Chapter 11 - Symptoms and treatment of Gulma (tumour in the belly)

Cause and indications of Gulma.

Gulmas are a kind of tumour growing in the belly. They are due to an abnormal excess of the three dosas, caused, of course, by unhealthy food and deeds. Those tumours may grow within the space between the heart and the lower extremity of the abdomen. Some of them are movable and some immovable. They are capable of increasing or decreasing in size, and are generally globular or semi-globular in shape. They grow in five different places, viz. the sides, the heart, the navel, and the intestines. They are of five different kinds, according as they are caused by an abnormal excess of each of the three dosas, separately, and of all the three combined, and by the condensation of the mense-blood of women in the uterous. Both men and women may be affected by the first four, but the fifth, which is called rakta-gulma, is a disease peculiar to women only.

The following are the general symptoms of these tumours:—aversions to food, difficulty in the passing of stool, urine, and wind; sound in the intestines; anaha (see page 386 Vol. IV), and upward movement of internal air.

Causes and indications of rakta-gulma:—

Deranged vayu condenses the blood coming out of the uterus of the woman who takes unhealthy food after child-birth or miscarriage or during the period of menstruation. This lump of blood is called rakta-gulma. It causes occasional pain and inflammation. Its characteristics are the same as those of a pitta-gulma; but it has some special characteristics which are not to be found in pitta-gulma. It possesses some of the characteristics of a protoplasm which are not to be found in a pitta-gulma. A protoplasm is furnished with limbs and throbs in the womb without any pain, whereas a rakta-gulma being a lump, is not furnished with any limb; yet, it throbs in the womb with pain. It is to be treated after the expiry of the tenth month.

Treatment of Gulma: Simple remedies.

(1) Decoction of sesamum, mixed with molasses, trikatu, hingu, and bhargi, is to be drunk for the cure of rakta-gulma (tumour due to accumulation of mense-blood) and extinction of mense-blood.

(2) Decoction of sesamum, drunk with the powder of the following, cures rakta-gulma:—devadaru, pippali, bhargi, shunthi, and bark of karanja.

(3) Juice of amalaki, drunk with powdered maricha, cures blood-tumour.

Iatro-chemical treatment of gulma.

Trivikrama rasa.

Equal quantities of mercury, copper, sulphur, croton seeds, pippali, and the black kernel of aragvadha fruit are to be mixed together, and subjected to bhavana with the milk of snuhi. This medicine, taken (in doses of one rakti a day) with the juice of amalaki, cures rakta-gulma. Juice of tamarind fruit is to be drunk after taking this medicine. Diet, boiled rice with curd.

Gulma-vajra rasa.

Four tolas, each, of mercury, sulphur, copper, bell-metal, borax, and orpiment are to be rubbed together, and taken in consideration of strength and power of digestion. This medicine cures all sorts of gulma, especially, rakta-gulma, enlargement of spleen and liver, udara-roga, asthila (soe page 339, Vol. IV), anaha, jaundice, anemia, fever, and shula.

Two tolas, each, of mercury, sulphur, orpiment, copper, and borax; ten tolas of javakshara; and one tola, each, of musta pippali, shunthi, maricha, gaja-pippali, haritaki, vacha, and kustha are to be mixed together, and subjected to bhavana with the juice or decoction of each of the following parpata, musta, shunthi, apamarga, and patha. This medicine, taken in doses of four factis, each, (with honey and powdered haritaki) cures all sorts of gulma (except rakta-gulma), and especially that due to an abnormal excess of vayu.

Gulma-kalanala rasa.

Equal quantities of mica, iron, mercury, sulphur, borax, katuki, vacha, javaksara, svarjiksara, rock-salt, kustha, trikatu, deva-daru, teja-patra, ela, guratvak, naga-keshara, and exudation of khadira are to be mixed together and subjected to bhavana with the juices of each of the following jay anti, chitraka, dhatura, and leaves of kesha-raja. Pills are then to be made, four raktis in weight, each, to be taken in the morning with a little of water or milk. This medicine cures five different kinds of gulma, enlargement of spleen and liver, udara-roga, jaundice, anemia, swelling due to anemia, rakta-pitta, slowness of the digesting heat, aversion to food, grahani, weakness, emaciation, remittent fever, and visama jvara.

Gulma-nisudana rasa.

Equal quantities of sulphur, orpiment, copper, and steel are to be rubbed together with the juice of kanya, made into a lump, and confined in a samputa which is to be burnt by Gajaputa. When cooled by natural radiation of: heat, the medicine is to be taken out. Dose, two raktis, each, to be taken with juice of ginger. This medicine cures all sorts of gulma.

Gulma-shardula rasa.

