Chapter 10 - Symptoms and treatment of Shula (pain in the belly)

These are of eight different kinds, and are due to the following eight different causes;—vayu, pitta, kapha, vayu combined with pitta, vayu combined with kapha, pitta combined with kapha, combination of vayu, pitta, and kapha; and ama or undigested part of the chyle. In all these pains, an abnormd (abnormal?) excess of vayu plays the predominant part. Of these eight different kinds of pain in the belly, there is one which is felt at the time of food being digested in the stomach. Such a pain is called parinma (or pacti) shula.

There is a kind of shula or pain in the belly which is felt irrespective of whether the patient takes good or bad diet, whether he is in full or empty stomach. No restrictions about food only can pacify this pain. This is called “annadrava shula.”

Treatment of shula.

The following may be adopted as so many methods of treatment of shula vomiting, fasting, fomenting, decoctions of prescribed herbs, phalavarti (a paste prepared by pestling together madana fruit, pippali, kustha, bacha, white mustard seeds, molasses, and alkalis, and entered into the rectum), and pills referred to later on.

(1) Pakti-shula is pacified at once, if ash.es of snail shell, dissolved with water, are drunk.

(2) A ripe cocoanut fruit, containing its water, is to be filled in with salt. The opening is to be closed by its own shell. It is then to be coated all round with mud, and dried. It is next to be burnt by fire made of cow-dung cakes. The ashes thus prepared, mixed with powdered pippali, and taken with honey, cures pakti-shula.

(3) One sixteenth tola of incinerated iron with an equal quantity of powdered triphala, mixed with honey and clarified butter, is to be licked daily. This cures all sorts of pakti-shula. Incinerated mandura may be used in place of iron, in the present case.

(4) One sixteenth tola, each, of pippali, haritaki, and incinerated iron are to be mixed together with molasses and taken in the morning. This medicine cures pakti-shula, udara-roga, slowness of digesting heat, rheumatism, and obesity.

(5) One sixteenth tola, each, of powdered haritaki, incinerated iron, and shunthi, mixed together, and taken with honey and clarified butter, cures parinama shula.

(6) One is freed from all shorts of shula, if one gives up taking salt and any other food than curd with the thin layer of cream, formed upon it, mixed with fried and powdered kalaya grams or barley.

(7) One sixteenth tola of haritaki, boiled with cow’s urine and then dried and powdered, mixed with an equal quantity of incinerated iron, and a suitable quantity of molasses are to be taken in the morning for the cure of all sorts of shula.

(8) All that are to be done for the pacification of jarat-pitta or vidagdhajirna (see pages 271-75, Vol, IV) may also be done for the pacification of anna-drava-shula, which disappears as soon as the whole of the stomach is purified.

(9) For the cure of annadrava-shula, one should take every morning one sixteenth tola of powdered amalaki mixed with an equal quantity of incinerated iron or powdered jastimadhu, and a suitable quantity of honey. Diet, rice prepared from the seeds of shyama, kodrava, or priyangu (kanguni)^[1] boiled with milk mixed with water, and sweetened, when boiled, by the mixture of sugar. (Such a food is called payasa).

(10) Juice of matulunga (citrus) or decoction of shigru, mixed with an alkali and a little of honey, may be drunk for the cure of pain in the sides of the chest, the heart, and the belly.

(11) Deer’s horns, reduced to ashes by being burnt by puta by means of a mild heat, and mixed with clarified butter, prepared from cow’s milk, may be licked for the cure of pain in the heart and the waist.

(12) Sesamum seeds, pestled with water, heated a little and made into a lump, is to be rolled upon the belly. This puts an end to shula.

(13) Roots of bilva, sesamum seeds, and castor seeds, pestled together with sour tusambu (see page 381, Vol. III), and heated and made into a lump, is to be rolled upon the belly. This cures shula due to an abnormal excess of vayu only.

(14) Madana fruit, pestled with kanji (see page 381, Vol. III) and applied upon the navel pacifies shula.

(15) Shula is pacified very quickly, if the patient drinks the decoction of shunthi and roots of eranda; mixed with hingu and salt-petre (or sauvarchala salt).

