauseous

and fusiform

From

taste

the

root

3 feet long, slender and covered

to

The

with minute hairs, are given off

stem

is

generally

and glabrous , the leaves are thick, unequally arrange ed, green and glabrous above and generally white under^ The base of the leaf is rounded and subcordate, and neath viscid

the petioles are as long as the leaves

which are small and bracteolate

sessile

umbels forming

and terminal

petals.

The

brownish and about the

size

4

is

contains floweis

10 together in small

to

slender, fruit

It

long-'Stalked

axillary

oblong, dull-green or

of a caraway bean

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

96

The Ayurvedic

Varieties

vaneties of the plant,

physicians recognise

two

the one with white flowers called

“Shweth Punarnaba", and other containing red flower, The Tibbi authorities recogthe "Rakta Punarnaba" nise

a

third

vanety with blue flowers

Our

experience

is

with the white punarnaba

Uses.

Ayurvedic Uses

—

Dhanwantari described the white punarnaba in "Nirghanta" as possessing laxative and diaphoretic virtues. He has found its efficacy in oedema, anaemia, diseases of the heart, cough and intestinal colic to be very great The red variety is bitter and its beneficial effects in oedema, haemorrhage, anaemia and bilious disorders have been praised and acknowledged by him. Charaka.

It

has been mentioned to be an excellent

medicine in leprosy —it in leprosy

in

and

is

skin diseases

the kidney and oedema.

paste have been found to

used in the form of an ointment

and as a decoction

in

stone

Local applications of the root

be efficacious

in

oedematous

swellings.

Susruta has mentioned its use in stone, Susruta oedema, dropsical swellings, fever prevalent in rainy seasons and poisoning, owing to snake-bite, rat-bite and rabbit dog-bite. It has also been mentioned to be an excellent

remedy

in

asthma and

Brinda.

It

to drunkenness.

is

in large doses

it

causes vomiting

an excellent remedy in disorders owing It is mentioned as a grand tonia If

BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA (PUNARNABA)

97

be regularly taken for thr^ months, six months or one year, broken down constitutions will be restored to complete vitality medicine

this

has

Chakradatta

Qhakradatta

mentioned

good for chronic alcoholism and various other from snake-poisoning In ulcers of thigh

Harit

JBangaserui.

an

is

It

is

it

to

it

be

infections

used with benefit,

excellent

remedy

in the

fever

which appears on the 4th day It is also efficacious in rheumatic affections and urticaria. Many other eminent Ayurvedic authorities have recommended it to be useful in phthisis, sleeplessness, rheumatic affections and diseases of the eye

The Unani

Unarm. Uses. efficacious

in asthma,

and have found used

It

in

worm

its

physicians have found

jaundice and

diuretic

affections, febrile affections

rrhoea, spleen,

jaundice,

dropsy, ascites,

anasarca,

enlargement of the scanty

As a remedy

applied externally

and given

are applied over oedematous II,

p

stomachic, laxa^

expectorant and emetic, useful in asthma, gono-

inflammations.

Vol

It is

swellings

They have also and urethntis.

properties

Allopathic Uses and Opinions. tive, diuretic,

dropsical

it

503)

"The

root

for

urine,

and

scorpion

intemaJIy.

and mtemal

liver

bites

Pounded

it

is

leaves

(R. N. Khoiy, given in powder as a laxa-

swellings is

and in infusion as a vermifuge. The taste is slightly (Ainslie in his Matena Medica). bitter and nauseous" "It has been found a good expectorant and been prescnbed in asthma with marked success given in form of

tive

—

7

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

98

Taken

powder, decoction and infusion emetic.'*

—(E

J

Wanng

in his

Rai Bahadur

Chemical Composition. of

Ghoshal,

the

analysed

drug

acts as

Dr

an

India)

Mohan

Lai

Hospital

and found the following

1910

in

it

College

Medical

Calcutta

the

largely

Pharmacopoeia of

constituents

A sulphate of a body

(a)

in

alkaloidal

nature,

(6)

an

amorphous mass of the nature of a fat, (c) sulphates and chlondes and traces of nitrates and chlorates from the ash The amount of the alkaloidal substance is very small The Sulphate of the alkaloid is mentioned as oily

ance

brownish-white in

needle-shaped crystals,

small

when

faintly

mass Its taste is almost bland or very and has the resemblance of that of impure

in

bitter

The

quinine sulphate

mgm

was 300 0 853 per

appear-

yield

of the alkaloid as sulphate

from 20 oz, of the

original

plant

(i

e

cent)

M

MA

Col R, N. Chopra, I S, , M. D , Professor School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and of Medical College, Calcutta undertook a Lt.

of Pharmacology, detailed

and

scientific

study of the chemical composition

and pharmacological action of the Punarnaba and he was assisted by

his

the

high

green

plant

possessed

water, the air-dried plants

Dr.

had

a to

very

"The quantities

India, p. 301

plant

—

was found

of potassium

to

nitrate.

co-workers

of

As

percentage of

be used for extraction.

Chopra wntes the following

Drugs of

active pnnciples

in his

work—Indigenous

contain

As

unusually large

the presence of this

'

BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA (PUNARNABA)

may

salt

partly account for the

99

action of the

diuretic

of potassium present in the plant Taking the whole of potassium as pota-

drug, the total content

was estimated ssium

nitrate, its

to about It

IS

641

quantity in the powdered drug amounted

This

percent.

probable that other

Besides these

small quantities,

quantity

and

form

crystalline

quantity,

alkaloid

alkaloid

percent

was

the

It

however, was not

m

weight

just

of

sufficient

expenments

It had a was obtained in

hydrochloride

named

has been

present in very

of the

isolated

pharmacological

for

taste

bitter

an

is

about 0 01

The

dry plant

of potassium are present.

salts

there

salts,

however, unlikely and

is,

The

'Punarnavine'

for further chemical

sufficient

work."

L

Dr

Pharmacological Actions

M

Ghoshal investigated the therapeutic properties of this drug from every He used an aqueous extract of point of view in 1920 This for obvious the whole drug in his expenments to

cause error as the large quantity of

reasons

is

nitrates,

besides other

liable

constituents,

produce

salts

of

would mask the

their

specific

conclusion was

effects

as follows

potassium effect

on

—

( 1

various

of the alkaloid and

the tissues )

and

The

active

m^n

His

pnnaple

is

a

on the glomeruli of the kidneys through the heart, increasing the beat and strength and raising the penpheral blood pressure in consequence , on the cells of the tubules it exerts little or no action and, if any, it is initial and comparative. diuretic,

On

(2)

action

weed.

chiefly

IS

acting

the respiration

it

has

little

or no action

;

any

probably due to the fatty principle found in the

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

100

On the liver the action is principally secondary

(3)

in

and

combination with other drugs

On

no effects done Lt Col R N. by In the experimental work S and his co-workers, the hydrochloride of Chopra, I the alkaloid was used. It has little or no irritant action on the intact skin and mucous membrane Subcutaneous iniection does not set up any marked local reaction , it has a somewhat depressing action on the tone and peristaltic movements of isolated pieces of the intestine (4)

other organs the drug has practically

M

from the

Intravenous

rabbit.

stimulates the respiratory

but there

no

is

distinct

and

movements

relaxation

persistent rise

action of the drug

which

on the

in

of the alkaloid

experimental animals

of bronchial muscles such as

The

adrenaline

occurs with

injection

blood is

pressure

shows a

probably due to direct

heart muscle

The

diuretic

and the dog , intravenous injections in such animals, where the flow of urine is being recorded by a cannula into the ureter, showed a marked increase in the flow of urine That the diuresis was not entirely due to the nse of blood pressure was shown by were

effects

1/20 c

giving

venously

bi^er

much effect

,

rise less

It

large

c

of

1

in

was observed

1000 adrenaline solution intra-

that,

although there was a

of blood pressure, the diuresis

marked

of alkaloid

That the that

investigated in the cat

is

alkaloid

It

may be

much

comparatively

concluded, therefore, that

probably chiefly on the renal epithelium is

not very toxic was

shown by the fact no untoward

doses given to animals produced

effects.

Therapeutic uses.

It is

generally used in leprosy, bites

from venomous animals, such as snake, rabbit dog and

— BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA (PUNARNABA) scorpion, cough, ascites associated

asthma,

with

gonorrhoea,

101

dropsy,

jaundice,

haemorrhage,

liver disorders,

intestinal

anaemia, stone in the kidney, diseases of heart and hemicrania

colic,

Homoeopathic Uses. Proving. I

had no

opportunities of making extended provings of

could prove it upon two healthy persons of those provings are given below symptoms The this

drug

I

only.

•

Proving No.

1.

—

Name of the proven A young man possessing good physique and excellent health, aged 34 and by name Mr Amulyaratan Bose came forward to prove this drug. 3rd.

March,

He

1932

7 a

tincture of this drug at

same quantity

at

8p

m

on

took 5 drops of the

m

mother

and another dose of the

that day.

Nothing untoward was experienced

4th March, 1932.

March, 1932. He took three doses of tincture every four hours this day, dose being 5 drops at a time 5th.

6th March,

manner

He

1932

again took three doses in the

stated before

7th March, 1932.

The following symptoms

Head.

headache

appeared,

Terrible

worse on the nght

of side,

a

appeared

bursting relieved

by

—

nature

cold

application

Cough and Cold,

Coryza appeared with dry cough.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

102

all

Felt pains, like rheumatic pains,

Pcans over the body. over the body

The

Blood pressure— Blood pressure was increased prover felt ringing in the ears, and heat on the vertex

—

Urinary Tract There was distinct diminution of the The urine became high-coloured quantity of unne

— Frequent palpitation and

Heart

over

intermittent pain

the cardiac muscles were experienced

Vomiting and nausea

—Vomiting

mixed with

bile

and

water was present.

Liver

on

—

pain in the

Slight

pressure

and

was

region

hepatic

felt

movement and ameliorated by hard

pressure.

Swelling

—Slight swelling of eyelids, hands and feet Proving No.

Mr

S.

Rajani Kanta Haider of Singia,

aged 38, was the

second prover.

He

took the tincture

twice

daily

in

5 drops doses

continuously for five days from the 4th June,

symptoms

exhibited in the case of the

identically

marked

in this

first

1

The

932

proving were

proving as well

Clinical Verifications. I

used

this

medicine (mother tincture) in drop doses in

a senes of cases glad to say that

all

from epidemic dropsy of them were radically cured suffering

I

am

BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA (PUNARNABA) Case 2To

103

I.

Babu Sarat Chandra Jana, aged 28, had swellings of his legs and feet all on a sudden on the 2nd March, 1932 His urine was examined but there was no albumen present. The urine became scanty and high-coloured He felt pain Giddiness of head and palpitation over the hepatic region of heart existed

I

prescribed

Boerhaavia JCiffusa

O

m

drop doses to be taken thrice daily The medicine was for six days and the patient got rid of the

continued swelling

and other complaints within Case

No

ten days

II

Babu Santiram Roy, aged 28, had an epidemic dropsy on the 30th May, 1932 He was treated by several well-

known

allopaths of Calcutta, but nothing could lessen the

At

swelling 14th June,

by

last

1932

I

was

The

and saw him on the following symptoms were marked called in

1

me Head —^Terrible

headache was

present,

right side

was

principally affected,

I/iver . time.

— He had derangement

At present the

liver

of the

liver

for

was congested and

a long

painful to

touch or pressure

HaTids, Feet and

Abdomen

—There was considerable

swelling of these organs

Urinary Trac#,—Scantiness of unne which was very high-coloured.

Cough

—Cough was present "with

expectoration.

thick white

mucous

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

104

JELeart.

—^Throbbing

pain in the cardiac region

felt off

and on. prescribed Boerhaavia Diffusa

I

Suffice

daily

by the

it

was wanted

thnce

he was cured within a month

of

administration

medicine

to

this

complete

No

drug

single

the cure

other

cured

I

cases of epidemic dropsy with the help of

more than 30

new

to say that

® in 2 drop doses

do not wish to increase the bulk of book by dwelling upon those cases

this

drug

I

my

Personal observaHons relating to the therapeutic properties of this new drug.

Many

reputed physicians of every School of Medicine

unanimous

are

in their

opinion that

Punarnaba

possesses

and these results were demonstrated observations and experiments

great diuretic properties

by systematic In

and

my opinion peritonial

the cases of dropsy due to early

conditions

are

generally

benefited

liver

by

this drug.

Lt

Col

R N. Chopra

says,

produced even when the abdominal

was was not removed

"the diuretic effect fluid

by preliminary tapping and the kidneys were '* under a disadvantage

working

hold the same view with Dr. Chopra The drug acts very well when the dropsical swelling is associated with healthy kidneys as in kala-azar or ascites produced I

by dysenteric conditions In ascites in the

liver,

associated

kidneys

with advanced structural changes

and

pentoneum,

only

temporary

BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA (PUNARNABA) can be expected, but even seems to do much good. drug

benefit

in

105

such instances the

drug exerts a much more powerful effect on those are due to cirrhosis of the liver- There is which cases an abundance of Vitamin in the leaves of Punamaba In fact, I can say with confidence that it will prove a valuable remedy in all epidemics of dropsy prevalent

The

all

over Bengal In conclusion,

to try

It

in

that material

I

entreat

all

the homoeopathic praictitioners

They must bear in mind tincture should be used and

these cases even

doses of

this

genuine preparations must be bought

The

tincture

prepared from the white variety should

only be used, I

am

still

experimenting with

experience will be published

later

this

on

drug and ray future

—

;

Caesalpinia Bonduceila. (Naia)

— Bonduc Nut Fever Nut Sans — Kuberakshi Beng — Natakarania

Common Names —English Nut

Physic

Bom —Sugaf'ghota

,

Tamil— Kazharshikkay.

Persian

Khayahe^i-iblis (Devil's testicle)

Natural order.

Leguminosae

Descnption of the shrub Nata is a well known wild shrub of our country grows near the sea'coast in all It hot countries, the extensive distribution being due

pro-

bably to the transport of the seeds by oceanic currents, pregnant with climbing prickly points and the shrub

it IS

commonly found all over Bengal, Bombay and practically the whole of Southern India The plant has been known for a long time to the Hindu and Mahammedan IS

physicians to contain excellent medicinal properties

The size

from

are almost globular in shape varying in

H inch to ^

inch in diameter

,

they are very

of a dull grey colour and smooth in appearance

hard,

The

seeds

shell

is

white kernel

and which is

thick

leaves

and the

Rupius

calls

seeds

brittle

and contains a yellowish-

bitter to

are

the taste

administered

The

root, bark,

in

medicine

Frutex gldbulomus and says that and the leaves, roots and seeds are emmenagogue and febnfuge. the seeds

they possess anthelmintic properties

The

seeds are considered in India and Persia to be very hot and dry" and they are found to be very useful

,

CAESALPINIA BONDUCELLA in dispel Sing swellings, arresting

off infectious

The

maladies

107

haemorrhage and warding seeds roasted and powdered

externally are employed for hydrocele internally and The they are also used internally in curing leprosy

powdered seeds mixed with black pepper are found to be febrifuge and anti-penodic and are used in chronic fevers The fixed oil expressed from the seeds is emollient and IS employed as an embrocation for the purpose of removing freckles from the face, also as a cosmetic and used also A decoction of the to arrest discharges from the ear against consumption and roasted seeds is employed asthma

The

seeds consist of 58 per cent of hard outer shell

and 42 per

cent, of kernel

In 1868 the

made

seeds were

Pharmacopoeia of India as a tonic and and were favourably reported on by several

in the

official

antipyretic

medical

officers.

Allopathic uses and opinions.

Constituents of the

plant.

The

The

guilandina. oil

25,

a non-alkaloidal

kernels contain

bitter

bitter principle,

cotyledons of the seeds contain a fixed

principle or

resin 2,

sugar 6,

minoid matter 20, starch 35, and tannin. Khory, Part II p 203). of India R.

albu-

salts 3,

{Materia Medica

— N

Actions and Uses of Caesalpima JBonducella.

Khory

in

his

Materia

Medica of

has wntten the following about

"The

Kernels

are

The

juice

anthelmintic.

used in chronic fevers

India.

this plant

bitter

tonic,

of fresh leaves

The

seeds,

—

Part

II,

R N, p 203,

antipenodic is

febrifuge

and and

powdered and mixed

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

108

With black pepper, are febrifuge and alterative, tonic and are given in general debility to check haemorrhages and

and quartan

in quotidian, tertian

mixed with the

mintic, the kernels

Butia frondosa

As an antheh leaves and flowers of

fevers.

and with the flowering tops of Artemisia

The fixed oil mantima are given for intestinal worms embrocation and to remove IS emollient, and used as an freckles from the face and to stop the discharges from the ear The seeds are worn as necklaces by pregnant

women

under the

Dymock has

belief that

written

graphia Indica, Part

"The

I,

prevents abortion".

Pharmaco-

the following in his

—98 —

p 497

seeds roasted and

for hydrocele internally

upon

spread

it

castor
powdered are administered and at the same time externally,

leaves

They

are

also

given

and are thought to be anthelmintic which they have been boiled for a long time IS applied to wounds to promote cicatrization The oil expressed from the seeds is used as a cosmetic , it is said to soften the skin and remove pimples, etc The seeds

internally

The oil

in

leprosy

in

are given with gur (molasses) in hysteria

of the roasted seed

is

Economic Products

of India has written the following about seeds of the plant are very

the opinion of

In

Col tton,

R

good

this

plant

for chronic

—

fevers.

some medical men powdered seeds

mixed with tobacco are found " cunng colicky pains Let

decoction

used for consumption and asthma"

Dr. Watts in his Dictionary of the

"The

A

to

be highly efficacious in

me now

N

proceed to reproduce the opinion of Lt Chopra, I S about the chemical compos!-'

pharmacological

M

action

and

therapeutic

uses

of

CAESALPINIA BONDUCELLA

which he has embodied

plant

this

book

—Indigenous Daigs of India, pp

“ Qhemicci Composition

.

in

109

his

307

to

well

known

308

— Heckel and Schlagdenhauffen

(1886) found that the cotyledons of the seeds

contain,

besides starchy matter, 25.13 per cent, of an

925 per

cent, of a

principle,

bitter

of

salts

was obtained from powder (bonducin)

the

3 97 1

per cent

logical

to

p&c cent,

1

of sugar and

A non-alkaloidal bitter principle kernels in

which they

of the

properties

683

oil,

seeds

of white

attributed the phj^ioIt

insoluble in water but soluble in

form

the

oils

was found to be Bacon (1896) was

from the kernels the bitter principle 'bonducin' which he found to be a mixture of complex He could not obtain any alkaloid or resinous bodies Bhaglucoside from the alcoholic extract of the kernels dun (1912) stated that an alkaloid was present in the

able

to

isolate

and suggested the name 'natin' for it It is doubts ful whether 'natin' of Bhadun is a glucoside or an alkaloid Godbole, Paranjpe and as details are not available. Snkhande (1929) found that the bitter principle of the seeds

kernels extracted with alcohol, contained

of bonducella nut hydrolysis.

They

and reduced concluded,

pnnciple was a glucoside

a

bitter

identified

all

Fehling's solution

after

the

bitter

therefore,

Tummin

that

katti

(1930) found

resinous acid in the petroleum ether extract it

results

of chemical analysis,

the seeds were re-examined at the Calcutta

be

and

as 'bonducin'.

In view of the divergent

Tropical

the sulphur

Medicine

detected in

13 52 per cent

them

to

School

of

see what active principles could

They

of the dried

yielded to petroleum extract

ether

Each of the above

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

110

The

was then chemically examined

fractions

presence

investigator an alkaloid as noted by the bitter non-glucosidic princould not be confirmed, but a present undoubtedly it is, was water , ciple, insoluble in

of

previous

Jnowever, pharmacologically inactive

The

seeds

contain

good percentage of pale yellow thick oil having a an iodine value of 96 1 and It has disagreeable odour fairly

saponification value of 292 8

between 20 to 25 per cent specimens examined by the author it

the quantity of the

whereas

oil varies

the

in

According to some workers

never exceeded 14 per cent.

—

The non-glucosidic bittet Pharmacological Action principle was passed through the usual pharmacological 'tests

but

It

was found

Therapeutic 'fever nuts’

to

Uses

be inactive

—^The

so-called

'bonduc-nuts' or

have enjoyed a reputation

as

anti-periodic

were carried out under the auspices of the Indigenous Drug Committee

for such

a long time that

clinical

trials

Though their findings are not very definite, they recommended the drug very favourably as a powerful tonic and a valuable febnfuge. As the seeds do not show any

marked

therapeutic

and the

properties

gation of their chemical composition

presence

does not reveal the

of any active principle with

cological action,

unnecessary

further

clinical

re-investi-

trials

marked pharmawere considered

"

Ayurvedic Uses.

Charak—\t -chronic fevers.

is

used in leprosy,

piles,

erysipelas

and

CAESALPINIA BONDUCELLA

—

Suskruta

useful

is

It

111

in scabies, poisonous

colicky pains, haematemesis, vomiting, carbuncle

of

thigh, elephantiasis

Bagbkat

—

an

It is

legs, intestinal

excellent

worms and

remedy

boils,

on

the

leprosy

in erysipelas

of the

glands

Chakradatta diseases

It is

—

has been found to be useful in eyz

It

very good in the

first

stage

of small pox

used externally over the matured abscess in order to draw out pus from it.

Its

root bark

is

—

Bangasena pepsia

is

It

with bilious

an

remedy in dropsy, dys^ derangements and small-pox assoexcellent

ciated with cough.

Parts

Used-Root,

bark,

leaves,

kernel of the seed,

and bark of the stem Personal Observations Regarding Homoeopathic Proving and Uses.

ifs

Dr. Kali

proved

this

proving

this

Bhattacharyya, of Gouripore,

drug and he published an

in the

Hahnemann, Dr

Kumar

Bengali Monthly

in the

its

Homoeopathic Journal,

month of Baisakh, 1331

Bhattacharyya very kindly sent

medicine for

Assam

account of

clinical

trials.

I

used

me it

a supply of

in three cases

must say suffering from chronic intermittent fever and that those three cases were cured only with the help of I

this

drug

Nata has been known in our country to be an excellent remedy for chronic fevers and 1 can also unhesitatingly bear testimony to its clinical virtues in cunng chronic intermittent fever.

;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

112

Although extended provings of the drug have not been made, the little that has been made fully tallies with the observations expressed by both the Allopathic and

^urvedic

physicians of our country

now

shall

I

which

It

will

proceed to give

its

symptomatology for

be employed

Materia Medica of Caesalpinia Bonduceila.

—Mental depression Head—During fever

Mi'nd

,

lack of enthusiasm.

terrible

pains are

over both

felt

up

by wrapping them

the temples of head, relieved

or

by

pressure

Eyes

— Before

the appearance of fever

invasion terrible pains are

burnt

,

in the

felt

and during

eyes as

its

they are

if

they are relieved by the application of cold water

eyes are sunken and bloodless.

Nose

—Hot

breath

during fever frequent

,

and humed

respiration takes place.

—During

Mouth thirst

for cold water

Tongue

—

Slight

hot stage of the fever ,

face

flushed

is

white coating

bloodless white tongue

tongue

,

dunng

on is

thirst

is

felt

fever.

the tongue appears moist,

but

there

is

fliirst.

Abdomen—TTiere sometimes

Liver times

liquid,

is

gurgling in ihe lower

slimy stools are passed by the patient

—^The lower lobe

is

enlarged

,

before fever some^

uneasiness in the hepatic region

times slight pain

abdomen,

is felt

there

is

felt

or some-*

CAESALPINIA BONDUCELLA

^ool

— Hard,

times liquid

Spleen It IS

safifrori'Coloured

stools

they are some'

,

and yellow-coloured

— Enlargement

and hardness of spleen

exist

and

painful to touch

—

Fever It is very irregular in appearance it may come on any time fever appears with chilliness and shivering one day and again on another day it appears ,

,

in the afternoon with slight chilliness

The

character of fever

generally

felt

generally

felt

with in

changeable

and

the stage of heat,

only

for a short time

lasts

is

chilliness

chest, neck, shoulder

The

—sweat

its

invasion

is

shivenng

Thirst

is

,

the stage of sweat breaks out over face,

fever does not last

more than

6 hours

The

fever appears between 8 A.

between 2 to

-4

P

morning fever there

is thirst

The above symptoms It

IS

,

and 10 A.

M

In the afternoon fever there

mittent fevers

M

is

no

thirst,

or

but in the

in hot stage

are generally observed in inter-

but in remittent fevers of malanal ongin

also used with benefit

After the remission of fever the patient

weakness,

is

disinclined to

do any work

even ; the patient bed with closed ^es.

desire to in

M

talk

Desires

—Desire

to

likes

to

take boiled rice

;

lie

feels

extreme

is no down quietly

there

and other hard

substance and meat.

J.verszons—-Aversion to take any desire to take bath.

8

liquid

food;

no

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

U4

—

Small eruptions STan Dry, dirty, blackish coloured skin, which appear the on disappear like mosquito bite generally.

symptoms —

OeTieral remission

of

fever,

averse even to have

weakness

much

so

any

talk

do any work , always eyes ; no desire to leave bed

likes to

Back

— Drawing

pains are

,

so

felt

the

that

there sleep

is felt

,

in

is

no

lies

after the

patient

is

inclination

to

quiet with closed

the back after cold

bath

—

of FreparaUon The tincture is prepared with one part of powdered seeds and five parts by weight of

Mode

alcohol (Class IV,

A

H. P

—Tincture and

DtluUon

)

lx.

— Calofropis Gigantea. CAkanda).

Common Names*

—Sans —Arka,

Mandara

Eng

,

*

Swallowwoop, Mudar , Madar, Beng,—Fers ^Khark ,
*

,

Jellude

Tam

,

—

Badabadam.

Natural order. Asclepiadeae. Description of the plant.

growing It

principally

in

It is

waste

and

ascends to an altitude of 3,000

and extends

range

from

the

an erect perennial shrub,

Punjab to

It

IS,

under

tillage

and

bitter

and

to

The

sands. it

India,

distnbuted to the

is It

South

thrives in

water

;

splendidly suited to bringing wastelands

therefore,

drifting

and

and South China

Islands

lands

on the Himalayan

feet

Assam, Ceylon and Singapore and

Malaya

uncultivated

protect reclaimed taste

of the

desert

shrub

is

lands from

mucilaginous

has a peculiar odour.

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

There •country

,

are

one

is

two

vaneties of

white and the other

Akanda found is

Both

varieties

they are found to be very useful in boils, splenic affections, piles,

and stomach, worms and

our

red

Both the vaneties are found to possess same amd therapeutic properties.

in

identical

are alterative

and

flatulence, leprosy,

cough, disorders of the

other affections.

liver

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

116

The mild piles

Akanda promote semen,

of white

and cure cough, aversion

and digestive and respiratory troubles

The bitter

flowers

flowers of the red variety are sweet

and are

useful

haematemesis,

in

leprosy,

worms,

are

to food,

and

cough,

slightly piles,,

and thickening of the abdominal

ascites

viscera.

Charak has recommended piles, boils and carbuncle on the Sushruta has found

in

nausea and

vomiting,,

thigh

useful in killing

it

worms grow-

earache, respiratory

ing in the ulcers of leprosy,

and

it

troubles,

dog-bites.

Baghhaita has recommended

it

Ohakradatta has recommended

in toothache. it

in

elephantiasis

of

the leg and scrotum and scorpion-bites.

BkcAqprakash has found

it

useful in splenic disorders.

Bangasena has recommended it in rheumatism, spots on the face, and eye complaints.

—Root,

Parts used

leaves,

flowers,

black-

germ and milky

substance.

Dose anna ,

—Root-bark,

anna , dned milky juice, i to juice of the leaves, 2 to 6 drops ; decoction of 1 the germs, flowers or root-bark, i chatak to 1 chatak i

to

1

Allopathic Uses

Mudanne, Mudanne, an

Constituents acrid

resin

and Opinions. caoutchouc, acrid

yellow

principle,

bitter

soluble

m

CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA

U7

alcohol and ether, insoluble in cold water and olive oil, possesses the singular property of congealing by heat

and becoming again fluid on exposure to cold, {.Matena Medica of India R. N. Khory, Part II, p, 395) Chemical Composition "The root and the root-bark

—

are used medicinally, but there has been

of opinion as to their value. to

be a yellow

bitter

resin,

much

The active

difference

pnnciple appears

besides which the root-baurk

two substances named by Warden and Waddel, 'madar alban' and 'madan fluavii', closely resembling the alban and fluavil found in gutta-pa’cha. It contains no alkaloids" (.B. JV Chopra in Jna ^'Indigenous Drugs of India” p. SIO.) contains

also

Actions and

— Uses —As

an

calomel and antimonial powder

made

alterative the root is

with

given internally, and

and scrotum, in elephantiasis, to leprous ulcers, leucoderma and otha The root-bark powdaed, soaked in the diseases. skin milky luice, dried and made into cigars, is smoked as an Dried bark is an emetic, inhalation in cough and asthma a very good substitute for ipecacuanha, and with opium The leaves IS used like Dover's powder in dysentery. It

the bark

into paste applied to the legs

are deobstruent, with rock

salt

are roasted in a closed

and the ashes given with whey by the natives in enlargement of the liver and spleen, in intestinal worms, As rubefacient the anasarca, and in dysentery ascites,

vessel

colicky

and used as As a pain and tympanitis

relief to

inflammatory swellings

leaves are smeared with

oil,

The

varalions, to relieve

poultice they give

flowers

are tonic,

stomachic and digestive and used in cough and asthma etc. The juice is drastic, purgative and caustic, in combination

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

118

With the juice of Euphorbia nerifolia applied to carious teeth to relieve pain and dropped into the ear in earache.

Also applied to the cervix to procure abortion.

Given

and

largely

and low

in rheumatism, malarial

hectic fevers

,

hence known as vegetable mercury The mixed with powdered wood of Berberis Asiatica

used

in

juice

syphilis,

and the juice of Euphorbia nerifolia made into tents In and introduced into rectum to relieve tenesmus scorpion and insect bites, it relieves the pain and burning As a depilatory it is used by tanners, and also by women for removing hair from the pubes and other parts. It is a useful

local application for the

of

relief

painful

joints

and for ringworm of the scalp. In combina^ tion with the juice of Nateio Thuhar and with the wood of Berbens Asiatica it is used as a caustic for closing sinuses and fistula in ano. (Mceteria Medica of India 7?. N. Khary, part II , P. S96'). and

swellings,

—

^

"Modern

physiological

shown

research has

that the

an irritant, the practice of bruises and sprains to remove pain

juice applied to the skin acts as

applying IS

with

it

salt to

therefore rational

;

also the application of the fresh

in chronic rheumatism,

given internally

in

;

the drug stimulates the capillaries

and

acts

upon

likely

to

the

skin.

elephantiasis

It

is,

therefore,

from the administration of the flowers

due

The

and leprosy (Casonora).

to their nauseant

action

in

Uses.

—The

powerfully

be useful

in

is

probably

In large doses Calotropis

{Pharmacographa Indica—pc^

Tkerapezdtc

small doses

benefit derived

asthma

causes vomiting and purging acting as an cathartic

bark

Hindu

irritant

II,

emeto^

P. 43d).

physicians consider

the root'bark as a valuable remedy in skin diseases, enlarge^

CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA mznt of abdominal

The

etc

ascites,

purgative

and

worms,

intestinal

viscera,

milky )uice

generally used

is

119

is

cough,

regarded as a drastic

as such

in combination

The flowers of Euphorbia nerifolia. are considered to be digestive, stomachic, tonic and useful The root-bark reduced to in cough, asthma and catarrh the

with

juice

a paste with rice^vinegar is applied to elephantiasis of For medicinal purposes the root the legs and scrotum bark of Calotropis gigantea should be collected from as old a plant as

possible

dry

in hot,

weather.

dose of the powdered bark

ordinary medicinal

3

and

as

An an

30 to 60 grains the root^bark acts as an emetic and has been used as a substitute of ipecacuanha All parts of the plant are considered have to alterative valuable alterative

is

properties

when

In doses of

to 10 grains, thrice daily

taken in small doses

According to Chevars and others, forcing madar juice

down

the throat

by

employed prevails locally

Madar to

juice

procure

vegetable juices

with the juice

among

it

also

of

infanticide

which female

infanticide

given internally or applied

abortion

Like ;

contractions

also used as

other

all

usually a stick

pushed up into the os

is

is

is

used locally

it is

there until uterine parts of India,

common method

a

is

castes

are

uteri

induced.

irritant

smeared

and left In some

a cattle poison.

Recent investigations do not bear out the claims made on behalf of Calotropis gigantea Excepting the local irritant

action,

India

—

has no marked therapeutic properties

it

B. N. Pages SIO

(.Brev, Col

Chopra in the Indigenous Drugs of

— ll)

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

120

Homesopatliic Proving and Materia Hedica.

A

was made by Dr E. B Evatts of Dublin in 1872 and an account of the proving and its symptoms as found by the prover was published m the Homoeopathic World of London. It is now a listed medicine of the American Homoeopathic proving of Calotropis gigantea

Pharmacopoeia.

now

proceed to reproduce below

symptoms in toto from the Dictionary of Materia Medica written by Dr. John H. Clarke, M D shall

I

its

Materia Medica.

—Depressed, Dull occipital headache from Head — midnight, very bad at times in evening M

Mind

I.

2 II

^Dizziness

,

A

Head

tired-'feeling.

till

painful, throbbing,

and confusion. Head and face

hot

—Cheeks

burning

— Slight

soreness

6

Face

8

Mouth

like

fire.

Lips

and

throat

dry .

Pams on moving

)aws

Stomach

and swelling of

r.

palate

Breath foul.

—Constant eructations

Faint and giddy with inclination to vomit, after strong coffee vomited a II.

wineglassful of yellow bile

14

dark red, but

Urinary like

— Frequent

Organs home brewed

no noticeable

.

deposit.

beer,

urination

Urine

and with strong smell

;

CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA Respiratory Organs.

17

121

—Oppression

and

chest

at

short breathing

—Pulse quickened Back — Frequent passing up spine. Upper Limbs.— Cramp — pain in centre of

Heat

19 20.

chills

22 palm when grasping anything, wrist when moving it.

Lower

23

Limbs

like

lasting

—Slight

many days

;

when moving

pain

r.

pain in

at

thigh just below groin , two days later back of thigh very sore and hard, making turning irksome next morning thigh sore, swollen and painful, so that

inside of r

he could not bend in

every step

when

bearing

leg in walking,

Slight pain in

on

left

which gave him pain foot on movement, or

with deep tenderness as

it ,

if

up

tarsal

bone. Intermitting cramp-Iike pain, must keep foot moving about in bed, pain in foot when at rest so severe as to

—

bring pain

into eyes

,

> after coffee

red and swollen but not tender

,

later,

instep slightly

unable to

put foot to

;

ground except by very slow degrees, could then stand without pain, but pain

Some

again

days

returns

after, r.

when

weight

taking

off

foot began to pain and became

the worse of the two.

26

Sleep .

—Restless

and

feverish

;

tossing

from side

to side

Fever.

27 spine like

,

at

fire.

spine,

cold,

frequent chills passing

same time head and temples

hot,

fire

,

up

cheeks burn

Chill returned towards bed time though he

close to the

up

— Body

was

continued in bed, running from feet

movemoit of

feet

of perspiration alternating with

seemed chills

to excite

them

Fits

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

122

Personal Observations.

The Hindu remedy

All

physicians consider

its

to

it

be a very valuable

pans, leaves, root, bark and milky juice

by them medicinally.

are used

They

used

have of

elephantiasis

with

it

the

success

in

piles,

leprosy,

and scrotum, earache, asthma,

leg

enlargement of the spleen, skin diseases, enlargement of

abdominal

the fits,

epilepsy, syphilis

In the field of Its

intestinal

viscera,

leprosy, fever,

Homoeopathic

has played

lupus,

tuberculous

and syphilitic hands and feet, and chronic

cachexia,

the

in

it

therapeutics

elephantiasis,

mercurial

pain

ulcerations,

ascites,

and a host of other maladies.

successfully in

role

worms, cough,

syphilis

rheumatism. considered

is

It

alterative

by us

and purgative

to

qualities

possess emetic, It is

an

sudorific,

remedy

excellent

In skin affections

Gramm

Dr.

with

of Philadelphia employed the

success in cases

great

could no longer be pushed

,

when Mercury

of syphilis

in the

tincture

anaemia due to

syphilis,

secondary syphilis It

patient

cordis

symptom of the drug that the f^ls a sensation of warmth in the scrobiculous In the case of severe and advanced syphilis,

IS

a

characteristic

associated with considerable thickening of the ends

the nails,

has a decided action and displays

it

properties

The

symptbms

In syphilis

authorities to

heat in the stomach

be a

have denominated

it

priceless it

is

is

one of

regarded by

remedy

as the

its

its

all

of

all

curative

principal

competent

Hindu

as the "vegetable mercury".

physicians In cases

CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA

123

employed as an anti-periodic and also as a diaphoretic remedy because it ameliorates the pangs of the hot stage of fever by producing perspiration It decreases the obesity and while flesh decreases, muscles grow harder and firmer of

intermittent fever

It IS

It

all

it

a noted medicine

IS

is

pneumonic

in

tuberculosis-

also largely used with benefit in scorpion-bites

and

other kinds of poisonous bites

The

root bark reduced to

applied externally over

paste with sour can)ee

of

elephantiasis

The powdered

scrotum.

a

root bark

is

the

smoked

legs

like

is

and

tobacco

in syphilis

There is a story in the great Mahabharat that an ascetic by name Sandipan lived m the city of Abanti He had a disciple whose name was Uddalak and he used to eat the leaves of Calotropis gigantea while he grew hungry and thus he became thin, emaciated and blind

On

an

the matter

investigation into

it

was found out

the thinness of body and blindness of

that

eyes were

produced by the poisonous medicinal action of the drug.

The above

properties very finely

bodily thinness and In

all

has

incident

and so

all

,

is

an

therapeutic

its

remedy

excellent

in

eye diseases.

ulcers, specially

considerable benefit

it

defined

in

gangrenous

the ulcers

ulcers,

it

is

of lepro^

used with it

is

also

very useful In

several

vaneties of fever,

such as

to pus formation, bilious fever, fever with

hectic, fever

due

dianhoea, fever

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

124

due to scrofulous or syphilitic employed. It is a good medicine

affections,

it is

extensively

in nightblindness.

These are the principal diseases and symptoms which we should remember when we prescnbe it in any complaint.

The

other

symptoms of the drug may be found

in

its

Materia Medica given above.

Mode The as

of Preparation,

bark coarsely pulverized is tnturated under class VII of the Amer Horn

recently-dried

instructed

Pharmacopoeia or m preparing the tincture the root is powdered and covered with five parts by weight of alcohol as directed under class IV of A P finely

H

Dll

Tincture,

one

to five

drops per dose ,

lx, 3x, 6.

Calofropis Lactum CGiue of Cafofropis) This medicine has been prepared from the glue or milky juice of Calotropis gigantea. The cases which are not benefited by the employment of Calotropis gigantea usually yield to the therapeutic properties of Calotropis

Lactum.

Purging,

vomiting,

toothache,

enlargement

of

the spleen, diseases of eye and skin diseases are generally

cured by

Dll

its

administration.

3x,

6x potencies are generally used

Carica Papaya (Penpay)

Common Names

—Beng.— Penpay.

Ambahindi

Papayi.

Pers

Kharbuza.

Aranda,

Tel.

—

—

Hind. Popaiya. Ambahindi. Q-uz

— Boppayi

—

—Papaya.

Mah.

—Papyangaye. Jhm— Poppayi Jfa?.— Kappalam, Pappayam. Kon —Poppayn phal. /S'jwcZ.—Paputn, Katha Pir.— Papayer Commum, Chibodo. Eng.— Papend Can

tree.

G'arOT.— Melonenbum.

Natural order.

Passifloreae.

Descripfion of fhe Plant. It

an

IS

of Papua or

useful, small,

new Guenee

throughout India vegetable

one

IS

and

soft-wooded

but

green

Its

now most commonly cultivated

fruit is

largely used

sweet and delicious

tree, originally native

considered as

an

edible

making Indian curries , ripe and both are used in liver

in

complications and disorders of digestion

Papatn or Papayotin, an albuminoid milk curdling ferment,

The

fresh fruit also

sugar, albuminoids,

and

is

contains citric,

its

seeds,

a

soft

yellow

malic and

such other substances

are found in

digestive

the principal constituent of

Papaya

juice

resin, fat, pectin,

tartaric oil

its

or

acids,

and

dextrin

several acids

while the leaves also contain an

alkaloid called Carpaine.

Ripe

fruit is

and bleeding

very useful in habitual constipation, dyspepsia piles.

Green

fruit

is

laxative

and iuretic.

CARICA PAPAYA Its

juice

IS

emmenagogue

large doses It

it

acts as

aiding the menstrual discharge

an ecbolic

when

induces abortion

127

locally applied to the

External application of the fresh

uterus

In

exciting uterine contraction.

mouth of the

milk ]uice has the

power of producing inflammation of the skin and is esteemed as a good remedy for ringworm The milky juice and the seeds

are considered best vermifuge especially for

also

round worms the

first

children.

in

who

Hernandez

is

AD

salted

are used with marvellous results

fruit

made

milk

and

For enlarged

liver

and spleen

a curry is said to stimulate eaten by women who require it

into is

in the

dried

The

be

to

noticed the anthelmintic properties,

17th Century fruits

said

and

unripe

secretions of In nervous

dipped in hot water or wanned over a are applied externally with much success. pains, leaves

Allopathic Uses

—^The

Constituents .

fire

and Opinions.

juice

contains

an

albuminoid,

—Papain or Papayotin,

digestive or milk curdling ferment

—

Papayotin A concentrated, active principle, obtained from the juice by precipitation with alcohol. A whitish, amorphous hygroscopic ’powder, soluble in 75 p. c , of Dose 2 to 10 grs. absolute alcohol, water and glycerine It IS capable of digesting 200 times its weight of fresh pressed blood fibrin

pepsin at

a higher

Its

action

temperature,

addition of free acid

Seven

is

quicker than that of

and does not

grains

an can

require

of papayotin

one pint of milk It acts as a solvent in alkaline solutions, and like pepsin it curdles milk, dose I to 8 grains

digest

The

fresh fruit contains

soft yellow resin,

fat,

a caoutchouolike substance

albuminoids,

sugar,

pectin,

;

a

citric.

—

,

drugs of HINDOOSTHAN

128

and malic acids, dextrine, etc The dried fruit amount of ash 84 p c which contains contains a large and phosphoric acid. The seeds contain soda, potash, tartaric

an

oil,

papaya

taste

disagreeable several acids

a a

or caricin,

and

an

oil4ike substance

of a

and alcohol acid and a resin acid and

smell, soluble in ether

similar to palmitic acid, carica

,

acid called papayic acid,

crystalline soft resin

oil

fat

Leaves contain an alkaloid called carpaine

—

The action of the milky unripe fruit upon the raw meat is well known juice of the among Indian cooks It is an enzyme, similar to pepsin, acting as a solvent in alkaline, acid or neutral solutions. Physiological actions .

a powerful digestive of meat albumen, forming true As a solvent of fibrin and other nitrogenous peptones substances, the juice makes the meat tender, and is used Externally it is as an anthelmintic, and for dyspepsia. applied for ringworm and psoriasis, sometimes it is given as an emmenagogue. It is not precipitated like pepsin on

It

is

boiling,

mercunc

but

R N.

—

pp 312

by

precipitated

chloride.

Lt. Col.

India,

IS

fR.

mineral

N. Khory, Vol

Chopra,

13, writes

m

II,

acids,

pp. 301

—2

iodine, )

his Indigenous Drugs of

.

—

Chemical Composition ^The milky juice of papaw contains a ferment which has an extraordinary energetic upon nitrogenous substances and like pepsin action This juice differs from pepsin in being active curdles milk without the addition of free acid ; moreover the ferment acts at a higher temperature

The

of a

than animal pepsin

papaw

have been ^hown to contain an alkaloid called carpaine and a glucoside named leaves

tree

;

CARICA PAPAYA carposide.

This alkaloid was

first

129

discovered by Greshoff and

has been further examined by Merck and by

Van Rim who

found that it was a secondaiy base. The present accepted formula isCi* The alkaloid can be purified 2 25 by repeatedly crystallising the base from dilute spirit when It occurs in the form of colourless lustrous, needle'shaped crystals with a melting point of 121“ C

H

O N

Pharmacological Action of Cat panic logical action of the alkaloid carpaine

From

the data already in hand,

very toxic.