Four tolas, each, of mercury, sulphur, iron, guggulu, bark of ashvattha (peepul) tree, trivrit, pippali, shunthi, shathi, dhanya, and jira; and two tolas of croton seeds are to be rubbed together with clarified butter, and made into pills, three raktis in weight, each. Two such pills are to be taken in the morning with ginger juice only (without honey), a little of hot water being drunk thereafter. This medicine cures all sorts of gulma, including rakta-gulma; enlargement of spleen and liver, jaundice, and dropsy.

Nageshvara, rasa.

Equal quantities of mercury, sulphur, lead, tin, realgar, sal-ammoniac, javakshara, svarjikshara, borax, iron, and mica are to be rubbed together with the milk of Snuhi, and decoctions of roots of chitraka, vasaka, and danti, for one day, each, in succession. This medicine cures gulma, enlargement of Spleen, jaundice, swelling of limbs due ta jaundice, and flatulence. Dose, six raktis a day, to be taken with a piece of betel leaf.

Vidyadhara rasa.

Equal quantities of mercury, sulphur, orpiment, copper pyrites, gold, and realgar are to be rubbed together for one day with the decoction of pippali and milk of snuhi. This medicine cures gulma, due to an abnormal excess of phlegm only, if taken in doses of twelve raktis, a day, rubbed with cow’s urine. A little more of the same urine is to be drunk after taking the medicine.

Prana ranjana rasa.

One pala (four tolas), each, of iron, copper, cowri-shells, copper-sulphate, hingu, triphala, roots of snuhi, java-kshara, croton seeds, borax, and roots of trivrit are to be rubbed together with goat’s milk, and made into pills, four raktis in weight, each, to be taken with water or honey. This medicine cures jaundice, anemia, spermatorrea, specially hiccough, malignant sannipata, rakta-gulma, leprosy, and some of the skin-diseases.

Mahamrita rasayana.

One tola, each, of trikatu, triphala, musta, vidanga, white jira, black jira, jamani, ajamoda, kirata-tikta, roots of trivrit, roots af danti, salt-petre, rock-salt, and mica; sixteen palas (or 4 x 16 tolas) of khanda (partially refined molasses condensed by heating), one prastha or sixty-four tolas of decoction of triphala, the same quantity of juice of jambira (big lime fruits), and eight; tolas of iron are to be boiled together (in an iron cauldron by mild heat), till the whole thing turns soft-solid. Sixteen tolas of clarified butter is then to be mixed with the product. This medicine cures all sorts of diseases, especially, five different kinds of gulma, enlargement of spleen and liver, jaundice, anemia, swelling due to anemia, and remittent fever.

Vangadhara rasa.

Four tolas, each, of incinerated mercury, tin, sulphur, and copper are to be rubbed together, for one day, with the milk of arka, made into a lump, and burnt by the Bhudhara-yantra (see page 265, Vol. I.) This medicine cures enlargement of spleen and gulma, Dose, two raktis, a day, to be taken with a little of clarified butter. One-fourth of a tola of white punarnava or turmeric, rubbed with cow's urine is to be drunk after taking the medicine.

Shikhivadaba rasa.

Equal quantities of incinerated mercury, copper, mica, sulphur, and copper-pyrites are to be rubbed together for one day with the juice of ginger mixed with javakshara, and made into pills, three raktis in weight, each, to be taken with a few drops of honey and juice of betel leaves. This medicine cures gulma due to vayu. The following is to be drunk after taking this medicine:—vidanga, pomegranates, hingu, rock-salt, ela, and salt-petre (two raktis in weight, each), pestled with the juice of matulunga (nitrus) and dissolved with one tola of liquor.

Diptamara rasa.

Equal quantities of mercury, sulphur, and copper are to be rubbed, for three days, with the decoction of the fire different parts (viz, leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, and roots) of shaka (teak) tree, and, for one day, with the juice or decoction of sarpakshi (gandha-nakuli). The product is then to be confined in a crucible and burnt by Gajaputa in an underground pit for five times. When cooled, the medicine is to be powdered and mixed with an equal quantity of powdered croton seeds. Dose, two raktis, each, to be then with a little of clarified butter. This medicine cures gulma due to an abnormal excess of pitta. Decoction of grapes and haritaki is to be drunk after taking the medicine.

Vidyankusha rasa.

Equal quantities of sulphur, orpiment copper-pyrites, copper, realgar, and mercury are to be rubbed together, and subjected to bhavana with the decoction of pippali and milk of snuhi. Dose, twelve raktis, a day, with a little of honey. A little of cow’s urine is to be drank after taking this medicine. This medicine cures gulma and enlargement of spleen.

Chinta-hara rasa.