(16) One sixteenth tola of conch-shell, reduced to ashes, mixed with one rakti, each, of salt, hingu, and trikatu, and dissolved with hot water may he drunk for the cure of shula due to the three dosas.

(17) Equal quantities of conch-shell, reduced to ashes, trikatu, the five salts, and incinerated iron are to be rubbed together with goats’ urine for one day, and taken in doses of one tola, a day. This medicine cures parinama-shula.

(18) Pestled roots of indravaruni, mixed with trikatu and hot water, are to be drunk for the pacification of shula.

(19) Pestled bhudaru (mushrooms?), or roots of banian tree, dissolved with hot water, may he drunk for the pacification of shula.

(20) Shula of a very recent origin may he cured by (a) drinking salt dissoloved with aranala (see page Vol. III) or (b) rock-salt mixed with clarified butter, or (c) salt-petre dissolved with hot water.

(21) Equal quantities of haritaki, trikatu, nuxvomica, hingu, rock-salt, and sulphur are to he nibbed together with water and, made into pills, six raktis in weight, each, to be taken in the morning with hot water. This medicine cures shula due to gulma, grahani, diarrhoea, indigestion, slowness of digesting heat. It increases beauty and energy.

(22) One part, each, of roots of indravaruni and langali and two parts of incinerated conch-shell are to be rubbed together, and subjected to bhavana for three days with the juice of lime fruit. The compound is then to be confined in a puta and burnt by Gajaputa. This medicine, taken in doses of one tola, a day, mixed with powdered maricha and clarified butter, cures shula.

Iatro-chemieal treatment of shula.

Jambuka rasa.

Equal quantities of borax, mercury in swoon (i. e, rasa-sindura, see page 90, Vol. I), and javakshara are to be rubbed together, and taken in doses of six raktis, each, with honey. Soup of the meat of jackal, mixed with clarified butter, is to be drunk after taking the medicine.

Aganimukha rasa.

Equal quantities of incinerated mercury, mica, copper, sulphur, amlavetasa, aconite, and triphala are to be rubbed together for one day, and subjected to bhavana for three times with the juices of the following:—nuxvomica, bhanga, vasaka, haritaki, raktashakini, vrihati, maharastri, dhatura, leaves of lotus, betel leaves, leaves of shami, and leaves of jambu. The compound is then to be mixed with an equal quantity of the five salts, and rubbed, for one day, with the juice of ginger. Pills are then to be made, three raktis in weight, each. This medicine cures shula due to vayu.

Trinetra rasa.

Powdered horn of deer, gold, copper, and incinerated mercury are to be rubbed for one day with the juice of ginger. The compound is then to be dried and heated by puta. Dose, ix (in?) raktis, to be taken with honey and clarified butter. Rock-salt, jira, and hingu mixed with honey and clarified butter are to be licked after taking this medicine. This medicine cures pakti-shula in a month.

Shula-keshari rasa.

One part of purified mercury, two parts of purified sulphur, and three parts of purified copper-wire (as thin as possible) are to be rubbed together for three hours (with lime juice), and confined in a closed crucible which is to be put inside an earthen puta with salt placed on ail sides of the crucible. The puta is then to be burnt by Gajaputa, When cooled, the medicine is to be taken out and powdered. This medicine cures all sorts of shula, if taken in doses of two raktis, a day, with a piece of betel leaf. One tola of hingu, shunthi, vacha, and maricha, combined (of which hingu should be two raktis only, and each of the rest, of equal quantity), mixed with hot water, is to be drunk after taking the medicine.

Gaganasuryadi rasa.

Four tolas, each, of mica, copper, and iron are to be rubbed together and heated in an iron cauldron with forty eight tolas of clarified butter and twelve tolas of milk. When the whole thing turns semi-solid, four tolas, each, of the fine powder of the following are to be mixed with it:—vidanga, triphala, roots of chitraka, and trikatu. The compound, thus prepared, is to be rubbed well, turned solid, and kept in a jar made of glass, wood, stone, or earth. Dose, six raktis, to commence with, to be increased gradually to half a tola, to be taken with clarified butter, honey, or liquor. Milk or cocoa-nut water is to be drunk after taking the medicine. Diet, sugar, shali rice, and mudga, of more than one year’s standing; soup of meat, and other diet* not forbidden at the time of taking mercury (see page 199-209, Vol. I). This medicine cures pain in the heart, sides of the chest, and the head, rheumatism, lumbago, pain due to gulma, enlargement of spleen and liver; dullness of the digesting heat, wasting, leprosy, cough, asthma, cholera, bright’s disease, and stricture.