A

dose of 5

it

mgm

is ,

—The pharmaco^

under

is

evident

when

investigation.

that

it

ously in experimental animals, causes only a slight

blood

not

is

injected intravenfall

of

which, however, returns to the normal a very short time The action of the heart is depressed and both the ventricles and auricles show evidence pressure

level within

of

slight

The respiration is The volumes of the

depression

any great extent

are very slightly affected,

The

alkaloid has not

Parts Used

—Milky

not depressed to different

organs

if at all

been used

in therapeutics.

juice.

—

Dose For adults, one teaspoon for children, i poon , children under 3 years of age, 10 to 15 drops. ,

Personal Observations regarding

its

teas<

Homoeopathic

application.

The remedy has not yet been proved on healthy human body according to the principle of Hahnemann still

Its

efficacy

9

Homoeopathic preparation in

nearly

all

the

diseases

is

used

widi

much

and complications

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

130

N

Ray enumerated above. The late renowned Dr. D of Calcutta was very fond of this remedy and he used it with not the least failure to patients whose stomachs Five to refused the assimilation of meat and milk even Carica papaya is very ten drops were his favourite dose efficacious in helping digestion of very weak patients spleen and liver, milky juice with sugar Carica papaya in lx or IS taken by many in our country. 3x trituration also is used with marvellous results in such In

enlarged

cases

and and indigestion with weakness and other concomittant symptoms Undigested stools in small It

liver,

IS

best adapted in fevers with enlarged spleen

in dyspepsia

quantities passed

many

times a day, pain in hepatic region

and other complications of the

con3 unctiva yellow, tongue coated white, intolerance of milk, even a small quantity causes pain in liver and spleen and produces liver,

indigestion

Dil.

Ix,

3x (Tnt ) generally used

;

Cephalandra

,

Indica.

aelakucha). Natural

oi der.

Common Ki-bill

Names

Beng.

;

Cucurbitaceae

— Saiis — Bimba.

—Telakucha

Kandun , Persian

Hindi— K&ndun

—Korai Latin,— Cephalandra

Tamil

,

— Khabare Hindi

,

Indica.

Descripfion of fhe Pianf.

Telakucha

is

a perennial creeping

herb

with

tapering tuberous roots and deep green leaves. to

grow abundantly

parts of India

whose Its It

It

taste is very

in

possesses a smooth green fleshy bitter.

When

eaten as a

sometimes

found

is

a wild state in Bengal and in other

colour becomes scarlet and IS

It

long

the

its

taste

becomes ripe becomes sweet and fruit

vegetable.

reputation of being an excellent

fruit

possesses the

It

remedy

reducing the

in

amount of sugar in the urine of patients suffenng from Diabetes Mellitus

and

mitigating their other sufferings.

The

Chemical Composition, cally I

M

analysed by Lt Col

S and Col

Lt

made in

his

R.

R.

g.

the nature of present,

were

Chopra, M.

was chemi^

A

,

M. D

co-workers

N. Chopra

says,

for the ordinary active

plants (e

N

fresh plant

glucocides

"Not only was a

principles

and

which are found

alkaloids)

but bodies of

hormones and enzymes which also

investigated.

search

are sometimes

Dubbins and Corbett

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

132

{

1923) have

shewn

certain plants

that in

and

vegetables

both the blood'Sugar reducing and blood-sugar increasing principles arc present.

Oephalandra Indica was found to contain an enzyme, a hormone, and traces of an alkaloid

There are two kinds of Telakucha. One and the other is sweet. The Uttter one has been

Yo,rieUe&. Is bitter

pt oved by

me Ayurvedic Uses.

According to Dhanvantwanya Nirghanta,

it is

a good

medicine for fever, dropsy, haemorrhage of the stomach, jaundice,

and

flatulence

According

to

suppresses

It

—

Baowghanta

it

remedy arrests haemorrhage of the stomach

and

excellent

vomiting,

The

Ayurvedic

extracted juice

of

physicians

unne bitter,

is

cures cough

blood

for

poisoning,

country

our

of the leaves to allay the burning

use the

pains of

poisonous boils and carbuncles and for general burning pains

,

It

is

also

used by them in bloody dysentery and

They

in biliousness.

also use

Allopafhic Uses. enlarged glands

"It

and skm

is

‘The

root

and

Hindu medicine

juice

he has known several use.

AtnsUc

notices

alterative

its

N

,

useful in Diabetes,

"

Khory,—Vol.

of the leaves

used

it is

in Diabetes Mellitus

diseases


In

it

in diabetes

patients

is

11,

P

307),

used medicinally Dutt

states

that

who were benefited by

its

use in Southern India and says

— CEPHALANDRA INDICA the

that

of the

juice

leaves

133

applied

is

to the bites of

animals."

(Dymock, Vol

11

P. 86)

"Telakucha contains an enzyme with amylolytic a hormone, and traces of an alkaloid. It produces no reduction of sugar in the blood or urine of

properties,

patients suffering

(R

from glycosuria"

N. Chopra

in

his

Indigenous

Drugs of India,

P 313-16) Description of the Proving.

Proving No.

Name was

Sn Narain

of the trover.

the late lamented Sir S.

/.

N

perfectly healthy while

Mukherji, cousin of

Banerjee, Kt, aged

On tincture

8

PM,

of 1012,

it

He

he came forward to prove

new remedy. His urine was examined by known bactenologist Dr. S. N Chose, L M S

this

S. Gravity

42

did not contain

the wellIt

had a

any sugar or albumin.

M

he took 4 drops of the June 12, 1905, at 8 A of Cephcdandra Indica He took another dose at No symptom appeared that day.

June 13. He took three doses of the symptom was marked today even,

tincture today.

No

June 14 He took four doses today (dose being 5 drops at a time today) He felt an intolerable burning sensation all over his body June 15. The following symptoms were marked this morning ,

Head.

Giddiness

was

present,

worse

after unnation.

in

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

134

Mind.

Moroseness was present

Face.

The

excessive dryness of the after passage

worse

thirst,

large quantities of water at

There was

Appetite.

Abdomen.

of urine

mouth

thirst

;

for

time.

was

present

slight loss

of appetite

wind and distended.

Full of

He

ITnne.

a

Dryness of throat

Throat.

fretful

was red and burning

There was

Mouth. with great

face

,

began

pass

to

large

quantities of clear

unne every three or four hours which seemed to exhaust him considerably

mucous stools mixed with was pain during and before stools

passed

Stool

blood and there

greenish,

He

Burning Sensation over the

body— hands,

feet,

experienced

sensation

head, abdomen, etc

,

all

amelio-

rated!:^ cold applications

Q-enerahtxes noise,

and

He

grew thoroughly

over-sensitive

to

external impressions

Proving No. II. Prover years of age

Bamapado Roy, B A a young man of 28 and of robust constitution. He was perfectly

healthy,

July today.

July

10

No 12

1922

He

impression

1922

5 drops at a time

took 5 drops of the tincture twice

was observed

Took

three doses today, dose being

CEPHALANDRA INDICA July

Took

over the body. July selves

He experienced

and 14

13

The

15,

—

135

burning sensation

following symptoms manifested them-

Head

Giddiness appeared, worse after urination

Mind.

Gloomy

Face,

Burning sensation was

present,

felt

Dryness of mouth with considerable

Mouth.

worse

after passage

Abdomen,

thirst

was

of urine.

There was excessive dryness of the

Throat

all

three doses daily.

throat.

Distended

Passed greenish mucous stools every two or

Stools.

three hours associated with pains during stools

Passed large quantities of clear

Urine.

now and to

then,

urine

which made him very weak and

every

disinclined

do any work.

Burning

sensation.

The whole body “burned

fire" as the patient himself expressed.

He

felt

relieved

like

by

cold application

Piovings No.

HI and

IV.

These provings were made upon two more healthy persons, but unfortunately as I have lost the papers containing the records, I can not publish them. This much I can say that the identical symptoms of poisoning were marked in those two cases. In those cases dyiKntenc stools appeared with greenish mucous stools and they were tinged with blood Some pains were felt before and during stools and none after stools

;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

136

Materia Mediea of Cepbalandra indica. Diabetes Mellitus and Insipidus, biliousness,

Chnical.

bilious complaints,

burning pains

all

dysentery, white

boil, abscess,

poisonous

and carbuncle,

over the body, profuse urination, giddiness,

and bloody , headache owing

exposure under sun's rays

,

to excessive

associated with

chronic fever

burning of eyes, face and other parts of body ; dropsy, laundice, jRatulence, haemorrhage from the stomach, bloods poisoning.

Symptoms. Mtnd,

Moroseness

,

fretfulness

,

disinclination to

do

any work.

Head,

Giddiness, worse after urination.

Face,

Redness of face with burning

Eyes,

Burning of eyes

Mouth,

Excessive dryness of

for large quantities of water at

a

mouth with

time,

worse

great thirst

after urination.

Dryness of throat.

Throat,

Loss of appetite.

Appeixte,

Abdomen, Unne.

Full of

wind and distended

Passage of copious quantity of

clear urine,

exhaustion and

weakness

unne

after

at

a time

urination

presence of sugar in unne Stool,

blood

;

Greenish,

mucous

stools

mixed or tinged with

pain before and dunng stool.

Benaations,

Burning sensation

exists all

over the body,

ameliorated ty anything cold or cold applications

—

;

CEPHALANDRA

{NDICA.

137

Over-sensmveness to noise and external

Ge'neralities,

impressions

Cfnicai Verifications.

Case No,

I,

Babu Satis Ch Roy fell a victim to Diabetes and suffered from this disease for two years

November day

this

present

in

1928

12,

I

was

called in to see the patient

The

the morning.

Mellitus

following symptoms were

:

Gloomy, morose and

2Iind.

Lost weight steadily.

Weight,

Passed

Urine,

fretful

large

quantities

and then which exhausted him examined and the test shew that there was sugar urine, quantity being 20 grains per ounce. Thirst.

Great

thirst

Burning Sensation.

now

of urine every greatly. Urine

was in

the

Burning sensation was present

all

was

present.

over the body.

Mouth. 1

Diyness of mouth and throat was present

prescribed

Cephalandra Indica lx to be taken thnce

daily.

Nov. I

18,

1928.

I

saw

the patient again this morning.

heard from him that he was faring

before sensation

Passed unne not so

and

thirst

often

as

were considerably

much

better

before, less

than

burning

than before

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

138

and he was

cheerfulness returned

stronger

feeling

thaui

before.

same medicine in the same potency Asked him to get his unne examined again

Prescnbed twice daily.

Nov

the

1928

28,

saw him

I

that

examination report indicated

thirst practically

morning sugar had

The same

disappeared

The unne lessened,

Burning sensation and

grains per ounce.

4

quantity being

this

was

prescripton

repeated

Dec

The was no

report of urine examination

1928.

10,

indicated that there Inspects the patient

was

right

all

occasional doses of this medicine in

The

made an

patient

In other

sugar in the urine. advised him I 3x potency

and no sugar

eventful recovery

could be found in his unne later

to take

on

Case No, II.

Mr

N

J

mellitus for

He

Goswami had been

more than four

took

Allopathic

suffering

from diabetes

years.

Homoeopathic

and

medicines

prescnbed by eminent practitioners of these schools medicine, but their medicines did

At 1933

last

I

was called

He

him no good.

in to treat

him on the 20th Jaunary,

After questioning and cross'Ctuestioning

the following ^miptoms from

began to pass large

associated with burning giddiness

of head

of his complaints

in

1930

I

gathered

him quantities of urine

sensation,

at that time.

of

He

thirst,

at

and care of any

weakness

did not take

night

CEPHALANDRA INDICA

t39

was on

the 6th August, 1931, that he got his urine examined by Dr Surendra Nath Chose of the Presidency General Hospital. The examination revealed 42 grains of sugar per ounce in his urine After this he grew anxious and got him treated by the physicians mentioned above. Dietary regulations were made , but in spite of every possible precautions he did not improve in any way It

found him to be very gloomy

I

burning sensation

and

all

over

,

excessive

thirst

quantities

of water

at

feet

his

was

a time

body,

present

was

there

.

hands

specially

and he took

to appease his thirst

;

great

large

extreme

weakness and prostration existed , mouth, tongue and throat were always dry , giddiness of head grew worse after urination , there was considerable loss of weight , 37

ounce were present

grains of sugar per I

took him under

take

It

treatment. to

four times daily

10th

February,

1933

On

examined which revealed that at

unne when

Cephalandra Indica lx and asked him

prescribed

I

my

in his

the 9th his

weakness

he got

his urine

urine contained sugar

the rate of 27 grains per ounce

thirst,

last

Burning sensation,

and other complaints were

less

than

before.

The

former prescription was repeated and

to report after

a

I

asked him

fortnight.

26th February,

1933

A fresh examination of his urine

amount of sugar was He did not expenence any burning lOi s'ains per ounce sensation no thirst or weakness was present. In fact, the patient was livelier than before.

was made and ,

it

was found

that the

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

140

prescribed the

I

him

to take

it

1

felt

examination

urine

was no sugar

sensation,

complaint was

The

1933.

indicated that there

The

3x potency and asked

in

thrice daily.

16th March,

burning

same medicine

more

or any other

exhaustion

giddiness,

No

urine

his

in

report

by the patient

medicine was stopped

5th April,

There was no sugar

1933.

The patient was feeling all nght now and then and hear from him

in his urine.

see the patient every

I

that

he passes sugar-free

urine at present

Case No. Ill

Babu Sarat Chandra Roy of Mymensing had been suffering from Diabetes mellitus for more than six years.

He

had recourse

to

every

became

unfortunately his urine never

I

6th March,

1932

was asked by

his

was on

It

father to

residence at Kalighat

and

of

kind

but

treatment,

sugar-free

this

day

come over

at

8

M

A

that

to his place

to undertake his

son's

of

treats

ment.

My examination revealed the Head. Extremely weak were present.

Memory.

,

following

giddiness

Could not remember

all

symptoms

and empty events,

;

feeling

memory

partially gone.

Burning sensation sation

the

in

body

There was excessive burning senin fact in all parts of ,

hands, feet and stomach

CEPHALANDRA INDICA

Hi

Tongue^ Mouth and Thtoat, Dryness was present

in all

these parts or the body. Thirst.

Skin.

Considerable Sickly,

thirst

was

present.

yellow skin was marked

was weak and

Pulse.

Pulse

Heart

Heart was

intermittent.

alright.

Loss of appetite was present

Appetite

His normal weight was 135 lbs disease progressed, his weight came down to 105

Weight.

Urine.

Passed

large

quantities

tests

lbs

terribly

weak.

was passing sugar at the rate indican was present no albumen

revealed that he

of 43 grains per ounce

,

,

Cold or cold

Modality his

the

of urine every three

or four hours making him exhausted and

The

As

sufferings

temporarily.

things or cold water relieved I

prescribed

Cephalandra

Indica lx to be taken four times daily 16th March,

1932

32 grains per ounce. Burning senexhaustion and giddiness were less than before.

sugar in his urine sation, thirst,

The same

Test indicated lessening of the

i

e

,

prescription

was

26th March, 1932

20

grains of sugar per

plaints

were

repeated,

Urine examination report revealed

ounce

gradually

In his urine.

disappearing

All other

Gained

comsome

weight 10th April

There were only 10

grains of sugar per

ounce present in his urine. Appetite good, burning sensation and thirst were not present. Passed unne six times dunng twenty-four hours.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

H2

The

patient

was advised

The

22nd April

The

urine

to take the

was

patient gained weight

same medicine.

perfectly sugar^free.

by 10

lbs.

No disturbance in any other organ was

marked.

Cephalandra hidica 3x to be taken twice

Prescribed daily.

May. No sugar was found after the examination , gained more weight. No burning sensation, dryness, thirst or any other complaint was present. 15th

In fact, the patient

was completely cured by

this

new

indigenous drug.

saw me after this long time and thanked me for this medicine ; he informed me that his urine was still sugar^free and he had been 6th January,

taking

The

d933

patient

of foods at that time

all sorts

Conclimon.

I

do not possess the acumen of Hale, or

the wisdom of Solomon, but

I

say in

all

humility that

my level best to prove this new remedy my humble ability The deduction that

I

have tned

to the

best of

I

made from

these provings

gained from

embolden turn out to Mellitus.

venfications

clinical

to assert that Cephcdandra a be grand Homoeopathic remedy

tned

1

in

it

my

pleasure to say that this

drug

ably great in his

Lt.

all

several

that

I

prove and Indica will

conclusively

me

were placed under

by

and the experience

have have

cases of

for

Diabetes

Diabetes

that

and it gives me great those cases were radically cured

treatment

power to lessen the sugar is unquestionCol R N. Chopra, IMS, has mentioned

Its

book on Indigenous Drugs of India

that the apparent

CEPHALANDRA >»

iw..^ VjT

(!*»

beneficial results obtained

^

INDICA, in,

jT

41

after administration of this

a

are probably due to the fact that

of so called diabetes in

143

^

4*»

number of

large

drug cases

country are really cases of

this

Glycosuria and these patients often improve

intermittent

without any medical interference

With confidence 1 may by me do not fall and all of them All

simple.

point out that the cases cited

same category

by Dr Chopra are genuine cases of diabetes, pure and these cases were cured and there was no in the

fixed

appearance of sugar in their urines even years

five

question

With

these proofs available,

curative

the

virtues

of

after

no body can

drug

this

four or

in

curing

diabetes

Of so

I

course

my

individual

seriously entreat all

expenence

is

not enough and

the great guns of homoeopathy

remedy whenever they will have from diabetes under their treatment. to try this

Since after the introduction of three

remedies to the homoeopathic world,

i.

patients suffering

new homoeopathic e Ficus ReUgiosa.

NyctarAhes Arborinstis and Justicia Adhatoda, I could not take up the cause of any new indigenous drug for several obstacles. I

new

mature

take

up

the cause of Cephedandra Indica after

expenmentation

and

uncontested clinical evidence in

my

and

collecting its

favour,

i

gaming

publish

my

esteemed colleagues at home and a scourge of Bengal and msmy intellectual giants and flowers of our courtly fall victims to its inroad and meet vwth untimely dfath every year, nie efficacy of remedies exerted on the humani^em

expenence before Diabet^ abroad

is

—

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

H4

the law of the

like

and

am

I

apparent to

sure, all

Medes and

the efficacy of Cephalandra Indica will be

who

will try

it.

Cephalandra indica

in

Reported by H,

On

"Changeth not",

Persians

the 26th of February,

Diabetes Mellitus.

A

Au,

md

1935, there

came

to

me

Hafiz Mohabbat, aged 50

He was suffering from He had tried Unani

Diabetes Mellitus

and Allopathic medicines, but He had also under^ these medicines did him no good gone sixty injections but he was not benefited by them in the least. He was disgusted with the Unani and Allopathic medicines and even with the injections. a good sense prevailed upon him and he came under Homoeopathic treatment.

At

last

an the following symptoms ; I

naturally took

Morose

interest

in the case

and gathered

gloomy , disinclination to do any work disinclination even to read the 'Holy Quoran' although he was very fond of reading it owing to his being 'Hafiz' Exc^ive dryness of the mouth with great thirst , lips were dry and parched, loss of appetite Burning sensation ;

over the body, feels better from cold Aversion to noise Passes large quantities of unne very frequently

all

Having seen the provings of Cephalandra Indica and also the clinical cases of Diabetes

Mellitus

cured

with

by Dr. Sarat Chandra Chose, MD, in die "Hahnemannian Gleanings, May, 1935," I wished to try first It

,;

CEPHALANDRA INDICA

145

Cephalandra Indica in this case and so Cephalandra Indica Ix, three times a day. February

27th

—^Very

much gloomy

,

!

prescribed

passed

urine

during twenty-fiSur hours, that was more than

fifteen times

Cephalandra Indica lx, mi , distilled water |i die solution was shaken vigorously , 3n, three times a day. usual

ft

—Passed

unne six times during twenty^ hours and was better somewhat than before, ft

February 28th four

Cephalandra Indica lx, m i , distilled water Si , the solution was shaken very much , 3ii. three times a day.

March

— Dryness

of lips . increased thirst ; urine passed as soon as he drank water ; great weakness ; he passed very dry stool in the morning , passed unne fifteen times during twenty-four hours, ft Cephalandra Indica Ix, nt I , distilled water Si ; was shaken very much , 3ii three times

1st

a day.

March 2nd was so dry that

—Tongue, it

irritated

lips

and

throat dry

the rectum

The stool

Passed unne ten

times during twenty-four hours

There was cough

phlegm was

,

difficult to

exsjectorate

voice hoarse,

Cephalandra Indica Ix, mi; distilled water Si ; was shaken miKih more than before ; 5ii. three times a day ft

March

—Passed unne ten times

4th

in

twen^4bur hours.

Better in otho" respects.

Cephalandra Indica 3x, three times a day. ft

March 10

5th

—^The

m iv

;

bendRt, which

distilled

water

Si

:

Sii.

he denved, mi^t be

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

146

^imated from his own words. from Urdu into English

They have been

—

translated

"To^iay by the grace of God I am better than all other days, I feel happy and the bodily weakness is somewhat This morning 1 felt not least tired in walking I less. passed urine only seven times in twenty-four hours to

Praise

my heart obtained exhilarating pleasure." " May God bless this loy both to the physician and the

God

,

Amen,

patient

Amen",

again

Cephalandra Indica 3x,

ft

as before

March 7th—The

wntes as follows

patient

—

"I

pass

urine as in health"

Repeat the medicine as before

—

March 30th ^The patient was cheerful and active.

felt

ft Cephalandra Indica 3x, la

i

better

in all

distilled

;

water

respects;

5ii.

such

only one dose every morning,

—

He

went home (Gaya) powders, each containing one drop of Cephalandra Indica 3x, one powder to be taken once a week Apnl

12th

for the change

He

^Very

much

better.

of climate

returned to Calcutta

with

three

on the 27th of April and was

very healthy.

He said,

he had

felt

very

much

better at

home

But

he reported that he passed more unne than usual and that the thirst had increased to-day (29th of April)

Cephalandra Indica two times a day. ft

May

—

Better.

Ix,

m

iv

;

distilled

water

|i ;

3ii.

CEPHALANDRA INDICA

B Cephalandm Indica 3x, m

i

,

147

drstilled

water

distilled

water 5iu

5ii.

such

only one dose each morning

May

B

7th

—Very much

better.

Cephalandra Indica 3x, mt

Such

only one dose

May

16th

— Now

he

is

quite well.

Now he eats rice,

sugar and drinks syrup , in short, now he eats food without any injurious effect as he says-

Now he IS quite

healthy, cheerful

and

active

all sorts

and

of

per.-

forms his duty well

—

July 17th To-day he came to my “Dispensary" to see me. "The cure holds good to date "

Clerodendron Infortunatum. CBkaO

—8ans,—Bhandira, Ghantakarna, Can —Kan; Hindi*— Bhanta, Beng —

Common Names Bom* Mah* and Bhat.

Natural order.—Leguminosae

—k

Description of the plant*

be

largely

found in Bengal.

a small plant and can

is

month of

flowers in the

It

February

and Opinions.

Allopathic Uses

—

Constituents principle

and

It

resinuous

possesses

matter,

bitter

tannin.

Actions and

uses

—

tonic,

Bitter

vermifuge, also a good laxative

given as a rectal

enema

for

,

worms ;

anti^penodic

a decoction

is

and

sometimes

also given as a

bitter

from acute diseases. As an malanal fever. ( J? Kkary,

tonic during convalescence anti-'periodic

Vol.II,

it

is

states that

a vermifuge, and is

N

p.m)

"Rheede milk

given in

the

leaves of this plant are used as

that the root

administered in colic

and

rubbed

down

dysentery.

Dr.

with butter

Bholanath

Bose has drawn attention to the leaves as a cheap and efficient substitute for

CUraUa,

H

Brigade Surgeon J, Thornton considers the expressed juice of the leaves to be an excellent laxative, chologogue, and anthelmintic, also a valuable bitter tonic, and useful as an injection into the

,

CLERODENDRON INFORTUNATUM rectum for the destruction of ascandes are supported by those of six other medical

by Dr

m

G. Walt

the

Prodiicts of India, Vol

149

These opinions officers,

quoted

Dictionary

of the Economic

H;

(Dymock, Vol

p.

373

III

p 79-80). "It

IS

chologogue, and

laxative,

and

scorpion-sting,

Chopra, in

his

snake-bite,

Indigenous Drugs

anthelmintic

,

bitter principle

used in

{R N,

of India, p. 476).

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions. works no special mention has been macte of them have found it to be an excellent of this plant , remedy in worm affections, diseases of r^piratory tract, In Ayurvedic

all

and chronic

fevers.

—Root and leaves.

Parts used.

Powdered

Dose.

2

root

1

to

2 annas,

juice

of leaves

I

to

tolas.

Homosopathic Uses and Proving. Proving.

No

been made by any of us A tincture has been prepared from its leaves and is being used by the homoeopaths of our ^stematic proving of

this

plant has

country with success It

is

nausea.

with

an It

®
remedy

in

diarrhoea associated with

also useful in loose evacuations associate

worm symptoms—the

yellowish colour

and

frothy.

to Ipecac in this respect.

of deep bears a close rcscmblamce

stools It

are

liquid,

;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

150

In chronic

fevers

it

has a decided

—there

action

is

enlargement of the liver and spleen and fever of a mild character appears in the afternoon , burning sensation is felt over the face and eyes , there is no appetite and desire to take any food : symptoms of indigestion with loose and undigested stools or of constipation are present nausea is a prominent symptom and water comes out from the mouth. It may be an excellent substitute for Ipecac or Pulsatilla.

of children it is used with benefit when dianhoea with frothy and watery stools, nausea and watering from the mouth are present. It is an excellent medicine for colic due to worms In

all

diseases

As a vemifuge medicine this

therapeutic property has

physicians of

all

it

ranks

first

in the

list

and

been acknowledged by the

schools of medicine.

of Pr&pa.raho'n’ The tincture is prepared from the luice of fresh leaves mixed with equal parts of alcohol

Mode Drl,

Ix, 3x,

6 and 30 potencies are

used.

;

Coleus Aromaficus (PashatibhedlO

Common

Himsagaf

Pashanbhedi,

Hindi ~Patherchue

;

Benq

—Patharkuchi.

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

The Hindu

physicians use

retention or suppression

it

in

of urine

difficult urination, in

In

cholera

when

the

urine IS suppressed or retained, the crushed leaves are applied

abdomen as a paste to remove retention or of the same. They ako use it in boils and They are using it with success in the colic

over the lower suppression

carbuncles

of children, strangury, calculus, gonorrhoea,

piles,

dyspepsia,

chronic cough, asthma.

Homoeopathic Uses.

No

proving of the drug has yet been undertaken, but

homoeopathic tincture

Its

is

being used by

some of us

with wonderful success in the affections of unnary organs, specially in strangury

and suppression or

retention of urine.

Personally speaking, in three cases of cholera

was

r«:ention

where there

of urine and which could not be controlled

by any other known drug of our Materia Medica, Coleus aromoitcMS tincture acted like a magic to do awaywidi the distressing aindition It was given in 5 drop doses every hour and the third dose removed the symptom. In gonorrhoea, after urination,

it is

where there are burning pains dunng and used with benefit.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

152

have personally tned it m this complaint and witnessed It has also been employed successits beneficial effects fully in cystitis, vesical catarrh, and gonorrhoea. I

However,

it

requires

Pi eparuiioiu.

The

an extensive

fuice of the

equal parts of alcohol by weight. Dil,


tnal in our

lx generally used.

leaves

is

hands

mixed with

Cynodon

Dadfylon.

CDurba)

Common

Names.

Hunalee

grass

Tam

Tei.— Ganke,

—Sans.— Granthi Htndi

,

;

Gramineae

Description of the grass.

found

;

--Arugu, PM?ij.--Talla

Natural order,

grass,

and

Doorwa Bemsf—-Durba ,

in India

and

is

It

a perennial creeping

is

known by

various local

names

in different parts of India.

It

flowers

all

the year round and grows everywhere

throughout India, except

Punjab where It

is

very scantily found

abounds

In the

the sandy parts of the Western

found

rarely

is

it

in

when

Sunderbans.

noticed in road sides

and

In the winter season it

Its

is

said to

abundance

delights

it

admixture of sand and gravel which

with the ordinary

up

the shoots

soil.

It

soil

and

It is

be is

at rest

It

particularly

apparently in the it

gets there

readily propagated

along

by chopping

scattering the pieces over the prepared

ascends from the plains to altitudes of7,(XX)to

8,000 feet in the Himalayas. climatic condition

According

of the locality and

to the nature

soil, its habits

of

and

nutntive value vary widely Varieties.

There are two vanetiesof Durba; one

of green colour and another vaneties possess the

is

of white colour

same medicinal

properties

is

The two

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

154

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

Ckarak

has

found

efficacious

it

in

and

epistaxis

carbuncles.

Suskrttia has recommended

it

in

haematemesis

Ckakradutta has mentioned in scabies,

in

it as an excellent medicine and suppression of the menses

Bhabaprakas is of opinion that it suppression and retention of urine

Atharvwa veda,

is

a sovereign remedy

mentioned "may durba, which rose from water of life, which possesses a hundred roots and a hundred stems, efface a hundred of my sins and prolong my existence on earth for a hundred years." In

Bose. annas.

Juice from

it

1

is

2

to

Powder from 2

to

4

Decoction from 5 to 10 tolas.

Allopathic Uses

Actions and Uses. in

tolas.

checking vomiting.

It

is

As a

and Opinions. demulcent and acid diuretic

it is

;

used

given in dysuna,

and as an astnngent in epistaxis and to stop bleeding from wounds. It IS used as a substitute for TnUcum repens

(Matena Medica of

India.

R.

N. Khory,

Part

II,

page 640)

Br.

remarks

U. 0. Butt in his Materia Medica of the

Hindus

.

"This elegant and most useful vegetable has niche in the temple of the Hindu religion. Medicinally, the fresh

juice

of the leaves

a snuff in

epistaxis

is

considered astringent and The bruised grass is a

is

used as popular

— CYNODON DACTYLON bleeding wounds.

155

seems probable that both for sacred as well as for medianal purposes, this grass IS often confused with Eragrostis cynosuroides or Kash, Both these grasses are used indiscriminately in compound prescriptions with more powerful drugs in appiicaiion to

It

cases of dysentery, menorrhagia, epistaxis,

Sakharam Arjun has

written

etc.'*

.

which appears to be only a diseased used medicinally by the native is

''A white vanety state

of the

practitioners

JRev. 15

A. Campbell

says

*

—“A preparation of

applied in a parasitic disease which

between the IS

plant,

"

common Civil

may be

This

toes.

West

in the

Surgeon

I>r»

Indies,

attacits

the grass

the spaces

same as that which caused by Pulex f>enetrans." the

H, Thyrnton

says

:

—'The express-

used as an application to fresh is also diuretic cuts and wounds It and is used in cases of anasarca, also as an astringent in cases of ”

ed

luice is astringent,

is

chronic diarrhoea and dysentery

Surgeon Major Travancore says

—

J.

M. Houston,

Durbar

Physician,

"The juice of the green grass is useful in cataitbal opthalmia as astringent and used also with much benefit in haematemesis,”

The

late

Dr, Doyal Ch, Shome of Calcutta "found

the fresh juice to be a very valuable styptic in q:»staxis."

Surgeon Dr, John McConaghey, M, D, says an anti-periodic and used as an applicatbn in scabies",

Civil "It IS

Surgeon^Maoor

John North, LM,8. says:— "The

;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

156

decoction of the root

is

used in Mysore for secondary

syphilis".

The, lote

generally give

it

stops bleeding

—"I

says

of unnary organs

—"Expressed

injection

in

from

piles

with milk."

juice

is

it

with

success in

Ch. Dutt, of Darbhanga

used by the Hakims as an

epistaxis

for

nostrils

use

"

Asmtant Surgeon Dr Nahin says

—"A cold

B, L. Dutt, LM.8. says

grass often

BvAkmm

Dr. T. irritation

Col.

Durba

infusion of I

Lt.

The

bruised

grass

has been used by the Hindus from very ancient times as a dressing for fresh wounds probably on account of its

"

styptic properties

Dr James McCloqhan of Poona,

says

—"The

roots

crushed and mixed with curds are used in cases of chronic gleet".

Homcaopafhic Uses and Personal Observations.

am

any homoeopathic proving of Durba ; but tincture has been made and prepared from the entire herb of this grass and it is now being used by not aware

of

many homoeopaths

all

I

over

our country

in

different

ailments.

Nothing has

got

Its

familiar with

Durba although

is,

useless in this vast universe

IS

own its

importance

will

every thing if

no doubt, a common

be

much

neglected,

it

if

growing in India much of possesses so grass

Durba be timely administered

be found to be of incalculable benefit to the

humanity.

we

uses.

therapeutic properties that It

and

;

usefulness

suffering

CYNODON DACTYLON. and

acidulous

IS

It

bilious complaints.

excellent

remedy

in

is

We

employed to stop vomiting m have all found it to be an

haematemesis,

menorrhagia, leucorrhoea,

157

epistaxis,

haemoptysis,

dysentery, bleeding

due

to cuts

and wounds, scabies, retention or suppression of and catarrhal opthalmia.

m

urine

of chronic diarrhoea and cases of dropsy and general anasarca It IS

also administered in cases

In

the

syphilis

It

of vesical calculus and in secondary has a place which is at once sure and pronounced. cure

and wounds and also both internally and externally. In cuts

in bleeding

piles,

it is

used

dysuna, irntation of the urinary organs and also in gleet Its efficacy will always be found. In

catarrhal It is an excellent remedy in opthalmia which case it is used both internally and externally.

in

a systematic homoeopathic proving of this herb be made by us, Durba will open up a vista of therapeutic If

sunshine before the homoeopathic fraternity of the universe

any case, it has turned out to be an excellent homoeopathic remedy whose claims can not be que^oned by us. I ask my colleagues to pay more attention to this In

drug than they have already done.

Mode entire grass

of

Preparation,

and

its

root stalk

of alcohol (by wei^t). Dtl.

lx, 3x.

The is

fresh

juice

of

the

mixed with equal parts

Desmodiuin Gangeficum. (Shalpani).

Comrmn Names*— Beng*—Salpani Jf,—Gitanaram

and

alkaloid

is

India,

Himalayan regions root

Its

pregnant with

is

resin,

oil,

and six per cent ash Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

The Hindu alterative, It

physicians have highly

and

tonic,

respiratory troubles

It

'^Dashamul",

it

is

one of the

is

an

ayurvedic

m

successfully used

dropsy,

fevers,

affections

and febrifuge,

tonic

catarrhal.

and

many

extolled

due

also

to

ulcers,

worms

digestive

principal

decoction

diseases,

as

it

They have

remedy.

bitter

efficacious in vomiting,

bitter

found cough, It

and

is

a

anti^

ingredients

of

an

of

reputation

namely typhoid

fever,

cough, asthma, pleurodynia Allopathic Opinions.

Lt Col. R, N, Chopra, I.M,8. in Drugs of India, p, 480, says "It IS

bite

good

;

a small tree growing

found throughout the planes of

is

Constituents.

an

—^Sanvan

—Leguminosae

Description of the planir-Xi also the lower

Hindi

/Sans.—Salpami.

;

Natural order,

m the forest

,

in

and scorpion

fever, cough,

sting

"

Tns Indigenous

vomiting, asthma, snake^

,

DESMODIUM CANGETICUM.

159

Homoaopafhic Proving and Maferla Medica. Proving.

The late Dr. Aghore Ch Bhadun, pupils made a proving of this drug The

He

result

pains

felt

in the legs

of the proving all

felt in

Pains hands,

Could not

sit

and

the hands

in

and the

feet, legs

straight

rest

on account of

was

was

felt

spinal pain

from the

the

in

of the body.

the eyes,

in

felt

flushes of heat ignited

Neuralgic pain felt in

specially

and feet rheumatism and neuralgia

felt

simulating

Burning sensation feet

pain,

and neck

sleepiness.

and

—

given below

body— nervous

over the

Burning sensation was

were

is

L.M.S. with his three

face,

hands

face.

Pam was

stomach

knee-joint.

Headache

associated with a sensation as

if

all sides

of the head are bound up with a tape.

The above were by

Bhadun during

Dr.

the symptoms which were

noticed

the course of the proving.

Personal ObservaKons.

Desmodium gangehcum can fever

and

cerebro-spinal

feels pain all over the

sleep,

head

headache is

is

safely

meningitis

body, there

present,

and

bound up with a tape or

is

be used

when

rope.

is

the

patient

comatose a filing as if the

sleepiness

there

in typhoid

ca:

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

160

or remittent fevers of children

In intermittent

be used when there are pains over the body In this respect

and

in place

bears a close resemblance to Gelsemium

of which

it

may be given in remittent

and typhoid

associated with

meningitis

cerebro-spinal

fevers

pains over

the whole body, specially over the spine, headache sleepiness with

Here

it

a feeling as

is

from

if

a tape

slight

around the head.

morning generally at 7 A M ; for two or three hourc;

in the

chilliness,

lasting

the onset burning sensation

and eyes and

come

lie

in

and

the hands

out of the face

In

this

is

felt

feet;

respect

it

over the face

of heat can be compared flushes

with Azadirachta, Kalmegh, Rohitak, Sulphur,

There

is

drug

IS

etc.

remission of feverwithperspirationover forehead

and backpart of the hands and this

and

can cope with Gelsemium

The fever comes on there

car

or drowsiness and

sleepiness

may be employed

It

and

it

it

m

quotidian

daily, the pains

other symptoms

,

character,

the fever indicating regularly

over the body and

all

may

in feet

also

returning

headache and

be present.

The above are the characteristic symptoms in which Desmodium gangeticum will be found an excellent remedy in

intermittent fevers

It

is

also

a valuable remedy

wry-neck Dll.

Ix, 3x, 6x,

30 potencies are generally used.

for

Embel la Ribes. (Biranga).

Names --‘Saris —Vidanga

Common

—

Hindi

;

—

Pury Baburung Benq Biranga Karkannjc, Towz/—Vayu— Viiamgan

Baberang

,

Natural Ordei It

IS

,

—

Bonu

,

—

Myrsineae

called Kntnighna

also

—

which

literally

means

Killer

of worms Constituents.

— Embelic

colouring matter, tannin,

a

a

and body and an

acid,

resinoid

volatile

fixed oil,

alkaloid

called christembine

Actions and Uses juice

is

cooling, diuretic

—The pulp and

and

stimulant

in habitual constipation of children

and

;

and

as a carminative the fruit

flatulence

rheumatism

as an alterative

,

II.

in

is

fruit ,

it is

is

carmi-

employed

acute capillary

skin

in

the fresh

,

given in dyspepsia

taken for a long time,

If

the urine acid and red.

Khory Vol.

The

laxative.

native, anthelmintic, alterative

bronchitis

purgative

is

it

diseases is

and

found to turn

(Materia Medica of India by R. N.

p.426)

Ayurvedic Uses.

Charak

—

Sushruta

It is

—

It

a grand medicine is

good

for piles

regularly used in special seasons

Allopathic

an anthelmintic

n

to

Uses.—The

it

kill

worms.

and worms.

If

it

be

will increase longevity.

seeds of this plant are used as

Powdered seeds

in

doses of one to two

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

162

drams are administered with sugar or honey in an empty stomach to expel tape worms. (Indigenous Drugs of India by R. Chopra p 577)

N

Proving No.

Name of the Prover — Babu .

and of

28, of robust physique

1932

5th January, this

drug within

The dose was 2

grains at

Sris

Chandra Chose, aged

excellent health.

—The

12 hours

1*

prover took three doses of

No

symptoms were marked

a time

— He

again took three doses of the drug untoward happened. today—-Nothing 6th January

—He again took

7th January

four doses of this medicine

of 18 hours.

in course

—The following symptoms appeared —

8th January

Mind — Became morose .

Stomach Stool cession

—^There was distension of the stomach

— Passed

,

three undigested stools

worms were

in

quick

suo

expelled with the stools.

—Unne became red^coloured and Nose— sensation was in both the Rectum — sensation was in the Urine

strong-'smelling.

Itching

Itching

Large number of

nostrils

felt

felt

rectum.

worms came out of the rectum and was

expelled with the stool

Nervous symptoms irritable

—The

prover

became

fretful

and

EMBELIA RISES (BIRANGA)

163 **<’1*^

This was the only proving that I could make of this For the paucity of provers I could not proceed

drug.

further

Farts Used

—The

medicine was prepared from the

seeds

Malaria Medica of Embalia Ribas. Clinical

—

It

very

IS

useful

diseases

in

of children

worms It is a grand dyspepsia and flatulence owing

associated with or proceeding from

medicine to

diarrhoea,

in

worms

Nux Vomica,

If

worms be

Cina, Santonine and other remedies

Embelia Ribes will be found to be a sovereign remedy In this those complaints new remedy, the urine becomes pungent and blood-coloured for

ineffective,

m

and

this

is

one of the

characteristic

symptoms

for

the

administration of this drug

Other symptoms are fretfulness, moroseness and imof the patient ; grinding of the teeth ; patient always picks his nose, tongue is dry, nausea exists, the

lability

abdomen

gets distended,

blood'-coloured

are undigested, urine

stools

and pungent,

is

dunng sleep. and worms come

patient shneks

Itching in the rectum, itching in the nose,

out with the stool. Clinical Verificafions.

Case No. I

The son from

of Babu Snsh

remittent fever

Ch

The fever

Roy, B A., was suffering

continued with unabated

fury for six days without any remission.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

164

I

was

to treat the son,

called in

6th March,

1931.

continued

I

to

Gelsemium and Bryonia for four no improvement took place

March— went

10th

to

I

JfincZ

the

boy with

days, but unfortunately

see the

—

gathered the following symptoms

aged 6 years, on the

treat

boy

—^The patient was morose and

this

morning and

fretful.

—Patient always picked nose. Tongue —Dry nausea Nausea —^There was Abdomen—Abdomen was greatly distended Stools — Passed undigested stools Mose

his

terrible

Untie

— Unne red-coloured and pungent.

Sleep’^The boy was found to shriek out during

Fever—In generally rose

the morning

up

it

was found

to

sleep.

be 10 T and

it

to lOS” in the evening

gave Cina 30 and 200 for two days on account of Cina did no good the predominance of worm symptoms I

At last I gave him End)eha Bibes lx 12th March. It

acted very nicely to bring

to 99“ in the

13th fell

on

the

the temperature

morning next day.

March

down

down

thrice

—ht

11

A,

to 99“ at 4 P

remission took place at

1 1

March—^There

M

temperature rose, but again

M on

that

day and complete

p M.

was no fever. Urine was clear, fretfulness was gone, there was no distension of abdomen, no loose stools passed and the patient was cured within 3 14th

— EMBELIA RISES (BIRANCA) days.

All along these days

165

he took 2 doses of

new

the

drug

And since that time worm troubles any more

the patient did not suffer from

Case

The

Ko II

of Babu

Ram

Ratan Chatterjee, BL., aged 4 years, suffered off and on from worm troubles Ordinary homoeopathic remedies were given by a homoeodaughter

was no on the 2nd Nov,

path, but there

perceptible improvement

sent for

1932.

marked the following symptoms

I

I

was

:

—^The child was ill-humoured and Stomach —^There was great hunger soon a meal Mind — Could not be quieted by any persuation. Nose— The patient always bored finger into the nose Make-up

restless

after

his

Abdomen —The abdomen was Sleep

distended.

—Always disturbed,

iStooi— Loose stool with undigested particles of food

Tbei A— Grinding of teeth

Uri ne

— Blood-coloured.

As the above were clear-cut symptoms of the presence of worms in the system, I prescribed Emheha Rtbes Jx After using this remedy for a fortnight, the

twice daily patient I

was

perfectly cured

new drug in Ix potency in from worm troubles and I am glad

prescribed this

cases suffering

that all of those patients

were

radically cured.

several to say

,

Religiosa.

Ficus

CAskwafhwa).

Names

Common fig

Hind

,

—Pipal

.

—Areyal

Mai

—Sans —Pippala ,

Beng

,

Eng — Sacred

,

—Ashwathwa

Quz

,

—Jen

Tamil —Arshemaram.

