Chapter XI - Treatment of Shleshma Ophthalmia

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which deals with the curative treatment of Abhishyanda due to the deranged action of Shleshma (Shleshmabhishyanda-Pratishedha). 1.

General Treatment:—

An attack of Shleshmaja Abhishyanda or Adhimantha during the stage of acute aggravation should be treated by opening a local vein^[1] or by the employment of fomentation, Avapida-Nasya, Anjana, fumigation, washes, plasters, gargles or non-fatty (Ruksha) eye-drops (Ashchyotana) and Putapaka. The patient should be made to fast on each fourth day and to take a potion of Tikta-Ghrita^[2] in the morning, and his diet should consist of such articles as do not lead to the aggravation of the bodily Kapha. 2-3.

Tender twigs or leaves of Kutannata, Ashpota, Phanijjhaka, Vilva, Pattura, Pilu, Arka and Kapittha^[3] should be employed in (mildly) fomenting the affected eye. A thin plaster composed of Valaka, Shunthi, Deva-daru and Kushtha, should be likewise applied to the affected eye. 4.

Hingu, (Asafetida), Triphala, Yashti-madhu, Saindhava, Prapaundaika, Anjana (black Antimony), Tuttha (Sulphate of copper), and copper pasted together with  water and made into a stick (Varti) should be applied as an Anjana to the affected eye. As an alternative, sticks (Varti) composed of Pathya, Haridra, Yashti-madhu and Anjana should be similarly applied. Compounds made of the equal parts of Pippali, Manca, Shunthi, Haritaki, Amalaki, Vibhitaka, Haridra and Vidanga- seeds, or of Valaka, Kushtha, Deva-daru, (burnt) conch-shell, Patha (Akanidhi), Anala (Citraka roots), Pippali, Marica, Shunthi and Manah-shila (Realgar) and the flowers of Jati, Karanja and Shobhanjana^[4] pasted together with water should be applied to the eye. The seeds^[5] of Prakirya (Karanja), or of Shigru with the seeds and flowers of the two kinds of Vrihati mixed with Rasanjana, Chandana, Saindhava -saIt, Manah-shila, Haritaki, and garlic taken in equal parts and pasted together with water should be made into sticks (Varti) and used as an Anjana in all forms of Kaphaja eye-diseases. 5.

The following medicinal compounds should be prescribed by experts as an Anjana (eye-salve) in a case of Valasa-Grathita after the system of the patient had been properly cleansed by means of blood-letting. A quantity of blue barley with the horns should be soaked (for a week or two) in milk and dried (after the manner of Bhavana saturation). It should then be burnt into ashes. These ashes should then be mixed with an equal part of burnt ashes of Arjaka, Ashphotaka, Kapittha, Vilva, Nirgundi and Jati flowers and an alkaline solution should be duly prepared therewith. Saindhava, Tuttha (Sulphate of copper) and Rocana should now be added to the above alkaline solution and duly boiled. The compound thus prepared should be applied as an Anjana with an iron pips (Nadi). This is prescribed in a case of Valasa-Grathita. Alkaline preparations may be similarly prepared with (the flowers, etc. of) Phanijjhaka etc., and may be employed in a similar manner. 6.

A (thin) plaster composed of Shunthi, Pippalì, Musta, Saindhava and white Manca^[6] pasted with the expressed juice of Matulunga and applied to the eye as an Anjana, would bring about a speedy cure of the eye-disease known as Pishtaka. 7.

Vrihati fruits should be gathered when ripe and a paste compound of (the equal parts of) Pippali and Srotanjana should be kept inside those seedless fruits for seven nights. The (preserved) paste should then be taken out and applied to the eye as an Anjana. It proves beneficial in a case of Pishtaka. Paste may similarly be preserved inside a Vartaku (brinjal), Shigru, Indra-Varuni, Patola, Kirata-tikta and Amalaki and used for the same. 8,

Kashisha (Sulphate of iron), Samudra^[7], Rasanjana and buds of Jati flowers pasted together and rubbed in honey, is advised to be prescribed as an Anjana in a case of Praklinna-Vartma. 9.

A single application as an Anjana of the compound composed of excellent Nadeya (Saindhava)^[8] salt, white pipper^[9] and Nepala-jata, (Realgar-lit., that which is produced in Nepala) taken in equal parts and pasted together with the expressed juice of Matulanga, would alleviate the itching sensation (Kandu) in the eyes. Similarly a compound of Shringa-vera, Deva-daru, Musta, Saindhava salt and buds of Jati flowers pasted together with wine and used as an Anjana would prove efficacious in a case of swelling (Sopha) and itching sensation of the eyes. The above eye-diseases should be judiciously treated in accordance with the principles laid down in the treatment of the cases of Abhi-shyanda and Adhi-mantha. 10.

 

Thus ends the eleventh chapter of the Uttara-Tantra in the Sushruta Samhita which treats of the curative treatment of Shleshmabhishyanda.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The word ‘Atha’ (atha) in the text means says Dallana, that the local vein should be opened as the best resource, when fomentation, etc. would fail to effect a cure.

[2]:

See Chikitsita-sthāna, chapter IX.

[3]:

In place of “Kutannata” and “Arka” both Vrinda and Cakrapāni read “Surasa” and “Arja”. Śrikantha the commentator of Vrinda however is of opinion that Arka should be better reading in place of that of “Arja”.

[4]:

Dallana quotes the reading of “Panjikākāra” (another commentator of Suśruta) according to whom Murva and the flowers of Jāti only should be taken instead of the flowers of Jati, Karanja and Śobhānjana. This reading seems to be the correct one inasmuch as this makes the number of the drugs in the list twelve in all, as given by Dallana himself.

[5]:

According to some commentators both the seeds and flowers of Prakirjā and of Śigru should be taken.

[6]:

Dallana explains white Marica, as Śigru seeds.

[7]:

Samudra may either mean Samudra-phena or Samudra salt, i.e. Karakacha salt. The commentators are silent on this point.

[8]:

Dallana explains Nādeya as meaning Saindhava, but it generally eans Srotanjana (black antimony).

[9]:

Dallana explains “Śveta-Marica” as “Śigru-seeds”, but there is a particular kind of Marica which is white in colour and this is also supported by some commentator.