Shulantaka rasa.

Four tolas, each, of incinerated mercury and mica, eight tolas of copper, twelve tolas of sulphur, one tola, each, of orpiment, vimala, and svarna-makshika, two tolas, each, of the tuber of langali, lead, and tin; and sixteen tolas of roots of tribrit, are to be rubbed together, and subjected to bhavana, for seven times, each, with the juices of bhumi-amlaki and danti. Pills are then to be made, three raktis in weight, each, to be taken with honey and ginger juice. Diet, curd with boiled rice, to be taken after the bowels are cleared. This medicine cures all sorts of shula.

Bahnimukha rasa.

Equal quantities of mercury, copper-pyrites, copper, mica, sulphur, orpiment, realger, rock-salt, acconite, hingu, roots of chitraka, chukrika, gold, red tanduliyaka, nirgundi, maha-rastri, vasaka, and nuxvomica are to be rubbed together with the juices of bhanga and jay anti. The compound is then to be dried and heated by kukkuta-puta (see page 296, Vol. I). Dose, eight raktis, each, to be taken with (1) a few drops of clarified butter and a little of powdered shunthi, (2) or with hot water mixed with hingu and subarchala (nitre). This medicine cures gulma and shulam.

Mahesha rasa.

One part of mercury, three parts of copper, and nine parts of sulphur are to he rubbed together with lime juice, and made into a lump, which is to be dried and burnt by puta. This medicine cures all sorts of shula, if taken, in doses of one rakti, each, to lie taken, with (a) ginger and rock-salt, or with (b) honey and castor oil, or with (c) rock-salt, hingu, and jira, This medicine cures kapha and vayu also, if taken with suitable accompaniments. It cures pakti-shula, if taken with the ashes of deer’s horn, gold, borax, clarified butter, and honey.

Udaya-bhaskara rasa.

One tola of purified mercury and four tolas of sulphur are to be rubbed together to form a kajjali or black powder, which is then to be rubbed for twelve hours with lime juice and turned semi-liquid. Two tolas of fine copper foil (or wire) are to be smeared all round with this substance, and the whole thing is to be immersed in lime juice in a stone mortar, which is to be kept in the sun and dried. The product is then to be confined in a crucible and heated by a kukkuta puta (see page 296, Vol. I) inside an oven, filled in with cow-dung cakes. The contents of the puta are then to be taken out, rubbed with lime juice, and again burnt in the same way. The process is to be repeated for the third time. This medicine cures all sorts of diseases, and especially all sorts of shula. It is to be taken (in doses of one rakti, each, with honey alone), or with a piece of betel leaf. Things forbidden at the time of taking mercury should also be avoided at the time of taking this medicine.

Shulagaja-keshari rasa.

Four tolas of mercury, eight tolas of sulphur, and twelve tolas of orpiment are to be rubbed together for three days to form a black powder. Four tolas of pure copper are to be made into a puta containing two pots, in such a way as the upper one covers the lower one which is to be provided with a hole. The black powder is then to be put into the puta, through the hole, which is now to be closed carefully by means of a piece of copper foil. Surrounded by salt on all sides, the puta is now to be kept inside an earthen vessel, filled up with salt, the mouth being closed by an earthen Vessel, and the joint closed by mud and rags, as usual. When dried, the vessel is to be burnt by Gaja-puta. When cooled, the medicine is to be taken out, powdered finely, and sifted by means of a piece of cloth. The powder, thus prepared, is to be kept inside a hole made in a lump of rock-salt, the mouth of the hole being covered by means of a piece of the same salt. Dose, three raktis each, to be taken with powdered haritaki, ginger juice, and a few drops of honey. This medicine cures all sorts of shula.

Kshara-surya.