,

Natural order.— Urticaceae Ayurvedic Uses of fhis Drug. All the well-known Ayurvedic

works

mention

that

PtciLs Beligiosa possesses the virtue of stopping haemorr-

hage from the bowels, parts

lungs, stomach,

bladder and other

of the body.

Sabdwa Kalpadruma edited by the late Baja Sir Badha Kanta Deb. This book says that it has the virtue of stopping haemorrhage not only from the bowels and the lungs but also from the uterus and the bladder. Bimvakosha, another Encyclopaedia the

same

virtue to

in Bengali, attributes

Ashwathwa,

Bajmrghanta, V(d)apra'kasha, Char aka and Sushruta are the foremost Ayurvedic medical works and their names are

known

to

can easily find as a

all

that

of us

In these great medical books

we

Ficus Beligiosa has been recommended

remedy of great value

the bowels, lungs, uterus

for stopping

and bladder

haemorrhage from

,

FICUS RELIGIOSA

167

The above lines will conclusively prove that Ficus Feltgiosa possesses marvellous anti-haemorrhagic properWith honey

ties

mouth

it is

locally applied to

The powder

medicated

oil

corrhoea,

into

aphthae and sore

used as an astringent injection

is

The

given internally in asthma

is

the rectum in dysentery, as a

in leu-

wash

for

unhealthy ulcers and as a gurgle in salivation (Materia

Charak,

Medica of It is

Ckakradatta.

India,

R

useful in boils it

used in

is

general vomiting, burns

Khory, Part

II

p. 559)

and haemorrhages vomiting of blood and

and bloody dysentery

Uses Sor medicinal purpose Constituents

N

The

Leaves, bark and

fruit.

bark contains tannin, caoutchouc

and wax Dose.

—Half

an ounce decoction

Homasopathic Uses and Provings. I

shall

ences

now

proceed to dwell upon the provini^, referproperties of Ficus Religtosa

and therapeutic

that has

been discovered by

me

Incident leading to the proving of this drug. brother-in-law— Mr J. Mitter (sister's husband)

My late

—dabbled

In the year 1887 he had an on a sudden The attack was so very alarming that his condition was declared to be totally The late Dr Mahendra Lai Sircar, M D D L., hopeless C E began to treat him from the very commencement of the seizure , but unfortunately no medicine prescnbed

in Chemistry for sometime attack of haematemesis all

,

I

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

168

by him could arrest the disease One day a Sannyast came to see him and asked us to procure a few fresh leaves of Ashwcdihwa tree and bnng the leaves

The

leaves

were brought and he

instructed

us to give

the patient one dram of the extracted juice of the leaves

of

this

effect

plant after each

of

this

spell

of

blood^vomiting

was instantaneous and

juice

The

marvellous

haemorrhage

This recipe completely cuied him. I was only a student when this incident took place Later on, this incident induced me to prove Ficus Rehgtosa in 1899 This medicine has been found to be of such to stop the

wonderful efficacy that

it

has been highly extolled and

home and

appreciated by competent authorities at

An

account of

of the

British

this

abroad.

medicine was published in the Journal

Homoeo.

Society in July, 1904, in the Medical

Advance in August, 1904, in the Indian Homoeo Reporter in Apnl and December, 1904 and in the Homoeo World of London in 1904 It has been incorporated as an official rem«jy m the well known monumental works of Matena Boericke Medica by Drs J. H. Clarke, and Blackwood, and also in Clarke's "Prescnber". Messrs Boericke and Tafel, E Gould son. Dr. Schwabe and Dr. Health took large quantities of this medicine from me

W

—Fresh leaves

Parts Employed

Pramng No, Prover

I.

—Sarat Chandra Ghose, M.D

Age -Twenty-six

at time

of proving

was as healthy as could be expected I took forty drops of the tincture of Ficus Behgiosa in one dose The I

FICUS RELIGIOSA

169

had a frequent desire to micturate The urine contained blood in an abundant quantity had also ! an inclination to cough which caused me to spit blood. A slight, dull headache was present , giddiness and nausea was very troubled me , the sight appeared to be dim , weak and restless. No other symptom appeared in my own case. I took the tincture three drops every two hours, and after the third dose, the symptoms vanished result

was

that

I

I

Proving No. II.

Age

— My wife —Seventeen

My

wife took the tincture in twenty drop doses repea-

Prover

:

tedly throughout

two days

menorrhagia

in

red

,

set

she had

On the third day

headache

,

and

was bright very weak and restless,

simultaneously

slight

dysentery

,

the blood

the sight was dim, burning at the top of the head appeared,

the face became yellowish,

difficulty

in breathing existed,

l^ecame sad and melancholy, with the profuse discharge

There were bearing-down pains

of bright red blood the lower part of the It

IS

in

abdomen

remarkable that the same treatment (minute doses

of the same remedy) was of the drug.

effectual in arresting the effects

Proving No. III. Prover I

gave the

morning

was

—A dog. animal

The dog was

administered.

No

forty

drops

of the tincture one

perfectly healthy result

when

the tincture

followed that day and the

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

170

dose was repeated next morning, and the animal commenced and continued to vomit blood of a bnght-red colour. I

gave

It It

and was very unwilling to move Two more drops of the tincture in one dose

kept quiet

five

doses were required to stop the vomiting.

Leading Uses. It IS

used with success in the following diseases

(a^

Haematemesis

(b)

Haematuna.

(c)

Menorrhagia.

(d)

Metrorrhagia,

(e)

Haemoptysis.

(f)

Dysentery mixed with blood,

(g)

Bleeding piles,

(h)

Epistaxis

Let

me now

monumental (Vol.1.

,

quote the following from Dr J H. Clarke's

work

—"Dictionary

of

Materia

Medica"

Page 779-780), Characteristics

"We owe this remedy to

Chandra Ghosh, who made the first proving and thereby discovered its power to cause and cure haemorrhages of many kinds. Dr Ghose kindly sent me a supply of the remedy, and I have had very satisfactory results with the IX potency m controlling menorrhagia Dr Ghose relates some stnkmg cases cured with the remedy dysentery. Dr. Sarat

********

—

,

FICUS REUGIOSA.

171

haematemesis, haemorrhage of typhoid, bleeding piles and epistaxis

Relations

—Compare

Acalypha,

:

Ipcc., Arnica,

Phos

Sanguinana, Cactus, Ferrum, etc

Symptoms.

Mvnd — Quiet

and

disinclined

to

move,

and

sad

melancholy.

Head— Nausea, haemorrhages)

vertigo

Burning

and

slight

headache (with

at verteK.

—Sight dim. 2 ose — Epistaxis Face — Became yellowish Stomach —^Vomiting of bright red blood. Abdomen — Bearing^down pains in lower Eyes \

part

of

abdomen Stools

and

Anus — Dysentery,

with

menorrhagia.

Dysentery, blood bright red.

Urinary organs contains

— Frequent desire

Female sexual organs bearing

to

micturate

Urine

much blood

down

— Menorrhagia, bright red blood,

pains in lower

—

Bespiratary organs to cough, causing

him

abdomen

Difficulty

Inclination

to spit blood,

—Very weak and

Qenercditiea

of breathing.

restless.

These identical symptoms are recorded in Boericke's and Blackwood's Materia Medica and m Anshutz's "New, Old and Forgotten Remedies"

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

172

Clinical Cases.

Case No,

The

was

The stool

her very cradle

of

was without

skilful

it

physicians,

wrought by senous

Babu Jamini K. Mukherjee, a suffering from chronic dysentery from

eldest daughter of

police officer,

stool

1.

Not a

contained blood

She was placed under the treatment but no perceptible improvement was

Her

their prescriptions

She was reduced

to a

that

than described

was

I

fallen

girl

What

mere skeleton

upon them can

took the

was indeed

condition

feelings of the parents were under the load of

had suddenly

single

under

this

better

my

the

calamity

be imagined

treatment

when

a precarious condition I gave her Ficus Beligiosa lx in one drop dose every four hours The result was beyond my expectation. The stools became normal her

life

in

within fourteen hours

Case No,

A

fnend of mine was suddenly attacked with a violent The vomiting of blood was genertype of heamatemesis heat and ally preceded by coldness in the extremities, heaviness at the epigastrium, pallor of the face, oppression, fainting, ringing in the

prostration.

More

vertigo,

often the vomiting

vals of several hours.

the patient.

The

malady

in the

bud and

radical.

The

bud of

ears,

I

loss

of appetite and

occurred after

administered Ficus

medicine acted

like

inter-

Rehgiosa lx to

magic to nip the

offered a cure as instantaneous as

patient regained

his

health within a short time.

former vigour and rose-

FICUS RELIGIOSA.

173 rffVduriyi'Vii^

Case

An was

woman was

old

with

attacked

No

S.

while the fever was

bronchitis

Her weakness was

appearing

could not expectorate the

so

Difficulty

at the top of the

prescribed

I

my

great

Ficus

surprise

all

felt

Dimness of

The

face

sufferings

was

sight

Burning sensation

was very

JReligiosa lx in drop doses

the

she

that

The stools of blood was present

of breathing existed.

head was

great

dis-

secreted

spitting

She was very sad and despondent present

very

mucus

much blood and

contained

She

attacked with typhoid fever.

pale.

and

to

in

an

vanished

incredible short space of time

Case

No

4.

Babu Hira Lai Ghosh was suffering from long-standing He was very sad and melancholy there was dysentery vertigo , the breathing was difficult , the stools were full prescribed Ficus Behi^osa in of blood and mucus He was cured in a w^k's drop dose every four hours ,

I

time

The above

cases are reproduced from

my note-book and

were placed under my treatment while at Midnapore, Bengal.

these cases practising

Case No,

Babu

H

I

was

5.

N. Naug was suffering from

eptstaxts.

Profose

epistaxis of bnght-red-blood was present and the bleeding was preceded by nausea ; the face was yellowish ; the sij^t was dim ; the breathing was difficult , the patient was very

weak and

restless.

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

174

I

prescribed

patient

was

all right

within fourteen hours

Case No.

Babu N.

C

Roy was

6.

attacked with haematemesis

Several allopathic doctors

a sudden

The

Ficus Beligiosa 3x every four hours

nothing could arrest the disease

were called

all

of

but

in,

The patient was placed The following symp-

under my treatment on the fifth day toms were prominently marked

—

Mind—The patient the patient

was very

could not endure the

quiet

and

slightest noise

sad.

present with giddiness — was dim the pupils were Eyes —^The Ears—Ringing in the ears was present. Face —^The face was yellowish. Mouth—^The tongue was white, copious secretion

Read Headache was sight

saliva

was

dilated.

,

of

present,

JLjipeiiie—Want of appetite, great

repugnance

and

dislike to all food.

Stomach nausea

;

—^Vomiting

of bright-red blood, preceded by horrible indescribable pain and sick feeling in the

stomach Respiratory organs to cough, causing

Pulse

him

—

to

Difficulty

of breathing; inclination

vomit blood.

—Very weak pulse

Ficus Religiosa Ix every hour until the vomiting of blood was stopped The patient came round within two days. I

prescribed

FICUS RELIGIOSA

Cmc No. The

wife of Babu P.

K

175

7.

Baneriec

was

suffering

from

mucus or spitting of bnght'red'blood took place every now and then, headache and vertigo existed , sadpreceded by nausea ness and despondency were present , burning at the top of the head the breathing was difficult and oppressed , the face was pale , the pulse was slow and weak. prescribed Ficus Meligiosa lx every three hours Only Expectoration of

haemoptysis

blood'Streaked

,

,

I

SIX

doses were required to bring about a complete cure.

Case

No

Woutid—The son of Babu

8.

Roy Chowdhury fell accidentally upon a sharp-cutting instrument and a wound was made upon his nght thigh The bleeding was very It was profuse so profuse that no allopathic medicine could

arrest the

Ficus Reltgiosa and the haemorrhage disappeared

haemorrhage

to be applied externally

Gispati

I

prescribed

within ten minutes.

Case

No

9.

Wound —The daughter of Mati

Ghose fell upon a The result was that a very sharp pointed instrument deep wound was made upon her left hand Blood began to flow as if from a hydrant. Ficus Reltf^osa was applied externally and the haemorrhs^e was arrested immediately. .

Lai

Case No. 10, Cut not at

—My

daughter had a cut on her

home when the

accident took place.

left

arm

An

I

was

allopathic

,

DRUGS OF HiNDOOSTHAN

1T6

physician

was

He

called in

prescribed Tincture of Steel

and other medicines and nothing was strong enough stop the bleeding accident.

bleeding

was

to

hours of the

instantaneously stopped

Case

The

after four

Ficus Belufiosa externally and the

applied

I

came back

I

No

11.

Bahadur Mati Lai Ganguli suffered

wife of Rai

from uterine haemorrhage for more than 18 days. Two eminent homoeopaths treated her for 4 days, but to no was hurriedly sent for and marked the following 1 effect

symptoms present

The was

discharge

present

,

was very copious and bnght'red

ringing in the ears existed

,

,

nausea

head

giddiness of

Ficus Religtosa IX every three Four doses of the medicine stopped the haemorrhage

troubled her. hours.

—

I

prescribed

altogether.

Case No. IS

A

nephew of Khan Bahadur

A

Retired Commissioner, Chittagong Division, ofepistaxis.

There was no^ growth

M

Momen,

L.

C

had an attack

in the nostrils.

The

colour of the blood was very

red and quantity copious. Thece were giddiness of head, nausea and disinclination to move about. Prcairibed Ftcus Rehgtosa IX every three hours. Three doses of the medicine checked the flow of blood to some extent and it was continued next day. On the 3rd day, the child

was

all right

Case No. IS.

A Gupta,

maid servant

at the

Superintendent

of

house of Rai Saheb Police,

Rangpore,

K

M

Das

generally

n?

FICUS RtUClOSA

from copious uterine haemorrhage during ihc time of the menses. At one time, on the 2nd day of the menses, she had an attack of very profuse bleeding which confined her to bed. A relation of Das Gupta who happened to be a medical practitioner, prescribed Ipecac 3, Sabina 3

suffered

and Elaterium 6

,

but unfortunately

none of those medicines

could stop the haemorrhage After

my

symptoms from the

house,

his

—

patient

I

dimness of vision disinclined to

move

prescribed

very

;

weak

,

,

was

there

somewhat

slight

restless,

but

heat at the vertex.

,

Ftcua Rehgiosa IX to be given eveiy three

After the administration

hours.

the following

elicited

colour of the blood was bright-red

The

I

at

arrival

of the

3rd

dose,

the

blood was not so very copious as before and after the there

5th dose,

was no more haemorrhage from

the

uterus

No

more doses were necessary

These are

to

complete the cure

which can be tested by any he has a mind to do so.

oft venfied facts

doctor in his practice

if

power to stop haemorrhage has been found sp««dy and permanent that I am emboldened Its

to

be so

to call

its

action magical.

Parts IT^d.

Mods

Fresh leaves.

oi preparation

according

to

class

I

of

The the

tincture

is

American Homoeopathic

Pharmacopoeia,

IHL 12

I

X,

3x, 6,

pieparecf

30 potencies are g^eraliy

ustxl.

—

,

Ficus indica or Bengalensis. (Bat).

Common Namea^— Sons. — Vata Tel.—

Bat;

Hind.

;

— Bor,

Bar

Mm

Pescrtpf ton of the plant

—^The banyan

tree

is

planted

throughout India. It

grows to a height of about 100

feet

and

is

a

common

road Side tree Allopathic Uses

—The

Constituents

and Opinions.

wax

bark contains tannin,

and

caoutchoue.

Uses.—Tonic, and astringent , given in and haemorrhagic fluxes, and in diabetes, dysentery gonorrhoea and seminal weakness , locally the juice is applied as a remedy for toothache, and to the soles of the {Materia feel and palms of the hand when cracked Medtca of India, B N. Khory. Vol 11. p 557) Actions and

Lt Col. B. N. Ckopra.t Drugs of India, p 578 says

I.

M.

S» in

hs Indigenous

•

‘The

milky juice that In sores

astringent

exud^ from

and

ulcers

the tree

is

Infusion of the

buds owing to the large per c«nt of tannin IS

useful in

bark sugar

is

said

m

diarrhoea and dysentery. to

have

diabets"

a valuable

An

specific properties

it

young

contains,

infusion of the

of reducing blood

ncus INDICA OR rCNGALENSlS AyurvAciic Us«s

and Opinions. Hindu

tfimn th&

Like

17^

physicians have found

remedy in all kinds of haemorrhages. Some of them have found it to be a surer remedy in these complaints than Finis Hilutiosa. It

to

be an

efficient

Chat ak has found mesis, bloody dysentery,

it

useful in haemoptysis, haemate"

boils

and leucorrhoea*

Hiiahruta has recommended

it

in

Chaki adatta has highly prized dysentery, and spermatorrhea.

haematemesis.

its

therapeutic virtues in

has also recommended

Bnn(ia,sena

it

in

boils

and

bloody leucorrhoea. JBhabapiaka.shhB.s, found

it

useful in

boils

and

skin

affections

Perth

lined.

— Bark, buds Homoeopafkic Uses.

No

homoeopathic proving of the drug has yet been made, but it is being used by us successfully in all kinds of haemorrhages It

possesses greater anti-'haemorrhagic properties than

Fteua Eeligtoaom In dysentery

haemorrhages

It

and

exerts

piles

mixed with blood and

a powerful influerwe to

in other

arrest

the

progress of bleeding

haemorrhage takes place from the thtoiB^ or mouth due to any cause, it i^ops the bleeding ; the colour of the blood is pure red. If

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

180

haemorrhage take place before any evacuation, a splendid remedy for that complaint. If

!$

remedy haemorrhages during menses and IS

It

an

it

in

excellent

in

controlling copious bloody leucorrhoea

In acute or chronic bloody dysentery associated with ^scat urging, colic

an

excellent

and tenesmus,

medicine.

In

this

has turned out to be respect it bears a close it

resemblance to Merc. Corr, it IS

a good remedy

in

gonorrhoea and diabetes associated

with burning sensation during urination and in haematuria.

nervous weakness be used with benefit

In

may The above

are the

due to

symptoms

seminal

in

which

discharges

it

is

it

being

used by the homoeopaths successfully.

—^The

Parts Used,

tincture

the hanging roots and buds Xhl,

lx, 3x.

6 generally used

has been prepared from

;

Gymrteitia Sylvesire. CGur-mari Gumiir or N«sh« Sringi)

— Mesha-sringa

Common Xamon and

Iltndt

“^^erasingi

— Shiru-kuranja

Tam

Nat ural

orrh’r.

stout, large,

Chhnta^dudhi--\aX&

,

,

Kavali

»

—Asclepiadeac,

Dent notion of

a

(ram*s horn)

plant

the

Gymnema

woody, chmbing plant growing

Sylvestrc

in

is

abundance

and Southern India and can also be found m The Hindu physicians have mentioned Tropical Africa on Materia Medica as an anti-periodic, It in their works stomachic and diuretic Sushruta has mentioned it as a in

Centra!

killer

Madhumeha

of

About a

disorders

observed that

years

of

leaves

power of the tongue

the all

hundred

when

and other urinary

(Glycosuria),

this

chewed of sugar and

were

plant

feel the

to

Edgeworth

before,

taste

other saccharine substances was diminished.

Hooper later

years

also

and discovered

the valuable bitter

bore testimony to

articles

property of

this

that the fully

such as quinine.

phenomenon

leaf

also

removing

The

loss

one to rwo hours and not as was mentioned by Edgewoith. tions last only for

The

root of

physicians to

be an

plant

excellent

is

possessed taste

of these sema^ for

24 hours

considered by die

remedy

of

Hindu

for Snake^bke.

The

a powdered fomi is externally used to the part by the snake and a decoction is employed imemally.

root in bitten

the

die

in

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

182

As

possesses the virtue of abolishing the taste of has been appropriately called "Gur^'niar'*

it

sugar

it

thereby meaning ''Sugar Killer", and the impression has become prevalent in some places that it might neutralise

the abundance of sugar existing in the body in diabetes

Bombay and

In

mellitus.

Central

India

it

is

generally

employed as a remedy to do away with this condition and very gratifying results have been claimed. Ailopafhic Uses

A

full

account of

this

and Opinions. plant has been given

Indigenous Drugs of India by Brev. Col. R. M.D.

;

I.M.S.

;

N

m

the

Chopra,

For the benefit and information of

C I.E

our readers and several enquirers,

I

reproduce, in

full, all

Chemical ComposiN. Chopra's tion and Therapeutic Uses published in R famous book. regarding

interesting informations

its

Chemical Composition, Hooper (1887) made the first systematic examination of the leaves. He isolated two resins, the resin insoluble in alcohol forming the larger

The

proportion.

resin

was said to There was no

soluble in alcohol

leave a tingling sensation in the throat

He

had also isolated an organic acid said to be a glucoside and to possess anti-sacchanne property It was designated as gymnemic acid and the formula Ca 2 tannin.

Has

O 12

was given

of 6 per cent.

A

to

new

it.

It

was

present to the extent

bitter principle,

and calaum oxalate were also

some

tartaric acid

isolated."

"Power and Tutin (1904) next took up the and made a thorough investigation of the leaves.

subject

They

CYMNEMA

SYLVFSTRE.

He*, quercitol and Rymnc* The gymnemic acid was purified and analysed they showed that it did not possess any anti-sacchannc " properties and was not a glucoside

isolated

mic

hentna contane Cji

acid.

"Chopra, Bose and Chatteriee (1928) prepared different fractions from the leaves, isolated the gymnemic acid and prepared a sodium salt of the acid for both pharma-

They also isolated and clinical trials enzymes and tested their sugar
some

cological

Mhaskar and Caius (1930) have made a

"Recently,

detailed chemical

investigation

The

Hylientre,

air^dried

Qymnemu

of the leaves of yielded,

leaves

after ignition,

11.45 per cent, of inorganic matter consiamg of alkali, phosphoric acid, feme oxide and manganese. Two hydrocarbons, hentnacontane and pentatriacontanc, chlorophyll

a and

phytol,

b,

tartaric acid, inositol,

resins,

an-

thraquinone bodies and gymnemic acid were also

identi-

from the leaves no

such

fied.

In the

action

was

enzyme

isolated

seen."

"The gymnemic

was

acid

found

when mixed

hydrolytic nor oxidas action

to have neither

with cane sugar

or glucose solution." 'Thccffectt of the drug

on

rabbits.

were

all

The

over

1

on

animals used were

0

m

kilogram

quantitative estimation of

made and then injection.

was

Two

the drug

was

hours after

re-examined.

the

Besides

initial

injccaion

pure

tested

selected,

and were of the

Belgian

given

was

carefully

weight,

brown

albino Himalayan and the

A

the blood sugar

hare

types

blood-su^ur

by

was

ittibcutaneous

the

gymnemic

blood-tms^r acid,

the

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

184 ^

J'S*'

following fractions were tried and the effect sugsur in

animals

was recorded

of the powdered leaves

,

—(

I

)

An

on the blood-

aqueous

extract

(2) an alcoholic extract using 95

an alcoholic extract using 70 per In cent, alcohol (4) Sodium Salt of gymnemic acid none of the animals to whom these fractions were given was there any reduction in the amount of sugar present per cent,

alcohol

,

(3)

.

in

of

the blood.

blood-sugar

It

may be

in

these

various preparations of to

argued that the non-reduction rabbits

Oymnema

injection

of

the

Sylveatre might be due

in

the liver of these rabbits,

into

sugar tends to prevent the

the excess of glycogen

which by being converted

after

They could not

any watersoluble or alcohol-soluble substance in the leaves which had the property of dissolving glucose in vitro, nor any chemical body resembling insulin." fall

in blood-sugar.

find

—

Pharmacological Action "The action of the enzymes isolated from Oymnema Sylveatre was studied in vitro on both cane sugar and glucose The sugar solutions were made up to a definite strength and then mixed With the powdered leaves of the plant and also with the

enzyme

were kept estimations

isolated

from the

leaves.

The

mixtures

an incubator at 37‘‘C for 48 hours and were made at regular intervals to see if any

in

changes occurred.

The

following results were obtained

() The

reducing substance present in the leaves found to be 0 37 per cent.

()

In

the

cane sugar

—

was

solution mixed with the powdered leaves, hydrolytic action commenced within two hours and was completed in 18 hours. The same

GYMNEMA

SYLVESTRE.

185

was obtained in the cane sugar with enzyme isolated from the leaves." result

(r)

"The powdered

leaves

of

solution

Gymnema

mixed

Hylrontre

were found to have an oxidase aaion on glucose solution and glucoiysis to prevent the fall in blood sugar This may of course be possible in a welhfed animal but to obviate this fallacy the experimental animals were carethe test fully starved from 24 to 36 hours before According to Mhaskar and Caius (1930), however, the leaves cause hypoglycaemia in experimental animals which sets in soon after the administration either by mouth or by injection This hypoglycaemia has been explained

on

the assumption that the drug acts indirectly

stimulation of insulin secretion of the

no

direct action

on

pancreas as

the carbohydrate metabolism

workers are also of opinion that

the

through

leaves

it

has

These stimulate

the heart and circulatory system, increase urine secretion

and

activate the uterus

"

— "The drug was tned

in a number of cases of diabetes mellitus in order to see if it produced any reduction in the amount of sugar present in the blood or urine. All the patients were uncomplicated cases of diabetes and were kept in hospital under sma observation They were all placed on a fixed diet which was strictly under control The total quantity of urine passed in 24 hours was carefully collected, measured and a poition of It was examined every day for the quantity of sugar present. The sugar content of the blood was also estimated from time to time, the 'faSin® level* of blood sugar being always rcccndcd. The patients were regularly weighed dunng the course of treatment/*

Therapeutic uses

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

186

"Of

6

4 were given

powdered leaves of Gymnema aylvestre in doses of one drachm The total intake of the powder, three times a day per day was thus 12 gm. or 180 grains of the powdered leaves

the

The

cases treated,

finely

no appreciable

drug produced

effect

in

reducing either the blood sugar or the total daily output

of the

became

urinary slightly

The

sugar less

in

total

some

excretion

cases

towards

of

sugar

the

end

may be accounted l:y the restricted diet alone. The slight vanation in blood sugar may be accounted for m the same way

of the treatment, but such variations for

the

Administration of insulin to

all

these

cases

rendered

them sugar

These findings, however, 'are not in free accord with those of Mhaskar and Cams (1930), who arc of opinion that the leaves of G. sylvestre in daily doses of 30 to 60 grains (dry leaf) for a penod of three months or more may reduce glycosuria, non-amenable too early to give any to dieto'therapy. It is, however, definite opinion and further work is necessary to estimate " the real anti-diabctic property of the drug

Summary of

the

;

—^"According

School

Qymnema

of

to the findings of the workers

Tropical

Medicine

the

leaves

of

a substance which has a hydrolytic action on cane sugar. There also an is oxidase»like substance which produces glycolysis in a solution containing glucose. The extracts made from the leaves as well as gvmnemic acid and its sodium salts have no effeta: on the blood sugar when given by subcutaneous iniection to rabbits. Powdered leaves and alcoholic extracts prepared from the leaves of Qymnema aylvestre have no effect on the blood or unne sylvestre

contain

,

CYMNEMA sugar to in

of

SYLVESTRE from

suffering

patients

187

Mhaskar and Caius, the drug appears checking glycosuria,

dosage

work

when

According

diabetes.

be

to

useful

gm

administered in 2 to 4

necessary to the find out " Induienou'i Drugn nj real value of the drug in diabetes

Further

is

India by IL A’ Cliopra, p dJ9 to 312. “It

IS

castor-oil

insect

is

The

The

leaves

or

spleen

liver

benumb

and refrigerant powder mixed with

like

Ipecac to snake

tonic,

applied externally

bites

enlarged

root

stomachic,

astringent,

given in fever, cough.

a time the

for

as sugar and quinine

are ,

the

taste

(i?.

applied

like

and

varalians to

when chewed

leaves

and

for sweets

N, Khory— Vtd. II

bitters ,

such

p, 399),

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions. Suskruta has found it useful in poisonous headache due to catarrh and also in glycosuria Bagbkatia has recommended

No

mention of

its

it

in piles

styes

and

.

therapeutics in curing diabetes or

amount of sugar found in the unne has sufficiently been made in any Ayurvedic work.

reducing

the

Parts used.

—Root bark.

Pose —Powder

M to 2 annas.

Homoaopathic Uses and Personal Observations. Several foreign colleagues, notably Dr, Guy

of

New

York

and

Dr.

Edgar

C.

E Steium$,jM[ D.

Dining

M.D. of

•

1

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

83

me and made enquines about ago , but as I was then months the plant Gumar a few Detroit,

Michigan, wrote to

quite Ignorant of the identity of the

them any

give

on,

Later

Rawalpindi drug

this

which in Dr

I

R

wrote

who, At last,

to

I

N

Dr

about

this

plant.

Sharma, experimenting with

found a descnption called

could not

I

Govmda Rama was

heard,

1

botanically

IS

information

positive

plant,

of the

Gymnema

as

plant

Sylvestre

Chopra's Indigenous Drugs of India.

A full

chemical composition and therapeutic uses have been reproduced tn extenso in this article

account of the

plant,

its

from R. N. Chopra's monumental book The readers will thus have an insight and knowledge of the plant and its therapeutic uses observed by several eminent allopathic researchers I

have received a l^er

from

Govmda Rama

Dr.

Sharma who is dealing with the plant homoeopathically and 1 proceed to reproduce it below which will speak for Itself

—

"Dear Dr. Chose, I wish to inform you about

Gumar

a plant that grows over the lofty peaks of the Himalayas, hundreds of miles away from Kashmir Gumar is almost specific for Diabetes melhtus from the crude drug to the high potencies It covers all sorts of symptoms of this dreaded disease from an acute condition to a chronic one. You need not bother yourself about its proving, but give it with eyes closed and watch the marked improvement in the patient in a short time. It

puts

on

flesh

and

is

unne m no time , the weight and his appetite

diminishes the sugar in the

patient

It

CYMNEMA

SYLVESTRE

18 ->

improves, the countenance assumes the healthy look, improves him sexually, mentally and physically , he

it

is

able to work hard and does not find himself exhausted before, it prolongs diabetic after a little exertion as patient's life

ordinary

much

It is

known

a in

boon

for

remedies

diabetic

satisfaction

the urine as

great

None

them have

given

reducing the quantity of

(iumnt

my

In

five

of the

me

so

sugar

in

years' experience with

have never seen a single failure. A fortwill convince any man of its night's use of this drug " control and the disease over action wonderful drug

this

With

1

words Dr. Sharma has Dr. Shamna has also sent me copies of several letters that he had received from my eminent colleague, Dr. Steams It appears that Dr Stearns has also found it very efficathese highly eulogistic

extolled the healing properties of this drug.

cious in diabetes.

Dr Steams' letter Dear Dr, Sharma,

"Cumar Diabetes.

in

is

given below

2- 10. 1933.

potencies

Wc have had

is

Dr to

another

letter

a

wonderful

opportunities to test

cases with excellent results In

— remedy it

for

in three

"

dated the 19. 12 1933 he informed

Sharma that he had already sent potencies of Cumar be tested by I>r5. Boyd and MacCrae in England. I

from Dr Guy Bcckley Steams, the 1 5th June 1934 which is reproduced

also received

M.D dated below

a

letter

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

190

"Dear Dr Chose, I have read with great interest your description of Oephalamdra Indica (Telakucha) and will be pleased to receive from you some of the tincture, which I will have potentiscd

W.

of a

this side

Ram Sharma, me a tincture

Govinda

Dr.

N.

on

P

sent

called

plant

"Gumar",

Bhabrabazar, Rawalpindi, as well as the dried leaves saying

We

reputation of curing diabetes

and

find that

a

has

it

cases of diabetes

It

that

have

remarkable

the

potentised

it

effect

be

appears ro

has

it

on

curative

certain

in

high

We

have no symptomatology, but are using whenever it appears indicated through tests with I which we are experimenting commend it to your potencies

It

both

attention, tion,

of

When

taste that

for

and

experimentation

the leaves are chewed,

one

cannot

detect

it

the

for

identifica-

so affects the sense

sweet

of

taste

sugar."

The homoeopaths of India and other continents do not know anything of this wonderful plant whose claims and therapeutic properties in curing diabetes have been substantiated and extolled by no less a personage and researcher than Dr. Steams. fidently accept

It

We

can, therefore,

con-

as a sovereign remedy for diabetes

I

mind to prove it systematically and to t®t clinically as soon as I get a supply of the remedy from Dr Sharma have a

Symptoms

Mtnd

.

Givoti

—Despondent

by

Dr. Sharma.

GYMNIMA

SYLVEiTRE

— Relaxation

IS

of the muscles, but the patient hopeful of his recovery even on the dcath'bed

— Urine

is

with sugar, after passing

loaded

urine, the patient exclaims, “this quantities has

The

passing of urine in

large

" made me very weak

colour of the unne

white,

quantity

is copious, passes several times in a day and night , speciBc gravity IS high, large amount of sugar is found in urine.

There

is

carbuncles burn , wheie on the body

is

burning

all

its

over the body

diabetic carbuncle

;

boils

may appear

and any-

—Drinks water often m copious —^The patient growing weakness Atfffraiaiion — Sexual intercourse increases flow quantities.

sf .

feels his

IkVa/.«('ss.

.

urine

and sugar

Sexual power.

Almost gone or

lost

of

— Glycostnis Pentaphylla. or

Atista

litdica.

(Ash-Shaura).

—^Vanamenibuka Hind Bannimbu Beng. —Ash-'Shaura Bom —^Keimira Natural order — Rutaceae Common Names. Sans

.

,

.

;

BesmpUon

of the plant

—

It is

.

a small plant growing

wild in India

Ayurvadfc Uses and Opinions. In the opinion of

and

Hindu Physicians

a useful medicine

is

worms, jaundice,

fever,

and

m

it

causes rheumatism

complamts, cough,

bilious

chlorosis.

Aliopatkic Uses.

U, Col

R N. Chopra in

p. 493, has written that

its

his Indigenous

"root

is

Drugs of India

used in snake-bite."

Proving and Homoaopathle Maleria Mediea.

Precursory Incident leading to In the

month of March,

1917,

its

Promng.

a peculiar fever appeanng

every alternate day or every third day, broke out at

pore

m A^am

The

fever

was of malanal ongin.

Bhattachariee, a

Dr

Kali

Goun-

Kumar

homoeopath, practised there at that time

CLYCOSMIS PfcNTAPHYLLA OR ATISTA IND.CA

He was sifting one day

15 >

house when an up-cruntry servant came to his house brushing his teeth w th a little stick of "Ash'Shaura” plan'' for taking him to his master’s house, as almost all the members of his family had fallen The servant informed him that, with victims to this fever the exception of his

his

in

own

seK,

all

the

members of

his master's

family had been attacked with "Palazar" i.e fever appeanng

every alternate day

On

enquiry Dr

Bhattachariee

no up-country man had an

came

to

attack of this

learn

fever

that

and as

of them were using "Ash-Shaura’' branch for cleansing their teeth, he arrived at the conclusion that this plant

all

some medicinal

had

virtues

which

resisted

the

on-

slaught of this fever.

This impression gained ground in his mind and eventually he prepared a tincture of the plant and proved the drug After the proving, his impressions were found to

be Let me now dwell upon the symptoms and quite correct. Medica Materia Its

Maferia Medica.

Mtnd

—Memory weak,

.

vigourless, indifferent

mood.

—Vertigo

generally in the morning Feels a circle in are moving around Sudden that shivering throughout the body even when there is no paroxysm of fever,

Sensorium . all

things

i/ead.

one

side,

13

—Gnawing

when one

pain in

side

is

the

temple

affected, the other

generally is

relieved.

on

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

194

light

— Burning,

When opening eyes photophobia trembles before him for a few seconds, obliging him

JS'j/e.

to shut his eyes. iS’ar,—-Power of hearing unusually increased in

,

humming

both cars

— Dry coryza, nose-bleed, anaemia. Face.— Pale, yellowish countenance. dull Teeth — Bleeding from the gums Nose

.

.

,

pain at the

root of the teeth.

—

the

Tongue. ^Whiie eating, foul smell and mouth after the paroxysm of fever is over jafoaJA.— Dryness, unbearable

Spasms of

taste

during hot

m

stage.

facial muscles.

Throat persist for

thirst

bitter

—^Tonsils

a few weeks

Destre, Averston

Nausea

— Canine

—Constant salt

and

inflammation

after the fever is over.

food and strong desire for lime

belching of

pain

swollen,

water,

hunger, aversion to liquid juice

spitting

in the morning, occasional

frequent eructations

after

heart burnings after three or four hours of taking

meal,

food

Sour waterbrash. SZoTOflcA-—-Throbbing

at

the

pit

heaviness in the stomach after meal. for the time being

by

the

stomach,

Flatulence relieved

eructations.

Hypochondria —Burning liver,

of

in the

aggravation in the evening.

region of spleen and

,

CLYCOSMIS PENTAPHYLLA OR ATISTA INDICA

195

^fttjfow«'n.-"FlatuIence, cohcky patn, griping pain

the

navel

rumbling in the

;

in the umbilicus

making

whole period of

fever

,

unbearable

pain

the patient senseless

or watery diarrhoea during the

Constipation

S'ftxj/.—

intestines,

round

bloody mucous Tenesmus and drawing pain

pale earthy stool

stool with or without force.

,

in the renal region.

M(de

Hvjtunl night

erections at

—Sexual

Orf/ari .

without any lascivious talk

nor any such dream

a peculiar electric coming suddenly and the fever

prior to

it,

and

sensation

the

in

urethra,

a few seconds and then symptom persisted for a few

lasting

disappearing suddenly, this after

ml,

During the third week of proving,

throbbing

weeks

almost

desire

all

for

other ailments

worn

off.

Palpitation during fever Heart and Pulse full, fever, quick during but very weak and slow hard and after the remission

—

Pain in the neck and under scapula Neck, Back pain in the small of the back, stiffness while stooping

Upper Loioer

le^

—Weakness in the limbs, limbs heavy the muscles of the hmbs.—^Weakness

Ittnbs.

in

'go to sleep,* they

cmmping while

—

Sleep.

seem

to give

way

at every step

getting straight

^Transient,

un-refrcshing sleep, trembling

before eyes while opening them after sleep after

legs,

,

Ii^^it

sense returns

a few seconds

Fever —Periodicity not merited. comes at 5—10 A, M. Chill without

Fever diirst.

generally

Heat with

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

196

Fever subsides generally at 3 or 4 P m. apyrexia after 4 to 6 hours. Every alternate day fever

mtense

thirst.

Every third day fever,

^nhdofe.—Lime

juice,

Nux

Vomica,

Camphor,

Belladona. Persottai Observations.

Atiata Tndica has turned out to be an excellent remedy

and stopping fevers which appear on alternate days or on every third day with or without malarial infection The periodicity of fever is not marked The fever generally comes on at 5 to 10 A M ; there is chill without any in breaking

thirst IS

;

during the stage of heat there

remission of fever usually at 3 or

good

It is

a grand remedy for

there

is

colicky pain

extreme

thirst

,

there

4 p M.

which appear during autumn

It IS

for fevers

is

felt

all

sorts

around

of

worm

the

complaints

;

navel associated

with nausea or vomiting.

where there exist unmistakable Signs and symptoms of the predominance of worms, or where there is convulsion due to worms and the child keeps quiet with closed eyes, Attsta indtea may be used In the diseases of children

with great efficacy. It

IS

also useful

in

biliaiy colic

or gastnc colic

;

there

symptoms of indigestion, flatulence, distension of abdomen. Sour vomiting and sour eructations and are

vomiting take place immediately after eating

and worm

symptoms predominate. In these complaints it may be found to be an excellent substitute for Nux Vomica and Lycopodium.

GLYCOSMIS PasTTAPHYLLA OR ATISTA INDICA

J97

In all sorts of dysentery, either white or bloody, either

an unfailing influence over them There may be white mucus or it may be mixed with blood or pure blood may come out, and associated with these complaints, intense colicky pains arc felt around the navel , "colicky pain around the navel*' is the keynote symptom of its use The attacks generally come on in the autumn and the pains of Atista Indica are felt and continue before, during and after the stool. Dysentery of any type, either amaebic or bacillary, is controlled by this drug simple or malignant,

it

exerts

any gastric disturbance or diarrhoea with the above mentioned symptoms turns into cholera, Attata Indica is employed with considerable benefit if

In

Bengal, fevers appearing

on

alternate days

or

on

every third day are cured by mere smelling of Atista Indica for 3

or 5 hours before the seizure efficacy

cases

Its

many

individuals

in these

fevers

and

has

in innumerable

been

verified

by

a common wild plant in our country, but there is no doubt that m the complaints enumerated above it has been able to make an effective headway in our remedy pregnant with great estimation as a febrile Atista

Indica

is

potentialities

—^Leaves

Paris Used .

—

Mode

of preparcdton. with equal parts of alcohol. PtZ.

Ix, 3x,

^Juice

6 potencies

of fresh leaves

are used.

is

mixed

Afisfa Radix. CRoof of Ash-Shaura). prepared from the roots of AUsta Indica. those cases of dysentery, It IS more usefully used either simple or maligmant or either white or bloody, in ViHliich Atiata Indica is generally used or Atista fails to It is

m

cure.

Atista Radix possesses more powerful therapeutic virtues than AUsta Indica. In

short,

The pain

special

felt

indication

of

its

employment

is

an acute

around the navel

also used with great efficacy where the patient only pure blood with his stool associated with intense pain around the navel. It

is

passes

It is

more

All

worm

dysentery

useful in dysenteiy

In

in the

complaints, specially colicky pains,

and cholcnne due

predominance of drug.

appeanng

fla^lent

worms

autumn. diarrhoea,

or

with the are controlled by this colic its usefulness and to

worm symptoms, and

biliary

can be perceived by any body and every body Dil. lx, 3x, 12, 30 potencies are used

efficacy

— Hydrocofyle

Asiatlca.

(Thankuni or Tholkuri.)

Common Names —Sans — Mandukapami Brahma mandukt , Tam Kunvana , Kuraku

;

Valla-'rai

Eng — Indian

Natural order Description

found

Tholkun or thankuni

—

all

Tel

,

Ntnd

:

Bom

,

—

,

—Manduka-bramha

Pennywort.

—Umbelliferae. plant'— \x

the

of

is

a weed generally

over India and in South Africa Allopathic Uses and Opinions.

Constituents .

—

an oleoginous substance vellann,

is

It

having the odour and plant,

resin

bitter

and some

albuminous matter,

salts

Actions and Uses

and

local

stimulant

urino-genital tract.

and

Itching over the

milk and liquorice,

and

alterative the

or skin eruptions

and

scrofula.

—

It

is

an

alterative, tonic, diuretic

has a special influence

sets

up

urinary

whole body.

powder

;

sugar,

mostly alkaline, sulphates and tannin

m fever

such as eczema, lupus,

of the fresh

aromatic body, gum,

fatty

It It

persistent taste

and ovanne

The

root

and dysentery

is

is

As a

on

ihc

irntation

given with stimulant

given in chronic skin diseases,

psoriasis,

secondary

syphilitic sores

also in anesthetic leprosy, elephantiasis

As a

snuff,

it

is

used in ozaena

The poultice

applied in syphilitic and other forms of

or cataplasm

is

ulcerations

The powder

is

dusted over ulcers

(J2,

N Khory, Part

II, p. S9S).

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

200

N

R

Chopra

page 582, has witten

in

his

Drugs

indigeneous

of

India,

:

"For a long time it has been used by the Indian Physicians as a remedy for various skin diseases. The leaves are only recognised in the Pharmacopoeia Indica, but many investigators have advocated the use of the entire plant, root, twigs, leaves

the

firet

and seeds

named which contains the major portion of the

active volatile principle in the

medicine, especially

in

'Vellarin\

The

leaves

are dried

powdered The powder is used

shade so that no active principle

is

lost,

and kept in well stoppered bottle as a remedy for eczema, leprosy, secondaiy syphilitic ulcers, either as an ointment with Vaseline or as a dusting powder. Internally, it has been used as an alterative and tonic and can be administered in the powdered form in 5 10 grains doses, three times daily. A decoction of the entire plant, one ounce in a pint, boiled for about 15 minutes is an elegant preparation in doses of I to 2 ounces."

—

Daruty

Dymock has

written

—

"The administration of this drug first a sensation of warmth and pneking of the hands and feet ,

this is

to

lepers

causes at

in the skin, specially

followed after a few days by a

general sensation of warmth, sometimes almost intolerable,

the capillary circulation

week the softer, its

is

appetite improves,

accelerated

and

and

after

in time the skin

throws off the thickened epidermis and

about a becomes recovers

transpiratory function."

