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 4 - Semi-poison (4): Gunja
Gunja is of two kinds, viz. white and red. Both of them are beneficial to hair and pacifier of vayu, pitta, and fever. They cure dryness of the mouth, giddiness, asthma, thirst, intoxication, and eye-diseases. They are nutritious, strengthening, and curer of boils growing out of itches, worms, baldness, and leprosy.
Boots of both kinds of gunja and seeds of white gunja cause vomitting. Leaves of white gunja are especially efficacious in attracting affection of others. Leaves of both kinds of gunja are efficacious in colic and poison.
Use of white gunja.
Wounds due to poisonous instruments are healed up by their being washed with the juice of the leaves of white gunja, and by a paste made of the same leaves used as a plaster.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Semi-poison (4): Gunja’ 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.