Four tolas, each, of incinerated copper and purified sulphur and thirty two tolas of kshara (alkali)* prepared from the bark of tamarind are to be mixed together. This medicine, taken in adequate doses, with hot water, cures all sorts of

Tamrastaka.

Equal quantities of hingu, trikatu, jastimadhu, sauvarchala salt, kshara* prepared from the ashes of bark of tamarind, and incinerated copper are to be rubbed together and reduced to a very fine powder. This medicine, taken in adequate doses, with a little of hot water, cures all sorts of shula.

Pralayanala rasa.

One part, each, of haritala, svarna-makshika, kanta iron (lode-stone), sulphur, copper, and purified mercury are to be rubbed together to from a kajjali or black powder, with which are to be mixed 2⅔ parts, each, of bark of red arka, madhurika, and jamani; and 5⅓ parts, each, of maricha, pippali, and shunthi—all finely powdered, and rubbed together, The compound is then to be subjected to bhavana for seven times in seven days, with eight parts of hingu dissolved with water, each time, and for one day each, with the juices of the following, in succession:—jayanti, kakamachi, nirgundi, and ginger. Pills are then to be made of the size of a maricha (black pepper), each, to be taken with hot water. This medicine cures all sorts of shula, worms, irregularity of the digesting heat, grahani, swelling due to anemia, anemia, gulma, piles, diseases due to an abnormal excess of vayu and kapha, udara-roga, asthma, cough, and fever.

Agni-prabhava rasa.

One tola, each, of mercury and sulphur are to be rubbed together to form a kajjali or black powder with which if to be mixed one fourth its quantity of aconite and one sixteenth part of incinerated oyster-shells, The compound is then to be rubbed, for three days, with the juice of hansapadi, made into a lump, and then dried in the sun. This is then to be confined in an earthen puta, and heated by the third kind of Valuka-yantra (see page 260, vol, 1) for twenty-four hours, by means of fire gradually increasing in intensity of heat. When cooled, the medicine is to be taken out, powdered, mixed with an equal quantity of aconite, and rubbed with ginger juice to form a semi-liquid, with which is to be coated the inner surface of an earthen basin. By this basin is to be closed the mouth of an earthen vessel containing two tolas of aconite. The joint of the vessel and the basin is to be closed tightly by means of rags and mud, as usual. The vessel is then to be placed upon an oven, and heated, for three hours, by means of fire made of wood. When cooled, the medicine is to be taken out and powdered. (Dose, one rakti, each, to be taken with honey).

This medicine cures slowness of digesting heat, all sorts of fever, consumption due to an abnormal excess of vayu, anemia with swelling, diseases due to an abnormal excess of kapha, enlargement of spleen, gulma, shula affecting all parts of the body, udara-roga, lameness, and rakta-gulma.

Ksaravati.

One part of aconite, two parts of mica, four parts of incinerated conch-shell, eight parts of ksara prepared from the ashes of bask of tamarind, sixteen parts of copper, and thirty-one parts of trikatu are to be rubbed together and subjected to bhavana with the juices of tulasi, bhringaraja, matulunga, and ginger. Dose, one rakti, each (to be taken with honey), This medicine cures all sorts of shula, dullness of the digesting heat, grahani, piles, shula due to gulma, and aversion to food. This medicines cures thinness as well.

Ksara tamra.

One part of very thin foils (or fine wires) of pure copper, cut into pieces, is to be smeared with a paste made of one part of mercury and two parts of sulphur (by being rubbed together into a black powder and then rubbed with water or lime juice), The lump, thus formed, is then to be wrapped up in a piece of cloth, which is to be coated all over with a paste made of rock-salt, javakshara, sarji-kshara, and borax. Another coating of mud only is then to be applied upon the first coating. When dried, the lump is to be confined within a puta, made of two earthen basins, and heated, as usual. When cooled, the copper is to be taken out, powdered, and then rubbed for three days with the juices or decoctions of dhatura, roots of chitraka, ginger, and trikatu. The product is then to bs mixed with one sixteenth its weight of aconite. This medicine cures colic due to an excess of vayu, if taken in doses of three raktis a day (rubbed with a few drops of honey, only).

Lauha gura.