Nadkami has written that in India, it prescribed with some other ingredients for hypochondriasis and as a nervine tonic.

is

generally

insanity

and

HYDROCOTYLE ASIATICA

201

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions. Hydrocotyle has been acknowledged by all eminent Hindu Physicians to be an excellent medicine in jaundice, leprosy, skin^diseases, eczema, syphilis, gonorrhoea, leu-

They

corrhoea, dropsy, fever, psoriasis and elephantiasis

regard it as an diuretic, aperient and tonic and they have found It to be efficacious in nervous debility and seminal weakness

all

Chat ak has recommended disorders of the stomach.

Sushruta has found

it

it

for

gangrenous

ulcers,

and

memoiy and

useful in increasing

longevity

Parts Used

—Juice and powdered

jDose.—Juice, 2 annas.

two

tolas,

root.

powdered

root,

k anna

to

Homoeopathic Proving and Mafaria Medica. Dr. Boileau experimented with the drug Its

He was the

therapeutic properties to our notice

to use

It

and brought fir^

in leprosy.

Mafaria Madica of Hydrocotyle Asiatlca. 1.

Mind — Gloomy

Indifference

tion for solitude (reaction).

all

—

Misanthropy.

Gaiety (reaction).

Inclina-

Loquacity

with torpor.

Congestion of blood heaviness. the head, Painful drawing in almost pain in external frontal Neuralgic nerves. cranial

2.

to

Mead.

thoughts

nerve,

^Vertigo,

intense pain with

some

swelling

m

posterior part

,;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

202

of skull. Occiput

acutely sensitive, esp

of back part of

triction

skull

Injection of palpebral

Vision dim

Pricking in eyes.

conjunctiva.

Cons-

and integuments,

— Eyes look unsteady.

3.

touch.

to

,

dazzling.

^ara.—Pain in left internal meatus auditonus Throbing in right car, nngmg in left, with stoppage Confused noise in left , blowing sound 4

jVbse.

5,

—Swelling of nose

Face.

<

left

nostnls.

Coryza

(Lupus exedens of nose.)

Bleeding

6

,

Stoppage of nose.

Feeling as before bleeding dry.

Tickling

—Intoxicated expression

Intermittent pain in

cheek-bone.

left

Mouth. Whitish

8.

of tongue.

Impediment

Palati, with pain

upper and under sides speech. Redness of Velum

spots in in

on swallowing,

of buccal mucous membrane. insipid or btter

<

by food.

—^Tonsils red. Pricking in pharynx

rough

,

11,

of pharynx.

burning and pricking in oesophagus

Stomach

—Loathing

of food.

Anorexia;

Aversion to tobacco smoking.

frequent; acid.

Nausea.

cramp-like pain.

Sensation as

if

Anxiety in region of stomach a region spreading out like a bar.

Pam

,

Contrac-

gases collected into

Heat in stomach

.(ifedomen.— Barborygmi in different parts

Violent contractions of intestines

then

Eructations

Swelling of stomach.

ball

12.

Disorder

Oesophagus dry and

strong appetite

,

Taste

Saliva increased.

unpleasant in morning.

constrictor muscles

tion

Hyperaemia

Throat,

9.

of

,

lert

Flatus.

every five minutes

HYDROCOTYLE

<

Transverse colon

organs were

Constriction

motion

in

Stool

Itching in

anus.

A

and

71 UH,

anus

Heat

if

upper part of

all

liver.

in hypogastrium.

—Weight in rectum

Burning in

Ineffectual desire for stool.

Stools increased

dry, dark.

203

Sensation as

m

Pain

Obstruction in hepatic region 13.

ASIATICA

Stools

Stools easier

—

H

Slight formication in kidney. Uriimry Organs of neck of bladder Constriction of bladder

Irritation

Frequent desire to urinate

becomes brown

Urine

increased

Irritation

of urethra.

on

cooling.

Urine

Urine

turbid with sediment

Male Sexual

15

<

cords.

left

to intercourse.

Organs^

scrotum relaxed. Feeling of weight

Female

—Drawing

in

Impotence.

spermatic

Indifference

m prostrate gland.

—

Sexual

Organs. Vulva, vagina and c»rvix red. Heat in bottom of vagina ; Pricking and itching Pain in ovarian region. at Its onfice Leucorrhoea increased 16.

Weight

uterus

in

Pam

in

whole

uterus, especially

left

Severe labour^like pain in uterus and appendages

side

in Respiratory Organs and Chest Dryness of windpipe, of ventncles of Voice weak Speaking soon fatigues. Irritation

17, 18

vicinity

of

larynx

of

glottis.

air passages.

Difficult

of

expectoration

bronchial

mucus. Breath short. Oppression of chest, which suddenly ceases and then returns at longer and shorter intervals

Heart and

19.

of heart

,

—Cardiac spasm.

Constriction

with quiet and regular pulse, or with a few

separate beats in certain arteries, or with hot Bushes in different parts to the face

stronger

and

fuller

Irregular beating

of heart.

Pulse

,;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

204

Neck and Back

20 in left

<

rhomboid,

—Renewal of old rheumatic Bruised

pressure

pain

pain

in

loins

Obstruction in r^ion of kidneys, with heaviness

Contractions

21

Irresistible inclination to stretch

pain in

all

Sensation as

muscles.

and

forearms

of

Pam if

in all joints

,

legs.

<

left

hot water ran through

marrow of bones

—

Limbs. Weariness in all muscles of Crampy numbness of right forearm, hand and

Upper

22.

shoulders.

Pam

fingers.

in finger-joints.

Loner Limbs.

23

Sharp pains

Generalities.

waking.

Wandering pains

Drawing

in several muscles.

depression, heaviness,

the system generally 25.

edges

Red

Skin.

;

—Spiots

in muscles

Malaise

in all

muscles

of chest and

Weanness

;

on legs.

(with

and dulness) , dull feeling throughout and unfitness for everything almost drcular, with

Yellowish spots on

on

stand

thighs, with

in calves.

—Bruised feeling

24

Inability to

Weariness in muscles of

in hips

crampy movement

— Gait unsteady.

legs.

raised

Erysipelatous

scaly

redness.

of neck and both hands Red spots, covered with whitish scales, on left side of neck Lilac coloured spot, shaped like an ear, on sole , the skin over it IS depressed, and walking is painful. Erythema on face, neck, back, chest, arms, and thighs , with much itching with copious sweat MiHaiy eruptions on neck, back and chest. Sudamina on abdomen. Papules on face Pustules on chest Pricking on different parts. Itching in several places , Itching at tip of nose (in one who had chilblain points

eyelids, left side

there every year).

i

HYDKOCOTYLE

ASIATICA

205

—Yawning

Sleepiness , and stretching. Persistent Heavy, dreamless sleep. in the day time. in unpleasant dreaming all the time he was asleep , mouth state m the morning

26

Sleep ,

—

Shivering in afternoon. Cold hands 27 Feve and feet, with general condition resembling precursory stage )

of in

without alteration of pulse

Fever,

hand,

forearm,

when

returning

Heat

of skin

,

flushes

left

foot,

and

Sensation of coldness

leg

,

the rubbing ceased. in

,

bones of

leg

,

>

by rubbing, but Febrile movements.

in left tibia

in different parts of face in flushes,

;

in face in

esp, temporal

Profuse sweat.

regions

Personal Observations.

Hydrocotyle Asiatica has been known to be a remedy of great repute by the Hindu Physicians from ancient times Its

long range of remedial virtues has been freely ac-

knowledged by them They found it extremely useful in v/hite and bloody dysentery of both adults and children, Jaundice, Gonorrhoea, Dropsy, Fevers, Leprosy, Secondary Syphilis, Elephantiasis Arabum, Gangrene after amputation,

Acne Rosacea, Gout, Leucorrhoea, Lupus,

affections,

vagina,

follicular

inflammation

and some other

We,

of

uterus,

all

pruritis

skin

of

affections.

homoeopaths, have also found it efficacious in these

identical diseases.

Boileau lepro:^.

was the It

first

to

employ

has been tested, both

it

as a medicine in

pathogenetically

and

and its symptoms have been sufficiently outlined. The skin and the female generative organs are the chief

clinically,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

206

centres of

attack

Its

upon the hver» the nerves, which do not escape from its There

action

of skin affections in which

multiplicity

is

a powerful influence and the mucous membranes

also exerts

It

it is

applicable—acne, eczema, pemphigus, lupus, copper-coloured eruptions, papular eruption on the face, unbearable itching in various places.

therapeutic virtues are observed in the disorders that

Its

exhibit intestinal

any

There are also hypertrophy and induration of

part

connective It

inflammation and cellular proliferation in

tissue.

has a great repute In cunng the ulceration of the

womb. which

In all skin diseases in

we find layer

and

is

employed with

there

;

,

there

is

intolerable itching, specially

is

soles

puirtules

,

It

trunk,

psonasis in chest

,

spots asso-

circular

soles; elephantiasis, syphilitic affections

on

benefit,

extreme thickening of the epidermoid

scaly edges

perspiration,

or

is

exfoliation of scales

wth

ciated

of

that there

it

acne ;

,

there

is

copious

palms and

extremities,

leprosy

has a decided action upon stomatitis, either aphthous

syphilitic.

In bladder affections, there

is

imtability found

neck of the bladder, with increased secretion of There are heat and itching in the vagina ; weight

in the

urine. felt

m

uterus.

There

is

granular ulceration

the upright position tism

is

difficulty in

also useful in gout

maintaining

and rheuma-

Affections of the tngeminus nerve are benefited

employment ; there In

It

and

neural^

is

by

bruised sensation in all the muscles

orbitalis

it

has been used with efficacy.

its

HYDKOCOTYLE

ASIATICA

205

—Yawning

Sleepiness , and stretching. Persistent Heavy, dreamless sleep. in the day time. in unpleasant dreaming all the time he was asleep , mouth state m the morning

26

Sleep ,

—

Shivering in afternoon. Cold hands 27 Feve and feet, with general condition resembling precursory stage )

of in

without alteration of pulse

Fever,

hand,

forearm,

when

returning

Heat

of skin

,

flushes

left

foot,

and

Sensation of coldness

leg

,

the rubbing ceased. in

,

bones of

leg

,

>

by rubbing, but Febrile movements.

in left tibia

in different parts of face in flushes,

;

in face in

esp, temporal

Profuse sweat.

regions

Personal Observations.

Hydrocotyle Asiatica has been known to be a remedy of great repute by the Hindu Physicians from ancient times Its

long range of remedial virtues has been freely ac-

knowledged by them They found it extremely useful in v/hite and bloody dysentery of both adults and children, Jaundice, Gonorrhoea, Dropsy, Fevers, Leprosy, Secondary Syphilis, Elephantiasis Arabum, Gangrene after amputation,

Acne Rosacea, Gout, Leucorrhoea, Lupus,

affections,

vagina,

follicular

inflammation

and some other

We,

of

uterus,

all

pruritis

skin

of

affections.

homoeopaths, have also found it efficacious in these

identical diseases.

Boileau lepro:^.

was the It

first

to

employ

has been tested, both

it

as a medicine in

pathogenetically

and

and its symptoms have been sufficiently outlined. The skin and the female generative organs are the chief

clinically,

—

—

,

Hygrophiia Spinosa. CKtile

Common Names

•

Khara).

Sans

Ikshugandha,

.

Gokshura

i/inc?.—‘Talmakhana,

Kokilaksha

-Kule

,

Khara

TalimKhana, Tel — Nirguviveru, 5ania?.--Gokhuia j

janum.

Acanthaceae

NaiurcA order,

Description of the plant

common

is

It

a spiny bush and

is

throughout India

Allopathic

Uses and Opinions.

CbnsfoiMenia.—Theseedscontain mucilage, albuminoids,

of an alkaloid and a

traces

The

yello^/v fixed oil

root

and stem exhausted with alcohol deposit red shaped N. Khory, Part crystals. {Meiena Medtca of India

— N

Jhpdes) Actions and given

tises

rheumatism,

and

used as aphrodisiac

Part

joints.

root

is

gonorrhoea,

dropsy,

in

rheumatic

“—The

in ;

unnary

demulcent,

diuretic,

hepatic

affections.

obstruction,

The

a paste of the seeds

and

is

seeds are

applied to

{Matena Medtca of India—-B. N. Khory,

iJ, p, 46$).

“In

the

Pharmacopoeia

of

India several

European

contributors bear testimony to the diuretic properties of

no mention is made of the use of the seeds an aphrodisiac and diuretic." {Dymock Part III,

the plant,

as

P. S7).

but

—

HYGROPHILA SPINOSA.

"The whole the root and

m

209

plant has been used medicmaliy, specially the leaves. decoction of the root is

A

and genito^unnary disease About 2 ounces of the root is boiled in a as a diuretic. pint of water for 20 minutes to half an hour in a closed Dose of the preparation should be one to two vessel ounces, two or three times daily. All parts of the plant have similar medicinal properties and can be bought almost every important bazar of India (/?. N, in Chopra-^ useful

hepatic derangement

iTidtgenous

Drugs of l7idia-~p.

S8S).

Ayurvedic Uses end Opinions.

in

Charaka has found it useful in die bladder and strangury.

stone,

Sushruta has recommended

^avel and calculus

as

it

a

great

sexual

tonic

Bagbhatta has recommended due to impunties of blood. Ckakradatta

is

for all

it

of opinion that

it

skin

diseases

can be edectively

used in dropsy

Banqasena has acknowledged

its

efficacy

in effecting

safe delivery.

Hartt has recommended it for sleeplessness. He has also said that it can produce sound sleep if its root be placed on the head.

Barts Doae^

2

tolas.

14

—Root,

tised*

—Decoction^

fruit

5

and

leaves

to 10 tolas

;

powdered

fruit, 1

to

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

210

Hoino«o|>aihlc Usas and Personal Observations. systematic proving of the plant has

No

been made.

But a tincture has been prepared and is now being used by some of us in urticaria which generally appears in summer and its ^mptoms get worse from heat or warmth

The with

plant

becomes swollen and

any body be pneked burning ensues and the

if

red.

produces small red pimples and eruptions

It

look

of thorns and

points, intolerable

sharp

Its

flesh

is full

like

measles and eruptions due

In this affection

than Apis

which

to prickly heat.

Hygrophila Spinosa

is

more

efficacious

Mel or Bhus Tox,

In malarial

associated with

attacks

urticaria

it

is

used

with great benefit. These fevers appear in the morning, there is no chill or thirst, urticaria-'like eruptions come on along with the itching

In better

which

some

is

rise

of temperature and there

by cold

relieved

skin diseases,

from cold,

its

In all ulcers

efficacy

due

intense

applications.

which is

is

is

worse from heat and

surely found.

to impunties of blood

it

can be safdy

used with benefit.

an

medicine in dropsy, gonorrhoea, hepatic obstruction, rheumatism and urinary affections. It

is

excellent

In stone or calculus It

and

has been used with success.

has a wonderful action over insomnia

unfailing

remedy

The Mahomedan in

it

to

;

it

is

a

suie

produce sleep.

physicians have found

impotency and leucorrhoea.

it

beneficial

HYGROPHILA SPINOSA.

2U

powerful influence over the genitO'Urinary tract and all complaints proceeding from it are cured by Its employment. It

exerts a

These are the symptoms for which we have found it medicine However, the deserves efficacious. our clinical expenences should attention in the future and more be forthcoming.

Preparation .

—The

entire fresh plant with

macerated with two parts by weight of alcohol. Dll.

—3x,

6x,

30 generally used.

its

roots

is

Adhatoda.

Justicia

CBasaIca).

Common Names* nut

Arusha

;

Basaka

Malabar

;

tos.—Baidyamata

,

,

Tamtl-^

Adhatodai

Acanthaceae

Natural order*

Description of the plant shrub found in India.

This

is

a small

tree or

large

flowers in the cold season

It

The

leaves are broad—lanceolar.

found

spikes are

Its

be

to

long-peduncled, and the corolla ringent, upper hp

short,

The

vaulted, emerginate.

trunk

is

and the bark

straight,

somewhat smooth and ash-coloured The branches are but »ib«ered:, with bark resembling that of the trunk, is

"Hie

smoother.

about

broad.

five

The

pedunclcd,

or six

spikes

opposite,

short^petioled,

smooth on both inches long and one and a half

taper-pointed,

broad, lanceolar, long, swfes,

are

leaves

from the

cxtejnor axils are solitary, long-

whole end of the branchlet forming a flower-bearing point short and enveloped

ihe

flcapy panicle,

wiih large bracts.

The

small

dots; the lower part of both lips

ferruginous

streaked widi purple

one

The

are opposite, large with

obscurely five nerved ;

all

laiige,

much

Intenor pair,

are

permanent.

lower

lip

ample;

upper

lip

ovate,

smaller,

end

Calyx five-parted

to the base, divisions nearly equal. Corolla nngent

short; throat

is

bracts are three fold, opposite,

Extenor one of the three,

flowered!

sub-lanceolate

flovsrers

vaulted,

broad and deeply three parted

;

Tube

emerginate,

both streaked

>

JUSTICIA ADHATODA.

Filaments long, resting under the vault of

With purple. the upper hp

Anthers twin. Ailopafhlc Uses

Constihients bitter alkaloid

—An

vasicine,

gum, colouring

sugar,

chronic

a

m

principle,

an organic

acid,

resin,

fat,

a

adhatodic acid,

— Expectorant, and

anti-spasmodic,

with

roots

ginger

and and

are given in ague, rheumatism, constipation, asthma,

sitab

IS

;

odorous

flowers

the

and Opinions.

matter, salts.

Actions and uses. alterative

213

fair

bronchitis substitute

and other chest

11,

the root

,

Leaves are often smoked

for Senega.

(Matena Medica of p 464)

asthma

Vol.

affections

India

—R. N

Khory—

"Strong testimony in favour of the remedial properties of the drug was furnished to the authors of the

Pharmacopoeia of India by Drs Jackson and Dutta, who employed it with marked success in bronchitis, asthma, and other pulmonary and catarrhal affections Cases illustrative

of

its

effects

in

catarrh,

bronchitis

and

phthisis

O

have been published by Mr. C Dutt (Indian Annals of Med. Science, In Bengal 1865, Vol. X., p. 156^1 the leaves are smoked in asthma ; good evidence of their \^lue when thus used has been collected by Dr. C. Watt in

Dr.

the

"Diet

Watt has

leaves fresh

in

rice

of the Economic

of

Products

also brought to notice the use of cultivation

leaves are scattered

in

the

over

prepared for the rice crop, and

Sutlej

recently

the

India”.

Adhatoda

valley.

flooded

native

The fields

cultivators

say that they not only act as a manure but also as a

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

214

the aquatic weeds that

otherwise would us show that conducted by Expemnents injure the rice. the infusion acts upon the cells of those plants in the

poison to

kill

same manner

as certain chemical reagents,

and

their contents

causing

their

by

contracting

disintegration

,

it

also

proves poisonous to any animalcules, frogs, leeches &c, present in the water ; on the higher animals the leaves

do not have Dymock 111 p

—

Dr. benefit

(Pharmacographia

effect"

this

Indica—

54).

can be used with drinking to destroy the germs of diseases from

Watt

has

also said that

it

water Lt.

about

R

Col this

N

Chopra

1

M

S has wntten the

following

drug in his Indigenous Drugs of India, p. 265

—

^"As long ago as 1888, Hooper Qhemicdl composition published details of chemical analysis of the drug carried out by himself. He found that an odorous volatile principle

probably of the nature of an essential

oil

and a

non-volatile

body of the nature of an alkaloid called vasicine were present Hooper's work was confirmed by Booraswa of Java,

who

investigated the alkaloid

further

physfolojgycal properties but

it

any record of this work dmg was made and sufficient

and

tested

its

has not been possible to find thorough analysis of the

A

quantities

of the alkaloid were

We

otAained to determine its pharmacological action could not, however, collect a sufficient quantity of the essentia! oil to test

its

physical, chemical

and

physiological

properties."

"The

alakaloid

0'25 per cent

The

is

found in the leaves to the extent of

base occurs as needle-shaped crystals

JUSTICIA

and has melting point of alcohol,

is

hot water

slightly

A

ADHATODA I82'’C

is

easily soluble

m

more so

in

soluble in cold water but

2*0 per cent

optically inactive

It

215

solution

in

chloroform

Vasicine hydrochloride occurs in

is

light,

cream coloured crystals, has a melting point of 180X and IS very soluble in water Vasicine tartarate was also The molecular weight prepared and is a soluble salt was determined and found to be 188 which of vasicine agrees with the empirical formula Cn Hia Nj found " by analysis

O

—

Pharmacology of Vasicine "The alkaloid vasicine and Its salts are not very toxic to undifferentiated protoplasm. They have little or no effect on the free living protozoa such as Paramoecium caudatum nor have they any toxic or inhibitory effect on the cultures and growth of streptococci, staphylococci, B Coli, B. diphtherioe or B tuber.

culosis

It

IS

possible that the antiseptic properties of the

leaves recorded volatile

by previous

principle

per cent are not alkaloid has

a

observea-s

may be due

Solutions of concentrations of irritant

bitter taste

to the to 5

I

The

to the mucous membrane.

but has

no marked

effect

on

the

movements of the alimentary canal In high concentrations isolated (1 in 20,000) the penstaltic movements of the gut are inhibited, probably owing to depression of the vagal endings Intravenous iniections m animals produce a slii^t fall of blood pressure due partly to direct depressing effect on the cardiac muscle and partly to d^ression of the There is no effect terminations of the vagi in the heart on the blood vessels. In

the lungs of experimental animals the alkaloid,

given intravenously, produces

a

sli^t

but

a

when

persistent

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN,

216

This action

brondhcndilatation.

is

in all probability due

to depression of the vagal terminals in the bronchi as

it is

After adminisabsent with small doses of pilocarpine broncho^lilatory effect is moie tratK^n of atropine, the

pronounced The drug has a welUmarked ©cpectomnt action and it is possible that the essential oil plays an important part in

this direction

—"Clinically,

an alcoholic extract and dry Adhatoda leaves was given an

Therapeutic Uses,

made from extensive

fresh

trial

in

the Carmichael

Hospital for Tropical

Diseases.

Previously a tincture in

vanous

civil

hospitals

made from

and

the leaves

dispensaries

was

tried

in different parts

of India at the instance of the Indigenous Drugs Committee

Most of the evidence produced showed that the drug has a definite expectorant action In acute bronchitis it was found always to afford relief, especially where the sputum was thick and tenacious, acting in very much the same way as Ipecacuanha In chronic bronchitis the cough IS relived and the sputum is liquified so that it is brought up more easily. The depression of the vagal terminations further relieves imtation and spasm of the bronchioles. The e^aract was also tned in a number of cases of bronchial asthma but relief afforded by it was not marked. As the animal expenments pointed to synergistic action of atropine and vasicine a combination of the extract with belladonna preparations was tned in cases of asthma of vagotonic origin but the results were not veiy satisfactory "

"As

regards the effect ofthe drug in tuberculosis of the

lungs the author's

conclusions

are also in accord with

JUSTICIA

ADHATODA

217

The drug

those of the IndigenoiK Drugs Committee. absolutely useless

m

curing or preventing the progress of

disease in experimental animals

this

is

human

or

beings.

There is no doubt, however, that it relieves the irntable cough by its soothing action on the nerves and by liquifying the sputum which makes expectoration easy."

Summary

—Chemical

Adhatoda vasica shows the presence of two active principles—(a) an alkaloid vasicine whose empincal formula we haw: found to be .

Cii

Hi 2 NaO

of

analysis

of molecular weight

volatile principle

of the nature of an

188,

(b) traces

dilatation in

produces

It

but

slight

Vaacinc

essential oil.

has no marked action on the alimentary circulation

expenmental animals and

caaial

persistent this effect

of a

or

on

broncho^ is

consi-*

The

dcrably increased after administration of atropine. essential

oil

the

present in the leaves appears to be chiefly

responsible for the expectorant action of the drug

Clini-

cally, the fluid extract prepared from the leaves has well marked expectorant properties , it relieves cough, liquifies sputum which is then coughed up more readily. It is not effective in relieving attack of bronchial asthma. In pul" monary tuberculosis it has no action whatever

Ayurvedic Uses and Opiitlens. Justtcia Adhatoda

is

a wellknown remedy

for all sorts

of cough and cold amongst the Ayurvedic physicians in India.

The Ayurvedic

physicians prize

so very sure of t* e.

its

it

very much.

efficacy that they call

mciher Qfphydc%Qn8.

it

They

are

Batdyamata

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

218

There is a common stanza which runs thus

in support of this impression

^^

II”

of the above sloka

The meaning

is

that as long as

from spitting of cough and cold need not blood, phthisis and common confidently proclaim that no despair. These physicians any cough of kind if from place Vasaka death can take can play its role and find time to display its healing

Vaaaka

remain, patients suffering

will

properties.

Let us

have said

now

what the

see

great authors of

Ayurveda

relating to this drug.

Charak,

It

is

used in spitting

of blood with

great

success,

Sushruta,

It is

an

excellent

remedy

in phthisis, violent

cough, respiratory troubles, and jaundice.

It

is

also used

in spitting of blood.

Vcixiprakash. bilious

and

It

used in fevers

is

respiratory troubles.

It

is

associated

wth

a good remedy

for

bad smell of the body. Chakradatta. It is an excellent remedy in chronic or slow fevers smd also in leprosy. The root of this plant IS

used to effect an easy and safe delivery.

Bangasena.

In piles

its

efficacy

can be perceived

In short, in all well-known A3airvedic

works the

efficacy

of Vaaaka has been freely acknowledged ITses as a remedy.

Bark, leaves, flowers

and root

,,

JUSTiClA

Decoction of the bark

Dose. leaves,

2 tolas

to

1

ADHATODA

,

—5

root bark powder,

2t9

to I

10 tolas

to

fresh

;

4 anna^.

Homo«opafhic Us«s and Provings. Piovinq

Name May

of the prover

10, 1903, at

8 A

M

,

No

I.

— Bama Charan Roy, aged 32. I

He

took four doses that day of poisoning was marked. adhatofla.

May

11.

—He

commenced

am

drop doses from 8

He there

this

to

No

take Justicia

symptom

in

three

day also

had an attack of a mild catarrh

was

On

gave him three drops of Justima

tickling sensation at the root

at

4 P,M

this

day

of the nose

No more doses of Justicia were given May

At 8

12

A. M.

a dose of three drops of the

tincture

was given At 10 A.

The there

M —Another doKs was given.

catarrh

was

At 4 P

became very

fluent

and profuse

this

time

also sneezing present

M —Another dose was given.

No new symptom was marked. At 10 P M —Another dose was admini^ered No more doses were given this night

—At 8 A M a dose of three drops was given At 10 A. M.—Another dose was taken. May

At

13.

11

A.

the sfymptoms.

M.—There was

perceptible aggravation

of

;,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

220

—

At 1 P M. The following marked by me personally.

He

Mind

violent

symptoms were

grew anxious and discouraged

he

a decided aversion to conversation and was inclined to be ;

felt

angry.

Head,

The head appeared

pressure towards the forehead

head

,

there

Eyes

was

be

full

and heavy widi

he experienced heat of the

pulsation in both sides of the forehead.

—^There

was watering from the eyes ; burning eyes seemed to be confused

pain in the eyes ©asted

and swimming in

,

to

,

tears.

—All noises were unbearable to the ears.

Ecers,

There was

and profuse coryza from the nose, with constant sneezing, there was swelling of the nose, with painful sensibility to touch and obstruction of the nose ; the fluent coryza was accompanied by shooting and aching in the forehead , the nostrils were ulcerated there was loss of smell and of taste ; there was some-times dryness of the nose and when this dryness was expenenced, obstruction of the nose was the result Nose,

The

fluent

was red and burning, and was hot. There were gnawing pains in the face, mitigated by external Face,

face

pressure

There were shooting pains

in the

teeth

which

extended to the cheek.

Mouth.

There was diyness of the mouth with thirst the mouth, throat and tongue were all dry ; the tongue

was enveloped with a white

coating

JUSTIQA ADHATODA

221

There was a sensation of dryness in the there was pain, as of exconation in the throat, throat ; dunng empty deglutition , there was tenacious mucus in the throat, which could not be detached without repeated Throat

coughing. Appetite.

was

insipid

There was and putrid .

total

loss of appetite

there

was

;

the taste

repugnance

and

disgust for food.

Nausea and vomiting.

There was nausea ; vomiting took place while coughing ; there was vomiting of mucus ; was exhaustion and paleness of face after there vomiting

Abdomen.

were felt in the hepatic region, mostly shooting and gnawing pains * there was abundant production of flatus, with gurgling , there was som«imcs escape of

Pains

flatus

There were loose

Stool.

mucus and

slight a:}ltc,

in the chest

;

there

when touched

coughing,

associated

ing

;

l

widt

There werehoarseness, cou)^ and

the larynx

respiration

mixed

ameliorated after stool.

Bespiratory Organs. rj^tling

evacuations,

,

with

was

painful

tenderness of

there were frequent suffocative

fits

obstruction

of of

sometimes vomiting took place while cou^-

was accompanied by sneeang, stitches in and red face there were some paroxysms of

the cough

the chest

,

cough, with expectoration of bloody, slimy matter, or of

tough yellowish mucus

of these coughing Generalities.

fits

;

thae was a msurked aggravation

at ni^t.

Thetewas a mwrked

to eaitemsl impressions

over<senstliveness

;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

222

The

became quick and hard , the temperature of the body was 102 2® , he felt chilly every now and then. Fevet,

pulse

Proving No. IT. Durga

Prover.

Pada

Mukherjee,

a Homoeopathic

practitioner

Age,

27

years.

On the

I2thof June, I903, hetook three drops of the Another dose was taken tincture of Justicia at 10 a m. by him at Ip m. The third dose was administered to

He

did not

drops of the

tincture.

3 p. m., and the fourth dose at 8 p. m. feel any discomfort that day.

him

at

June At

p.

1

10 A. M.

13,

M.

He took three

—He took another dose.

M — He took a third dose At 8 P. M.— He took another dose. At 10 P M.—He experienced a tickling

At 4

the

P.

there

nostrils,

was

also

burning

sensation

sensation

in

m the

nostnls.

At lO'SO

P.

M.

—Premonitory indications of coryza

were

madted.

At fluent

II ,

M.—The

P.

diere

was

catarrh

also

grew very

sneezing

present

profuse ;

there

and was

watering from the eyes.

At 5

A. M,

—^Another dose was taken.

June 14, at 7 A M.-—The head seemed to be heavy there were burning pains in the eyes ; there was fluent whwh strcain^ die chedc, accompanied by

;

JUSTICIA ADHATODA. Violent almost constant sneezing

smell

and

with

thirst

appetite

there

,

was

there

was

of mouth,

total loss

was

dryness

of

white

coating

on the tongue

there

,

,

223

the

were hoarseness and cough, with rattling in the chest , frequent paroxysms of cough came on, with sneezing and obstruction of the nose , there was cough, with expectoration of tough, yellowish ,mucus which could be expelled after repeated hawking ; the pulse became quick and full , he felt chilly and feverish, but there was no rising of temperature. I had a mind to give two or three doses more ; but he was veiy unwilling to take any more I believe that the rest of the symptoms marked in the first proving would have surely appeared if he could have taken a few more doses of Justicia.

there

These two provings

will,

turn out a

that Justicia will

trate

remedy

in coryza,

demons^ grand homoeopathic

however,

cough, bronchitis,

suffice

to

etc.

Proving No, III,

Name of the prover

Snsh Chandra Chose.

Aged 32

years.

On

0th of August, 1903, he took 3 (three) drops of Justicia adhatoda at 10 A M. TTie dose was the

1

^ond

given at

4

P. M.,

He did 1

1th

and the 3rd dose

P.

August

6

P,

nostnis.

M.

M.

not feel any uneasiness that day. at

8 A. M.

12 O'clock noon.

5

at 10 P.

He took 3 drops of Justicia.

He took another dose of 3 drops

—He took another dose.

M.— He

experienced a tickling sensation in the

—

;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

224

10 diere

P-

M —^There were well marked symptom of

was watenng from the eyes

there

,

was

coryza

also sneezing

piesent.

more doses 8 A. M. and

JusUcia were taken

12th August.--Two

m three drop doses at

a.

1 1

M

The following symptoms were marked Head Dull headache was present

:

with fulness

and

pressure towards the forehead

There was watering from the eyes, burning

Eyes,

sensation in the eyes

There was

Nose. nose,

was

with

of the nose

and profuse coryza from the sneezing , there was also swelling thwe was total loss of smell and of taste fluent

constant

;

The

jPoce.

also present

face

was

pufb'.

Teeth. There existed shooting which extended to the cheek

Mouth,

Dryness of the mouth

the mouth, throat

Throat, vary sore

;

and tongue were

The

throat

there

was

pains

was all

the

in

present with

as

thirst ;

dry

seemed to be dry and

pain,

teeth

it

was

of exconation in

the

throat.

Appetite.

was

The

appetite

was

totally lost

;

the taste

pMJtrid.

Mespiratory Organs.

There were some parojorsms of

coug^i with stitches in the chest.

Generahties.

There was a well developed symptom

of over-sanisitivcness

to external impressions.

— JUSTICIA

The

ADHATODA

was found lerated , the temperature was 100 of chilliness was present Pulse

pulse

Proving

Mr

W

ISTo

be quick and acce-

to

2"

225

,

creeping sensation

TV,

Richmond, Va published an accidental proving of Jusftaa Adkatoda in the Homoeopathic J. D.

Recorder, of

As

1

C., of

5th July, 1905

the article seems to be very interesting,

but quote and publish "I

learn

delighted to f

had a

dismissed

all

get

I

this

Yesterday,

shall

now be

1

glad sit

down and

things at

—

D.,

I

matters

are

it is

some-

undertook to search

relating to "Justicia

Adhatoda"

a loss as to the orthography of the for one of its syllables, "tod" ^means,

word "Adhatoda" in German language, nightmare, death 0

May

now

meditate.

and much more came about A.

O'clock,

until

business

—

25th,

would be

—2

and a genuine coryza, with succeeding,

very

a chance to

March

some of the

fit

India,

M —^about

P

troubles

I

what as follows

(I

sneezing

m — am

and

How

Ghose, of Calcutta,

and

other suffusions

cannot

it

that this

class

first

about 6 p

out

C

expect Dr S

I

—

—

of that ‘interesting repository the Homoeopadiic Recorder I read and re-read the doctor's account of that East Indian plant, JusUcia Adkatoda . and as I and some other members of our family had "disturbances" that seemed to harmonize with doctor's In the

issue

—

&
thing 15

It

was simple matter and a good time to

—so out of a handful of cut loaf sugar cubes

I

taste the

selected

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

226

about uniform dimensions, and as nearly as I could control matters put about three drops of mother tincture six,

(B and T. brand) of the aforesaid plant on each cube, and from 1 to 4 o'clock P M., the entire 6 cubes, were

one by one with about half-hour

devoured,

intervals, so

as to give myself a chance to cut off the experiment in casf*

some of those

occult.

Indian vaganes should

East

was quiet and tranquil up same 25th, when I had ceased

But every thing

develop.

about 7 P

M

of the

down

to to

a small bowl of soup caused the and rye bread, the “what under the sun can be the matter silent remark have expectations and

—

wtth

my

sat

In

throat

to

spoonful of which

first

as

much

as

I

live entirely solitaire

had to discuss the matter as best I could m monologue and in silence, but went on with the frugal evening meal, and was glad to drop into bed about 8 P M. with a sore throat, suffused eyes, stuffy, stupid-feeling head, and this with all morning (May 26th 1905) got up about 7 those symptoms in good working order, supplemented by

I

am

a very queer sort of headache, the erect brain seemed to flop over into its normal about 7 P M., suffused,

and

position,

position

when the And now,

May 26th, my throat is still sore,

hands pufb' and swollen, feet and I hope very soon to

quite puffy

These four provings

will,

however,

head and eyes and legs swollen “ be in bed

suffice to

demonstrate

Adhatoda has turned out to be an Homoeopathic remedy of our Matena Medica

that

Justicta

excellent

Sympfoms.

Mtnd no

The

desire to

patient

talk

and

is

is

despondent and anxious, has in an angry mood, imtablc,

aemitiv^ to external impressions.

;

JUSTICIA

in

ADHATODA

227

Head, The head is hot, full and heavy , hot the head , throbbing pains over both temples.

sensation

Eyes

Lachrymation with coryza, profuse, fluent, with constant sneezing ; burning of eyes , dimness of vision.

Ears.

Sound

Nose

Profuse coryza with sneezing

intolerable.

of nose associated with snuffle

,

pain and swelling

acute aching pain in the

,

forehead associated with watery, mucous discharges the nostrils

ness in there

,

loss

of smell and taste

dryness of nose, or sometimes

is

Mouth. Pricking sensation up to the mouth mouth is dry, ,

tongue are dry

Throat swallowing

be

,

sometimes

stoppage.

which extends thirst , mouth and

in the te«h,

there

is

white coating of the tongue.

is

Dryness

of

tenacious

mucus

Appetite ,

there

;

sorC"

throat in

pain

,

empty

during

the throat which cannot

by coughing

raised

mouth

,

its

,

Total

putrid taste

,

loss

no

of appetite

;

bad

in

taste

the

desire to eat anything.

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea exists, vomiting while vomiting of mucus , paleness of face and

coughing

,

weakness

after vomiting

Abdomen

Gnawing

pain

excessive ^rgling in the

abdomen

the

abdomen and

hepatic

region

passing of

wind

distended.

Stools.

Loose

the abdomen,

stools

mixed with mucus

,

slight

pain in

better after eating

Bespiratory organs. all

in

over ch^t

,

Dry cough from

hoarseness, larynx painful

sternal ;

re^on

paroxysmal

cough, with suffocative obstruction of respiration

;

cough

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

228

with sneezing across chest

;

warm

close,

coughing

;

cough

severe dyspnoea with

:

asthmatic attacks,

,

tightness

patient cannot

room , whooping cough

the expectorated phlegm

is

endure a vomiting while

,

yellowish or

either

mixed with blood , cough with wheezing sound in the Larynx painful, even to touch. throat. Fever

The

sometimes there

is

rapid,

hard

;

temperature 102®

is chilliness.

an aggravation of cough at night uncomfortable from external noise.

There

Modalities, patient feels

pulse

is

Personal Observations.

a new homoeopathic remedy which has been introduced by me and prepared from an indigenous plant of India. It IS a well-known new homoeopathic remedy. It

is

An

dealing

article

verifications

of

with

the provings and

Justicia Adhatoda was wntten

by

clinical

me and

published in the Homoeopathic Recorder, of Philadelphia

May, 1905 Other papers upon th*s drug from my pen were published in Bevwe Homoeopathique Francaise of Apxil, 1907, Journal Beige d' Homoeopathe, of February, 1907 and in Progress of July and August, 1907 A Synopsis of the article on Justicia was published editorially in the Journal of the British Homoeopathic Society of July, 1905 and in Allegemeine Romoeopathie Zedung of in

20th July, 1905. Dr.

E.

P Anshutz

my — work "New,

has published

article

dealing

drug in his wellknown Old and Forgotten Remedies" published by Boericke and Tafel Also an article from my pen on this drug was published

with

this

JUSTJCIA

ADHATODA

229

the Transactions of the Eighth Quinquennial

in

International

Congress which was held

This drug can also be found

in

in

London

Homoeo. in 1911,

the Materia Mcdica of

Boericke as well as Blackwood

arrester

of hoarseness, and

destroyer

cooling,

is

It

of blood

cough, bronchitis, pneumonia, jaundice,

fever,

pation

vomiting,

Jitfiticia

a

strong

highly efficacious in cold, coryza,

It is

phthisis,

thirst, loss

spitting

of blood,

of appetite and consti^

plays an important part in the disorders of

where sneezing troubles the patient. In whooping cough I have the greatest confidence in it as long as or whenever catarrhal symptoms are noticed The cough of Justicia is incessant and severe The chest seems pregnant with phlegm and the respiratory system.

there

is

In coryza

it is

highly curative

audible rattling of mucus, but very

torated or

It

IS

loosened only with

expectoration consists of

tough,

little is

expec-

The mucus. The

repeated hawking

yellowish

cough of It is sometimes dry, spasmodic, constricted There IS a violent degree of dyspnoea associated with the cough, so

much

so that there

is

great fear of threatened

suffocation.

whooping cough the child loses breath, turns pale, stiff and blue and there is rigidity of the body. There is usually vomiting with the cough and no food or drink is retained by the stomach It has also great loss of appetite and In

there

has

is

also obstinate constipation in the bargain

some

influence

derangement of the In the

first

upon liver

of

is

certainly

stage of phthisis

be a valuable remedy spitting

it

the hepatic system

blood

it

an

Juattcia

In functional

excellent remedy.

will surely

be found to

In this complaint there is usually

The

mucus

membranes

are

dry.

—

;;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

230

sp^i&lly those of the mouth and throat

dry and there

is thirst

and tongue

is

present

symptom of

drug is The patient is easily angered. He is not in irritability. good humour and is very averse to holding any convert

The

characteristic

mental

There is accumulation of gas and gurgling sound can be heard there sation.

m

this

abdomen

the

by numerous homoeopathic physicians of our country and they have found it to be uniformly efficacious in the complaints mentioned above The medicine needs no pleading from me Justicia

Adhatoda has been

tried

Clinical Verifications.

Case No.

The youngest son

M

Whooping Cough

1.

N

of Rai Bahadur D.

Chakrabarti,

B L Zeminder and Ex-Judge, Calcutta High Court,

A.,

,

from a severe attack of Whooping Coui^ for more than two months

had been

He 1911,

suffering

when marked I

the

The whooping cough which

lasted for

my

on following symptoms :

was placed under

treatment

returned periodically

Aug

m

9th

spasms

a long time snd produced extreme exhaus-

boy held each hypochondrium dunng cough there was yellow expectoration which the boy had to swallow. The cough induced the vomiting of food and the boy threw off everything as soon as it was taken the patient was veiy restless and totally sleepless ; there were sometimes paroxysms of severe spasmodic cou^ tion

;

whkh

the

continued

with

uninterrupted

crowing

inspim-

JUSTICIA

ADHATODA

231

boy grew purple and blue m face and was quite exhausted , the patient was worse in the latter part of the night the bowels had not moved for the last two I, at first, prescnbed Drosera 6x, and afterwards days. Coralhun rub 30 ; but none of them could do any good. I then gave him Juaticia adkatoda mother tincture# one

tions

t>ll

the

,

drop, every three hours

August

I

Ith

—

saw the

I

patient at about

9

A. M.

when

was had taken place as soon as the third dose of my remedy was administered I thought that this aggravation was due to the strength of the dose and so I gave him Justicia in lx potency and ordered that one dose of it should be at hearing that

astonished

I

given after each

fit

a

violent aggravation

of coughing

—

went to see the boy at 8 A M, I was I August 12th glad to hear that the boy was somewhat better than before ; the bowels moved this morning ; the boy slept for nearly five hours last night , there was only one fit of coughing during last night , the boy vomited up to II p. m, but since then no vomiting took place although the

had barley water four times. The news made me very happy and I prescnbed JusUcia 3x to be given every patient

four hours. Suffice

It

say that Justicia alone cured the patient

to

perfectly within

a

short period of five days.

Case No.

A

S.

Whooptng Cough,

grandson of Desbandhu C,

R

Das, the leader of the

Swaraiya Party in Bengal, was suffamg from whooping cough. Whooping Cough, was at that time, ra^ng epidemi-

—

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

232 caliy

in that

a few days before Sept

Two

locality

10th, 1931.

I

was

deaths occurred in the family

called in

to

The boy had been under the

of a homoeopathic practitioner of the the following symptoms

my treatment

see the patient

when

the

locality

on

treatment I

marked

boy was placed under

:

The boy coughed

immediately after eating and drink-

and vomited what he had eaten , convulsions appeSpasms of flexors ared during the course of cough predominated , the paroxysms of cough went on without any interruption for a long time and which lingered till the breath was nearly exhausted , the boy became stiff and rigid , there was rattling of mucus in the chest the cough became sometimes dry and sometimes moist , any change of air produced the fit of coughing , the fits were marked to appear every thirty or forty minutes ; there was no appetite , tou^, ropy mucus came out with vomiting , there was obstinate constipation and the bowels ing,

,

did not

move

for the last five days.

