Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances
by Bhudeb Mookerjee | 1938 | 47,185 words | ISBN-10: 8170305829 | ISBN-13: 9788170305828
This third volume of the Rasa-jala-nidhi deals with purification techniques of the Seven Metals (sapta-dhatu) and various Gems (ratna). It also deals with substances such as Alkalis (kshara), Salts (lavana), Poisions (visha) and Semi-poisions (upavisha) as well as various alcholic liquors. The Rasa-jala-nidhi (“the ocean of Iatrochemistry, or, che...
Part 2 - Semi-poison (2): Arka
Arka is of two kinds, viz. white and red. Both of them are laxative, and cure diseases due to vayu, leprosy, itches, poison, carbuncle, enlargement of the spleen, gulma, piles, phlegm, udara-roga, and worms in the stool.
Flower of white arka is nutritious, light, digestive, and curer of aversion to food, emission of phlegm, piles, cough, and asthma.
Flower of red aria is sweet, bitter, and curer of leprosy, worms, phlegm, piles, poison, and rakta-pitta. It is increaser of appetite and power of digestion, and beneficial in gulma and dropsy.
The milk of arka is bitter and warm, soothing, saltish, and light. It cures leprosy, gulma, udara-roga, and is a laxative.
Remedy of arka poison.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Semi-poison (2): Arka’ included in Bhudeb Mookerjee Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory. The text includes treatments, recipes and remedies and is categorised as Rasa Shastra: an important branch of Ayurveda that specialises in medicinal/ herbal chemistry, alchemy and mineralogy, for the purpose of prolonging and preserving life.