One part, each, of iron, haritaki, amlaki, bibhitaki; eight parts of molasses (as old as procurable), and thirty two parts of cow’s urine are to be boiled together (by a mild heat in a pot made of earth or iron), till the whole thing turns softly solid. (Dose, one fourth of a tola to be increased gradually to half a tola). This medicine cures waste and parinama-shula.

Koladi mandura.

One part, each, of chavya, roots of pippali, ginger, pippali, and javakshara, five parts of incinerated mandura, and forty parts of cow’s urine are to be boiled together in the same way as in Lauha gura. (Dose, one eighth of a tola, a day). It is to be taken in three equal parts, viz. at the beginning, middle, and close of a meal. Diet, milk and boiled rice. This medicine cures all sorts of shula.

Gura mandura.

Four tola’s, each, of molasses (as old as can be procured), amalaki, and haritaki; and twelve tola’s of incinerated mandura are to be rubbed together with (twelve tola’s, each, of) honey and clarified butter, and taken in doses of one tola, a day, in three equal parts, one of them being taken at the commencement, the other at the middle, and the third at the close of a meal. This medicine cures annadrava-shula, jarat pitta, rakta-pitta, and parinama-shula of one year’s standing.

Ksira mandura.

Thirty two tola’s of incinerated mandura, hundred, and twenty eight tola’s of cow’s urine, and sixty four tola’s of milk are to be boiled together by mild heat in a pot made of iron or earth, till the whole thing turns soft-solid. (Dose, one sixteenth of a tola to be gradually increased to half a tola). This medicine cures parinama-shula.

Mandura gura.

Nine parts of incinerated mandura, eighteen parts of cow’s urine, and nine parts of old molasses are to be boiled by mild heat in a pot made of earth or iron. When the whole thing turns semi-solid, one part, each, of the powder of the following is to be thrown into it, and the boiling continued, fill the whole thing gets well mixed and turns soft-solid:—vidanga, roots of chitraka, chavya, haritaki, amalaki, bibhitaki, shunthi, pippali, and maricha. Dose, half a tola, a day, to be taken in three equal parts, at three different times, viz. at the beginning, middle, and close of a meal. This medicine cures parinama-shula, jaundice, anemia, swelling due to anemia, dullness of the digesting heat, piles, grahani, worms, gulma, udara, amlapitta, and obesity. The following are to be avoided at the time of taking this medicine dried pot-herbs, bidahi food, pungents, and sours.

Shatavari mandura.

Thirty two tolas, each, of incinerated mandura, juice of roots of shatavari, and curd; and sixteen tolas of clarified butter are to be boiled, by means of mild heat in a pot made of earth or iron, till the whole thing turns soft-solid. This medicine is to be taken either at the beginning or at the middle of a meal. This cures parinama-shula, and shula due to vayu and pitta.

Narayani mandura.

Sixty four tolas, each, of the juice of shatavari, cow’s urine, goat’s milk, sugar, and juice of amalaki; thirty two tolas of incinerated mandura, and sixteen tolas of clarified butter are to be boiled together, as in the preceding cases, till the whole thing turns semi-solid, when one tola, each, of the powder of the following is to he mixed with the substance:—vidanga, triphala, trikatu, jamani, gaja-pippali, white jira, black jira, and musta. The heat is still to be continued till the whole thing gets well-mixed and turns soft solid. This medicine is to be taken at the beginning of taking a meal (in doses of one fourth of a tola or so). It cures all sorts of shula, especially that due to an excess of pitta, pain in the heart and sides of the chest, diseases affecting the stomach, intestine, and rectum; cough, asthma, swelling due to anemia, chronic diarrhoea, enlargement of spleen and liver, consumption, flatulence, mucus, indigestion, and weakness.

Shatavirya mandura.

Mandura is to be heated highly and immersed at once in the decoction of triphala. It is then to be powdered very fine. Thirty two tolas, each, of this powder of mandura, juice of shatavari, curd, milk, and juice of amalaki; and sixteen tolas of clarified butter are to be boiled by mild heat in a pot made of earth or iron. When the substance turns semi-solid, one fourth of a tola of the powder of each of the following is to be mixed with it, and the boiling to be continued, till the whole thing gets well-mixed and turns soft-solid:—jira, dhanya, musta, gura-tvak, tejapatra, ela, pippali, and haritaki. This medicine, taken in suitable doses, cures shula due to an abnormal excess of the three dosas, amlapitta, aversion to food, vomiting, cough, and asthma.