I

heard that the

had given him Cuprum, CoralUum Bryonia , but nothing had been found

physician in attendance

ntbr,

Droaera,

efficacious. I

my new

prescribed

remedy, Juaticia adhatoda lx

every hour.

went to see him at 10 A M. I heard He boy was somewhat better than before passed almost a quiet night. There was only one fit of coughing last night, which lasted for only 10 minutes bait there was no convulsion , I also heard that there was a motion in the morning at 8 A. M., which consisted of Sept,

that the

1

1th

1

—

;

JUSTICIA

ADHATODA

233

dry balls mixed with ropy mucus

hard,

one ounce of barley water not throw it off.

Jindicia

presenbed

I

my

in

i

gave the patient

presence, but

adhatoda 3x

to

he did

be given every

two hours. Sept

12th

—

I

saw

bowels were moving

mucus

in the chest

the

boy

regularly

there

,

the patient had appetite

II A.

was no

there

,

M

The

rattling

of

ni^t , the boy appeared to be

was no

now

about

at

,

coughing-fit last

cheerful

prescribed

I

JusUcta 3x every four hours

,

the boy took

more and regained within a week

this medicine for four days

vigour and strength

Ca83

No

S

his

former

Broncho- Pneumonia.

A grandson of late Sir Ashutosh Mukher)i, Kt

,

Ex^ludge,

Calcutta High-Court, aged three years, had an attack of

on Nov

cold

20th,

1930 and

this

attack

brought

on

broncho-pneumonia later on I saw the boy on the 24th Nov 1 930 The following symptoms were visible . The mucous rales were heard distinctly over the chest

was

there

great difficuliy in breathing

able rattling of

the

boy was not

rapid,

as

mucus and

if

short,

at

difficult

;

there

was

consider-

was full of mucus, but all able to bnng it up , there was breathing and the patient seemed, the chest

he would die of suffocation

,

the eyes were congested,

the face was pale and somewhat bloated , was dry and brown ; excessive ihiist was present there was slight drowsin^s prevailing , the tempertaure was found to be 103*4® Antim Tart, in stanng, dull

die

tongue ,

,

;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

234

both 6th and 30th potency was given, but unfortunately it

bnng any good

did not

at all.

Adhafoda Sx every two hours

prescribed Justicia

I

according to the emergency of the case.

Nov

25th

gone fits

;

The

oppression of breathing

was almost coughing

bronchial tubes were almost clear, the

were

still

wzs moist 1014’’at930A M

The same

the temperature

;

was found

to be

medicine was relocated every four hours

Nov

26th

but not so troublesome as before

present,

the tongue

I

saw the

patient

9 A.

at

M

morning.

this

The coughing fits were less frequent ; the bronchial were now clear and there was no rattling of mucus

tubes ,

the

had two motions last night which were mixed with mucus ; the temperature was 100“ in the morning. The same medicine was continued.

patient

Dec.

1.

The temperature was normal

now moving

regularly

;

the

;

the bowels were

boy had a sound

sleep last

night

The same medicine was Dec. 2 ning.

I

given every six hours. this

mor-

marked , some

solid

found the boy to be very cheerful

No other complaints could be

food was given

The boy was

quite all nght within

Case No. Late Babu Lal (Calcutta

High

aji^ 31 years

4.

PMUs^s

Mohan

(3ourt,

who

3 days more

(Incipient Stage).

B L., Ex-judge of the called me to see a relative of his, was suffenng from the first stage of Das,

m,a

,

;

ADHATODA

JUSTICIA

The

Phthisis.

an

had

patient

235

of

attack

pleurisy

had

he

six

been

months before and since He did not care to take suffering from bronchitis proper medicine for his cough , but when the attending time

that

diagnosed the disease as nothing but phthisis

physician

he grew very anxious

saw the patient on November symptoms were marked

I

ing

—

Mind

—Lowness

of

spirits,

The

12th, 1930.

follow-

he was oversensitive to

externa! impressions

— Burning sensation on the forehead. Face —The face was very pale there were Head*

,

blue rings

around eyes.

—The tongue was very and there excessive cold water Abdomen.—^There was obstinate constipation Mouth

thirst

for

Respiratory in

the lungs

,

system.

there

—There

was

there

was

which

the expectoration patient

was

dry,

while

coughing,

—

felt

prescribed Justicia

blood-coloured

rusty,

Ijnng

Fever ^The patient were also night sweats I

across the chest

fits

grew worse while .

to tremble

pain

constrictive

of coughing with haemoptysis after dyspnoea and short breathing appeared

frequent

severe

was

also tightness

whole body was seen

the

was

dry,

on the

;

the

left side.

chilly every

adhatoda 3x

to

evening

,

there

be given every

four hours

November this

morning

;

I4th.

I

heard a ‘good report of the patient

die bowels

moved

last

night

;

the cough

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

236 0

was easy,

the expectoration

present, but

still

W nj'iwrv

V''*-

tJ-s.

..jrvj'n,

and there was no

spitting

^

^

was moist and

of blood since yesterday

November 6th— A decided improvement was wrought by Ju’iticia. There was no fever last evening, the cough 1

did not trouble the patient every

was no

of blood

spitting

,

now and

there

then

was no

there

difficulty

The patient was experiencing greater before. The same medicine was continued

breathing

than

.

in

relief

—

November 20th ^The paleness of the face was nearly gone there was great appetite for food , there were only three or four negligible attacks of cough during twenty four houm ; there was no fever, no night sweat appeared, and the bowels were moving freely and regularly. ,

The by

clusively

cured of

dreadful disease

this

a month more.

success of this typical case will forcibly illustrate

this drug.

the usefulness

my firm

It is

and

conviction that

a valuable homoeopathic drug

This drug

is

will not

do

curative it

will

in

and con-

virtues

of

be recognized

the near

future.

producing magical results in the hands of

our Indian Ayurvedic it

fully

taking Justicia alone for

The

as

was

patient

the

same

Case No.

The second

and I do not know why as a homoeopathic remedy

practitioners,

service 5,

daughter of

Whooping Cough.

Roy

Jatindra

Nath Chowdhury,

Zeminder of Nakipur, who was three years of age, had an attack of whooping cough and had been suffenng from this obstinate malady for more than one month The girl was, from the beginning of the attack, placed under the treatment of several eminent homoeopathic practitioner

JUSTICIA ADHATODA.

of Calcutta, and they did progress of the disease

the disease

and

was

utmost to arrest the further but in spite of their endeavours

their ,

seen to increase by leaps

to catch hold of the

girl

was

girl

equally unsuccessful suffenngs of

the

curing,

in

On

girl

girl

by some

treated

and bounds

with firm grasp

TTie homoeopaths treated the

then the

237

or

and who were

for eleven days

allopaths,

rather mitigating the

the nineteenth day of their

treatment the condition of the

girl

grew very

serious

and

created serious misgivings as to the result of the case.

On the 2nd

November, 1930 the girl had some cough" mg fits which appeared to last longer than before At 10 A M. of that day the girl had a fit which lingered for more than twenty minutes, after which the little patient became stiff, and there was not the least sign of animation

The

relatives

began

to cry

,

of the

thought her to be dying and

girl

but the attending physician sent a messenger

went there at IMO A.M. and There was still no animation. examined the However, I gathered the following information from the physician in charge. The girl had an obstinate constipation

in hot

haste to me. girl

1

minutely.

and the bowels did not move until mechanical measures were taken , the fits of cough were very violent and appeared almost after the

there

fits

was

,

there

rattling

hourly

was

extreme prostration

,

came on

generally vomiting while coughing,

of mucus in the chest and

fine rales

were audible , there was no fever ; the girl was very restl^s and always crying there was no appetite and ,

she was very unwilling to take even the mother's milk;

cough was seen to be worse after crying

These

particulars

led

me

to

presenbe three

small

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

238

lx

globules medicated with

I

watched

theeflfect

I gave the remedy and waited for ten minutes second dose after ten minutes and yet another dose was The girl, to my intense }oy and utter amazement gisren

of

this

of the spectators, displayed unmistakable signs of vitality wth sharp cries, but there was no cough This was, no doubt, a hopeful indication of its action I

left

three

powders of Justiaa

attending physician to give I

The

went

to

the

see

father of the

girl

and

lx

instructed the

one powder every three hours.

girl

again at

me

thanked

IIP. M. that night very

much

for the

medicine which had, no doubt, done yeomen's service in the mitigation of the disease so long resisting almost every heard a good report of the girl. I kind of medicine

The bowels moved

at 3

PM.

naturally for the

first

time

and the stool consisted of hard dry balls, mixed with tough and purulent mucus, and she was given two ounces of milk which she took eagerly, but there was no vomiting JuUicia 3x was given eveiy 5 hours. at all There was more improvement this day The bowels had been moving naturally and there were

November 4

only

five

fits

of coughing during twenty-four hours

The

had been drmking milk with an amount of eagerness which could not be found a month before. The same girl

medicine was continued.

November the

girl

6.

The cough had

appeard to be

The same

totally

disappeared and

jolly.

medicine was given every

six hours.

The girl

regained her former vigour and strength within a fortnight.

Leucus Aspera. CDrono.)

Names.

Comnaon Guldera

—Sam —Drona ,

jSeafli.—- Dandakalasa

;

pushpi

Punj,-^ Kulannaphul, Teh ;

Kumki Natural order.— Labiatae Description of Shrub.— \t

and

IS

found

India

in

It

is

a small shrub which grows

has

©{pressed a peculiar strong odor It

long leaves is

and when

emitted from the juice

bears white flowers

Allopathic opinions.

Comtituents . oil

and an

—There

is

a small quantity of

It

is

alkaloid

Action and

Uses

—

stimulant, exp©::torant

apenent. given in jaundice, cough, nasal and catarrh.

essential

It is

and

intestinal

also externally applied in skin erruption. (is.

N. Khory. Part

ZT, p. 485.)

R. N. Chopra says {—Insecticide; used in cold, aabies

and

snake^'bite.

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

The Hindu dysentery,

phyacians have found

mucous

worm complaints.

it

useful in cough,

complaints, jaundice,

anasarca,

and

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

240

They have coughs and

also praised

its

colds, intestinal

therapeutic virtues in laryngeal

amenorrhoea,

catarrh,

bilious

derangements, intermittent fevers associated with theenlarge^

ment of bite

liver

and

of snakes and

spleen, loss of appetite, skin affections,

insects

Bhabaprakaak has recommended intermittent fevers and jaundice.

usefulness

its

in

—Leaves and flowers Dose —Juice, M to 2 Parts Used.

tolas.

Homoeopafhic Uses.

No

made up

proving of this drug has been

to this

some homoeopaths of our country have prepared and are using this drug in the complaints in which the Hindu physicians have spoken highly of it time, but

tincture

Its

Two homoeopaths of our country ful

have found it success-

m two cases of snake-bite. In snake-bite the

mother tincture

is

to

the part bitten externally, and internally

10 to 15 drops per dose, every 15 to

it

be applied over should be given

20 minutes

until

the

patient feels better.

In scorpion-bites

of us.

and

its action has been witnessed by some By the administration of this tincture, both internally

externally, burning pains disappear within

a very

short

time.

Th^ fevers,

due

have also successfully used

asthma,

nasal catarrh, scabies

to bilious disorders.

it

and

in all

intermittent

complaints

Leucus Aspera. CDrono.)

Names.

Comnaon Guldera

—Sam —Drona ,

jSeafli.—- Dandakalasa

;

pushpi

Punj,-^ Kulannaphul, Teh ;

Kumki Natural order.— Labiatae Description of Shrub.— \t

and

IS

found

India

in

It

is

a small shrub which grows

has

©{pressed a peculiar strong odor It

long leaves is

and when

emitted from the juice

bears white flowers

Allopathic opinions.

Comtituents . oil

and an

—There

is

a small quantity of

It

is

alkaloid

Action and

Uses

—

stimulant, exp©::torant

apenent. given in jaundice, cough, nasal and catarrh.

essential

It is

and

intestinal

also externally applied in skin erruption. (is.

N. Khory. Part

ZT, p. 485.)

R. N. Chopra says {—Insecticide; used in cold, aabies

and

snake^'bite.

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

The Hindu dysentery,

phyacians have found

mucous

worm complaints.

it

useful in cough,

complaints, jaundice,

anasarca,

and

LuHa Amara. CTi(polla).

CommonNamesr-Sans — Dhamarjab, Beng —Titpolla Natural order

— Cucurbitaceae

BeHcription of the plant —The fruit leaves of the plant are extremely bitter

IS

juice,

seeds and

Actions and Uses —It is generally used as a tonic , it also used in splenic enlargement and in fevers associated

with the enlargement of spleen. !t

causes diarrhoea and vomiting

an excellent remedy for the irntation and inflammation It is also used in hepatic of gastric mucous membrane It is

congestion

and

diuretic, bitter,

enlargement

It

is

emetic,

purgative,

and tonia

Cases of Poisoning. Case No.

L

Babu Bamapada Jana, of Midnapore, suffered from He got cured of the disease, chronic fever for some time but grew very

He

weak

consulted a Sannyasi

who

advised him to take

the juice of Titpolla eveiy day at least for his

a

fortnight for

weakness It

was very unfortunate

ask the talcs

Bamapada Babu did not Sannyasi how much quantity of the juice he would

every day.

that

LUFfA AMARA.

He

24 ^

took one ounce of the juice at a time and

this

was

taken on the 6th June, 1900

at

He took another ounce of the 7 A M From 8 A M of that day

stools

and

to vomit every fifteen

on the

juice

he began

to

7th June

pass loose

or twenty minutes.

The

some times like rice-> character of the stool was water and some times mixed with mucus He vomited bile and water There was no pain associated with stool or vomiting and latterly stool and vomiting occurred simultaneously The face was pale, the extremities were cold and covered with clammy perspiration. The pulse was very feeble He felt some pain in the region of spleen and liver as well watery,

At

this stage

arrived

I

on

the spot

and undertook

his

treatment

With the was cured.

administration of Ricinus

Case No.

Another case of a

m

1899.

A

full

Communis 6 he

IL

similar nature

happened

at

Midnapore

report of the poisoning, together with

was published by me in the North Amencan Journal of Homoeopathy of New York, edited by late Dr Eugene H. Porter, M D. U is very unfortunate that I have lost the Volume in which the article dealing with the case of poisoning was published in the North A. J. of Homoeopathy Its

cure,

Case No. HI.

Babu

Srish

Ch.

take Titpolla juice,

Ganguly, of Khulna, was advised to

one ounce

at

a

time,

every day

m

the

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

244

He

took one ounce of the juice as the 2nd February, 1928

morning, as a tonic advised

on

One hour after this,

—

ing appeared

the following

— He

and Vomiting became gradually

Stools

which

symptoms of

began

watery,

to pass

and

poison-

loose stools

like

rice-water

no pain was associated , every twenty or Vomiting of water and bile and somewith purging Sometimes times of mucus appeared every half an hour thirty

minutes

both vomiting and purging took place simultaneously Thirst

Considerable

Mouth.

Mouth was diy

Sensation

thirst

was present

Burning sensation

body , sometimes he

was

present

all

over the

felt chilliness

Region of Liver and

Some

s/pleen

pain was

felt in

these regions, relieved by pressure.

lasts —Taste was

Mind.

was

Dejected

bitter

and anxious

called in to treat this case as well

prescribed 1 Ricinus 6 which cured the patient of all his complaints I

Clinical Verifications. I

from LufFa Amara Fruit juice Formula No. 1 and used it in three cases

prepared a

according to

tincture

of cholerine with remarkable success

Case Not

My 2nd son Dr

I

Santosh Kumar Chose began to pass

loose stools from the morning of 5th

Nov

,

1928

The

— LUFFA AMARA

245

became watery at about 0 A M and he began to vomit There were no cramps and no pains with the stools, but there were dryness of mouth with extreme thirst, giddiness of head, ringing m the ears and exhaustion The urine was stopped and the pulse was weak stools

1

Lnffa Aniara, 6 one dose

prescribed

1

another

dose

at

These two doses

1

1-30

A

M when

at

1 1

A

M

he passed

arrested the progress of the disease

passed urine at 2 P

and stool

He

M Case No. II

The second son

of Mr.

Romjan Shaikh had an

attack of

on the 3rd March 1930 which gradually turned Cholerine with the following symptoms

d'arrhoea

.

into

—The loose

StooU like

ncc'Water

and

there

He

was no

Vomiting.

stools gradually

began to pass

became watery and

stools every thirty minutes

pain.

—Vomiting took

place every half^an-hour or

later

—Pulse was perceptible, but very feeble. Thirst — Excessive was present with dryness of

Pulse

thirst

tongue Sensation.

—Burning

sensation

all

over the body was

present.

Body and I

exti cmeifes.—Cold with perspiration,

prescribed

huffa Amara

6,

one dose

after

each

spell

of vomiting or purging. It

acted

short time.

like

a magic to cut short the disease in a very

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

246

Case

Babu

III.

Cham Ch

diarrhoea

He

No

Bose of Tullygunge had an attack of on a sudden on 8th March 1 930 at 6 A M

all

began to

nA M

pass

yellowish loose stools

every

hour

became purely watery and vomiting appeared. There was no pain before or during stools Vomiting sometimes came on along with the passage of aools Thirst was present, he experienced giddiness of I prescribed head and became anxious and restless Lvffa Amara 6 to be given after every stool. Three doses of this medicine were enough to stop the purging and At

the stools

vomiting altogether

Remarks.

The

previous cases

and

pure

provings,

thereupon can, for sure indications

all

of

poisoning are tantamount to

simple, practical

how and when

and the symptoms

elicited

purposes, be regarded as to

employ

this

The

drug.

of the fmit brought on diarrhoea and vomiting without any pain whatever. It is the charactenstic of lUice

the diarrhoeic variety of Cholera that

it sets in with a slow and insidious march It comes on with an attack of diarrhoea for hours as the case may be, either gradually

turning

choleraic

into

bursting forth

vomiting

evacuations

or

all

on a sudden

with an unexpected spell of

No

cramps are

visible,

purging or

hardly any colicky

pain before, during or after the passage of stool.

In this

type of diarrhoea. Luffa Amara^ like Ricinus Commums, will play Its role in checking and curing it The principal

symptoms following

for

—

which

it

may

be

employed

are

Profuse painless evacuations, the stools

the

may

,

LUFFA AMARA

247

be watery, like rice-water or watery, mixed with rrucus there may be suppression of urine or none , considerable vomiting every now and then of water, bile or mucus , simultaneous vomiting and purging , forehead IS bathed with perspiration , pulse is feeble and extremely weak or it may be imperceptible , whole body or extremities appear to be cold From the symptoms adduced before, 1 am firmly of opinion that Luffa Amara will prove to be for diarrhoeic variety of Cholera or acute remedy valuable a diarrhoea associated with the symptoms cited above. thirst

exists

,

Mode of Preparation ding to Formula

Dilution

—

I

—The tincture

of the A.

lx, 3x,

is

prepared accor-

H. P

6 potencies are

generally used

Luffa Bindal COitosalafa).

Common Names,— Sans — Debdali, Natural order

—Cucurbitaceae

Description of the plant. India ajid

is

Koshataki

one of the

common

a

is

It

of Jhingha

varieties

Every part of the plant, leaves,

Indica

are

fruits

Its

small having a resemblance to the fruits of

plant in

Cephalandra stems, etc.

fruits,

are bitter

and Opinions.

Allopathic Uses

R. N. Khory in kis Materia Medica of India, Part II,

p Bi2

—

writes

"Every part of the plant

is

tonic

bitter,

and

and, combined with nitrohydrochlonc acid,

dropsy and in enlargement of the

The

to malarial poison sores IS

and

to

)u»ce

the bites of

emetic and cathartic

The

snuff in laundice

late

Dr

was famous

as

uses of

about *'I

fruits

many

this

Hem Ch an

is

infusion

The

in

applied to

The

venomous animals

used as a purgative and emetic

and used as a

given

is

and spleen due

liver

of the leaves

The

diuretic

pulp

of ripe seeds

dried fruit

is

is

powdered

''

Sen,

MD

of Calcutta

who

investigator relating to the actions

and

indigenous drugs of India, wrote the following

plant

—

have been using Luffa Bindal or the stems and the of Ghosalata for a long

time

in

the Campbell

LUrf-A riND’^L

I

if

have corpe used as a

many

to

with

use,

to the conclusion that the fruits or even stems,

hot or cold infusion, are superior

tincture or

remedies that

and enlarged

ascites

From prolonged

practice

private

Hospital an-i in

249

liver

in

and spleen

The

rectified spirit

have used

I

strength

1

1

the treatment of

make

the tincture

generally use

is

1

in

20 minims or more- The cold infusion is made bv infusing two bruised fruits in a pint of water In obstinate cases the dose is to be increased gradually I have used it m larger doses to get the desired effect Externally, have used the cold infusion as a stimulating and antiseptic lotion in carbuncles and other unhealthy ulcers The result is very promising I can

The

20

usual

dose

10 to

is

1

strongly

recommend

treatment of foul

drug to the medical world

this

ulcers after

m the

a prolonged use of many

and outside In congestion of the brain causing intense headache and in jaundice I have used this infusion as an errhine It is a very efficient years, both in hospital

errhine

remedy.

Profuse

discharge

is

noticed under

its

from the nasal mucous membrane In 10 to Incases 15 minim doses the tincture acts as a purgative of enlarged liver and spleen I have found this drug to be very useful It is to be stopped when it produces diarrhoea In chronic cases I generally use iodide of potassium and influence

arsenic with tincture or infusion of Luffa It

may produce

diarrhoea

The

according to the effect produced

of the

liver

diuretic

It

is

diuretic in

and

in

diuretic

many

to

carelessly,

be regulated cirrhosis

infantile

very useful in commencing cirrhosis

to It

In

is

used

have used the tincture as a purgative and

I

a very useful Its

dose

If

dropsy of hepatic

origin.

drastic purgative properties,

I

It is

Owing

have used

cases of ascites with highly satisfactory results

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

250

have used many diuretics in them appear to me to be so Often in a fortnight many considerably It is to be used

ascites,

1

closes

the desired diuretic

until

(H

obtained

C

Sen

but very few of Luffa Bindai.

efficient as

cases

ascites

gradually

in

and

improve increasing

purgative

—Original

effect

m

Researches

Treatment of Tropical Diseases with Indigenous pp. 97 98)*

is

the

Drugs,

—

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

The Hindu

worms, cough, colicky and leprosy.

Ckarak has found and

recommended its use in piles and flatulence, scrofula

physicians have pains,

it

useful in

leprosy,

piles,

jaundice,

scrofula

Parts used.

The whole

plant

Dose —Decoction of fruits and

and the

leaves, 5 to 10 tolas

Homoeopathic Uses of

No

this

Drug.

proving of this drug has yet been made, but

tincture

is

its

being used by a few of us with considerable

The homoeopaths

benefit

spleen and in

this

respect

Americanus admirably In

ripe fruit

are using it

has

it

in cases of enlarged

supplanted Ceonathus

well.

and various trouble arising out of its action as a homoeopathic remedy

gallstone colic

die disorders of liver

has been verified by us In chronic

malarial fevers associated

and enlargement of the can safely be tried.

swellings

liver

with

and

dropsical

spleen,

it

LUFFA BINDAL

251

and can be used externally Acute and chronic nasal with success is cured by its employment , those who are catarrh very susceptible to cold or changes of weather or those who are attacked with catarrh off and on, and suffer from It for a long time, are specially benefited by this drug It

controls piles satisfactorily

over the

piles

Mode of Ptepmation tincture

Dll.

Formula Ix,

1

of the

A

— In

the

H. P

is

.

preparation

adopted

3x and 6x potencies are generally used

of the

Menispernum. CRaltfa Kanfkalia) It IS

a small shrub growing in India

No

proving of

tincture has

this

drug has yet been made, but a

been made and

is

it

some homoeox

being used by

paths of our country in menorrhagia with great success

The of

following symptoms will guide us in the selection

medicine

this

—

The colour of the blood is red and it is clotted and liquid The patient becomes awfully weak— giddtnes of head and ringing in the ears are present

The blood aggravated by

oozes out of the uterus constantly which

movement

The mind becomes despondent undigested stools associated with It

is

is

thirst

The

patient

passes

and want of hunger

generally used in copious bleeding during the time

of the menses or

m any uterine haemorrhage

The

patient

becomes extremely weak on account of excessive bleeding ; the blood oozes out of the uterus and the haemorrhage gets worse during or from movement These are the guiding symptoms of this drug. It IS also employed successfully in menstrual or uterine haemorrhage where there is pain in the lower abdomen and blood is bright red or is mixed with clots and copious

It IS

also useful in those cases

from excessive haemorrhage

where the

after delivery-

Mode of Preparation.— ¥orm{i\&. No. IS

patients su0er

1

of the

adopted

Ikl

lx, 3x,

6x potencies generally used.

A H

P.

Nycfanfhes Arbor-Trbfis. (Shephalika). Xijctanthes Atbor-tnsfis

is

now

remedy of our Materia Medica fresh leaves of Shephalika {St uU)

It

a

listed

has been prepared from

This new homoeopathic

remedy was proved by me and it has to be a valuable homoeopathic remedy

A short written

by

homoeopathic

now

turned out

Materia Medica concerning Nyctanthes

me and

of January,

published in the Homoeopathic

Another

1901

article

was contributed by

me

published in the

Homieopathic

relating to

was

World

this

dmg

North American Journal of Hommopathy of June, 1901, I was requested by the eminent French Homoeopath, Dr Leon Simon, of Pans, to write an article on this drug for the French Homoeopathic Medical Society and I complied with his kind That article was translated by Dr Simon and request presented to their Society and subsequently published in die Benue Homoeopathie Francaise of July, August and September, 1902 Another contribution from my pen regarding this drug was published in the Cleveland Medical and Surgical Reportm of July, 1903 A full account of the proving and clinical verifications of this drug was

The

Editors of

my

translated

published

it

in

H.

Clarke,

AUgemeine article

June

The eminent

to the

2,

J?tfcorder of April, 1904

Homoeopathische

dealing

with

Zeitung

Nyctanthes

and

1904

Bntish homoeopath, the late Dr.

M. D. was so very pleased with

its

John

efficacy

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

254

he has incorporated it in monumental \NOtV.— Dictionary

that

“P/ escnfte? ” and his of Practical Matena

his

Medica

W

Boericke, M D. and Dr Blackwood of Dr America have published it in their welhknown works on My original article Homoeopathic Matena Medica dealing with this new drug has been published in ‘'New,

The

late

Old and Forgotten Remedies’' written by Dr E P Anshutz and pubhsed by Boericke & Tafel of U S A.

Common Names of Shephalika,

in

the plant Siuli

Bengali,

,

In Sanskrit

in

it

is

called

Hindi, Harsinghar

,

in

Tamil, Paghala— Malh

Jasmisnaceae

Natural order

Parts Employed.

Fresh leaves

March

Time of collecting.

to April.

Ayurvedic Uses. Chakradatta.

O) h

(1)

It

is

used in

all

kinds

of

fever.

useful in a:iatica.

Allopathic Opinion. Constituents

(Nyctanthine)

and

Resin colounng matter,

an

oily

Actions and uses.

and given with

intermittent fevers.

As

alkaloid

pnnciple, similar to the

of pippermint. (R. N, Khoiy, Vol

bruised

and

11,

oil

P. 436).

antiperiodic, the fresh leaves, are

sugar or fresh ginger, in obstinate

The powdered

seeds are used locally to remove the scurf from the head The decoction or the infusion is used as an alterative in obstinate cases of

— .WCTANTHES sciatica

and rheumatism {R grains of the

About 5

mRBOR.TRISTIS

255

N

Khory, Vo! H, p 436) bark are eaten with Betelnut and expectoration of thick phlegm.

promote the (Dymock, Vol II, p 376). leaf to

Homceopalthic Uses and Materia Medica. says in his Materia Medica, 9th Edition, page 479

and

"Bilious

rheumatism Ifead

remittent

obstinate

fever

Boericke

—

sciatica

,

,

constipation of children

,

Anxious and

restless

,

dull

headache

tongue

;

coated

Stomach. cation, thirst,

Burning sensation, better from cold appli^ bitter vomiting

Abdomen.

Tenderness of

liver,

profuse bilious

stool

with nausea, constipation

Fever.

Dose.

and during

Thirst, before

vomiting at close of chill

chill

and heat

,

bitter

sweat not marked

,

Tincture, drop doses.

Leading uses It is an expectorant, bitter and tonic, febrifuge, and mild purgative It is used in bilious and obstinate remittent fever, sciatica and rheumatism It is also very useful in constipation of children.

The

Charartensttcs.

from Dr J Medica (Vol

H II,

"Nyctanthes having

brilliant,

Thus

reproduce

Clarke's Dictionary of Pradacal Part is

I,

pages 631-632)

a small

tree

till

during

of the Jasmine

evening and which the

Matem

:

highly fragrant, flowers, white

which do not expand sunrise.

following lines are

family,

and yellow,

fall

off

day the plant loses

about all

its

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

256

and hence is called ‘The sad Tree’ (Arbor^^tnstiJ "Nyctanthes' means 'Night flowering* brightness,

C

Ghosh has given an account of the medicinal properties of this plant (Homoeopathic World, xxvi, 24) He has used it extensively in cases of bilious and remittent fevers, rheumatism and sciatica, and the constipation of It is bitter, children. tonic and expectorant and a mild S.

In the fever there

purgative

before and during and bitter vomiting at close of chill Not much sweat Ghosh compares it with Eupat. Perf He has made a short ” is

thirst

chills

proving of

it

Sympioms

for

Mwd.—The patient Head

,

—Dull headache

or yellowish

Adminisfraiion.

very anxious and

is

Mouth —The tongue

ifs

exists

is

enveloped with a

.d-fedowiew.—There felt in

thick, whitish

fur.

Siomac/i —Great burning sensation the stomach, relieved by cold application

are

restless.

is

is

experienced in

tenderness of the liver

the hepatic region,

which

stitches

very sensitive

to

Nausea and VomtUng—MiOMs vomiting comes on

at

is

touch

every draught

Urine.—The unne

is

high^oloured.

Fever It is very efficacious dominance of bilious symptoms before and during chill and heat , at

the close of chill

,

m

all

fevers,

with pre-

Insatiable thirst exists

vomiting appears may or may not be

bitter

constant nausea

NYCTANTHES

restless

,

causes

drinking

present;

ARBOR-TRISTIS

vomiting,

the

constipation or bilious stools

257

patient

is

perspiration

very is

not

Chandra Ghosh, M.D Age 28. took five drops of 1900, at 8 AM

On

,

generally marked.

Pioi'ing No,

Fiorer,

—Sarat

January 28,

I

the

Immediately afterwards burning

of Nyctanthes sensation and uneasiness were

tincture

PM

At 2 other

1,

new

felt in

the stomach

took another dose of symptom was experienced

five

I

No

drops.

At 6 P M I took the third dose Tasteless eructations were prominently marked and nauseating tendency was present.

On tincture

took seven times of the five-drop doses and the following symptoms

m

appeared

1900

29th,

January,

I

—

Nervous system.

—

became very

I

fevensh, anxious

and

restless.

Head — Dull headache was

present.

Abdomen.

the

—^Tenderness of

in

the hepatic region which

— Great

Stomcush. felt

in the

liver

was very

,

stitches

were

felt

sensitive to touch.

burning sensation and uneasiness were

stomach, better from cold application.

Stools.

—Profuse

bilious

stools

came on which were

accompanied by nausea

Nausea and and vomiting appeared

Tongue 17

—

It

Distressing nausea

was

at every draught.

was coated with a

thick

whiti^

fur.

present

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

258

Moiith,

—^The

for cold water

was

mouth was

and

intensely dry

great

thiia:

present

— The urine became high-coloured Temperaiure —^The temperature of the Tlrirye.

found to be

body was

100®.

Proving No, 2 Prover

.

— My wife. Aged

19

of Nyctanthes in ten (10) drop doses four times daily and continued the medicine for two She was in good health when the proving was days

She took the

made upon her

tincture

In

her case the

following

symptoms

appeared.

—She grew Head — headache appeared. Abdomen —Tenderness of the was Stomach —Severe burning and uneasiness JftTwi.

restless.

Slight

,

liver

.

felt

.

CTiced in the stomach, better

from cold application.

—She passed purely bilious

Stools

were expen-

stools every

now and

then and nausea was present

Moxdh

.

—^The mouth was dty and intense

water was present;

but the drinking of

thirst for

cold

water induced

vomiting,

The

tongue was enveloped with a yellowish

fur.

Urine.

—^The urine became high-coloured

Fever —The temperature of the body was seen to rise above the normal standard and it gradually rose to 101® within four hours.

,,

NYCTANTHES

ARB0R-TRISTI3

255^

Clinical Cases.

Case No.

A Head

lady at the house of

Master,

Town

1.

Babu

i

C

Chakraverty, B

School, Midnapore,

was

A

from

suffering

No medicine a complicated attack of intermittent fever marked the following symptoms could give her any relief when I took her under my treatment i

—^The patient was very anxious and Eyes —Violent burning in the eyes was present Stomach. —Great uneasiness was experienced about the

3find

restless

.

epigastric region

Hypochondria was present, filling

— En\exgement

of the spleen and liver in nearly half of the abdominal cavity experienced patient pain in the region of the liver, the increased

on pressure

—Her bowels did

Stools

was no

not

move

desire for it, constipation

was

for ten days

;

there

present with pain

in the bowels.

Urine

—^The

Limbs

—Slight dropsical

urine

was very scanty and

high-coloured.

swelling of the hands

and

feet

appeared

longue fur,

.

—^The "tongue

the taste

was

was enveloped with a

bitter

Ftdse

—The pulse was very weak and small,

Feuer

—The

appeared

whitish

fever

was double

quotidian in type

irregularly.

Before attach.

—

Slight thirst

and yawning appeared.

and

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

260

Stage of cfeW— Chill came on with great cold water, accompanied by pains in the stomach Stage of heat

of

— Heat with

bile during heat

,

was

thirst

fever^blisters

present

around

— Sweat was absent Stage of Apyrexta.—Apyrexia was

lips

thirst

,

for

vomiting

were

noticed

Stage of sweat.

ciation

and

debility

were present

^

prescribed Nyctavthes

I

in five

repeated every three hours

and took

be informed by the evening

if

I

came

never clear, ema-

drop doses,

to

be

leave, requesting to

the bowels did not move

to learn the following morning that the patient

This medicine was had a motion the previous evening persistently used and at the end of four days the dropsical After a week swellings of the hands and feet vanished the tongue became clean, the bowels began to move regularly, appetite

was

restored

Case

A

boy, aged 7,

for sometime.

The

was

and the

No

2.

from

suffering

fever

fever disappeared

came on

intermittent

fever

every evening at 7 P M.

Bilious Violent thirst was present during chill and fever Bowels were constipated I vomiting was present pres^ cnbed Nyctanthes

Case No.

A

woman, aged

for ten days.

eleventh day. nently

I

was

suffering

following

from

remittent fever

my treatment on the symptoms were most promi-

took her under

The

marked:—

68,

S.

NYCTANTHES V V

V*

irf-W

s,*'

-vA'sjtu'

.5^

—The

iWio«s

ARBOR-TRISTIS

'll.

261 ^

aim.^iw%

was very anxious and

patient

restless.

Tontjue.—’Xh^ tongue was coated with a whitish fur

— Intense headache was present Abdomen — Stitches were in the Head.

felt

which was very sensitive

hepatic region

to touch

Nausea and Vomiting

—

Bilious vomiting

came on

after

drinking

Stomach.

— Great

m

the

followed by burning fever.

At gave

burning

sensation

was

felt

stomach, better from cold application Stools .

—Profuse

Fever.

— Chilliness was

first

I

thought

Nijctanthes

The

bilious stools, with nausea.

of prescribing

Eupat.

0 in order to examine its

perf,

but

I

therapeutic properties.

found the temperature to be normal. Vomiting and purging disappeared as soon as the third dose was administered The patient was cured by this medicine next morning

I

Case No.

4.

The son of Babu Sarada Kanto

Chatteriee

was

suffering

from a malignant type of ague with great constipation. He was treated by some Allopaths and native Kavirajes for nearly five months,

but

no

perceptible

improvement

He was wrought by the administration of their remedies made a I was eventually placed under my treatment which revealed the following thorough examination symptoms

— MtTid —Weakness .

alone,

great

fear

of memory, dread of death and restlessness were present

when ;

the

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

262

anywhere, and changed

patient could not find rest

place

continually

E'j/es.— Burning in eyes

was

present.

—The swelling of the face appeared. and ulcers the mouth were Lower face — Sore Face

in

lips

.

seen

Stomach —Great anxiety about the was present

epigastric region

—

Hypochondria There was perceptible enlargement the liver and spleen

of

—^The bowels did not move for six days

Stools

Z7n7*e.—The urine was scanty and high-coloured

Ton^.—Ths. tongue was Fever

..

chill

—^The

,

the taste

was

bitter

fever appeared generally in the morning

appeared with

Heat

white

thirst

—Heat

^taqe .

with

thirst,

vomiting of bile dunng

heat.

Sweating stage

Apyrexia at 10

—No sweat.

—^There

or II p,M

was

clear

intermission

every

day

Paroxysms were marked by the controlling

influence of chilliness. I

prescribed Nyctanthes

hours.

&

two-drop doses cvety four This medicine moved the bowels freely. Aft©in

a week's treatment the tongue became clear, the app^ite was restored and the fever left the patient.

NYCTANTHES

ARBOR-TRISTIS

Case Xo.

The son

M N

Mr

of

Collector of Midnapur, associated with bilious sixth

26 ?

f).

Roy, Deputy Magistrate and

was suffering from symptoms for five

remittent fever,

day the boy was placed under my treatment.

— the following symptoms

—The patient was somewhat Tongue, —^The tongue was enveloped

Mind.

On

days. I

the

marked

restless.

with a whitish

fur

Nausea and Vomiting vomiting were

Stomach.

was

—

nausea and

Distressing

bilious

troubling the patient.

—Great

oppression at the

pit

of the stomach

felt.

Stools.-— Profuse bilious stools were present

3foutk.

—^The

mouth was dry and

great thirst

was

present

Chest.

— Dry

cough came on when the fever began

to

rise 1

prescribed Nyctardhes

0

in three-drop doses every

The next morning I found the tcmpciauirc three hours to be normal. Vomiting and purging vanished as soon as the third dose

was

administered

Case

The son of Mr.

G C

No

6,

Dutt,

Deputy Magiarate of

Midnapur, was suffering from an attack of

The

fever

Violent

thirst

fever for

some time

at about

7 A.M.

intermittent

came on every morning was present dunng all

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

264

Bilious vomiting

the stages.

The bowels were 1

all right

Mr R L

in three-drop doses

The

within three days.

Maitra,

with

attacked

in the heat stage

constipated

prescribed Nyctanthes

boy was

was

came on

Case

No

MA,

Principal,

fever

7

Midnapur College, following symptoms

The

troubled the patient.

Mind — He was

very

restless.

—The tongue was coated with a whitish Nausea and vomiting.— Nausea came on from Tongue

fur.

commencement

of

the

Vomiting

fever

the

apoeared

subsequently

—^The bowels were constipated Temperature —^The temperature of the

Stools.

I

prescribed

all right

Nyctanthes

iP

body was

105*.

He was

in three-drop doses

within three days.

Case No. 8

The second

daughter of

fever fifth

Mr S C. Majumder,

and Collector, was She was placed under

Magistrate

A

day.

symptoms

suffering

my

careful examination

from

treatment

Deputy

intermittent

from the

revealed the following

*

Nervous system.

—Capricious humor,

great anxiety

and

restlessness existed

Brain —Giddiness was present , headache with drawing pain in tmples.

NYCTANTHES

ARBOR-TRISTIS

265

— Heaviness of the eyes, with pain in the temples Mouth — Dryness of the mouth odour and Eyes

,

oflFcnsive

profuse salivation.

— Dryness of the throat Stomach. — Great burning sensation TkroaL

was

felt

in the

stomach, better from cold application Stools

began to

— Watery, bilious stools appeared when the fever

rise

Nausea and vomiting.

—Vomiting

came on

at every

draught

—The urine was scanty and high-coloured, Fever.—The fever appeared to every day Urine

rise

There was no

morning

External surface

in the

full intermission.

—Diy heat was present

No

perspi-

ration existed

^

and copious perspiration set On the third in as soon as the fourth dose was given. day of my treatment found a full remission of fever The fever did not rise since that time Only Nyctanthes I

prescribed Nyctanthes

1

cured the patient.

Case

No

9.

The son from

of Babu Panchanon Majumder was suffering intermittent fever with bilious symptoms. The

following symptoms were notably marked

Mind

—^The patient was morose and

Prodrome.— QtezX stretching.

thirst

existed

taciturn ,

yawning

and

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

266

—Great

but drinking induced nausea and vomiting of watery, bilious substances , great chilliness

CJulL

thirst,

jHeaf.—Vomiting bear water

existed,

still

—^There was sweat. Tonqus —^The tongue was

the patient could not

Simat.

bitter

.

food had no

Apyrexia Stomach.

coated white , the

taste

was

taste,

—Imperfect.

—^There

was burning sensation

in the stomach

during the cold and hot stage, better from cold application

Time.

—The

fever appeared generally in the morning

lx every four hours and the a week

prescribed Nyctanthes

1

was

all right

within

patient

Case No. 10. Babu Ramgati Roy of Kalighat had been suffering from chronic malarious fever for more than 3 months

him for a month and lastly a Butunfortreated him for 14 days

TTie allopaths treated

wellknown Kaviraj

tunately their medicines could not stop the fever

At

last

I

was

called

m

to see

and treat the

patient

on

the 20th April, 1934

The

following symptoms were marked

Treatment.

by me

—

—The patient was nervous

—Morose Brain. — Headache

Mind.

temperature.

generally at

the

height

of the

NYCTANTHES Xmisea and

Fow«#f«f/

ARBOR-TRISTIS

—During

267

the

febrile

stage

bilious vomiting took place, specially after drinking

Urine.

—^The urine was scanty and high-coloured —Dryness

Mouth.

of

mouth was

present along with

thirst

Liver.

— The

liver

was congested and pain was

felt

on

pressure.

—The eyes were laundiced. Sueat — Sweat was not present. Feier. —The fever appeared Eyes

at

1

0 or

I! A.M.

m the

morning and gradually rose up to 102“orI03“at 2 P.M every day The fever declined without any sweat at 7 P M. in the evening Burning sensation was felt over the eyes, palms of hands and soles of feet In faa, there was predominance of bilious symptoms. I

daily

prescribed

Nyctanthes 3x

to

be administered twice

dunng remission

22nd April I got the report that the temperature began to rise at 4 P M instead of 11 AM. and rose up to 99 2® only. The same medicine was continued. 23rd April

I

heard that there

saw the patient in the morning and was no rise of temperature yesterday.

All other complaints have disappeared

No

medicine

was

given.

The

fever did not appear

since that time.

The above

cases will throw a clear

light

that Nyctanthes Arbortnstis has proved

an

on

the fact

excellent

remedy for fevers with predominance of bilious symptoms treated more than 140 cases of bilious remittent and I

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

268

of

intermittent fevers with the help

this

remedy and

ai!

of them were cured. take this opportunity of thanking the

I

British

who

homoeopaths

who promulgated

used

Supplied by Dr. S

No

had been

years,

was

Chose of

Jessore. Basuary, aged

from simple continued symptoms for more than 6 days

father of the

treatment for 6 days

C

,

suffering

associated with bilious

The

11

K Chose, h m b

The second son of Babu J 7

their

remedy

the cause of this

Case

in

it

American and practice and

,

fever

boy placed him under allopathic but unfortunately no improvement

noticed

on the 6th Sept 1933 saw and examined the boy at 9 A M on that day The I

undertook his treatment

I

following symptoms were detected

—

—^The patient was very Head— headache was present. Mouth—^The tongue was enveloped with a whitish fur — Stomach ^There was intolerable burning in stomach, Mind

restless.

Slight

generally

ameliorated

from

cold

bilious vomiting took place every

application

now and

,

then and

adnnk Xtyer— Liver was found

to

be very tender.

— stools with nausea were present Uhne— Unne high-coloured.