One part of sulphur and two parts of mercury are to be rubbed together for one day, with the juice of jujube and lime fruit, and for another day with a solution of the alkali prepared from the bark of tamarind. The compound is then to be made into a lump, confined in a puta made of copper which is to be coated all over with mud, and dried well. This puta is then to be again confined in a crucible, the mouth of which is to be duly closed, and heated by puta. When cooled, the medicine is to be taken out, mixed with sulphur, equal to one fourth part of the mercury, and with the same quantity of aconite. This is then to be boiled in an iron pot with the decoction of roots of chitraka, till the whole thing is just dried up, Dose, three raktis, a day, to be taken with a little of castor oil and honey. Sours, oils, and gold articles of food-stuff are to be avoided at the time of treatment by this medicine. It cures gulma, flatulence, and lumbago.

Vaishivanara rasa.

One part, each, of vishnukranta, croton seeds, langali, devadali, and mercury, and two parts of sulphur are to be rubbed together for fifteen days, and heated by a very mild heat for some time (debarring the mercury from coming out of the compound). Pills are then to be made, three raktis in weight, each, to be taken with a little of hot water, clarified butter, and rock-salt, in gulma due to vayu; With a little of honey, and ginger juice, in gulma due to kapha; and with sugar and honey, in gulma due to pitta.

Agni-kuthara rasa.

One part, each, of croton seeds, sulphur, mercury, haritaki, amalaki, bibhitaki, shunthi, pippali, and maricha are to be rubbed together for three days with sixteen parts of cow’s urine, and made into pills of the size of the stone of a jujube fruit (i.e., about three, raktis, each), to be taken only once a day with a little of hot water. This serves as a very good purgative. This cures gulma, enlargement of the liver, anemia, intestinal obstruction, colic, slowness of the digesting heat, fever, and dropsy.

Pranadhara rasa.

Equal quantities of mica, mercury, and sulphur are to be rubbed together with the juice of tala-muli, and made into a paste which is to be put inside a glass bottle, the mouth of which is to be closed by means of a piece of chalk. The outer surface of this bottle is then to be coated all over with that kind of mud which is used in making country-made earthen pots. When.dried well, the bottle is to be subjected to puta by the Bhudhara-yantra. When cooled after the heating is completed, the bottle is to be powdered very fine with its contents and the chalk. With this compound is to be mixed one part each of the powder of the following:—javakshara, sarjikshara, borax, the five salts (viz. saindhava, sauvarchala, sambara, vira, and sea-salt), trikatu, triphala, hingu, guggulu, indrajava, gunjakini (roots of gunja), roots of chitraka, ajamoda, and jamani. This medicine cures all sorts of diseases, especially, gulma, diseases due to ah excess of vayu, parinama-shula, sannipatika fever, enlargement of spleen, jaundice, anemia, indigestion, and grahani. It is to be taken in doses of six raktis a day to be taken only once in the morning (and never more than once a day) with two sips of hot water. Cold water is to be drunk by the patient, at least once a day, even if he does not feel ahy thirst any time. The following are to be avoided pot herbs, spurs, pulses (including beans), sleeping in day time, and whatever is injurious to health. The body should be anointed with oil, and sexual indulgence is to be avoided altogether.

Gulmanashana rasa.

One part, each, of sulphur and mercury, two parts of rock-salt, three parts of borax, four parts of copper-sulphate, five parts of cowri-shells, and six parts of conch-shell are to be rubbed together for three times with the juice of each of the following, each act of rubbing being followed by an act of puta:—decoction of the roots of chitraka, juice of karanja (visa karanja or dahar karanja). The product is then to be mixed with an, equal quantity of powdered maricha. Dose, twelve raktis, each (to be taken with a few drops of honey only). This medicine cures five different kinds of gulma, waste, asthma, and dull-ness of the digesting heat.

Diet and deeds considered salutary in Gulma:—

Fomentation of the region affected, after rubbing it with oil, purgation, application of douche, letting out of blood from the veins in the arms, fasting, application of some medicine through the rectum such as “phalavarti” (see page, 389, Vol. IV), anointing the body with oil, surgical operation on commencement of suppuration; wheat and red shali rice of one year’s (but not more than three year’s) standing, khala juice (see page 117), soup of kulattha, soup of the meat of deer, hare, and game fowls, wine, milk of cows and goats, grapes, parushaka fruits, dates, pomegranates, amalaki, oranges, amla-vetasa, butter-milk, castor oil, garlics, green carrots, shalincha, vastuka, shigru, javakskara, haritaki, hinge, matulunga, trikatu, cow’s urine, and all those articles of food-stuff which are mixed with butter and clarified butter, warm, nutritious, light, increaser of appetite, and pacifier of vayu.

Articles of food-stuff and actions considered injurious in Gulma:—

Everything which serves to inorease vayu, food incongenial by combination, dry meat, stiff radish or carrot, fish, sweet fruits, dry pot-herbs, pulses and beans, food causing flatulence and not easy to digest, suppression of calls of nature in respect of the downward passage of wind, stool, urine, quick respiration due to physical labour, and tears,—vomiting, and drinking of water.