Chatus-sama-mandura.

Equal quantities of incinerated mandura, clarified butter, honey, and sugar are to be rubbed together in a copper pot, for one day, by means of an iron rod. The pot, containing this amalgam, is then to be put in the sun till the substance becomes condensed. The pot containing the compound is then to be kept in the open air for one night. The compound is then to be kept in a copper pot or in an earthen pot in which clarified butter was kept for sometime. One fourth tola of this medicine, divided in three equal parts, is to be taken, respectively, at the beginning, middle, and close of a meal, daily. Cold water is to be drunk just after taking the medicine. This medicine cures shula, dullness of digesting heat, cough, asthma, amlapitta, fever, insanity, epilepsy, spermatorrhea, and all sorts of udara-roga.

Rasa-mandura.

Sixteen tolas of powdered haritaki, eight tolas, each, of sulphur and mandura; two tolas of purified mercury, and sixty four tolas, each, of the juice of bhringaraja and kesharaja are to be placed in an iron pot and rubbed by means of an iron rod. When dried, the compound is to be mixed with a suitable quantity of clarified butter and honey, and there-by made soft-solid. It is then to be kept in an earthen pot in which clarified butter was kept previously. Taken in suitable doses, this medicine cures diseases due to kapha and pitta, shula, amla-pitta, grahani, and jaundice.

Lauhamrita.

Purified sheets of. iron, as thin as a sesamum seed, are to be coated all over with a paste made of the roots of kashika (kasha or arka?) or of mustard seeds. These are then to be dried in the sun and immersed in a decoction of triphala. This process is to be repeated over and over again. The sheets, are then to be reduced to a very fine powder, sifted by means of a piece of cloth. Dose, six raktis to 24 raktis, a day, according to the power of digestion, to be taken with a little of honey and clarified hotter. Goat’s milk, sixty-four times in weight of the medicine taken daily, is to be drunk after taking the medicine. If goats’ milk is not available, the same quantity of cow’s milk, mixed with a little of clarified milk prepared from cow’s milk, may also be drunk. This medicine cares parinama-shula, in a month. Articles of food-stuff commencing with “k” (see page 204, Vol. I), and meat of those animals which are called anupa should be avoided, so long as this medicine is taken.

Akshadi lauha.

Incinerated iron, boiled with four times its weight of the juices of haritaki, amalaki, and bibhitaki, and powdered, cures shula due to an excess of the three dosas, if taken with a little of molasses, in doses of six raktis, a day.

Saptamrita lauha.

One part of powdered jastimadhu, one third part, each, of powdered haritaki, amalaki, and bibhitaki, and two parts of incinerated iron are to be mixed together, and taken with a little of honey and clarified butter (in doses of twelve raktis, a day). Cow’s milk, in suitable quantities, is to be drunk, after taking this medicine. It cures vomiting, decline of eye-sight, shula, amlapitta, fever, fatigue, anaha, obstruction of urine, and swelling due to anemia.

Dhatryadi lauha.

Eight palas of powdered amalaki, four palas of incinerated iron, two palas of jastimadhu—all finely powdered and sifted through a piece of cloth—are to be mixed together and subjected to bhavana, for seven days, with the decoction of amrita (guduchi^[2]), after which the substance is to be dried by the intense heat of the sun, and then powdered. Six raktis of this medicine is to be taken with a little of honey and clarified butter, thrice a day, viz. at the beginning, middle, and close of the first meal. This medicine cures shula, jaratpitta, defects in eye-sight, premature greyness of hair, and diseases due to an abnormal excess of kapha and pitta.

Mandura-lauha.