Stool

Bilious

frequent after

NYCTANTHES Feve 8

AM,

—^The

}

It

ARBOR-TRISTIS

was found

temperature

generally rose

up

104**

to

26S>

to

be

102 8* at

or 105* in the after-

noon

The great

thirst

appeared

during

in the

Xyetanthet, 3t

or four hours and 7th Sept,

—

chill

morning

prescribed

I

day with chilliness , there was and heat, no perfect remission

fever rose every

I

left

to

be repeated every three

the place

saw the

patient again this

The

morning

was found to be my presence heard that there was no bilious vomiting yesterday and that the patient did not pass any loose stool In short, the patient passed a quiet day as the temperature rose up to 99 2“ in

temperature

I

101 2® only yesterday

The same

prescription

was repeated

at

longer

in-

tervals.

8th Sept

—^There

temperature rose upto

was no

morning 100® yesterday without any fever this

;

the

bilious

symptoms Placebo was given

No

more doses were wanted and

only Nyctanthes cured the patient

The symptoms

were the identical symptoms mentioned m the Dictionary of Materia Medica by Clarke, pages 631 Dr. J. 32, Vol 11 and Boericke's Materia Medica

H

present in this case

—

have cured several cases of malarial fever associated with bilious symptoms by the employment of Nyctanthea alone. I practise in a malaria-stricken place and so my experience may be of some service to the readers of our I

Journal

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

270

No

Case

12,

Supplied by Dr, S K. Chose,

hm

b

Jessore

,

second daughter of Babu Lai Mohan Chose had been suffering from intermittent fever for more than 27 days. The patient, aged 10 years, contracted malaria

The

went

she

while

maternal

her

to

The

Maiieswarpasha, Khulna. unfortunately the fever went

8

at

who

massive doses, but

on unabated.

saw her on the 8th June, 1933 the following symptoms I

in

place

doctor

allopathic

gave her Quinine

treated her before,

uncle's

—

at

9A

M

I

marked

The

fever generally appeared with shivering between

and

9

AM

During

every day.

heat stage there appeared

frequent

and

stage

this

vomiting

of

water

Considerable restlessness was and sometimes of bile. Burning sensation all over the body was present, marked Like Eupatonum Perfoltatum, there was thirst existed. Complete no bone pains , sweat was not marked remission *ook place generally after 8 or

symptoms of

this

drug found in Dr

9 P M.

On

Clarke's

Dictionary

these

Nyctanthes Arhortristis Sx to be administered, two doses within 24 hours, during the period of remission only of Materia Mcdica,

9tk

Jane

morning

up

I

—

I

was

to that time

10th June,

1

saw

prescribed

the patient again

rise

upto

I<X)‘2*

II

A.M.

this

glad to find that the fever did not rise

2 doses of Placebo were

—This

morning

I

heard

left.

that

there was

5 P M yesterday and it rose only and complete remission took place at

of temperature

slight

at

at

NYCTANTHES 10

PM

1

on

ordered

ARBOR-TRISTIS

2 doses of Kyctanthe'> Jc to be given as day.

left

the

first

nth June —There was no more ,

yesterday

271

and

the

was

fever

rise

totally

of temperature

stopped.

Only

Sin tanthcb. cured the patient

Case Supplied by Dr.

No

K Chose, hm.b., Jessore

S.

Babu Ramlal Chose, aged fever

IS.

had an attack of Malarial on the 6th February, 1933, and this continued for 16 46,

days.

The

came on with chill, the stage of heat persisted generally for 5 or 6 hours, the temperature rose up to 104*4'* and it came to the normal point at about 10 p.m, fever

The usual time of the appearance of chill was 10 AM. in the morning At first he was treated by a

at night

9 or native

Kaviraj but

no improvement was made

by

his

Ram Babu sent for me on the 23rd February, medicines After my arrival found the following symptoms 1933 I

At

11

AM —^Temperature was 1034°,

vomiting of bile

and

there

was

water, aggravated after

persistent

drinking,

m

stomach , thirst was present ; liver burning sensation I heard that the patient passed was tender to touch loose bilious stools

dunng

febnle stage

4 powders of Nyctanfhes Arbortnstis Sx and asked the patient to take one of them every three hours. I

left

—

£4th February I saw the patient at 2 P.M. today As soon as the second dose of my medicine was given, the patient had a sound sleep, no vomiting or loose stools

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

272

appeared and there was complete remission of fever

4

at

P.M, yesterday

The

patient

was

quite free from

was no nse of temperature

No

fever today as there

more doses were

required

to arrest the fever.

The

characteristic

following

—

symptoms of

Head —Anxious and Tongue*

restless

this

dull

,

new drug

are the

headache.

—Coated,

iS^ornac^.—Burning

sensation

,

from

better

cold

application

Ltyer.—Tenderness

in the hepatic

region

;

profuse

bilious stools,

^’auer.—Associated with bilious vomiting

,

worse

after

drinking.

teai.— Not marked The above

are the genuine

clear-cut

symptoms

of

drug which should be remembered by us and which the selection of Hyctardkes. should guide us

this

m

Jusfida Rubruifi. CRaItta Vasaka).

the plant*

Description of

found largely Its

—

It

is

not so

our country as Justiaa Adhatoda

in

found

in

flowers

Cooch Behar and of deep

are

commonly It

is

more

Darjeeling.

red

colour;

comparatively thicker, longer and of

leaves

more deep

are

green

colour than the other vanety.

Justieia

Evbrum

is

used in

all

those complaints and

which Justiaa Adhatoda is generally used. But Its usefulness and efficacy are more sure and certain where there is more blood with the cough and where there is more bloody expectoration or bloody vomiting

ailments in

in tuberculosis.

In haemoptysis It

it

is

a grand remedy

In this respect

can be compared with Acalypha Indica, Ficus

Millefolium, Ipecac

and other analogous remedies.

—

Mode

of Preparation *

Dll,

Like Justiaa Adhatoda.

18

Religiosa,

^As

Justiaa Adhatoda.

Ocimuitt Caryophyliafutn. CDuiai fuiasi}. It

IS

another variety of

tulasi.

Its

leaves contain

a

pleasant odour. It IS

It

extensively used in spermatorrhoea

has a decided action upon

and urethra and so haematuria,

is

it

kidney,

bladder

very efficaciously employed

in

inflammation and congestion of the kidney

and similar other benefit in the

diseases.

first

stage

It is

when

used in gonorrhoea with there is extreme burning

dunng urination, where the patient where ihere is pus with the unne Fever

the

and gonorrhoea.

may be

urinates frequently and

present along with these symptoms.

In bloody dysentery

action has

its

—^As

Ifcxje

of Preparation^

Dll*

lx, 3x,

been

verified

Oaimum Sanctum*

6x generally used.

Ocimutti Grafissimum. CRam

tulasO*

Description of the plant the leaves of other varieties

There that the

is

—

Its

leaves are larger than

gaining ground amongst us

an impression

Amencan Ocimum Canum

is

nothing but

Ocimum

Qratissimum of our country

to

The therapeutic properties that have been attributed Ocimum Sanctum are present in this variety also. IS generally used in costiveness and also in costive^ of children with nasal catarrh, cough and fevers

It

ness

It

IS

generally

employed

in

gonorrhoea where there

is

when the patient suffers from burning sensation while passing urine and where there is pus mixed with urine.

difficulty

in

urination,

Mode of Preparation Dth

Ix, 3x,

—As

.

Ocimum Sanctum.

30 generally used.

;

Ocimum Sandum. CTulasi).

—

Synonyms. Sansknt Bishnu-priya ; Tulasi , Divya Enghsh—Holy Basil. ITzndt— Bhamti; Knshna^muL

Bengali—'Xul&si Bombay, and JfaA,—Tulasi. Mai Shiva-Tulasi

Kala-'Tulasi

Tam.

Telegrjiy

—

Description ol the plant.

Omnium Sanctum

isawellknown

Basil

a highly sweet-scented plant considered by the natives of India to be of great

small herb in India

and

Holy

or the

IS

It

is

value. Its

greatest

importance to the Hindus

tion with all their

is

felt

ceremonies

religious

in

Every

connec-

Hindu

one plant which is looked upon by the Hindu population as one of their domestic deities. The leaves of this herb form one of the pnncipal ingredients of every kind of offering and worship. The

house in India possesses

wood It

IS

IS

about

at least

also used for all religious purposes.

a strongly scented herb, under-shrub or shrub,

1—3

feet

long, erect containing opposite

oval and narrowed at lower end,

of pedicles re-curved,

base

leaves,

flowers whorled,

woody,

root

vertical

tips

and

fibrous

There

is

a story current in the Hindu mythology

that

Bmda, wife of Sankhachura, was favoured by Knshna and transformed into this herb. It is, therefore, regarded

OCIMUM SANCTUM by

277

Hmdus, specially by those belonging and cult, to be a very sacred plant.

al!

sect

The

of Malaya

inhabitants

to the

Peninsula

Vaid^nava

are

used

to

leaves over the graves of their dead persons for the peace and benefit of departed souls.

strow

Its

The

herb can be found in abundance all over India and no less than half a dozen varieties are found The

and the white

black

varieties

possess

the

identical

qualities If

be

It

distilled,

crystaline

The

camphor

odour

isometric with

when

leaves,

a yellowish green

yields

Ailopafliic

N. Khory

R.

of India (Part

in

pertaining to the uses of "It

IS

Kalamin

it

—

strong

Uses.

3) has

Ocimum Sanctum

Medica following

vwritten the

given in catarrhal affection of

is

The

piowder of dry leaves

as snuff in

ozaena and

for

—

given

m intermittent and

lent discharges

and

into the

and cough".

is

TTie medicated

in ear-ache

and

nose in ozaena.

and used as a

lungs

and Saphedamin

leaves are rubbed over ring-worm

are mucilaginous

the

with

used by the

is

remittent fevers

used as drops into the ears

;

destroying maggots.

The

juice the

peculiar

calorific

paste of the leaves with Suntha

oil IS

Turpentine.

demulcent, expectorant, and anti-periodic

and cough natives

and

a

of

wellknown Materia

his

pages 490

II,

that

rubbed, give off

acrid, sweet-scented

It is

volatile

water, which solidifies in time into a

than

lighter

oil,

it

diuretic in

in

With

puruIime-

The seeds scanty

unne

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

278 Lt.

Co!, R.

N

Chopra, IMS.

his Indigenous Drugs —'nThe inleaves are expectorant,

page 588, says in chronic cough especially of

.

India,

in children are given sweetened

with honey".

Charak, Harvt, Ohahradaita^ Ayurvedic uses. BangasenOt and others have found Octmurn Sanctum very efficacious in cough, cold, catarrh, nose affections, ozaena, intermittent fevers scorpion^bites, remittent and and constipation.

From

the

antiquity

with

administered

very

expressed juice of the herb gratifying

to the children

who

and with

and constipation

fever

and

is

beneficial results

are attacked with catarrh

and cough

Homoao. Provings and Therapeutic Uses. Provings.

Oamum Canum

a species of this shrub which grows Dr Mure has proven and introduced this remedy into homoeopathy. Dr Mure tells us that it IS largely used in Brazil "as a specific for diseases of the kidneys, bladder, and urethra" He has given a ^ort list of nineteen symptoms which are partly clinical and partly pathogenetic abundantly

Dr.

m

is

Brazil.

Mure's expenence was several times venfied ly homoeopaths.

several noted

Some wnters are of opinion that Ocimum Sanctum and Ocimum Canum are same but Mr Pram has shown ;

in

his

"Bengal Plants" that they are not identical plants has also written in his "Rora of Bnosh

Mr Hooker

;

OCIMUM SANCTUM

Ocimum Sanctum

Indica” that

279

a

is

different

variety of

Ocimum In the opinion of Roxburgh, the

white

vanety

of

Ocimum IS the Ocimum Canum or Album. Ocimum Sanctum, of which am writing, is the black vanety of the herb. The former is pregnant with a I

pungent odour while the

latter is full

of sweet odour.

Pramada Prasanna Biswas of Pabna, feangal, Sinha and N. C Ghosh have made provings of this drug Drs.

N

have culled the important symptoms of this drug from their oft^repeated writings into a short compass and I

publish the following for

Mind mind

—Forgetfulness;

any

to

concentrate delirium in

bed

,

on any

it

child

is

—

cannot devote

Very much

subject.

difficulty

there

may be

and

cries,

does not

and drowsiness

exist

and

attention

disturbed,

,

subject

peevish

prostration

;

my readers

;

to

irregular like to lie

patient

falls

asleep while answering questions

Mead — Headache

heavy,

,

were being driven

thousand

nails

pressure

giddiness of head,

to

keep

heat

on

;

on

the vertex

—Eyes

feels

,

red

,

worse while walking,

by likes

pain in the eyes, lachrymalion, eye

Mist before

,

relieved

if

fanning

them on something. ^ars —Noises in the very painful

it,

as

by wrapping up the head relieved by pounng cold water

complaints due to nasal catarrh

ophthalmia

into

pain

relieved

feels

quiet,

he head or by Wyes

throbbing

eyes,

It

is

a good remedy in

especially

ears, loud

when

fixing

sound appears to be

wateiy secretion from the ear

,

offensive

, ,;;

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

280

pus from the ears, shortness of hearing

come

out from the ears

Nose.—lt

an

is

ears painful

,

due

remedy

excellent

associated with frequent sneezing,

hot

;

flushes

to nasal catarrh

in

nasal

catanh

secretions being white

or yellow.

Watery

discharges from the nose

nostrils ulcerated

,

bleeding from the nose

Face and mouth. and

lips

bright red

mouth the mouth

the

pale with reddish hue watery salivation or spitting from

and

putrid

,

aphthae ,

m

bitter

mouth ;

ThroaA

—

^Pain

deglutition,

is

pain

during coughing

,

felt felt

mouth , ulcer in in mouth and bnght red or

is

and the middle portion if

is

burnt

in the throat, pain

and

difficulty

in the throat while walking or

the redness exists inside of the throat

ulceration of throat, glairy tonsils,

ulcer

dry and black as

lips

;

in

taste

the whole tongue

edges and sides are red

deeply coated

in

,

,

tongue of children Its

— Face red or

phlegm

enlargement of both

,

voice gets changed, hoarseness

—

Stomach and oiidcmcn. ^Abdomen distended , eructations, want of appetite, hiccough ; gurgling sound is felt in abdomen ; heaviness in abdomen ; heaviness of abdomen does not disappear in spite of frequent passage of stools pain in the abdomen,

may be

griping

;

and spleen ; hepatic region, gurgling sound can be

region of liver right iliac

Stools.

—Stools

liquid, copious,

is felt

pain, felt

watery,

on

over the

pain in

the

pressure.

very offensive

mucous or bloody with blood, involuntary stools dunng high

yellowish or greenish

or streaked

pain

liquid

stools

,

— OCIMUM SANCTUM, abdominal

fever;

distension

frequent stools, distension

a few returns season and autumn

not lessened mspitc of

felt less

minutes

after

XJriTie,

is

is

;

2S1

after stool, but

again

dunng

rainy

diarrhoea

—Involuntary urination of the

children

[in the urethra while urinating; discharge of

urine

,

desire to urinate oft

period

bloody

profuse

,

mucus with

after delivery-

very offensive and

is

burning

and on.

Female discharges and discharges Discharge of lochia

;

discharges

lasts

for

after

a long

cfelivcty;

leucorrhoea.

Chest

—Pains are

felt

on both

while coughing or sneezing

;

sides

of the chest, worse

patient cannot

lie

quiet in

bed , pleuritic pains in the chest ; asthmatic wheezing and rattling sound is felt in the ch^ useful in asthma of infants and children) ; pain is the middle of sternum.

Skin

—

It IS

attack,

(very felt

in

very useful in skin diseases.

Personal ObservaKons*

Ocimum SoTictum

has turned out to be an excellent

remedy of our Materia Medica. a special key-note symptom of this the patient forgets to perform his usual duties,

Forgetfulness

drug

and

;

commits

appeals.

The

is

mistakes

children

m

talking.

Irregular

become awfully

delirium

peevish, always

become quiet while they are being earned. In this symptom it bears a close resemblance to Ckamomtlla* In remittent fevers Its i^mptoms tally with those of Cina. cry,

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

232

,

of chuldren,

and worm

fever

during

dentition

penod,

Octmum Sanctum

affections,

is

diarrhoea

found

to be

very efficacious.

has an assured place in the treatment of influenza

It

and

common

in

nasal catarrh

the remittent fever be associated with

If

or diarrhoea, pneumonia, broncho-pneumonia, and asthma, its efficacy is generally marked. In

and

worm

cold

bronchitis,

when they arc

fretful

from sleep, and do not allow examine them, its efficacy is very great.

peevish,

physician to

complaints of children,

cou^,

start

the

more especially mdicated if diarrhoea and cough and cold be present with fever. The peevishness of children is very easily removed by the administration of It

this

IS

remedy

When delinum, prostrated,

in

typhoid

the

patient

and

falls

answering questions,

fever lies

into

in

or

fever

associated

a comatose

slumber

Octmum

very well and in this respect

or

with

condition,

drowsiness

is

while

Sanctum plays its part it can be closely compared

with Baptiaa

There

is

a temble headache

due to congestion, common due to other fevers

The

Octmum

headache is cold or influenza and headache in

;

symptoms of headache are that it is by application of cold water on the head or by fanning the head ; if the patient keeps quiet or the head be wrapped up with a cloth, considerable relief is experienced headache is worse while walking or by motion , the

relieved

characteristic

OCIMUM SANCTUM

283

eyes get congested, eyes become red and there is lachry" If these symptoms be present mation from the eyes

m

common In

Ocimum

cold,

Ocimum

the face

used with benefit.

is

flushed

is

and

hot,

lips

arc red and

parched, eyes are drowsy, tongue

is red or reddish and edges with yellow or brown coating in the shining at the these symptoms it may be compared with In middle

Baptisia.

has a decided action, in ophthalmia eyes are red , watery discharges take place

In eye complaints Its

action

and

IS felt

,

it

sticky discharges manifest themselves.

ophthalmia

In

neonatorum,

Ocimum

is

a

curative

remedy In ear-ache and purulent discharges from the «tr and shortness of hearing, Ocimum is employed with great

benefit.

In apthae

face

is

red

mouth and There is

is

an

and

is

flushed, is

pain

felt

pain

is

salivation

found

in

felt

in the

In gastnc

inflammation of

and

the

lips

are red,

takes place

from the

mouth and

the throat,

pain

felt

while

both the tonsils are

intestinal catarrh

intestinal

present along with fever

is

teeth.

while coughing and sneezing;

redness inside the throat,

enlarged

The

excellent remedy.

putrid ulcer

swallowing, there

it

it

mucous

is

used

when

membrances

is

and diarrhoea.

pain in the region of

and spleen, after gurgling in the stomach, copious watery and offensive stools appear; stools may be involuntary, abdomen distended,

There

is

liver

dimension does not abate inspite of stools passed kind of

If this

diarrhoea be associated with fever and in cold.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

284

Ocimum

IS

bronchitis,

used with an appreciable benefit

In asthma,

on

broncho-'pneumonia and

pneumonia,

cough,

the back

aggravated

its

action

and In

is

marked ; the

he does,

if

patient cannot

difficulty

asthma of children

also

is

it

of

respiration

an

lie is

excellent

remedy

and has been found to be the patient bend forward and

eases difficult respiration

It

of asthma

effective in cases

if

support the head with the hands, the elbows resting on the knees or by leaning forward and putting the head on the

hands

good

Iain

on a

flat

table or

support.

even when Aralia Racemosa, Onentalis fail to do any good

results

Blatta

In toothache

temble , salivation

a grand remedy.

is

it

the pains are worse at night

cold, offensive smell is

lochia

long.

discharge

is

fish.

discharges continue for action

IS

action

its

offensive, is

washing of

Its

yields

Lobelia and

The

pains are

on touch and from offensive

present.

is terribly

The

;

It

comes out of the mouth and

In female diseases

like

some such

is

if it

After delivery,

of unnatural colour and

lasts

mixed with mucus, is puslike and The menses are irregular, and the

a long time

decided in leucorrhoea

cations are avoided

felt.

be used

and utenne

compli-'

after delivery.

Fever Ocimum is an excellent remedy in influenza and in fevers associated with cough, acute pains in the body, bone pains, soreness of the muscles, and terrible headache In this respect it resembles Eupatonum Perfoliatum admirably well

mentioned symptoms

if

In conjunction with the above

the key-note

symptoms of

the

OCIMUM SANCTUM tongue or

lips exist,

Ocimum

will

285

have an instantaneous

influence over the complaints for the removal of which will be administered

it

have mentioned before

that it is used in the fevers of with cough, cold and diarrhoea. children associated It has in checking action the attacks wonderful of intermittent a I

fever

The

fever

there

chilliness,

comes on

may be

in the after-noon with extreme

The hands and become warm easily,

shivering present.

become cold and do not numbness and tingling sensation are felt

the feet

there

when exposed There may be thirst or ab^nce of thiist.

does not disappear even

Aching pains are all

over the body.

flushes of

heat are

felt in

the feet and

and

chilliness

to the sun's rays.

legs,

pains are

felt

During hot stage extreme heat and felt

over the face and eyes.

the palms

Burning

hands and soles of feet, feels relieved by cold breeze, and by plaang cold water on the head. Along with heat, sweat h'eaks out Heat and sweat and chilliness and heat may appear sensation

felt

is

in

of

alternately. It

IS

used in fevers prevalent in rainy season, winter or

m

In typhoid fever, it isv«y other seasons. spnng or be chilliness, there may be heat, there useful. There may may be burning sensation felt over the body, there may be

sweat, delinum, drowsiness or comatose condition or other

symptoms

present. J0

These are the symptoms and diseased conditions for which Ocimum is generally used with excellent results. In short, it has turned out to be em excellent homoeopathic remedy Many cases have been improved and benefited

W

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

286 its

timely use.

not possible for

It is

Suffice

cases in this article

come to

stay

and

it

will

it

to

stay as

me

to dwell

say that

upon

tfiose

Ocimum

has

long as Homoeopjihy

will last

Now^a-days, the Allopathic doctors prescribe lotions prepared with the corrosive sublimate to disinfect the bodies of persons who died of infectious diseases, such as typhoid fever, smalhpox, etc so that no other person can be contaminated and infected with the

bacilli

of these contagious and

infectious maladies.

when

persons are about to die or they have actually died, they are brought near Tulasi herbs and

our country

In

their

branches are kept near their heads.

There

is

observance

a scientific explanation attached to this Our Rishis of antiquity preached

religious

hygienic

doctnnes through the channel of religion, so that the instructions promulgated by them will have an abiding place the imagination of the people of India

m

be abundantly clear to all that the leaves of Ocimum Sanctum will be found to be a potent medione to destroy and remove bad and filthy odour, to arrest the progress of putrefaction and to kill all kinds of bacteria and bacilli which generate contagious and It

will, therefore,

infectious disuses.

Oetmum Sanctum

is

considered by the

Hindu

popula-

of India to be the most sacred plant It is dedicated to Vishnu It is supposed to dnve away mosquitoes and so if it be cultivated in or near bouse, it may prevent malarial tion

fiewas.

OCIMUM SANCTUM.

287

Many

are the cases that have been published by several Indian Homoeopaths in the pages of our Homoeopathic Journals from time to time to prove the efficacy of Oct

mum

Sanctum refrain

in

the ailments mentioned above.

from reproducing them

in this

book.

However,

I

;

Herbacea.

Oldenlandia

CKkeipapra).

—

Sans. Kshetra-patpata , Eng,-— Two flowered Indian Madder ; Eiiid ~*Daman«'pap8U’ TeZ—Vero rela Vemu , iV^gjaZ.— Ponengo , Qoa.— CbTWTnon Names.

Kazuri

,

Beng — Khetpapra

Natural Order.— Rubiaceae. Description of the plant

—

plant

^This

commonly

is

found in India

The

grows

herb

in

marshy

lands,

sprouts

by die end of rainy season, grows dried up by the heat of summer

germinates

and

IS

In

and

autumn

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions. physicians of India

The Hindu Its

efficacy in

bilious

all

sorts

have

acknowlalged

of fevers with predominance of

symptoms

Charak has found it very diarrhoea and delmum tremens Chahradatta

useful

has recommended

it

in haematemesis,

in bilious fevers,

ordinary fevers and vomiting.

Sushruta has acknowledged

its

efficacy in diarrhoea

and dysentery In short,

the Ayurvedic

physicians

have

found

It

extremely useful in bilious affecnons, impurities of blood.

;

OLDENLANDIA BIFLORA. forgetfulness,

written

thirst,

cough

khetpapra

that

is

and bitter and

289

They have astringent, and allays

fevers.

burning sensations

—The whole plant

Pat ts Used

Dose

—Decoction, 5 to 10

tolas

Ailopafhic Uses and Opinions.

Chemical gave reaction with plant

Composihort. A watery extract of this coloured precipitate with alkalies, a green

ferric chloride, none with gelatin or acids, cream abundant coloured precipitate with lead acetate, an and afforded indications of an alkaloid A watery solution of an alcoholic extract had similar properties; it was mawkish and saline to the taste, and when evaporated to dryness A portion It forms a mass of cubical deliquescent crystals

a saline residue consisting of potassium, sodium, and a small quantity of calcium, mostly of

this extract

being ignited

No

as chlorides.

existing

left

ammonia was

detected in the

herb and the alkaloid was shaken out of an alkaline solution with ether but had no very charactenstic reaction The value of the plant as a cooling medicine no doubt to

the inorganic salts

present.

The

dried

herb

is

left

due

an

unusually large incombustible residue amounting to 22 p. c very soluble in water.

Vol

i,Pharmacoqraphia Indtca.

A

p. 129).

decoction of the whole plant, the root, the stem,

and the

leaf

is

the decoction

(R

11,

N

p. 588). 19

used in is

liver complaints.

said to

Chopra, in

be a good

In chronic malaria,

febrifuge.

his Iridigenous

Drugs of Didia,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN,

290

Used

gastnc

in

nervous

irntation,

depression

and

remittent fever.

(B.

N. Chopra, Indigenous Drugs of India, p

sjj)

Homoeopathic Provings and Symptoms. Proving Pramada Prasanno

Dr.

made

of

Biswas,

Pabna,

Bengal

short provings of the drug with three persons

The

following

All of

symptoms were noticed by them

them had the

appearance of fever burning sensation

all

stools

appeared

,

of temperature denoting

they had

,

Vomiting consisting of

rise

fever

thirst,

appeared with

fever generally

,

chill,

the

headache,

over the feet, legs, eyes and face. bile took place , bilious loose

one day and on the next day milder character

—

greater

intensity

was found to be of a came on in the morning it

or early morning.

No

more provings were pushed on

,

but the

little

that

was made conclusively proved that it would turn out to be an ^cellent remedy in fevers, either remittent or intermittent, co-mingled with bilious symptoms Personal Observations. Khetpapra specially in

is

low

remedy in fevers, with predominance of bilious symp^

a highly excellent

fevers

toms associated with burning sensations there

is

gastnc

or purging.

irritability

It is

felt all

over the body,

in the bargain, with bilious vomiting

also useful

in jaundice

and

it

increases the

symptoms of the drug have been enumerated before which will help the attending flow of urine

,

other febrile

OLDENLANDIA BIFLORA prescnbe it Both depression

physicians to

nervous

291

a valuable medicine m the Hindu and Allopathic

It

is

physicians have borne testimony to its excellent therapeutic properties in fevers with bilious symptoms. Our own

School of Medicine to

Its

is

curative virtues

extended

of the same opinion with regard However, the drug requires more

trials.

—

The fresh plant •^"Mode of preparation with two parts by weight of alcohol. Dll.

lx, 3x, 6x,

30 generally used

is

macerated

Saraca Itidica or Jonosia Asoka. (The Asoka Tree). Sans. —Asoka, Common Names Uriya Beng and Bombay Asok

—

,

Kankeh

—Asoka

,

;

Hirtd. G-vj

—

Ashopalava

Natuial order

—Leguminosae

*

Description of the plant.—-Saraca Indica (Asok)

is

one of the sacred plants of the Hindus and is found in abundance along the road side in Eastern Bengal which is probably its ancient regarded by the natives of India as

home

grows plentifully in South India, Aracan and

It

Tenassenm

Provinces close to

grows up to an altitude of 2,000 feet

the tree

cultivates its

In the United

it

in

many

of the country

parts

Kumaon,

The people on account of

beautiful flowers

The tree

and

flowers in spring

The

look very handsome.

married

plant 'and the festivity for

this

its

flowers are red

and

Hindu females worship

worshipping

it

falls in

spring

when the new blossoms of the plant which are used on If the term Asoka be the festive occasion generally grow. literally

The

translated

Rishis

it

"Whoever

—

the *Vemover of all ailments".

festive

have written the following

(a female) after

a pure body and

aliments

mean

of ancient times

about this plant

on the

will

day

having an ablution, with

mind, takes eight fixed

proceeding

new buds

and recommended,

from

menstrual

of Asoka

gets rid

disorders

and

of all the

;

SARACA INDICA OR JONOSIA ASOkA

293

despondency of such a woman from sterility soon disappears " as her craving for motherhood is generally fulfilled Allopathic Uses and Opinions.

—Tannin and Catechin Composition —^The chemistiy

Constituents

Chemical has not been marked out that

stated

it

Indica) recorded

The

the presence of a fair

dry powdered

was

bark

Abbott

satisfactorily

contained haematoxylin

of the bark (1887)

Hooper (Pharrn amount of tannin.

extracted

with

different

Department of Chemistry of the School of Tropical Medicine with the following results petroleum

solvents in the

—

ether ©ctract

0 307 per cent

and absolute alcoholic

,

extract

ether extract 0*235

142 per

per cent

cent

was mostly soluble m showed the presence of a fair amount of tannin No and probably an organic substance containing iron

The

alcoholic extract, which

hot water

active principles

were found

of the nature of alkaloid,

essential oi!

etc

Further investigations are being carried

(Indigenous drugs of India by

R

N

;

on

Chopra, p 377)

Pharmaceutical Actions and Therapeutic Uses. Various fradiions isolated from the bark were tned on the isolated uterus action

and

was produced

uterus in situ but

The

no

marked

drug does not appear to

have marked therapeutic effects, though many cliniaans appear to vouch for its efficacy in menorrhagia and other uterine disorders

ilndiqenous Drugs of India by

JR.

N. Chopra,

p. 377).

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

294

Actions and Uses*

a number of

aromatics

Part

II ,

Farts Used.

is

the decoction with given in uterine affections, chiefly ,

{Materia Medica of India by R.

in menorrhagia

Kkory,

—^Astringent

iV,

p 217)

—Decoction

is

made from

the bark.

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions. Chakradatta has recommended the bark in

of

Asoka

bloody leucorrhoea and also in the suppression and

retention of urine.

In

Charaka, Sushruta and Bajmrgkanta no mention made of the therapeutic properties of Asoka m

has been

Charaka

however, placed it in the list of anodyne remedies In any case, the Ayurvedic physicians along with some allopaths had used and have been using it in all sorts of menstrual troubles and uterine curing leucorrhoea,

disorders

with

great

success

has,

and

efficacy

a long

for

time.

The

Indian

market

now bristles and

indigenous preparations pregnant with

Asoka

seethes with

Asoka,

many

such

as

Asoka Gritha, Asokarista and similar other preparations which are in constant demand amongst the suffering humanity for all sorts of female complaints and Cordial,

alone bears eloquent testimony to and worth. this

fact

its

usefulness

an ordinary leucorrhoea or leucorrhoea mixed with blood or bloody discharge, the physicians have uniformly and universally found it to be a sovereign remedy In

Parts used for medicinal pw/^oaea.—-Bark and

fruit

SARACA INDICA OR JONOSIA ASCKA

295

Homoeopaitiic Proving and Usas.

The

late

made a

lamented Dr.

D

N

Though

proving of the drug.

short

MD

Ray,

of Calcutta the proving

was of a fragmentary character, it could not be called problematic. It was an open secret that the late Dr. D. N.

Roy was very fond of prepared tinctures

indigenous drugs

from several

In

indigenous

kept them always with him for use

in times

he

fact,

plants

and

of emergency.

he

had used Saraca indtea extensively in all sorts of uterine troubles and me* with Some cases cited by him in support of uniform success From my own his contention were simply miraculous personal knowledge, I can vouch for the authenticity of those brilliant cures and no body can doubt its efficacy as a splendid uterine remedy During his

life

time

be superfluous on my part to reproduce the cases of cure cited by Dr. Roy, as I have no intention of increasing the bulk of my book It

will

shall now proceed to give in toto the symptoms which I were observed by Dr Roy during the time of its proving

Symptoms as observad and recorded by Dr. D. N. Roy, of Calcutta.

Mental Symptoms minded, fatigued,

timid,

— Good natured, affectionate, absent'

easily weeping,

disinclination

changeable thoughts,

easily

to work, satisfied

air,

very

easily

imaginative,

with small things, slow to

understand, disposition to take cold the open

not

excitable,

easily,

fwtis

better in

impatient, cannot bear the suffering, hysterical,

exaggerates sufferings.

D

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

296

Head — Stupefying sometimes on right unilateral headache, with

scanty

headache, frontal headache, worse temple and sometimes on the left, reflex

uterine

congestive

headache, menstrua! discharge relieved by free flow,

nausea, vertigo, disinclination for food or drink,

periodical

headache, better after bathing, sweat of forehead, relieved of all symptoms in the open air, heaviness of the whole

head

Eyes

—Pain

,

ledness of the conjunctiva,

in the eyeballs,

burning and itching sensation, styes

supra-orbital

on one or both

pains

sides, great

phobia, tired feeling in the eyes with least exertion, reading

and

staring at

J7ars—Pams

in

after catarrhal or

Nose,

— Nasal

an

profuse

lids,

great sensibility of eyes to

lachrymation, short-sightedness, light,

on upper

photo-

such as

object

hardness of

ear,

hearing especially

severe cold catarrh,

sneezing,

profuse watery

dis-

charge from the nose, nostrils sore, obstruction of the nose, loss of sense of smell, ulceration of the nostrils, profuse bleeding from the nose of red colour

Eace —Paleness of

the face, alternately with heat and

redness of the cheeks, pimples

Mouth

.

—Dryness of

large quantities

white or

the mouth,

excessive

coating, bleeding of the

— Redness

thirst,

dnnks

&slxq

thick,

gums, toothache.

of the throat, tonsils and uvula, sore

throat, easily takes cold,

Appetite.'—

the face

of water at a time, tongue coated with

brown

Throat

on

troublesome throat cough.

for sweets,

which when taken agrees

well,

disinclined to take milk,

want of

appetite

and

;

SARACA INDICA OR JONOSIA ASOKA and sour

dishke for food, desire for acid quantities of

Stomach . pain,

no

bile,

passage of

worse

in

Stools

pain

biliousness,

— Hard

the evening, soreness

colicky

pressure,

emctation, flatulent colic,

m lower abdomen or pelvis.

constipation,

third

m epigastnum,

abdomen, pain on

foul-smelling wind,

and passed every

vomiting,

little

distented

— Obstinate

sometimes

nausea,

desire for food, eats

Abdomen

dnnks large

water

—Excessive

vomiting of

things,

297

faeces are hard, large

or fourth day, evacuation

difficult,

pain before stools, stools are covered with slime or mucus, pains on the back, soreness in anus, blind or bleeding piles, protrusion of haemorrhoids with itching, smarting

Urinary

Organs

.

— Unne

scanty,

and

bloody,

pain.

passes

frequently, tenderness of bladder, involuntary micturition at

night in bed, profuse emission of watery urine, pain in loin.

Male

Sexual

Organs.

—

^Testicles

swollen,

drawing

pain in the spermatic cords, itching in the scrotum, discharge

of

prostatic fluid, emission at night with or without dreams.

Female Sexual

—

Organs Menses suppressed and irregular, headache due to suppression of menses, severe headache due to scanty flow of menses with severe pain all over the lower parts of the abdomen, pain in back and thighs, menstrual colic, delayed and irregular menses menstrual discharge scanty, pale and watery, sometimes bad odour and blackish, slightly clotted and painful. Amenorrhea at puberty with headache, palpitation, hysteria, pain in ovanan region, loss of appetite, constipation, .

congestive feelings in pelvic organs as before menses, pain

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

298

both ovanan regions, pam in the sacral region, better on the appearance of menses with free flow , bladder irritable, The drug is princidesire for frequent passage of urine. pally used by the native physicians of this country for in

menses or

leucorrhoea

metrorrhagia,

menorrhagia,

from

delayed

of menses , infantile leucorrhoea, thin and emaciated inspite of getting usual

in the place

child getting

nourishment

Respiratory Ot gans .

when

breathing

—Respiration

worse cough

walking,

evening, hacking throat

ifeori.— Pain

in

the

region

hurried,

difficulty in

the afternoon and

in

of the heart, pulse, quick,

and hard, accentuated* first sound, palpitation of the heart, worse on movement or walking or bending forward, full

tight filling across

the chest

Neck and Back

—Pain

the spine, pain in sacrum sides

of the abdomen and

— Limbs ^Weakness

limbs

;

,

pains

m

the nape of the neck along

and

back radiates on both

in

down the in

.

place to place

at

limbs

thighs. shifting

,

small joints

,

pain

fi-om

numbness of

ihe

pain along the thighs

Sleep —Disturbed sleep, sleeplessness, fearful

dreams of

dreams,

travelling.

JPeym— Chilliness restlessne^,

without

thirst,

dry

heat

with

redness of cheeks, flushed face, running from

the nose, catarrhal symptoms.

Personal Observations.

Asoka properties

IS

m

a noted plant in our country and its therapeutic cunng and alleviating all sorts of menstrual

SARACA INDICA OR JONOSfA ASOKA. troubles

headed

and

uterine

disorders

Long

antiquities

date

lasting

back

299

from

costiveness,

hoary-

occasional

derangements headache and marked symptoms the of of some the drug. It is a are amenorrfioea or scanty menses sovereign remedy for vertigo associated with uterine

with intolerable pain

and burning

sensation

during

the

dysmenorrhoea its efficacy has been verified by several homoeopaths of our country. The Ayurvedic physicians prize it as an uterine tonic. imparts a healthy tone and an all round strength to It the uterus which has been weakened by long lading disorders of the uterus In the cure of leucorihoea its action can never be questioned and upon bloody leucorrhoea, whether an acute or chronic, it exerts exhiliarating and permanent curative action which sometimes appears to be a miracle It removes weakness and physical emaciation of the females suffenng from long lasting uterine complaints, or due to those causes passage of urine

It

IS

generally

In

considered to be an astringent medicine

and uterine sedative It is said to possess a stimulating effect on the endometrium and on the ovanan tissue.

employed in uterine ailments especially menorrhagia which is the outcome of uterine fibroids and It is

extensively

other causes

In cases of bloody leucorrhoea

its

efficacy

and pronounced ; menstrual flow appears too soon, IS copious and lasts long and this sort of flow makes the female very weak, anaemic and bloodless, she experiences burning sensation all over the face and eyes, suffers from pain in the lumbar region and constipation. Asoka is considered by competent authontics to be an excellent remedy for the eradication of the above complaints Asoka IS

sure

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

300

be found

Will

be a grand medicine

to

if

the menstrual

flow be stopped for any cause and for which

colicky

abdominal pains supervene. It

has been found to be an excellent medicine for the

appearing

complaints barrenness

it

is

efficacy

its

In bleeding piles, the colour

amd eyes

in

is

generally affectionate,

is

red, the

patient

burning sensation while

also burning of the hands, feet

The

evening

the

is

us.

feeling in the back and

stiff

from constipation, there

and there

has been verified by

of the blood

experiences severe pain and

passing urine,

For

generally used with success

In bleeding piles

suffers

menopause

the time of

at

patients

nervous, sentimental,

of Asoka axe

gloomy

and

religious.

The above

is

a

true picture of the therapeutic

of Asoka for which

it

properties

stands prominently before us

Mode of preparation

,

—The mother

from the dried bark according to

class

tincture is prepared

IV of the Amencan

Homeo, Pharmacopoeia Parts lised— Dried bark JOil

—Mother

tincture,

Ix and 3x are generally used.

Solanum Xanfhocarpus. CKantilcari).

Common Hind

Katele

Names, Beng ,

Punj —Warumlea

,

—Kantikan,

Sans

Ntdigdhika

*

—Kantikan Bom — Bhunngni Tam —Kandan-Kattiri Ji?/.—-Pinna ,

,

,

mulaka

Natural

or

der

Description India IS

— Solanaceae plant—{i

of the

There are two

varieties

is

is

in

of the plant, the white variety

very rare and cannot be easily

ordinary variety

generally found

procured

and used

generally found

,

but

the

for medicinal

purposes

The and

fruits

dries

up

germinates in the winter season,

tree

grow Its

m the summer and during

stems, branches and

its

flowers

rainy season

it

leaves arc all full of

thorns which are very sharp pointed.

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

Okarak has recommended tremens, urinary

difficulties,

Shuskruta has found

it

it

in piles, cough, delinum

stone and calculus. efficacious in ophthalmia, respi-

ratory troubles, cough, urinary difficulties

and troubles and

stricture

Okakradatta says

and urinary

troubles

that

it

is

useful in cough, stncture,

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

302

Sangasena has recommended

the

in

it

cough of

children.

In short, the

Hindu physicians

for cough,

remedy

prize

respiratory troubles,

an excellent cough associated it

as

with hoarseness, ophthalmia, stone or calculus, stricture, urine, and some other retention or suppression of ailments. It

m

IS

their

used by them separately or as a principal ingredient compound medicines for the above mentioned

complaints

Parts used Dose,

—Root bark,

—Decoction, 5

powder, 4

to 8

fruit

10 tolas

to

Constituents

—^The

The dned

alkaloid.

II,

2

to

1

tolas

fruit

and Opinions contains fatty acids,

an

leaves contain

wax and

alkaloid

—R N

and

Khory,

p 450)

AettOTis

and

luice

(Materia Medica of India

organic acid

Part

,

annas

Allopathic Uses

an an

and flowers

and uses

The

diuretic.

—Apenent,

carminative, expectorant,

confection (Kantakaryavaleha)

is

given

in asthma, cough, catarrhal affections of the lungs, fever, flatulence and pain in the chest , as a diuretic, the decoction IS

given in dysuria,

in costiveness

A

cystitis,

calculi

and dropsy

paste of the seeds

to promote suppuration of boils, buboes,

chronic abscesses.

by the

Fumigation of the

natives as sialogogue

pain in carious teeth Khory, Part II p 450). ,

is

,

also given

locally

and other

applied indolent

fruit is largely

used

and applied for the relief of (Materia Medica of India—R. N

SOLANUM XANTHOCARPUS

N

Col R. Chopra written page 596 has Lt.

"The

—

303

in his Indigenous

Drugs of India

one of the important medicinal ingrediente of the Hindu physicians and has been recognised for a long time as an effective diuretic, expectorant and febrifuge.

A is

root

is

decoction of the root with that of Ttmss^ora mrdxfolta "

be a tonic

said to

in fever

and cough

Homoeopathic Uses and Personal Ohservattons,

No

proving of the drug worth mentioning has yet been by any of us. But a homoeopathic tincture has been

made made and some of

us have found

it

efficacious in the

ailments mentioned above.

The

opinion of

all

schools of medicine conclusively

prove and bear testimony to the fact that it is an excellent remedy in hoarseness associated with cough , in bronchitis, pneumonia or broncho
IS

has turned out to be a very good medicine in ftwers associated with thirst, vomiting, aversion to food, burning It

sensation collective It

IS

felt

over the body and pains

frft

over

the

body of the nbs.

unquestionably a

£^nd

medicine

suppression or retention of urine and stone.

in

stricture,

In the cure

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

304

of these maladies it can be compared with Berbens Vulgaris, Cantharis, Sarsaparilla and Lycopodium

The above

which are Of course more clinical

are the complaints

benefited by Kanti

Kan

necessary to find out the finer phases of

its

generally trials

are

therapeutic

properties It

IS

Hindu

sure preventive

physicians also use

} tola of in

also a

Its

it

against smallpox

against

root (white variety) to

smallpox,

be given

dose being morning

in the

empty stomach of preparation. The fresh plant including root macerated with two parts by weight of alcohol

Mode

IS

The

Dll

lx, 3x,

potencies generally used

Syzygium Jambolanum or Eugenia Jambolana. Common Names.

iS^ans.— Ntiaphala

plum, Jambudo

the black

bul,

Cuz, Jam Nagum, Navil ,

Mai

,

ffindi-'J&m&n Tel

,

—Naval

;

Jam-

,

Bewr/— Kala

—Nacraedu

Tatnil,’^

,

Can —Naeralu

,

,

Duk.-^

Sittalchini

Natural order.

