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 5 - Semi-poison (5): Karavira or Karabira
Karavira is of five different kinds, according to the colour. of its flower, viz. (a) white (b) red, (c) yellow, (d) black, and (e) violet.
All of them are bitter, astringent, pungent, and are efficacious in ulcers, irritation of the eyes, leprosy, and boils. They are warm in their effect on the system. They cure worms and itches. They are to be used in the same way as poisons.
The white, yellow, and black varieties of karavira are killers of horses. The violet variety is a pacifier of head-ache, and diseases due to kapha and vayu. The root of a white karavira proceeding east-ward is efficacious in snake-poison.
Purification of karavira.
Karavira is purified, if boiled with milk by means of Dola-yantra.
Remedy of karabira poison.
Sugar-candy, mixed with buffalo’s milk, or curd, or bark of arka plant, taken internally, removes troubles due to karabira poison.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Semi-poison (5): Karavira or Karabira’ 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.