Twenty-four tolas of incinerated mandura; eight tolas of the decoction of barley prepared from boiling sixteen tolas of barley with 32 tolas of water; thirty two tolas, each, of the juice of shatavari, juice of amalaki, curd, and milk; and sixteen tolas, each, of the juice of bhumi-kusmanda, clarified butter, and juice of sugar-cane are to be boiled together, by heat, in an iron cauldron, till the whole thing turns semi-solid. At this time, one tola, each, of the powder of the following is to be mixed with the substance, and the boiling continued, till the whole thing gets well-mixed and turns soft-solid:—jira dhanya, trijata (i, e, guratwak, tejapatra, and ela, combined in equal quantities), gaja-pippali, katuki, jastimadhu, rasna, asvagandha, sandal wood, musta, haritaki, iron, mica, trikatu, renuka, triphala, talisha, and naga-keshara. Dose, one tola a day, to be divided into three equal parts, and taken, at three different time, viz. at the beginning, middle, and end of a meal. Milk is to, be drunk after taking this medicine. This medicine cures all sorts of shula.

Triphala lauha.

Six raktis of incinerated steel and the same quantity of powdered triphala, mixed together and taken with milk, cures shula.

Sharkara lauha.

Six raktis, each, of incinerated black iron, powdered triphala, and powdered amalaki are to be mixed together with eighteen raktis of sugar. Taken once a day, this medicine cures all sorts of shula.

Vaishvanara lauha.

Eight tolas, each, of alkali prepared from bark of tamarind, alkali prepared from apamarga, incinerated snail-shell, and rock-salt are to be rubbed together with thirty-two tolas of incinerated iron. All sorts of shula are cured by this medicine, if taken, in doses of twelve raktis, each, as soon as the pain begins to be felt.

Chatus-sama-lauha.

Four tola’s, each, of mica, sulphur, mercury, and iron; and forty-eight tola’s, each, of clarified butter and milk are to be mixed together, and boiled, as usual, by mild heat in an iron cauldron, till the substance turns semi-solid. At this time, four tola's, each, of the following, finely powdered and sifted, are to be thrown into the cauldron and mixed by means of an iron rod with its contents:—vidanga, triphala, roots of chitraka, and trikatu. Heat is to be continued till the compound turns soft-solid. It is then to be rubbed very well in a mortar, and then kept in a clean pot. Dose, six raktis, to be gradually increased to forty-eight raktis, a day, to be taken with cocoa-nut water or milk. Diet, boiled shali rice, soup of mudga and good meat, mixed with clarified butter. This medicine cures all sorts of shula, pain in the heart and sides of the chest, rheumatism, lumbago, shula caused by gulma (a kind of tumour in the belly), headache, enlargement of spleen and liver, indigestion, consumption, leprosy, cough, asthma, eczema, brights disease, and stricture.

Shularaja lauha.

One tola of kanta iron, and fonr tolas, each, of mica, sugar, honey, and clarified butter are to be mixed together and rubbed by means of an iron rod. With this compound—is then to be mixed one tola, each, of the powder of the following:—trikatu, triphala, musta, vidanga, chavya, and roots of chitraka. This medicine is to be taken in the morning with cold water (in doses of one fourth tola, each). It cures all sorts of shula, pain in the heart and the sides, amlapitta, piles, grahani, spermatorrea, and cholera.

Paniya-bhakta rasa.

One tola, each, of trikatu, triphala, musta, trivrit, and roots of chitraka, half a tola, each, of mercury and sulphur, and two tolas, each, of iron, mica, and vidanga are to be rubbed together with the decoction of triphala, and made into pills (one fourth of a tola, each). One such pill is to be taken every morning with a little of jali (see page 381, Vol. III). This medicine cures shula, pain in the sides of the chest, diseases affecting the stomach, intestines, and the rectum; asthma, cough, leprosy, and grahani.

Shula-kari-keshari rasa.

One part of mercury and two parts of sulphur are to be rubbed together, steadily, for one day, and then to be confined in a puta or covered crucible made of three parts of copper. The puta or crucible is then to be put inside an earthen vessel filled with salt which surrounds the puta or crumble on all sides. The vessel is then to be covered and dried, as usual. It is then to be heated by Gajaputa. When cooled by natural radiation of heat, the crucible is to be taken put and powdered very fine. This medicine is to be taken in doses of two raktis, a day, kept on a piece of betel leaf. A little of hot water is to be drunk after taking this medicine, mixed with one tola of the combined powder of hingu, shunthi, jira, vacha, and maricha. This medicine cures shula, however malignant.