— Myrtaceae.

—Dried seeds

Tarts Used

(fruit-stones).

—

Description of the plant. Syzygium Jambolanum or Kala Jam of Bengal, is a common plant of Bengal and is

known found

to every

all

one of

over India.

to all taste

us.

Its fruits

It

is

a large

tr^i

and can be

are very sweet, appetising

and soothing Ayurvedic Uses.

—

in

Its powdered seeds are very efKcaoous Charak says It is also an excellent remedy in boils and ulcers

bilious

vomiting

—

It is a soverei®:! lemedy Chakradatta vmtes bloody dysentery or diarrhoea associated with blood.

diarrhoea of children

it

is

used with goafs

milk

in

In

with

excellent results. It

has been mentioned in Charak

action in checking

and cunng Diabetes

—Leaves, bark and

Parts Used. 20

that

it

has a decided

Mellitus.

seeds.

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN,

306

Dose,

—Bark

powdered seeds

and

—

of

juice

4 to 3 annas

Allopathic Uses Constituents ,

;

—

leaves

bark—4

2

to

1

tolas;

to 8 annas

and Opinions.

—^The seed contains jambulin, a glucoside;

a trace of essential oil, chlorophyll, fat, resin, gall ic aad, albumen etc. The bark contains tannin 12 p c. and a kino'like gum.

also

—^The

Actions and Uses, IS

and

stomachic, astringent,

The

unne.

juice

diuretic

decoction of bark

of children,

of the ripe

is

and

fruit

or syrup

given in scanty

astnngent and used in

chronic dysentery, as a gurgle mixed with Dhumaso for the relief of spongy gums, and diarrhoea

sore,

cracked or

in

tongue.

irritable

A

paste of the leaves

used to promote healthy discharges from indolent sores or from unhealthy ulcers The extract of the powdered

is

seeds

and

dried fruits

is

used

in

diabetes.

It

checks

of starch into sugar in cases depending on inoeased production of glucose (Matena Medica of India K, N. Khory, Part II, P, 269). diaaatic conversion

"A wine and by Mr, M, C, in

flavour

syrup of the

Pareira,

of

fruit

has been shown to us

Bombay , they much made with red

similar preparation

resemble currants,

and appear to have stomachic and astnngent properties Some yeaxs ago at Monghyr, in Bengal, excellent brandy was prepared from the fermented fruit. Of late years the seeds of this tree have been recommended as a remedy for diabetes".

Dr,

C

Graeser, of Boun, has published in the Central-

blatt frir Klinische

Medicine a highly interesting account of a

307

SY2YG1UM JAMBOLANUM OR EUGENIA JAMBOLANA of experiments with

senes

jambolanum

been made

diabetic

Graeser thought that

the physiological

was

and

to administer

made

diabetic

who found produced

in

extract

of the

fruit

of

on dogs, which had previously by the administration of phlondztn.

Syzygium

Dr

the

it

the

best

therapeutic action to

way of studying of the new dmg

dogs which had

artificially

been

by a method introduced by V. Mdiring,

that artificial diabetes can at any moment be dogs by the administration of phloridzin.

A

young dog of 2,700 to 4,800 grammes body weight, to which 2 5 to 4 8 grammes of phiondzin (I gramme to kilo body weight) have been given, in the course of a 1 day, will show an excretion of sugar, lasting for twenty four to thirty hours, and amountin® to 5*89 to 12*45 grammes Graeser first gave the daily dose of phiondzin but later on he split the quantity into doses of i gramme, ^ven every two to three hours In both cases the excreDiarrhoea was caused by tion of sugar was the same After Graeser had expenmented phiondzin in three cases for

sometime with phiondzin alone he began

simultaneously

phiondzin

and

extract

to administer

of

Syzygtum

jambolanum.

The

was given before, along with, or after phiondzin, and invariably had the effect of reducing the latter

expected excretion of reduction

amounted

to nine-tenths,

sugar

most

considarably.

to at least half, in

of the quantity of

sugar

some which

This

cases even

would At the

have resulted had phiondzin alone been given. same time the duration of the diabetes was shortened. Dc^ which under phiondzin alone had excreted 5 89 to

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

308

12 45 grammes of sugar, showed under the jambul ment a maximum excretion of 2 906 grammes of and a minimum excretion of 1 5 gramme

As

jambul

artificially

when

showed

such a powerfijl

produced diabetes,

IS

acts It

IS

not yet

may be

and

given in proper time

entirely prevent the excretion It

it

in

sugar

on

anticipated

a large dose

it

the that will

of sugar

known how jambul

given in large doses

on the pathological diabetes well worth

The

trying

mellitus of man But experiments on man aie effect has ever yet been favourable effect of such

more justified as no ill produced by the new drug A expenments would prove that phloridzin all

effect

treat<

the

diabetes

and

pathological diabetes are of a similar nature.

animals on which Graeser experimented no signs of any secondary effects of jambul extract were observed, not even after doses of 18 grammes In one In all the

which, as further expenments proved, was caused by phloridzin and not by jambul case diarrhoea set

in,

All the ©tpenments

prepared by

Mr

H.

R.

were made with Davies,

extract of jambul

FI.C,

Chemist to the Society of Apothecaries, London, from seeds which the author had himself brought over to Europe As the fruit contains great quantity of starch, to eliminate this as

much

it was thought advisable aS possible in prepanng the

extract

Several extracts were prepared out of the whole or solely out of the kernel or solely out of the pericarp; 100 grammes of the fruit gave fruit,

16^ grammes

Kernel extract, and quantity given in

1

one

maximum daily dose

If

grammes pericarp

single

extract

The

dose was 6 graunmes, the

18 grammes.

—

—

SYZYGIUM JAMBOLANUM OR EUGENIA JAMBOLANA

Whether

the

active

principle

is

309

contained

in the pericarp or Kernel cannot as yet be decided to a certainty. Probably it is contained in both, but to a great extent

in the pericarp.

From

the long series of expenments which he made, Graeser draws the following conclusions * 1

Phloridzin diabetes

considerably

is

lessened

has

by

lambul extract

Jambul extract cause any ill effect. 2

The known

3

active

is

non^poisonous, and

does

principle contained in lambul

have to be determined analysis and further expenments ( Chenmts and yet

will

It

is

not

not

careful Druti-^

gists, 1889).

With reference to Graeser*s Ch, 1889, P 1029) (Vrat

experiments,

G

having

records

I.

laveine

obtained

negative results with the seeds in three cases of diabetes

which the urine contained from 6 to 7 per cent of In these cases the powdered seeds were given in sugar doses of one gramme 4 to 6 times a day. ( lOymoch— Part II., pp 26 29) in

Lt. Col

— R N

Chopra,

IMS

genous Drugs of India, page 577

"The

seeds are considered astringent in diarrhoea and

dysentery

Mangifera

preferably I'ndica

to diminish the

A

writes in his Indi"

.

decoction

of

in

combination with the seeds of

(Mango)

Powdered seeds are

said

quantity of sugar in urine in diabetes

the

bark

has

also

been

used

m

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

510

ca^

m

of dysentery

combination with cardamom and

”

cinnamon

Homoeopathic Uses.

The Homoeopaths in

the

therapeutics

Diabetes

Mellitus

and

benefit.

Many

gratifying results

in

it

Dr Dudgeon employed lower homoeopathic attenuations with

marked

Insipidus with

Syzygium

use

others

of our

own

have experienced the same

school

of

results in their

practice.

Hansen has mentioned that "old ulcers of skin, probably of a diabetic foundation" have been cured with Syzygium. Dudgeon in Homoeopathic World, Vol XXIV, Page 540

“A

relates this

scientific

case

—

man, 56, complained of "prickly heat" body and arms The skin was

all over upper part of

coverd with small red papules,

no

He

which

itched so intensely

very weak, which was perhaps due to his having abstained from all animal

as he could get

rest.

felt

and confined himself to bread, farinaceous food, There was much thirst, and great vegetables and fruits flow of urine, which he was obliged to pass every two houfs, night and day mouth very dry. Urine 1036, very saccharine. He was ordered chiefly animal diet, very little bread and no sugar. Syzygium mixed with three food,

,

times the quantity of Alcohol,

was

given

;

of

this

two

drops every three hours.

The

specific

gravity

sugar disappeared, and

and

this in spite

relaxed".

of the

of the urine the

steadily

symptoms

declined,

passed

off,

fact that the dietetic rules

were

all

— SYZYGIUM JAMBOLANUM OR EUGENIA JAMBOLANA Boericke in his Materia

has written the following "It

Medica 9th

3U

Edition page 629,

:

has an immediate

effect

of increasing the blood

sugar, glycosuria results.

a most powerful remedy in Diabetes mellitus. No other remedy causes in so marked degree the diminuFncldy tion and disappearance of sugar in the urine the part body small red pimples itch of heat in upper It

IS

,

Great

violently.

amount of unne, Diabetic

thirst,

a day

Very

large

Old ulcers of skin. powdered seeds, ten grains

specific gravity high.

ulceration

three times

weakness, emaciation

;

The

also, the tincture",

have carefully ransacked all available Homoeopathic Journals in order to unearth the expenences, observations I

and researches of the Homoeopaths pertaining to this drug and the only interesting paper found by me was contributed by no less a personage than ihe late eminent French Homoeopath Dr G Seiffert, M D. of Pans in the Bevue Homoecypathique Francaise on this drug. 1 reproduce that paper in toto which was translated in English and published in the North American Journal of Homoeopathy in May, 1904, pages, 331 32.

— Syzygium writes, — "Theoretically, we

Dr, Seiffert on know little about this drug, whose pathogenesis has not The plant is also known under the yet been established names of myrtus jambosa and jambul. It grows in the west Indies, the Antilles, Reunion Island, and New Caledonia, and belongs to the family of myitaceae, all the representatives of which contain tannin, fixed and volatile oils, free acids, a mucous liquid and sug^.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

312

West

In the

employed

the fruit

Indies,

as

Ailopathically

blennorhagia and leucorrhea the leaves

is

and bark of the

m

astringents

The

plant are

dysentery,

expressed from

juice

equally efficacious in dysentery

Gerrad has extracted from Syzygium a crystalline substance to which he has given the name of Jambosine

M.

and suggested as a formula Cio white,

alcohol

ether,

and

melting at

tasteless,

and chloroform, insoluble

of myrtus jambosa, however, in

a

is

The

in

cold

active

in

water

principle

not jambosine, but

still

lies

to

M. Beneha recommends Syzygium

for diabetes

and so

sugar disappears in forty eight hours,

the drug impunity.

M.

crystals,

be found, which, according to Lyons, in combination with an alkaloid and a certain acid

resin

exists

The

77 degrees C, are soluble

soluble in hot water

slightly

HNOa

used,

is

It

is

an amylaceous stomachic,

Scott says that

and

lessens

diet

long

the

as

can be used with

carminative and astringent.

presence in the stomach

its

,

retards

the saccharifying action of the saliva and

Dr Rosenblatt, of Vilua, and Dr. Zevaskar have used Jambul both as a powder and as a fluid extract , they have cured more than ten cases in diabetes, and they attnbute their success to this drug. The usual dose was 30 cgm of the pulverized fruit, three times a day pancreatic

juice.

Homoeofiaths have made a tincture from the pulverized fruit and used it in diabetes The pulvenzed fruit itself has also been used, as mentioned above.

Dr low

Dudgeon and

liquid

others used successfully in

attenuations

Dr.

Hansen

reports

diabetes

the cure of

SrZYGlUM JAMBOLANUM OR EUGENIA JAMBOLANA. some

inveterate

cutaneous

ulcers,

313

due

probably

to

diabetes

treatment

this

tried

I

was with mediocre was on the point of giving up confess

at this

it

time

;

but

much

I

dryness

of

mu«

so that

I

Jua

the use of Syzygium

marked wasting away,

thirst,

practice

success, so

from diabetes myself with

suffered

I

my

in

violent

mouth,

the

complete repugnance to smoking , 20 grammes of sugar per litre of urine The daily quantity of urine was ordinary, about 1400

grammes.

had read in the Manuel of Pahlmanu ''A new remedy, recommended particularly by American homocck paths, IS Syzygium jambolanum. It is said that true sugar diabetes can be cured by this drug in six weeks, if, dunng I

the patient will confine himself to a

period,

this

diet

of

Alcoholic tinctures extracted from the seeds

skim milk

according to homoeopathic methods do not act so decidedly. It IS necessary to use four teaspoonfuls a day of an infuskMt

prepared as follows

R Semin Inf. et

Syzygii

mac. cum

Per horas I

jamb

Aq

coct. Colat

11. Glycerini

prepared the drug in

a

teaspoonfuls stnctly

dietic

liquors,

and

25 grammes.

pulv.

all

without

day,

regime

this

I

,

added 250 gjrammes. 25 grammes.

manner, and took submitting

omitted, however,

fixir

myself to all

a

alcoholic

sugar and amylaceous food.

After eight days the sugar had fallen from 20 grammes to 8, and after another eight days all traces of sugar had gone The violent thirst and dryness of the mouth

DRUGS OF HlNDOOSTHAN

314

had disappeared

my

,

m

former delight

smoking

had

come back considered myself cured,

I

my

more

particularly because

was of rheumatic origin former manner of life, and kept free diabetes

returned to

I

a

for

year,

my

when

aiddenly the diabetes reappeared

This violent

;

^mptoms

time there

were

were

distaste

extremely

sudden and

tobacco, wasting,

for

gastric

symptoms, impoiency, dryness of the mouth with ulcerations of the

of sugar per

litre ;

slight

mucous membrane, 30 grammes no thirst, no excessive unnation buccal

used the remedy employed before, followed a

1

mild

wry

and a week later, after an abundant perspirasymptoms had disappeared , since then there has

diet,

tion, all

been no recurrence.

my

In

practice

found a favourable

have

I

result

the

tried

in

same

treatment

and

a lady of seventy years of

She complained of excessive thirst, great feebleness, and had a number of cutaneous ulcers on the legs, which, so far had resisted all external medication. Urinalysis showed 35 grammes of sugar per litre while S. G 1028 age.

It

was a very characteristic case 1

etc.,

In

used uranium nitricum, phloridzinum, aqua cre^tata, without success

days the

15

ulcers

ne\^r returning

The

the scratching that

had

The thirst

Finally

on

resorted

I

leg

led to the ulcere disappeared also.

sugar diminished progressively to 5

But the patient

conaantly.

As soon

^/i^gium.

had disappeared, itching which provoked

the

violent

to

was

cgm.

;

more

obliged to take the medicine

as the treatment

was

interrupted the

;

SYZYGIUM JAMBOLANUM OR EUGENIA JAMBOLANA. sugar

increased

quantity /’

in

—Revue

315

Homoeopathique

Francatse,

Personal Observations.

Syzygium the

tincture

possesses great astringent properties and so prepared from its tender leaves is used

with great success

Native Kavirajes in action

IS

blood.

all sorts

always perceived

lessens sugar

and

The

generally used

is

of dysentery even when

In chronic

spongy gums, its bark dried seed of the fruit it

cases of dysentery

with goat's milk

combination ted with

m

}uice

by our associa-

diarrhoea and dysentery In

m decoction

cases of sore throat is

used as a

in

gurgle.

its

and

The

highly efficacious in cunng diabetes reduces the specific gravity of the unne. is

the patient passes large and enormous quantity of urine at a time, the urine These are the is found to be of high specific gravity. In diabetes there

charactenstic

is

excessive thirst

symptoms of

diabetic patients in

which Syzy-

gium has potent influence in checking and curing it. I used it in three bad cases of diabetes with the above mentioned symptoms and all of them were cured. It IS

specially suited to those patients

chronic dyspepsia.

If

long standing

who

suffer

dyspeptic

from

troubles

be present along with diabetic symptoms, Syzyg^^'^ be found to be a sovereign remedy.

wi^^

Clinical Verificafions.

Case No.

I.

Babu Bistupada Ghose, a merchant aged 48, had been suffenng from diabetes mellitus for more dian three years.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

316

He

took several Allopathic and

prescnbed by

some

Homoeopathic remedies

well-known

medical

practitioners,

but unfortunately he did not get any relief

At 1

last

he was placed under

my

treatment.

found the following symptoms

His urine was examined sugar per ounce, the urine

—

there

,

were 28

was of high

grains of

specific

gravity,

of urine day and night, the

he passed large patient was a chronic dyspeptic quantities

and

patient

excessive

thirst existed

I

Syzygium Jambolanum lx four times daily. was cured of this disease within 2 months

prescribed

He

Case No. II. Shaik Abdul

Ban, a teacher aged

52,

suffered

from

He was

found to pass copious quantity of urine at a time which caused great weakness , excessive thirst existed Urine was of high specific gravity and the diabetes

quantity of sugar thrice daily

was 12

grains per ounce.

SyzygiumVf.

was prescnbed and he was cured Case

No

III.

Babu Rabindra Nath Chose M.A suffered from diabetes His qrine was examined, and there were 32 grains of sugar per ounce, thirst

was

urination,

patient small,

present,

specific

gravity

was

high,

weakness and exhaustion were

chronic

dyspeptic

troubles

excessive felt

tormented

after

the

was pnckly heat in the upper part of his body, red pimples were found there which itched terribly ,

there

SYZYGIUM JAMBOLANUM OR EUGENIA JAMBOLANA, Relying

and

It

upon

did not

these fail

symptoms

in

I

317

prescribed Syzyifium Ix

bringing about an

instantaneous

mitigation of his sufferings

From

the 4th day,

he began

to perceive

great

im-

provement

On

day his urine was again examined and was found to be of normal specific gravity i.e. 1012, his It urine did not contain any sugar and his other symptoms Only Syzygium cured him. almost disappeared. the

12th

Mode of Preparation

—^The

tincture

is

dried seeds according to Formula IV of the A.

Dll.


lx, 3x, generally used.

prepared from,

H.

P.

Swertia Chirata. (Ckirafa)

Eng — Chirata

Common Names. tikla

,

Benq —Chirata

,

Tel

,

— Nela verun

Sans.—Kmt&.

Natural orc?er.— Gentianaceae

DesmpUon

of the jpZarai.—The herb grows in abun< dance in Bhutan and IChasia Range between 4,000 to 10,000 feet above the sea level.

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

Qkarak has recommended it in haematemesisand dropsy

Hant

has found

it

efficacious

in vomiting

of pi^g^

nancy. All Ayurvedic physicians virtues in typhoid

and

have extolled

intermittent

respiratory troubles, bilious troubles,

burning, cough, drop^,

thirst,

fevers,

its

therapeutic

malarial fever,

impurities of

leprosy,

boils

blood,

and worms,

a wellknown and welltried febrifuge amongst these practitioners and they very often use it in all sorts of fevers All dispensaries are now filled with its syrup or In fact,

it

IS

decoction or tincture.

It

amongst the Kavirajes of

India.

has been in constant demand

Parts CTsed,—Whole plant. Pose,

^Powder

I

to

4 annas, decoction 5

to 10 tolas.

,;

SWERTIA CHIRATA.

319

Ailopafhic Uses and Opinions. Constituents ,

—Ophelic a yellow

chiratin,

an

acid,

amorphous

bitter

glucoside, resin gum. phosphates of potash, lime and magnesia

principle,

bitter

Carbonates and ash 4 6 p c , no tannin

—

Actions Like

and Uses.

Cinchona and other

stomachic,

laxative,

bitter

anthelmintic

and

tonics

it

is

bitter,

febrifuge.

It

excites

the appetite, strengthens digestion, but does not constipate ; flatulence diminishes and hyperacidity ; removes It

given

biliousness,

in

atonic dyspepsia,

aadity of the stomach and

flatulence,

liver

gout,

troubles,

intermittent

In combination with acids, and other fevers alkalies and aromatics, it is given in bilious affections and burning The compound powder "sudarsana heat of the body chuma” is a popular native remedy for chronic fevers as a laxative and alterative it is given in scrofula and general

—

malaise Lt

about p.

CR N. Khoiy,

1 1

,

page 413).

R N.

Chopra, i.M.s has wntten the following herb in his work—Indigenous drugs of India,

Col. this

Part

251 "Swertia chirata has long been used by Hindu physicians

as

An

a

bitter tonic,

stomachic, febrifuge and andudmirnic.

infusion of the drug

forms part of

is

many compound

generally employed,

but

it

preparations.

The Mohammedan physicians also use it extensively. The European practitioners in India in the early days appreciated the

value of Chirata

and

very

frequontly

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

320

prescribed

it

in

place of the

official

gentian.

The

report

Watt's Dictionary of the Economic

of Fleming (quoted in Products of India) will bear testimony to reputation the drug enjoyed in those days.

the

high

According

him chirata possesses all the stomachic, tonic, febnfuge and anti'diarrhoeric virtues which are ascribed to gentian and in a greater degree than they are generally found in It in the state in which it comes to us from Europe” to

Experiments

out in the School of Tropical

carried

Medicine regarding the chemical composition of Swertia Ckirata also show that it can effectively replace the gentian The common variety of chirata of the pharmacopoeia as obtained from the Indian bazar contents of

its

principle

bitter

was assayed

by the method

for the

suggested

Zellner

By the method the percentage of was found to vary from I 42 to 1 52 favourably with the

bitter

bitter

principle

This compares

principle existing in

Gentian

Kurroo and there is no reason why more not be paid to this drug

attention should

are several spurious kinds of

chirata in the

There

market as well which are not devoid of therapeutic

True

bitter at all

and

are, therefore,

activity.

Chirata, viz

Chirata has now been and the United States pharma-

Swertia

recognised in the British

copoeias”.

Homoeopathic Proving and Materia Medica. Dr. Kali

made a

Kumar

of Gounpore, Assam, drug. An account of the

Bhattacharjea,

short proving of this

SWERTIA CHIRATA.

321

made and the symptoms developed therein were published in the "Hahnemann" of Falgoon, 1332 B S. proving thus

Dr. Bhattachariea prepared a tincture from

.

The symptoms

and leaves of the plant are given below

—

Mind

— Dulness

the

flowers

observed by him

of mind, laziness, desire to

lie

down

always.

Head.

— Dull

pain

felt

is

over both the temples

gradually extending to the whole of the head felt over the head

first, IS

Nose and Eyes the eyes

and

flushes

— Severe

burning sensation

of heat comes out of the

— Hissing sound the the mouth Mouth — Bad

Ears.

is felt

in

taste in

and

;

at

coldness

is

felt

m

nostrils

ears.

is felt

m

the

morning

odour comes out of the mouth.

offensive

—

Tongue. Heaviness of the tongue is felt : difficulty in speech is felt , the middle of the tongue is enveloped with a thick yellowish coating. Throat.

—

in the throat

In

the morning and evening

which

is

relieved

by hot

pain

is

felt

drinks.

—

Respiratory organs. During fever hurried respiraticm ensues ; dry cough is felt in the bronchia! regbn with dry mucus for which the patient suffers from dry hadting

cough

—^There

Liver and Spleen.

is

enlargement of both

liver

and spleen associated with pain

—^Accumulation of wind tn the Kidney —Dull pain

A.hdomen .

on

the right side. 21

in die

,

is

preserfl

abdomen.

kkJnty, espeoally

drugs of hindoosthan

322

Urine.— \}nnz

of high red colour and there

is

is

burning while urinating

Made Sexual Orj/a?*.—Weakness of the male organ

,

sexual

of semen.

slight discharge

Extremities.—hchm% pains are and feet ; weakness of the legs,

’

the

in

felt

difficulty

is

hands felt

in

walking

— Desire for Fever —^The stage of

bitter

Desires.

coldness

.

IS

no

desire

for

substances

long,

lasts

There

drinking

and meat but

desire

is

there

for

hot

water.

The

hot stage generally

lasts

wards sweating stage appears

;

for three hours

and

after-

but sweat does not break

out over the whole body, only chest, axilla and thigh are covered with

little

perspiration.

is

slight

as

it

There

may appear

of fever— It in the eyes

thirst.

is felt

at

is

no

any

fixity

time.

from the onset of fever

stage

In the hot stage

nausea ajid bilious vomiting take place. there

cold

In the

of the appearance Burning sensation

and

lasts

as long

perils

The above are the few symptoms ^perienced by

the

proven Personal Observations.

Gentiana Chrata is a noted febnfuge. Every body has highly prized it as a fever killer In homoeopathy, we have found it to be a very useful remedy in both acute and chronic malarial fevers. The fever of Ckirata may come on at any time of the day and night ; but in chronic cases the fever appears usually in the afternoon

SWERTIA CHIRATA the morning attacks cold stage

In

there

any,

323

is

no appreciable

it is

The

thirst in this

by hot

generally relieved

hot stage

lasts

for 3 to

a long time, and if there be

lasts

stage

for

drinks.

4 hours and

there

is slight

Before the appiearance of hot stage, nausea and vomiting trouble the patient. bilious

thirst.

It

a keynote symptom of the

IS

drug

severe

that

appears immediately after

symptom the onset of the fever and

continues as long as fever

present

burning sensation

the

If

in the eyes

felt

symptoms

Other before

is

is

of

long

and

the drug have

lasting

this

b^n

out-lined

malanal fevers turn into

Kala-azar associated with enlarged spleen and

liver,

may

it

be used with advantage It

an

IS

excellent

on

not bring It

remedy in chronic

it

liver

does

constipation.

after

fevers.

In

flatulence, loss

of appetite

worms

distinct

It

has a

by any of

indigestion,

and

atonic

off

dyspepsia,

in troubles ansing out of

place which cannot be questioned

us.

therapeutic properties can

catarrhs,

leprosy

In short,

and some

be perceived

Dominant School of

uniformly recognised

mentioned

its

therapeutic

above.

also

in

skin diseases.

Hindu and Mohammedan

physicians of the

ments

and

also used with great advantage in warding

IS

debility

Its

fevers

fever has stopped particularly because

troubles after

It

is

physicians

Medicirve

activities

in the

and have ail-

gratifying to note diat

and opinions handsomely tally with those observed by the homoeopathies of our country. all their finding

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

324

The

dnjg certainly deserves our attention and trial in my firm conviction that is It times of emergencywill fall nothing short of our expectations and will, It

no

doubt,

come

out with flying colours

—

of preparation. The tincture is prepared by two parts of alcohol added to three parts of the entire

Mode

plant

Ikl.

—

lx,

3x generally used.

Termlnalia Sana

Vernacular. Bengali. —^Arjuna

maruda-marum

—Anuna

Boredfay.

,

Arjuna. iiftncft.— Arjuna

;

—Arjuna

JlfaAra^Ae.— Shardul

;

;

2Vr»»/."—VelUi-*

;

,

S/wm/t.—Saja-

dan

Natural orc^ar.— Combrataccae. Habitat.-^\i

is

found

Lower

in

Himalaya,

Bengal

Burma, Central and Southern India and Ceylon. Description of the plant.-^Terminalia Arjuna large, deciduous tree measuring a height of 60 to 80

The

bark

tonic

is

found by the

Bagbhatta was the

"Arjuna"

Sanskrit writers to be

first

to

is

a

feet.

a cardiac

presenbe the bark of

in heart diseases

Opinions and Uses by fhe Ayurvedic Pkysiclani. (7AaraA:a.—(l) In haematemesis the bark of Arjuna

used Its

with

excellent

results.

In this affection

bark with equal quantity of pulverised

wood, sugar and nee

water,

(2)

Its

is

prescribe

red

leaves arc

sandaL

usedm

boils

Suskrvta.— In bark

spermatorrhoea

decoction of Arjuna

with equal quantity of white sandalwood

is

used

with benefit

Bagbhatta.’-^l)

Has recommended

suppression and retention of unne.

(2)

its

Has

decoction in also recom-

menefed an ointment prepared of Hs bark and honey

m

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

326

—

Qhakradatta. Has found it eminently useful in bloody dj^ntery and in cardiac affections. He has also recom-*

mended

it

in fractures.

—

Bhdbprakaah Recommended it for tuberculosis of lungs and for suppression and retention of urine .

Hant — Has found it useful ,

Banganena

,

in

the

gonorrhoea

— Has recommended

it

in chronic diarrhoea

and dysentery

Opinions of Wesiern Physicians. R.

N

Khory

in his

Matena Medica of

India,

pages 258, has written the following about Arjuna

part

li,

:

and tonic given in heart diseases. Locally used as a wash for wounds, ulcers, contusions eund specially used in promoting union of fractures and dispa:sion of ecchymosis , internally, largely used by the in haemorrhagic natives and other fluxes and as a Astringent

lithontnptic.'*

Nadkarni says powdered

It

is

written in Bhabaprakasha that

soaked and dned seven times the leaf juice of Adhatoda Basaka is admi**

Arjuna

successively in

—

^

Bark

nistered as a Iinctus well mixed with honey, sugarcandy and cow's ghee in case of phthisis It stops the blood in the sputum and cures the disease , this mixture is employed by Kavirajes as an anupana (component

part of the medicine) in the treatment

along

with

gold, lead

to

reduced mir^als,

and mica.

be very encouraging.”

In

many

such as

of consumption pearls,

cases the effect

coral, is

said

TERMINALIA ARJUNA

327

now

proceed to reproduce the following from work of Lt Col R, Chopra, KM.S (Indigenous Drugs of India) which will describe the conclusions of Western physicians regarding this indigenous shall

I

N

the wellknown

Drug

—

Chemical Composition . A reference to the literature shows that this drug has interested many previous According to Hooper (1891) the bark investigators of ash consisting almost entirely of yields 34 per cent pure calcium carbonate

much

;

the watery e>aract contains as

23 per cent of calcium salts and 16 per cent, of Very little colouring matter besides the tannin tannins IS ejetracted by alcohol Qkosal (1909) made a detailed chemical and pharmacological study of the bark. He found It to contain the following substances —(1) sugar, (2) tannin, (3) colounng matter, (4) a body of the nature of a glucoside and (5) carbonate of calcium and sodium and traces of chlorides of alkali metals. He also found total the tannin content that amounted to 12 per cent and the content of ash to 30 per cent. The author and his co-workers obtained good specimens of the bark and as

made a

careful

active pnnciples

analysis with

which might

a view to finding out the

be

alleged stimulant action of the drug

responsible

on

the heart.

for

As

thCj th
a very careful seardl drug IS was made for their presence. Neither alkaloid nor glucoside could be found in the bark and there was no substance of the nature of an essential oil. The bajrk contains said to contain

the following substances

glucosides,

—

Unusually large quantities of calcium salts with small amounts of aluminium and magnesium salts (1)

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

32S

About 12 per cent of

(2)

tanntns, consisting mainly

of pyrocatechol tannins

An

(3)

organic acid with a high melting point and a

phytosterol

An

{•4)

organic ester easily hydrolysed

by

mineral

acids

Some colouring

(5)

matters, sugars, etc

be seen that the analysis of the bark of Terminals Arpna does not reveal the presence of active pnncaples which could account for its cardiac tonic effects so It

will

widely believed in this country. obtained extracts

The

different

fractions

from petroleum, ether, alcoholic and aqueous during analysis were carefully tested but, with

the exception of calcium compound,

no other constituent

producing any effect on the heart or on any of the other The colouring matter was sepatissues were det«:ted.

and tested with the same result. Recently, CotMs. l^haskar and Isaac (1930) have studied in details the

lrated

common

Indian species of the genus Terminalia. They were unable to find any active constituent of the nature of an alkaloid or glucoside or*

cffiemical

composition of the

an essential oil. All the fifteen specimens of barks examined gave when incinerated a white, soft, odourless and tasteless

ash.

pynfolia

and

ash

IS

Except for the presence of

T

iron

travancorensis the composition

m T of

the

fairly constant.

Tlierapeufic Uses.

Koman (1919''20) administered a decocUon

in

of the bark 20 cases of valvular diseases of heart and came to rile

TERMINAUA ARJUNA

329

was not useful. An alcoholic prepared from the bark was carefully tested at School of Tropical Medicine m a number of patients

conclusion that the drug extract

the

from

suffering

of cardiac compensation with or none of the patients did the drug

failure

Without dropsy

In

produce any marked drugs of the

The blood

digitalis

effects

such as are

produced

by

or caffeine groups

frequency and force of the heart beat and the

pressure

of

secretion

remained

urine

appreciably

was not markedly

The

unaltered.

in those

affected

Any

cases.

therapeutic effects attributed to the drug accounted for by the high calcium content to which reference has already been made

may be

Cams, Mhaskar and Isaac (1930) have, however, reported that the dried barks of the Indian species of genus Termtnalia exhibit a very great

There are as many as 15

The their

tically

different varieties.

appearance that there

is

very great

being mistaken for one another

no

distinction

these varieties and

and

all

is

made by

'Arjuna*.

extracts of the dried and cleaned bark.

barks of the either
(i)

below

commoner

The

These

workers

actions of all the barks

using hot infusion, decoction

given

In India, prac*-

the drug-sellers between

have studied the pharmacological separately,

likelihood

of them are being constantly exhibited

sold indiscriminately as

are

of forms

barks of these varieties of Terminalia are so very

similar in

of

variability

and

alcoholic

The conclusions

pharmacodynamically

active

Indian species of Terminalia are

mild diuretics, T. ariuna, T. beicnea, T. pallida, or

fairly

potent cardiac stimulants, T. bialata, T. cona-

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

330

T. pyrifoba, or (ib) both diuretic and cardiotonic, T. catappa, T. chebula T citnna, T. myriocarpa, T. oliveri, T. pamculata, T tomentosa

cea,

,

The

from

conclusions are different

those

reported

from the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine. As no active constituent has so far been isolated and as there IS practically no change in the chemical compositions of the different barks referred to by Caiv>s It is

difficult to

conceive

his

co-worker

the different varieties reveal

pharmacological

quite different

The

how

and

and

therapeutic

effects

use of alcoholic extracts in pharmacological experi-

ments brings

a

in

lot

to vitiate the results.

of abnormal factors which are Further study

is

necessary to

likely

confirm

the findings already recorded".

HomoeopBfhk Uses and

Proving*

Promng, Arjuna has not yet been sufficiently proved by us Only one or two fragmentary provings were made. I tried to prove It in the month of January, 1934 The Termindiia,

record of that proving

Name

is

given below

Babu Han Charan Roy, a good physique.

of the promr.

youngman of 35 4th Jaunary,

—

years of age and

1934

He

took 5 drops of the mother

10A.M, another dose of the same and a third one at 8 P.M. on that day. tincture at

at

2

PM

Nothing untoward was experienced on that day. 5th Jany,

1934.

— He

tincture at different times,

took three doses of the mother

dose being 8 drops at a time.

331

No symptoms were noticed. 6th Jany,

—He

took one

dram of

8A

Mtnd — Nervousness came

Head —Giddiness .

.

—Ringing

of head

in the ears

at 11

a M,

—

on.

.

Ear

the mother

and another dram of the same

M PM. He felt the following symptoms

tincture at

2

1934

was

present

were present

— Eyes were hot Mouth —Dryness and in the mouth. Urine — Scanty urination and flow was Eyes .

bitter taste

insufficient.

—

Heart. Palpitation and beating of Sudden jerking pains in the heart.

was very unfortunate that called away from Calcutta It

prover could be had to prove

the

the heart

came on.

youngman was suddenly

After that time no

new

it.

—

Personal observations ^The Ayurvedic physicians (Kavirajes) of our country have been using this drug indo' pendently or as one of the ingredients in all sorts of heart diseases with marked success for a long time; They both functional and organic diseases of the, heart—angina pectoris, palpitation of the heart, pain irl the heart, weakness of the heart. In fractures, pains al^

use

It

in

over the body owing to a fall and all sorte of ©xshymosis, the action of this drug is aipreme. For the eradication of these complaints it is used both internally and exterin haemorrhages, gonorrhoea it is used by diem.

nally.

In

spermatorrhoea,

and

in

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN. a wellknown cardiac remedy amongst our nativ^ Chopra and his co-woi.itgrs Kavirajes, but Lt. Col R have tried it m those complaints and found it to be It

IS

N

quite

ineffective.

also tried it in a few functional and organic I disorders of the heart and it was very unfortunate that r j.j get any benefit from its use

In tigated

my opinion

its

claims should be methodically

and examined by

Mode

all

of preparation . ding to Class IV of the A. Dll.

Ix,

—The H

3x generally used

Parts used.

Bark.

inves-

of us

P

tincture

is

prepared »

"

,

,

Terminalia Chebuia. CHarifaki)

Common Names, Hind.

Har

— Har, Harara

^

Kay

,

Bom —Hirda,

(tree),

Abhaya, Pathya

/Sa7i6‘.--Haritaku

Benq Harda

Kadut-Kaypinji

— Haritaki

Punj

,

Tam '-Kada

,

(fruit),

— Harrar,

Kai,

Kadut-

Te/.—Karaka,

Kurka

(tree)

—

Bescnptton of the plant. It is a common plant in India and lai^ely used by Indian physicians. The myro^ balans found in the market have a pale bulf colour, are oval in shape and possess longitudinal ridges on the

The taste is

surface.

astringent.

Allopathic Uses and Opinions.

Comtituents.

Myrobalans

ples—tannic acid (45 pc) and

brownish

yellow

also contain

possess astringent princi-

gallic acid,

mucilage and a

colouring matter; chebulic myrobalans

an organic

which when heated

in

acid

water,

named chcbuhnic acid splits up into tannic and

gallic acids

—

N. Khory, Vol. 12., p. B60, Bays "Purgative, The npe fruits arc generally astringent and alterative J?,

.

purgative and the unripe ones astringent and aperient

B. N. Chopra, I.M.8. wnUa in ks book Indigenous Drugs of India,*’ p, 5SB 'It is astrir^ent, Lt.

Col*

laxative, alterative

;

used in scorpion

Also in page 599 says efficient laxative.

The

sting."

^tyrobalans are

following prepwation

mild ui

and

generally

.

DRUGS OF HINDUSTHAN

334

—

bruised myrobalans 6 m remedy number, cloves, 1 dram and water 10 oz, boiled for 10 minutes and strained. The dose should be administered early in the morning Owing to the large amount of gallic acid the myrobalans contain, they can be used externally as a local application in chronic ulcers and wounds or as a gurgle

used as a household

in stomatitis."

"Amsiie notices their use as an application to aphthae.

Pharmacopoeia of India, Dr. Waring mentions his having found six of the mature fruit an efficient and safe purgative producing four or five copious stools unattended by griping, nausea or other ill effects , probably those used In the

Twining (Diseases by him were not of the largest kind. of Bengal, Vol 1., p. ^O?) speaks very favourably of the immature fruit (Halileh^i-zangi) as a tonic and aperient in enlargement

them a

useful medicine in diarrhoea

in doses

We

of the abdominal viscera.

of a dram twice a day

and dysentery, given

Recently,

M.

P.

brought to the notice of the profession in

has

found

Apery Europe

the value of these blade myrobalans in dysentery, choleric

them each, the dose being from 4 to the 24 hours." (Dymock, Vol

diarrhoea and chronic diarrhoea pills

of 25 Centigrams

pills

or even

more

in

;

he

administers

in

12 I!

p.3).

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

The Hindu and Unani this

physicians of India largely use drug in their prescnptions.

Charak has found

it

useful in bleeding piles, diseases

of the stomach, chronic dysentery, jaundice due to cough, odd and catarrfis, and vomiting

m

TERMINALIA CHfcBULA

Sushruta

has recommended it in rheumatism, blind chronic enlargement of the spleen and

elephantiasis,

piles,

abdomen and hiccough

glandular enlargement of the

Baqbhatta has prized

it

as an excellent remedy for

piles,

stone and calculus and throat affections and as a tonic.

Hant

has recommended

haemorrhages of the stomach and lungs, and delirium tremens it

in

Chakradatta has found it useful and of several affections of the eye.

m

rheumatism, dropsy

Bhdbaprakaa has recommended it in typhoid chronic diarrhoea and dysentery and biliary colic.

Bangasena says diarrhoea

that

associated

is

it

with

an

remedy pains and also

excellent

colicky

fever,

in in

whitlow.

Parts used . Dose

—Fruits and seeds.

—from 4 to 6 annas.

Proving and Maiorla Madica of Haritaki.

Fromng, Dr Byom Kesh Datta of 5, Bhur Lane, Calcutta assisted by Mr. Anupam Ch. Roy made a proving of this drug

He

supplied

me

with

all

the data in

connection

with

his proving. I

them below and arrange the symptoms as noticed

give

by the prover. Materia Medica of

Mind

— Mind

.

indisposed

indifferent

;

Haritalci,

single-mindedness.

and constant yawning

Easily

DRUGS OF HINDUSTHAN.

336

— Intense

Head

vertigo begins

m

occiput and spreads

to the whole right side of the head (right temporal region

Vertigo remains

to right frontal region).

hours

night for

region

and

and

pain

Stitching

the

in

the day and

right

headache

Slight

suture.

occipital

all

temporal in occiput

cranium with intense vertigo

right

Vertigo

IS

aggravated by hot sun's rays, hard pressure

and motion and it is ameliorated by cold bathing, evening dry cold air and during sleep and eating.

Mouth .

—Profuse

with

intense

thirst

for

Sensation of dryness in upper jaw

drinking cold water

Gums

salivation

of teeth swollen and hard In the

and fetid empty eructation.

eructation

Fetid odor in

morning

mouth

constant

Tongue.--¥\shhy, dry, brown coating on Sore and raw tongue

tip

acid,

of tongue.

stomach and slight Downward pain in stomach and distension of stomach. epigastnum. Rumbling and gurgling sound in stomach. Pam m nght lower abdomen

Stomach —Sensation of

—Intense

Back.

and lower often

at

stmight,

dunng

fulness

in

pain in back loin (right lumber region

spinal column). intervals.

Pain

and decreased

Sitting is painful

slightly

due to pain

increased while sitting

altogether while lying

on bed and

sleep.

Nech

Chest

—Pain

and Liver.

Intense pressive pain

in nght diest.

in

back

of neck.

Sli^t pain in the

region of liver (large

lobe)

by

Pressive pain in region of heam.

external pressure.

Pain ameliorated temporarily

,

TERMINALIA CHEBULA. 5
ineffectual

desire

337 for

passing stool,

but passes very small quantity of faeces with great force or sometimes with ineffectual action to pass stool. After

much

trying a

little

faeces

comes out with

great

force

Sweat during passing stool. Pressive itching and full sensation in rectum In constipation, stool hard, of small quantity, and slightly yellowish. in diarrhoea,

stool

faeces mixed with

is

and small

liquid,

some mucus,

in

quantity

flatulence associated with

burning sensation in the stomach

Unne — Quantity of ,

Frequency of urination

is

urine

slightly

is

diminished

increased at night

j&arfrejwittes.— Muscular pain in

the region of deltoid muscle.

nght upper hand in

Itching pains

relieved

by

scratching.

— Normal

Pvlse and Heart-beats Pulse IS accelerated and quick

in

number of

motion, irregular

beats.

Pulse

some moments is rapid, hard and for some moments is weak simultaneously. Some heart beats are feeble or of low sound, some normal and some of loud sound,

for

eveiydhing in successive order

— Normal Respiration.— Hot deep breathing Temperature.

Male and Female symptoms. genitals.

22

Genital

Organs.

— No

abnormal

This drug has no special action upon the

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

338

Modalities

—Aggravation — Every

compiarnt

.

is

aggra^

vated by hot sun's rays, motion, hard pressure and often

some exertion due to works. Amehoration,

—Every complaint dry cold

evening

bathing,

by closing the and body.

is

ameliorated by cold

dunng

air,

sleep

and during complete

eyes,

and

rest

eating,

of mind

Personal Observations. Every body of our country

Hantaki

is

used in

all religious

Hindu population of

The Hindu use

it

Its

as a mild

physicians

and the public of our country

make the bowels

cold bathing

;

It

is

an

in

some

it

is

excellent medicine

skin diseases

a good medicine, vertigo

there

clear can

chronic dysentery, dropsy, chronic

in piles, constipation,

In vertigo

ceremonies observed by the

laxative.

not be questioned by any body

and

familiar with Hantaki

India

therapeutic action to

diarrhoea,

is

is

is

relieved

profti^ salivation with great

by

thirst

which accompanies all affsctions , offensive odour comes out of the mouth ; tongue is flabby, dry, and covered with a brown coating on Iip of the tongue , there is frequent ineflectual

desire to

pass stools, but the

only small quantity of faei^ with great

patient

passes

force.

Sweat

breaks out during stool.