Shula-vajra-rasa.

Two tolas, each, of mercury, sulphur, and iron; and one tola, each, of borax, hingu, shunthi^[3], trikatu, triphala, shathi, guratvak, ela, tejapatra, talishapatra, jatiphala, lavanga, jamani, jira, and dhanya are to be rubbed together with goat’s milk, and made into pills, six raktis in weight, each, to be taken with cold water or goat’s milk. This medicine cures eight kinds of shula, enlargement of spleen, gulma, udara-roga, fever, asthila (see page 339, vol. IV), anaha, spermatorrea, dullness of digesting heat, aversion to food, amlapitta, rheumatism, jaundice, and anemia.

Shulanisudana rasa.

One part, each, of trikatu, triphala, musta, trivrit, and roots of chitraka; half a part, each, of mercury and sulphur; and two parts, each, of iron, mica, and vidanga are to be rubbed together with the decoction of triphala, and made into pills (one-fourth of a tola, in weight, each), to be taken with jali (see page 381, vol. III) in the morning. This medicine cures all sorts of shula including parinama and annadrava; amlapitta, and vomiting.

Tripura-sudana rasa.

Twelve parts of thin foils (or wire) of copper are to be Speared with a paste made of one part, each, of mercury and Sulphur. These are then to be burnt by puta. This medicine cures parinama shula, if taken in doses of six raktis a day, with a little of honey and clarified butter. In other cases of shula, this medicine is to be taken with a little of castor oil mixed with hingu, shunthi, and jira.

Vidyadharabhra rasa.

One tola of purified sulphur is to be rubbed with three-fourths of a tola of purified mercury, and made into a black powder' with which are to be mixed sixteen tola s of mandura, incinerated with cow's urine, four tolas of mica, and one tola, each, of the powder of the following:—vidanga, musta, triphala, guruchi, roots of danti, roots of trivrit, roots of chitraka, and trikatu. All these are then to be rubbed together with the juice of mandukaparni and a tittle of honey and clarified hatter. Pills are then to be made six raktis, twelve raktis, or eighteen raktis in weight, each, to be taken with cow’s milk or cold water. This medicine cures all sorts of shula including parinama and annadrava, consumption, amlapitta, grahani, jirna jvara, raktapitta, and loss of power of digestion.

Shula-sanjamana-rasa.

One tola, each, of mercury, sulphur, triphala, trikatu, vidanga, musta, trivrit, danti, roots of chitraka, akhuparni and roots of pippali; four tolas of mica, and sixteen tolas of iron are to be rubbed together with honey and made into pills, half a tola in weight, each. A little of cow’s milk or cocoa-nut water is to be drunk after taking this medicine. It cures all sorts of shula, emaciation, discolour of the skin, lethargy, drowsiness, and aversion to food.

Diet and deeds beneficial in shula:—

Vomiting, fomentation, fasting, purgative pills (such as phalabarti—see page 389) entered into the rectum, application of douche, sleeping, purgation, digestive medicines, boiled shali rice of more than one year’s (but not more than three years’) standing, barley, hot milk, soup prepared from the meat of jangala (wild) animals; patola, shobhanjana, karbella (karbella?), brinjals, sweet and ripe mangoes, grapes, kapittha, citrus, peala fruit, leaves of shalincha. and vastuka; salt, nitre, hingu, shunthi, vira salt, shatapuspa, garlics, cloves, castor oil, cow’s urine, hot water, lime juice, kustha, and powdered alkalis.

Articles of food-stuff and deeds injurious in shula:—

Food and drinks in congenial by combination, keeping late hours at night, taking meals at irregular hours and in unusual quantities, food not softened with clarified butter or any other animal fat, bitters, astringents, cold food, heavy food, physical exercise, sexual intercourse, wine, pulses, excess of salt, sesamum seeds, suppression of calls of nature, grief, and anger.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

These three are grasses yielding rice-like seeds.

[2]:

Some are of opinion that “amrita” here means amalaki.

[3]:

Some texts hare “copper” and not “shunthi”.