These symptoms and also the symptoms recorded in the portion of Matena Medica will help us to prescnbe

TERMINALIA CHEBULA, It

correctly

and properly

m

those cases where

339

its

symptoms

with the cases under treatment In my opinion turn out to be a good homoeopathic remedy in future

will tally it

will

Mode of Preparnrio M.—'The from the outer covering of the Class IV of the A H. P.

Dd,

I

x,

3x, 6x,

fruits

prepared and seeds according to medicine

is

30 potencies are generally used.

,

Titiospora Cordifolia. CGulancha).

— Ninjara, Guluchee Hindi —Guruchi, Gulancha Benq —Gulancha Funj — Gib, Gulanch Bomb —Gulwail, Gharol Mar —GulaVeil, Tam.— Tel — Tippa-tige, Guluchi Kodi G^ocf.—Amntvel Eng — Heart leaved Moon-’seed Names

Commoifi

Sans

;

,

,

,

,

^Shindil,

,

,

,

Natural order.

— Menispermaceae.

plant— \i is generally known in "Gulancha", The stem and root are used

Description of the the market as medicinally

which possess a

bitter taste

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions.

The Hindu physicians use it as an " and have named it as "Indian quinine

excellent

Oharak has recommended it in chronic bilious vomiting and some other diseases

He has

found

it

useful to

febrifuge

fevers, jaundice,

purify the breast-^milk after

delivery.

Bagbhatta has spoken highly of it as an excellent remedy in gonorrhoea.

Bhctfoprakash says

and

IS

.

—Gulancha

is

generally used in chronic fevers

Okakradatta* fevers, I^rosy,

—

and

It

is

an

excellent

elephantiasis.

an excellent

tonic,

and jaundice remedy

in

urticana,

TINOSPORA CORDIPOLIA

141

Banga^tena has recommended it in vomitins and lence associated with extreme palpitation of the heart

flatu-

Hindu physicians have found it to be bitter, tonic and strength-giving. It destroys wind, bile and phlegm It is good for thirst, burning sensation, In short,

the

gonorrhoea, cough, jaundice, torpidity of the

splenic

liver,

rheumatism, acute and chronic

affections, leprosy,

worms, vomiting,

piles,

dysuria,

flatulence

and

fevers,

palpitation

of the heart.

Allopathic Uses

—The

Constituents

extract, bitter principle

root

and a

Actions Fresh stem is

a good

is

more

substitute

and Opinions. and stem

trace of bcrbornic.

and Uses.

efficacious

for

contain starchy

than the

Calumbu

is

It

stomachic,

tonic, alterative, aphrodisiac, anti-penodic,

given in dyspepsia attacks of fever.

and

debility

Like peruvian barks

used in enlarged spleen secondary

in

syphilis,

As an

dry one and bitter,

and demulcent,

by repeated a good febrifuge,

caused it

is

alterative

rheumatism, leprosy,

it

is

given

skin diseases,

m

such

and demulcent It is given in dysuria, in scanty, high-coloured urine due to catarrh of the bladder. The juice of the stem combined with Pakanbhed and honey, is given in gonoirhoea. The as impetigo,

and

starchy extract in

cold fevers

in jaundice

is

nutritious,

As a

diuretic

largely

used in native practice

and seminal weakness,

also

in

urinary

affections

(Materia Medtca of India, p. 81}

R N.

Kkory, Part II

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTKAN

342

Favourably spoken of by those

'It

is

jaundice,

of the

torpidity

liver,

seminal

I

as a

it

p

,

debility,

55).

fever,

secondary

skin diseases,

rhumatism, acidity of unne and unnary diseases,

syphilis,

some forms

of

dyspepsia,

gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, It is

tried

^Part

and

useful in general

have

{Dymock—

and diuretic

anti-periodic

tonic,

who

splenic

chronic

affections,

etc.

used as a febrifuge and tonic in gout

with extract of Chirata, Vasaka, Myrobalan,

;

combined

Neem.

Pyero-

rrhiza (Kutki), parpata (Oldenlandia herbacea), all together

being equal in weight to that of Gulancha,

make a very

compound

useful

liquid

said to

it is

extract in

various

kinds of fever. In malaria

it is

" sometimes more efficacious than quinine

(Nadkarni).

"An IS

infusion

is

prepared from the stem and root which

a valuable tonic

fever and dyspepsia

m

N, Chopra in

JB.

page

"

debilitating

diseases,

kis Indigenotis

intermittent

Drugs of

India,

S99,')

Homoeopathic Proving and Uses.

No up

proving of

to this time

been

clinically

,

this

drug has been

but

using

many

it

made by any body

Indian homoeopaths

with excellent results

have for a few

years

Personal Observations.

Qvlancha has turned out

m homoeopathic practice

It

be an excellent remedy has been found by competent to

TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA. authorities to

jaundice, leprosy,

splenic

and

be an

remedy

excellent

of

torpidity

secondary

the

in intermittent fevers, debility,

liver,

skin

diseases,

rheumatism, acidity of unne,

syphilis,

such as gonorrhoea

urinary diseases

affections,

343

dysuria. It IS

an

excellent

remedy

acute and chronic malarial

in

the temperature generally rises in the afternoon with chilliness or shaking chill , there is bilious vomiting fevers,

with these symptoms drug

arc

In chronic slow fevers,

cases where there

due

is

a

its

history

to seminal emissions.

maladministration

The

and headache.

associated with thirst

and

sure

is

by

certain

this

in

of gonorrhoea and weakness

Due

of quinine,

burning sensation

benefited

generally

action

fevers associated

an excessive use or

to if

the

fever

continue,

hands and feet, if there be enlargement of the liver and spleen, jaundice with yellow colour of the eyes, no desire for food, and headache, Gtdancha may be safely given.

if

It is

is

felt

in

face,

given in various kinds of vomiting, specially bilious

a powerful action on the urinary tract ; the patient passes only a small quantity of unne at a time, passes it frequently and there is burning while urinating and the urine is mixed with pus-like discharges. In this sort of gonorrhoea, it is a sovereign remedy. vomiting, with efficacy.

In rheumatism, leprosy action.

It

exerts

and

has a decided largely used with

skin diseases,

In the secondary syphilis,

it

is

it

considerable benefit.

As a It

is

tonic

widely

it

used

is

pronounced to be an excellent remedy. as a "ptck-me'Up" remedy where

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

344

the patient has attacks of fever

become extremely weak owing and

to

repeated

also to exhausting seminal emissions.

a very good medicine in excessive palpitation of the heart due to awful weakness or excessive seminal It is

emissions

In

Gulancha

short,

of therapeutic virtues

possesses

a wide range which have

in multifarious diseases

been highly extolled by all Schools of Medicine The above are the diseases in which Gulancha will be found very useful can not speak on this drug more than I I have done as no proving has yet been undertaken. However, clinically it is used by us and cures many cases Allopathic and Ayurvedic which generally resist the treatments

Mode

of 'preparation P to Class IV of the A

H

Dll.

0, lx,

3x,

—Tincture

6x generally used.

is

prepared according

,

Trichosaifthes Dioica. CPatal).

Common Eng —Wild

— Patola, ihnd —Parvar Beng — Patol /*«?(;,—Palwal Tel.— Komum'polta.

Karnes -^Sans, Snakegourd

,

.

•

,

— Kombu-pudalai Natural order —Cucurbitaceae

Tamil

,

.

Description of the plant -Ax. belongs to the order of Cucurbitaceae, seasons,

is

a creeper and

but principally in

its

flowers

the season

grow

in

of spring.

flowers are dioecious and white in colour

,

its

fruits

all

The arc

very smooth outside and lanceolated and scarcely globose

numerous seeds and grows and thrives well on somewhat elevated lands In summer after a good It

possesses

shower,

its

roots are planted in the nicely ploughed ground

and the herb begins

to

grow very

shortly

and runs

diffusely.

up if a support is arranged Its fruits grow in the summer months, but they grow more profusely dunng the rainy season It is extensively cultivated all over Bengal and form one of the favourite vegetables of It

climbs

the natives etc

The

more

Fruits are generally used in preparing curry,

wild variety has a very

bitter

taste

and

possesses

valuable medicinal properties than the sweet one.

The root contains

very highly poisonous properties

Ayurvedic Uses.

The Ayurvedic

physicians of India have found

drug to be of great use in multifarious complaints.

this

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

346

be a sovereign remedy in cases of dropsy, anasarca, bilious and catarrhal fevers, slow chronic fevers associated with haemoptysis and also in

Charak has found

it

to

synovitis

Chakradatta recommends it in bilious and catarrhal fevers, bilious fevers, and rheumatism.

Bhusruta has found

efficacious in haemoptysis

it

and

bilious fever.

Bhaibaprakash has recommended its use in smalhpox In the opinion With predominance of bilious symptoms of some other Ayurvedic physicians it is an excellent remedy in small-pox and chicken-pox. These native Hindu physicians prescribe it as an auxiliary material to many of

well-known metallic preparations

their

Parts used,

—^Roots and leaves

—Decoction, Jmce — to 2

Dose

5 to 10 tolas

tolas.

1

Opinion of Allopathk Physicians.

R N. Chopra,

Col.

Lt.

I.

M.

Drugs of India, p 534 and p 600

"The

S.

says in his Indigenous

;

leaves of 'Tnchosanthes Dioica" are tonic, febn-

luge, fruits of the bitter vanety are used

Tlie

fruit

laxative

is

and

desenbed

leaves

and the

apenait

Parts

the sansknt writers as febrifuge, In Bengal

antibilious

the "patola" of the

The

firuit

root

is

Hindu

it

is

considered to be

physicians.

The

juice

of the

are mentioned as cholagogue and

a

drastic purgaJtive."

umd —Roots and leaves ,

in scorpion-sting.

,

TRICHOSANTHES HomorOfMifliic Provings

347

DiOICA.

and

Thorapoirfle

Usos

of Trichosonfitos Diolca. Proiinffs.

Pramada Prasanna Biswas,

in the Bengali year 1324, Dr.

of

Pabna,

Dr

N

1932

made a

Bengal,

made a and Dr H L Sinha

article dealing

short proving of this drug

"fragmentary proving of

this

drug in

Saha, of Pabna, Bengal published an

with this drug in the Homoeopathic Recorder

in 1893."

Although these

provings

they are not hypothetical.

are of fragmentary nature,

The symptoms

elicited

from

these provings exactly tallied with the physiologial actions

of the drug observed and mentioned by both the Eastern

and Western physicians I

shall

now

proceed

dwell upon the symptoms

to

observed by the provers during the time of proving

this

drug

Sympfomafotogy Dartved from (ho Proving.

Mind

—Despondency

exists.

JEfead.—Giddiness while lying in bed, thinks that the

head

is

slight

rolling

along with the bed

perspiration

over head

;

headache during fever terrible headache during ,

fever

JSyes. dilated

;

—^The in

eyes

are of yellow colour,

chronic fevers the eyes

pupils are

become yellow along

with the enlargement of spleen and liver

,

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

348

mouth and throat become dry , slimy salivation taste becomes insipid and bad , constant waterbrash from the mouth JfoMiA.—Thirst

,

,

Throat

—^The throat bums while vomiting

,

sore feeling

in the throat.

Vomiting,

Hiccough, Etc

Eructations,

— Nausea,

waterbrash from the mouth, along

with the distension the nausea from smell of medicine , vomiting, vomited matter consists of stringy mucus, may vomiting of blood , eructations be streaked with blood of

abdomen

,

iSMwg'er.-— Extreme hunger

obliged

to

eat something

eats

,

m

with great relish,

is

the morning for hunger,

great desire to eat cold things

—

Burning sensation Burning sensation is felt over the whole body associated with thirst , desire for cold things. Abdomen.

—Empty

abdomen, uneasiness at 11

AM

,

pains are

abdomen

in

felt

there

owing to its enlargement and movement

and Anus

,

,

distension of

hot feeling in abdomen

gurgling in the

;

Liver and Spleen.— ?sxx\s are

Stools

abdomen,

feeling in

felt

in the

abdomen

hepatic region

worse from sneezing, coughing

—Copious,

green

yellow,

bilious,

stools appear stools are mixed with bile and mucus , bloody stool , patient becomes exhausted and weak owing to frequent passage of stools liquid

,

Painless liquid stool or ciated with pain in anus.

it

bloody and mucous asso-

is

and urging

,

smarting

pains are

felt

,

TRICHOSANTHES

Vnne and quantity

— Urine

M9

DIOICA,

and

of very small suppression or retention of urine along with

,

bladder

is

red

is

vomiting and purging.

—

Loner Eutremities , Swelling of lower extremities, hepatic disorders and jaundice along with swelling. Fever comes on at ness

during fever there

,

the body, headache

is

AM.

or 12

1 1

with

burning sensation

is

experienced and

chilli-

felt

over

appears

thirst

,*

headache continues , in chronic fevers there is enlargement of the liver and spleen with yellow eyes , in chronic fevers with hepatic disorders and jaun-

after fever

dice

It

a

IS

slight

exceedingly useful in

malarial fevers IS

it

useful

of

sorts

all

chronic

and Kala-azar acute fevers associated with vomiting,

in

nausea and constant waterbrash from the mouth and this

respect

'Die fever intensity

it

is

may be an

in

excellent substitute for Ipecac

of short duration one day and of greater

next day.

With

the

increase

of

temperature

headache gets worse and with the decline of temperature There is constant waterbrash from headache decreases. the

mouth with

fever,

bitter

there

taste,

vomiting takes place after

watery,

offensive,

abdomen appear

,

yellow

stools

after fever,

dunng drinking of water and is

great thirst

;

with rumbling in the

hunger

is felt

General symptoOTs.—-There is yawning with stretching of limbs ; there may be only stretching , no desire to cover the body with any covenng , desire to have a bath extreme weaknras is felt , restlessness, burning sensation of the whole body, sleepiness and weakness exist water,

brash

from the mouth

after

getting out

of bed in the

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

350

m the lumber region

morning; pains

and weakness while

walking

Pulse purging

,

and a

—Almost

imperceptible,

with

vomiting

weak, thread-like , after evening pulse

pulse very feeble,

little

accelerated

,

and

excitable

becomes

quick.

Observations.

Personal

The

root-bark

Tnchosavthes

of

a

At

first

little

possesses

causes purging to such a over-dose may cause death

highly purgative properties great extent that

Ihcn.ca

It

the stool appears to be loose,

and

mucous

gradually the

and lastly and vomiting of blood appear producing the stage of collapse. If we analyse the symptoms of its provings. It will be apparent to all that this drug has turned out to be an excellent remedy in diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera and cholerine. patient passes

bloody

bilious

stools

stools

bears

a

close resemblance to

Podophyllum and it where Podophyllum is indicated or where Podophyllum fails to do any good It IS used with benefit in acute, chronic and malarial fevers and also in kala-azar It

may be

It

is

safely used

m

those cases

a charactenaic symptom of

patient passes copious loose stools,

yellow colour

mucus.

,

may be mixed

this

drug that

the

they are of green or with bile or bile and

Bloody stools appear without cessation and ca vige

profound prostration and exhaustion.

The Frothy

stools stool,

may be mixed during

its

with particles of mucus. passage no pain or uneasiness

TRICHOSANTHES DIOICA IS

felt

long time

and

,

prolapsus of rectum

gurgling in stomach exist

burning in anus

,

a keynote symptom of its involuntary and bloody stool.

of

Passage

application.

used in Cholera where there ate copious stools

IS

and vomiting

associated with restlessness,

burning,

thirst,

sweat, extreme weakness, coldness of extremities,

pulseless-

and other symptoms.

ness

It

There

used in vomiting

is

ing, waterf>rash

matter consists

Vomiting of

In acute or chronic

used with gratifying

AM

is

The

vomited

which may be

bile.

malanal fever and kala-azar

The

results

with chilliness, and

thirst

The

of temperature.

comes on at and headache

fever

After this stage headache continues,

the rise

nausea before vomit-

and rumbling in abdomen of copious anngy mucus

blood-streaked

12

pain,

;

smarting pain after stool

,

IS

It

a

urging and straining continue for

after stool,

,

351

but

fever

it

11

is

or

exist.

increases with

it

may be of

short

and of longer duration the next day. are its characteristic symptoms. vomiting and Nausea

duration one day

Vomiting takes place after drinking of water, sometimes copious yellow stools with gurgling in abdomen appear

and

constant

waterbrash

used

m place of

Ipecac or

exists

when

In

fever

Ipecac

is

it

may be

found to be

impotent to do any good. In chronic fevers there

is

enlargement of the

liver

and

symptoms of laundice may be present The eyes and swelling (dropsy) appears It is used with marked benefit in chronic fevers and kala-azar associated with the foregoing symptoms

spleen

;

are of yellow colour

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

352 f'

It

^

^

J'

'Wt

-I-

S|FW%»-W^

V#

also used in all kinds of fevers with the predomi-

IS

nance of bilious symptoms. Headache, waterbrash and nausea are keynote symptoms of ns administration It is used with greater benefit if the fever be associated with bilious diarrhoea

Tnchosanthes Dioica may be a grand substitute for Ipecac and Podophyllum or it may be employed where these two medicines fail to do any good. Parts Used for Homoeopathic purpose

— Roots

—

One part of the substance is of Preparation macerated with two parts by weight of alcohol according to Mode

Class

111

of the A.

H

P

jDtZwiio?i.—3x, 6x, 30 potencies are generally used

,

— Wrighfla

and Holarrhena

Titicforia

Anfidysenferica* CKur
Natural order.

—Apocynaccae.

Common Names — Sans —Kutaji,

Kaluoga, Indrayava.

— Kurchi Guz —Indrajaveru Bombay — Eng ^The Kurchi conessi or Teliicherry Bark.

Beng, and Hindi Pandrakura.

Varieties IS

—There are

white and the other

commonly used

for

is

two

varieties

black.

The

the

IS

that the

is

one more

The difference and WrtqMia hnc-

former has

yellow white bark, while

has black bark, the seeds of the former are

latter

bitter,

white one

.

medicinal purposes

between Ildan hena antidyscnterica

tona

of the plant

while the

latter

has sweet seeds, the flowers of the

former are white, the

latter

has white and sweet-scented

flowers. In fact,

and

Holarrhena anttdyaenterica

WnghUa

iinctona

is

of black

also of the masculine class

feminine

is

of white vanety

variety.

and the

latter

The

former

is

belongs to the

class.

Praiseworthy researches bry several

haw

been systematically made

eminent pharmacologists of the Dominant School

of Medicine in order to find out the therapeutic properties of both the vaneties of Kurchi and their findings have conclusively proven that, of the two, only Holarrhena

antidysentenca possesses the curative virtues for which 23

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

554

It

won

has

a great antidysentenc

universal reputation as

remedy. Description of the Plant plant with white flowers tropical

Himalayan

region,

—

a small deciduous generally grows in the

It

but

is

It

now

is

common

in

the

It is also of India, even as far as Travancore United Provinces The seeds found in Assam and in the seeds" "Indra's in Sanskrit or "indrayava” are called

forests

Ayurvedic Uses and Opinions. It

IS

extensively used

by the Ayurvedic physicians in when the malady has assumed

bloody dysentery, especially

a chronic

character.

Charaka has found

it

useful

m haematemesis,

dysentery of tuberculous patients, bleeding piles,

leprosy,

and

bilious

diarrhoea.

Sushruta has recommended

it

in

piles,

and bloody

dlysentcry.

Bhabaprakmh has recommended Parts Used

it

in diabetes

— Fresh bark and seeds

— Decoction

Dose powdered

of bark and seeds, 5 to 10 tolas, seeds, i to 1 anna Allopathic Uses

and Opinions.

Actions and Uses of if, aniidysenterica .

—The barks

and seeds are antixpenodic, similar to cinchona alkaloids, but do not produce nausea, vomiting or headache. •are

They

given in fever, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, worms,

internal

haemorrhages,

also

m

chronic

Chest disease.

— WRICHTIA TINCT asthma,

They

the genital

HOLARRHENA ANTIDYSEN

and

renal colic,

cholera.

S-

to

allay

m

vomiting

the

are used after delivery to give tone to parts (Vagina)

soft

355

is

It

seldom given alone,

number of aromatics and astringents. {Materia MedUca of India.-— N. Ktiory.— JPart II page 387)

generally in combination with a

,

Action and IT&es of

W.

—

tincfaria.

It

is

stomachic,

combination with other vegetable bitters, given in bowel complaints and during convalescence from tonic, febrifuge in

and other acute

The seeds are tonic and given in seminal weakness Leaves when chewed relieve toothache. {Materia Medica of India. B. A’' Khory fever

diseases

—

,

Part 11. page 398).

U dealt

Col R N. Chopra, with

p 327 and his

book

this I

plant

now

m

M.S , c E has extensively his Indigenous Drugs of India, l

proceed to reproduce the same from

for the information of

‘This plant

is

l

my

readers.

fabled to have sprung from the drops of

“amnia" or water of life which fell to the ground from the bodies of Rama’s monkeys which were restored to life by the God Indra. This plant has been confused with another of the

which

IS

same

medically

family called

inert.

who reused

ttnetona

was originally reswas rectified by Brown

Linnaeus

ponsible for this confusion but (1809),

Wngkha

it

the whole of the Apocynaceae family

between Holarrhena aniidj/seniertca and Wrtghtia tincioria has thus been made for nearly a hundred years, yet they arc often mistaken for one another and this fact probably accounts for the Although

differentiation

drug having fallen into

disrepute.

Wngkiia

tinctona.

— DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN.

356

however, has white Jasmme'Iike flowers with a flagrant odour, while the flowers of Holarrhena are odorless Further the WngJitia tinctoria bark can be easily identi-

from Its reddish brown colour and its smooth appearance as compared with the Holarrhena bark, which IS thicker and is of a dirty white or buff colour and has a fied

The

Holarrhena resemble and are contained in long follicles They have a tuft of hairs about the thickness of a quill on the end most remote from the foot stalk, whilst in the Wnghtia seeds the tuft is on the end next to the foot

markedly

bitter taste.

seeds of

oats ; they are very bitter

stalk."

“Therapeutic Uses”

— Bark and Seeds

^‘The seeds are considered to be serviceable in dysentery, diarrhoea,

the

flatulence,

fevers,

treatment of

haemorrhoids,

form of a decoction as very

m

warm

bilious affections,

efficacious-

made with

etc.

they are given in

In

the

and are regarded "Indrayava", powdered or infused

water, has been

milk

found

very

useful

in

mild

forms of dysentery complicated with worms in children The bark, however, has enjoyed much more reputation it is really a valuable remedy in been out by the borne statements of dysentenc affections has medical practitioners Indian and European. both many As early as 1881 R. C. Dutt recorded clinical cure of several cases of acute and chronic dysentery by the administration of extract made from the bark. Tull Walsh (1891) referred to the use of the bark with satisfactory results Kanai Lai Dey (1896) was so convinced of its therapeutic in the Bntish value that he advocated its inclusion

than the seeds

Pharmacopoeia,*'

That

"

WRIGHTIA TINCT. & HOLARRHENA ANTIDYSEN.

357

"Waring said that it is almost a specific in chronic dysentery and all varieties, whether acute or chronic and whether complicated with fever or uncomplicated, are benefited by it "Besides the antidysenteric

a

properties of

firm belief exists in the United

JBolarrhena

Provinces that the bark

has very good antimalarial properties

"

author, as the result of his researches from phar^

"The

macological point of

view,

commenced

using the

total

Holarrhena antidysenterica in the treatment of acute amoebic infections by intramuscular injections The results were very gratifying and showed that in acute alkaloids of

cases, the

emetine

in

well as

gram

kurchi

total

in

daily

their

alkaloids

immediate

effect

curative

value,

their

The

were as powerful as

on in

symptoms as

the

such doses as

1

produced inand were accom-

intramuscular injections

flammation and swelling of the parts

They did not, panied by considerable pain in some cases however, produce any of the general toxic effects usually met with when emetine prolonged period"

"The

depressing,

injections are given,

emetic or

intestinal

especially for

irritation that is

by emetine was not observed No cumulative effects are produced as are observed in the case of emetine It is hoped that the advent of this drug marks a definite advance in the treatment of amoebic " infections of the bowel in this country usually

produced

Homoeopathic Proving and Materia Medica.

A

proving

personal care

of

Kurch, was undertaken under the

and supervision of no

less

a person than

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

358

Dr Mahendra Lai Sircar. The proving was done in March, 1 873 and the name of the prover was Babu Dinabandhu Mukher)i of Sibpore, Howrah Dinabandhu Babu was a young man at that time and was an apt student and disciple of Dr Sircar He was an "intelligent young man, remarkable for his

the late revered and renowned

bordering

zeal,

upon enthusiasm, for the cause of and in later years Dinabandhu Babu

homoeopathy , became an eminent homeopathic He died the other day "

practitioner in Calcutta.

Proving 1

—

“Name

Babu Dinabandhu Mukherji, of the Prover aged 23, dark complexioned, of bilious temperament, not subject to any particular disorder and is in good health

March

Took

1873

5,

5 drops,

slight

burning

ir

the umbilical region for about 5 minutes. 16th March,

18th

—60

20 drops

drops

Slight

burning as usual

Thirst rather urgent.

Drowsiness

a

The head feels hot when lying dowr 3 P.M. Giddiness Sensation of rush of blood to the head, although this wa Vertigo, worse in a recumbent posture not marked relieved 1

9th

slight

by

up

sitting

—2

drachms

heaviness in the

20th

—^About 2

not very urgent

;

Nothing worth

noting

abdomen

drachms

something

Desire to go to stool, like relief is

Cannot

fix

the attention

when

bi

experienced durir

shaming, although the stools arc normal ideas.

except

Confusion

reading.

<

Thougf

WRIGHTIA TINCT

HOLARRHENA ANTIDYSEN

4-

359

concerning distant objects crowd upon the imagination, when reading a book Crowding of ideas, causing great absence of mind 28th

— Morning 6

A

M — About

4 drachms.

Half an hour afterwards a griping pain in umbilical region was perceived, but this went off immediately as the attention was At 9 A M 3 or 4 hours after taking the drug, a diverted severe griping pain was felt in the region of the navel. The pain radiated upwards The pain, although, not very distressing, lasted for about one quarter of an hour. 2 P M. spasmodic gripings of a remittent type. The remissions induced drowsiness and desire to he down 6 P M.— Sensa^ ,

—

tion in the

abdomen

as

diarrhoea would

if

come

on

Grunting in the abdomen.

Constant urging to go to stool Urging to evacuate followed by stinging pain in the rectum while the stool consisted of small hard foeces. Violent stinging pain of

an

venting defecation

the pain,

excruciating nature in the rectum, pre-

Had

to lie

down

Afterwards soreness in the rectum (this

in

which was followed by burning

was a summer

consequence of in the rectum

Chilliness at midnight

Pulse normal.

night).

Temperature

as usual

29th

— 6 drachms

after half an hour.

Inclination to evacuate the bowels

Pinching pain in the stomat^.

Desire

he down. Great reluctance to labour of any sc»t Short Desire to sleep to avoid the the stomach lasting gnping to

m

troublesome sensation of heaviness desire to evacuate. Relief

on

only small faeces are voided

—One

in the

straining ,

rectum

Corratant

dunng stool, akhou^

constant tenesirais.

ounce in empty stomach, half an hour A after a sliny stool. Tenesmus, vwth relief durmg stool. 31st

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

3igD

very slight burning in the urethra whilst passing water penis seems clogged, although there

Slight giddiness

in passing the urine

urging to stool with beanng

—

is

down pain

The

no

actual obstruction

at

1 1

AM

constant

,

at the anus.

morning one ounce, 10 minutes after, a Appetite unimpaired small stool followed by little mucus by walking, great ameliorated Slight vertigo at about 3PM a second dose of one 7 P M reluctance to labour at night 1st.

April,

—

This was immediately followed by an urging to evacuate. Passed a small stool after severe tenesmus, and ounce.

griping in the

stomach during an after^meal

2nd— 8 AM i

around

with pinching pain Bearing

with

down

Urging to stool after an hour

ounce.

Stool normal.

the navel

during evacuation, the straining

is

attended

relief.

The

pinching pain lasted

more or

less

during the

continues

unabated,

whole day 3rd

and

bearing

down

4th

me

pain

Bowels constipated.

gradually disappearing

Narrow, moulded

5th— 6

—Pinching stools of

a reddish colour

AM — One ounce

Vertigo after 5 minutes, obliging

down Rushing of blood to the head relieved by a pillow against the abdominal walls This sensa^ lasted about a quarter of an hour. Constant pinching

to

lie

pressing tion

from 2 to 6 P M the stomach

The

Hard

pain seems to spread transversely in

stool at

4 PM, with

slight

proctalgia

during evacuation. 7th, 8th

toms are

and 9th

relieved.

— No

medicine

All the other symp.*

But the bowels are

still

costive.

Pin.-

— WRIGHTIA TINCT & HOLARRHENA ANTIDYSEN chtng pain continues more or

361

during the whole day»

less

although slight aggravation takes place at 3 P

M when the

bowels become empty. 1

1th

8 am.

after taking the

—2 oz

with 2 oz

of water

medicine, a severe burning

This

centre of the epigastrium

The

an hour

Immediately

was

felt

in the

sensation lasted nearly

was instantaneous and so severe that could hardly stand up without a support The raising of the head caused everything look dark, and as if everything were turning in a circle. Very scanty stool The proctalgia was so severe that it preafter one hour. Constant desire to strain, which was vented defecation attended with drowsiness and desire to sleep even dunng an evacuation The bitterness of the mouth did not subside even after taking the meal Severe thirst during the whole day Urine, however, was too scanty. three quarters of

vertigo

1

12th

— Bowels

unmoved

remained

Appetite markedly diminished

in

the morning

taste in

Bitter

the mouth.

Pinching pain at Nothing but sour things are palatable. 2 am obliging me to press a pillow against the walls of the abdomen, but this relieved the pain only for a short period. 6 P M a scanty hard stool with severe pain all over the ,

stomach and abdomen. 13th

and

I4th

— Bowels

Pinching continues but 1 5th

to

constipation 19th

Empty

18th

less

still

severe

—Nothing

which

—7 A M —2i

is

Appetite impaired.

costive.

worthy

of note, except the

continuing

oz

with

eructations smelling of

an spirit

ounce

of

immediately

water. after.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

362

whilst going downstairs giddiness that

escaped a

had

I

sit

With

fall.

assistance of

to

I

a fnend

was

upon the

great

who

AM — No

consisting of milk

—

i9th all

to

with

the

What

next

rose

bed

recollect but fairly.

Took a nominal

meal,

rice

AM — Scanty

11

I

appetite.

and

me

I

such a severe

and narrowly

stairs

difficulty

took

ensued within nearly three hours

At 10

seized with

diarrhoeic stool with

pinching

over belly

—5 P M every

No appetite

now and

20th

—Sleep

even

now

then. in the latter part

of the night

by dreams of having poisoned myself. unrefreshed.

Pinching continues

On stooping a soreness

was

disturbed

From this I woke up was perceived in the

slime.

Passed a scanty reddish, soft stool covered with Urine scanty and of deep yellow colour. Appetite

not at

all

stomach.

normal.

covered with a 2 1 St

work

tenacious

test

in

the mouth.

Tongue

mucus

—^Absence

Indisposition to all sorts of of mind Constant desire to scrape the tongue with a knife

to clear off the there.

thin,

Insipid

mucus which seemed

Pulse rather

full,

but not at

all

Soreness deep in the umbilical

to

have accumulated

accelerated.

produced by Urine scanty pressing and deep coloured, although unattended with any pain in voiding Appetite still bad. Even a small meal produces a feeling of satiety Stool soft

and covered with

region

slime.

WRIGHTIA TINCT

PM

At 3 It

was

HOLARRHENA ANTIDYSEN

the pinching

—Severe

was

bearing

although a small stool

is

felt

rather severely, but

down dunng an

evacuation,

voided, with desire for

Pinching pain in the stomach after an evacuation early in the morning,

Drinking,

stomach

363

Thirst continues unabated.

minutes

after 10 or 12

22nd

&•

obliging

me to

more Thirst

drink large quantities.

however, brings on a feeling of repletion in the Diminished secretion of urine even after drinking

large quantities of water

—^The

Pulse normal

Mind

undisturbed.

and the pinching pains were continuing for ten days unabated, after which the symptoms noted that the It must be were relieved by Nux Vom 6 system gradually becomes blunt to the action of Kurchi, so that larger quantities could be taken at last with less 30th

difficulty

constipation

than at the

commencement of the Proving

The

proving.

JVb.

Babu Ajodhya Nath Babu Dinabandhu's friend, was still more

other proving conducted by

Bhattacharjee,

meagre, owing to the fact of his having taken the drug only for 2 days, and in all but 2 ounces.

The

following symptoms were recorded

Immediately after taking of the drug 1

it,

—

eructeitions with smelling

2

Sensation of heaviness in the belly.

3

Scanty, hard stool with

4

Occasional gripings in the

5.

Impaired appetite.

much tenesmus intestines.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

364

6.

Itching all over the body, especially in the thighs.

7.

Urine more frequent,

copious

and watery than

usual

Fevenshness, with aching of the limbs on the 4th 8 day which compelled him to discontinue the proving

No

Proving

Kumar

8,

of Gouripore, Assam, made another proving of Kurcki in 1935 the result of Dr. Kail

Bhattachariea

Homoeopathic of 1336 B S

which was published

in the Bengali

"Hahnemann"

12th issue

The

in

its

following

chariea — Mind —

Journal

symptoms were observed by Dr Bhatta-

Full of anxiety,

apprehended

that

some

accident

would happen very soon

Head

.

—^There

were aching pains and

it

appeared hot

sometimes.

—Uneasiness

Chest

was

felt

which could not be ex-

pressed, relieved after stool

—^Want of Eyes. — Burning, lachrymations sometimes Nose — Feeling of diyness Movih — Feeling of dryness inside the mouth and on Sleep

it

inside.

the

lips

The tongue was also

slightly

enveloped with white

coating

Limbs

.

—Aching in hands and

of weakness in the

legs.

feet

dunng

fever

;

feeling

;

WRIGHTIA TINCT

Abdomen

HOLARRHENA ANTIDYSEN.

—Squeezing pain around the navel at passing of blood and

relieved after

aggravated lying

Rectum

S-

on

365

intervals,

mucus during

stool

the right side

— Sore pain around the anus during stool. Personal observafionsu

Kurcht

IS

a favourite medicine amongst the

physicians of our

country

According to the

native

common

more powerful, but this belief has not been substantiated by any practical proofs in the field of action reputation as an anti-dysenteric It has a great

notion, the root-bark

remedy Its

As

far

is

as our experience goes,

we can testify to

remarkable efficacy in innumerable instances

should not be regarded as dysentery as

The

it

has

of

limits

its

a panacea for

all

But

it

cases of

range of specificity

bark of kurcht has been found out to be an

remedy for both acute and chronic dysentery and this fact has been recognised by both Allopathic and Ayurvedic physicians of present and remote times. The excellent

homoeopaths can observation.

also

testify

to

The homoeopaths

the authenticity of this

use

it

in acute dysentery

with great success where the quantity of mucus is large, where there is excessive blood with mucus and where there is

colicky pain associated

with the

stool.

In chrcaMC cases

of dysentay associated with die above Qroptoms or when the quantity of mucus and blood has dccareased, but the coltcify pains and tenesmus a:i!l continue, Kurcht may be used with great advantage. It is also used with great efficacy in chronic cases of dysentery which are associated with weakness, emaciation, loss of appetite and aversion for food.

DRUGS OF HINDOOSTHAN

366

The

colicky

pains are generally

with copious bloody

mucous

around the navel

and the pain is aggraand relieved by lying on

stools

on the right side, Kurchi bears a close resemblance and Radix, Merc sol, and Merc cor

vated by lying

the

felt

side

left

Indica

has also played

part very successfully

to

Atista

m

amoebic dysentery associated with the symptoms enumerated above. It

its

Mode of preparation

—^The

tincture

prepared with one part of powdered bark with five parts by weight of alcohol

(Class 4,

—

Ihl.


lx, 3x,

A H

.

P

)

6x generally used.

is

.

INDEX. A—cotiid

A

Page

Page

292

Asoka

333

Abhaya

192

Abroma Augusta

14

Atista Indica

Abroma Radix

26

Atista

27

Azadirachta Indica

i^calypha Indtca

-

Radix

B

212

Adhatodai

82

..

Aegle Marmelos

82

Aghada

46

Baberang

Akanda

Baidyamata

Ambahindi

126

Bal

.

340

Andersoma

Apang

192

212

Basaka

59

Bhandira

46

Bhanimba

.

46

Bhanta

.

46

Bharati

..

.

Apa Khare-Vazhun .

66

.

Bat

Andrographis Pamculata

Apamarga

Nimb Banmmbu

212

55

.

.

115

..

82

Bael

115

55

161

.

Badabadam

115

Amntvel

161

Baburung '

Akado

Amoora Rohitaka

66

46

Achyranthes Aspera Linn

Aegle Folia

198

.

.

178

.

148

.

59 148

276

Aranda

126

Bhat

..

148

Areyal

.

301

.

166

Bhuringni

Arshemaram

...

166

Bilinu-phal

Antta Maniane

...

27

Arjuna

325

.

82

Bilwa

131

.

115

Bimba

Arusha

.

212

Biranga

Ashopalava

.

82

Bilwa'pandu

Arka

Arugu

82

,

*

161

276

153

Bishnupriya

292

Black

93 95

Plum

Ash'Shaura

...

192

Blumea Odorata

Ashwathwa

.

166

Boerhaavta Diffusa

.

..

305

INDEX.

368

B— confJ*

F Page

Page

Nut

106

Fever

126

Ficus Indica (Bengalensis)

Bor or Bar

178

Ficus Religiosa

Brahma Manduki

199

Bonduc Nut Boppayi

«

.

106

.

178

166

G

c

Ganke

153

Caesalpinia Bonducella

..

106

Ghantakarna

148

Caiotropis Gigantca

..

115

Gharol

340

125

Ghetuli

95

Carica Papaya

126

Ghosalata

Cephalandra Indica

131

Gigantic Swallow

Chirata

318

Gilo

340

Clerodendron Infortunatum

148

Gitanaram

158

Gileus Aromaticys

151

Glycosmts Pentaphylla

192

Gokhula Janum Gokshura

208 208

Granthi

153

Calotropis

Lactum

The

59

Cynodon Dactylon

153

Create

D Daman-^papar

..

288

Dandakalasa

239

Debdah

248

Dcsmodium Gangeticum

158

Devil's

248

Woop

115

Great King of Bitters

59

Gulancha

.

Gulanch

Gula Veil Guldera

Cotton

239 340

14

Dhamarjab

242 276

Divya

Doorwa

153

Drona Pushpi

239

Drone

239

Dulal Tulashi

.

Durba

.

274

Guluchee Gulwail .

Gur^-mar

.

181

Guruchi

.

340

Gymnema

181

Har 115

Harara

Embetia Ribes

161

Harda

Engenia Jambolana

Sylvcstre

..

1

..

305

181

H

Ekke

Epilogue

340

Gumar

153

E

340 340 340

333 *

..

333

Hannhara Hantaki

333 55

.

333

—

INDEX

369

H —contd

K

ccftdd

Page

59

Imegh

Haritamaniari

Inoga

353

,

Harrar

59

Ipanath

Harsinghar Heart-leaved Moori'Seed

ndan-Kattin

301

mduri

131

Hicnsagar indun-ki-bill

131

.

Htrda Holarrhena Antidysentenca

292

inkeh

mtikan

Holy

301

,

Basil

Hurtalee Grass

Hydracotyle Asiatica

ippalam

126

iraka

333

an

Hygrophila Spinosa

148

.

arkanntc

161

atele

301

I

atha Chibodo

126

.

Ikshugandha avail

Indian Acalypha

azharshikkay

Penny Wort

Indian

181

106

.

288

[azun lndra)averu

Indra

192

..

leimira

Mans

131

ihabare-hindi

Indrayava Charbuza

126

.

Itsit

115

Chark

J

106

•.

Chayahe-i'iblis

288

.

Chetpapra

daman

27

iChokali *

Jajnbudo

King of

Jambul

Bitters,

Great

59

.

59

Kirata

Jellude

318

,

Kirata tikla

viJenosia Asoka

..

59

Kiryat

Jen Justicsa

Adhatoda

Jusucta

Rubrum

Kodi Kokilaksha

K Kada Kai

Jam

Kombu-pudalai

l^mum

*

Kala Tulasi Kala

59

Kiryato

•

I

Polta

•

.

340

..

208

.

345

•

.

131

Korai

Koshatab

345

•

.

248

INDEX

370

M — conid

K— confrf Page

Page

Knshna Mul

276

Melonenbum

126

Kshetra-patapata

288

Menispernum

252

106

Merasingi

181 181

Kuberakshi

Kuksyma

93

Meshasnnga

Kukundar

93

Meshasnngi

181

Kukurmota

93

Mudar

115

Kulannaphul

239

Muktabarsi

Kulekhara

208

Muktajhun

27 27

Kumki

239

Mukukrattai

95

Kune4a-mon

46

Kupamenya

27

Kuppaimcni

27

•

Kurch!

353

.

Kurchi Concssi

353

Kunvana

199

Kutaji

•

Kum

..

353

.

46

L 18!

Lata Lat)ira

Leucus Aspcra

••

..

46 239

m •

LuikAmara

242

LufFa Bindal

248

M Madar Mahateeta

115 ..

Malabar Nut

59 212

Mandara

115

Manduka-^Bramha Kuraku

199

Mandukapami

199

66

Margosa

Man Melia Azadirachta

.

178

66

N Nacraedu

305

Naeralu

305

Nagum

305

.

Nainehavandi

59

Nalavemu Nata

59 106

Natakaranja

106

Naval

305

Navil

305

46

Na-^yunvt

59

Nelabaem Nclaverun

318

.

Nidigdhika

301

Nilaphala

305

Nilavaepu

59

Nilavambu

59

Nim

VO

%

\o

.

340

Nimba

66

Nmjara Ntrguviveru

208

Nyctanthcs Arbor^tnstis

253

o Ocimum Caryophyllatum Ocimum Gratissimum

.

274 275

INDEX

371

O —CQnid

R Page

Page

276

Ocimum Sanctum

Rahitaka

Olak Tambol

14

Rakta Kanthalia

Okt

H

Rakta Vasaka

Kamfaol

Oldenlandia Herbacea

288

.

59

Olenkirayet

P

Ram

Tulasi

..

55

252

•

273 275

•

55

Rohera Rohido

55

Royna

55

Paghala^Malli

254

Palwal

345

Pandrakura

353

Sacred Fig

166

Papaya

126

Sajadan

325

126

Salparni

126

Sant

Papend Tree

126

Saraca Indica

Pappayam

126

Sanvan

Paputu

126

Shalpani

Papyangaye

126

Shardul

Papayer

Commum

Papayi

.

S

158

«

95

292

.

158 158 .

325

.

253 340

Parvar

345

Shephalika

Pashanbhedi

151

Shindil

Patal

345

Shiru-'Kuranja

181

Patharkuchi

151

Shiva Tulasi

276

151

Shothaghni

Pathya

333

Sittalchini

305

Patol

345

Siuli

254

Penpay

126

Solanum Xanthocarpus

301

106

Snphol

301

Sugar Ghota

166

Swertia Chirata

Syzygium Jambolanum

Patherchue

Physic

.

Nut

Pinna Mulaka

.

Pjp&i

Pippala

.

166

Pitwaraja

.

55

Popatya

.

126

Poppayi

.

126

Talitnkhana

126

Talk

288

Talmakhana

Poppayn Phal Ponengo

V^unarnaba

.

95

95

82 106

•

318 .

305

T

Tclakucha

208 153

*

.

•

..

208 131

INDEX

372

V—conid

T— confrf. Page

353 325

Teliichcrry Bark

Termtnalia Arjuna Terminalia Chcbula

Thankum

Page,

Vanchhi Kanto

27

Vata

178

Vayu^Vilamgan

333 99 1

Vellaimaruda-^marum

161 .

325

Tholkurt

199

Vembaka

66

Tinospora Cordifolia

340

Vembu

66

Tippa Tige

340 242 345 276 288

Vero rela Vemu Vidanga Vilwa Pazham

199

Warumlea Wild Snakegourd Wnghtia Tinctona

Tjtpolla

Tnchosanthes Dioica Tulasi

Two flowered

Indian

Madder

V Valla^rai

••

Vanamenibuka

•

*192

Vepa

66 288 161

82

W 301

345 353